Th End of the World

Atticus didn't talk much, and I could tell he was annoyed with my constant jabber. But I couldn't help it, I was in desperate need of conversation. After Atticus cleaned off the blood he had used to disguise himself from the infected, I was better able to assess how old he was. It's hard to tell at his age, he could have been anywhere from twenty to thirty. I was only seventeen, but already I had aged from stress and fear.

Atticus had brown hair that fell to the base of his neck. His eyes were large and brown as well, so dark I couldn't discern between pupil and iris. His skin was tan and he was tall, maybe a few inches over six foot. His presence made me nervous. He was a stranger who essentially welcomed himself to my car. I didn't know his intentions, or anything about him. He hadn't tried anything yet. But still I kept the loaded revolver within grabbing distance at all times.

I pulled the truck into a deserted gas station, a little ways outside of Muldoon. The gas station in my town had been turned to rubble from the fires. I still had yet to find out who set everything on fire, and why. The rest of the country, and world for that matter, was succumbing to the infections. But Muldoon's seclusion and small numbers meant we would have been able to survive for at least a few more months before everything was overrun. I guess someone just wanted to speed the process of death along.

"You gas uo the truck if any of the tanks are still working," I ordered and slipped out of the truck.

I glanced cautiously around the gas station. No biters, as Atticus called them, were roaming the area. I took the keys with me so Atticus couldn't desert me here. The Chevron had already been broken into I discerned by the smashed in windows and ajar door. The shelves were barren. The only remaining things were gum, undesirable candy, and decorative key chains. Better than nothing.

"Score!" I smiled as I found a roll of laffy taffy. Biting off a stale piece of the chewy candy I continued exploring the gas station. Might as well relieve myself while I'm here, I though and opened the door to the bathrooms.

A snapping female face lunged towards me, bloody fingers outstretched and grabbing. I screamed and tried to slam the bathroom door closed, but she somehow wiggled out and was pursing me through the isles of empty shelves. Finally she cornered me. I kicked out with a leg to throw her back but she rebounded and grabbed my shoulder as I tried to bolt again.

Rancid breath wafted over me as she clacked her jaws, already trying to tear me apart. I kept pushing with my arms, all while trying to get my skin from exposure to her flesh biting teeth.

Her brain was splattered all over the wall a second later. Atticus loomed over me and her unmoving body, a piece of plywood raised which had dealt the blow that ended her existence. I wouldn't have called it a life, seeing as she wasn't alive.

Atticus grabbed my hand and helped me to my feet, checking me over to see if I was injured. I realized a moment later he wasn't preoccupied with my well being, but rather, to see if I had been bitten.

"I'm clean," I snapped and shoved him away from me.

"I found some gas cans out back and filled the tank," he said, ignoring my tone.

"Great." I replied monosyllabicly.

"If you want to find your mom I recommend searching the woods. Since Muldoon isn't safe there's a few groups camping it out. Some people have hoeld up in their houses and boarded the doors."

"Thanks Atticus, really. But maybe we should go our separate ways now," I said abruptly, trying to end this weird little alliance. He looked confused.

"Why?"

"I don't know you, and this is something I have to do alone," I shrugged, not making eye contact. He threw the ply wood on the ground with such force I jumped. He stomped out of the Chevron, and right into my truck. He sat in the passenger seat gloomily, waves of anger rolled off of him. He couldn't leave me since I had the car keys, but I couldn't exactly force him away unless I was willingly to shoot him, which I wasn't.

"Fine," I grumbled although he couldn't hear me. I slowly and painstakingly entered the truck and silently started it up.

"Where are these forest campsites you mentioned?" I said to break the tension. He cracked a smile.

"I though you wanted to rescue your mom on your own."

I almost hissed.

"Whatever, just take the next left and follow the gravel road till you see a sign for the hot springs. They'll be there," he directed.

We drove in silence until he found my stash of CD's. He browsed through my collection, making grunts of appreciation for my taste in music. He pulled out a CD and inserted it into the radio. Billy Joel came blasting through the speakers. Atticus tapped his foot to the beat, and I couldn't hep but crack a smile.

"I changed my mind, you can stay!" I shouted over the music. He grinned, but he already knew he wasn't going anywhere.