We reached Miami fairly easily, and we had plenty of rest on the way, too… mainly because Tallahassee and Las Vegas cleared any house… or town, for that matter… that we came to.
Having Vegas with us… well, it made our life a little better. She knew the road well, and she was good at killing zombies. She sharpened her swords meticulously, and even taught Little Rock to handle her sais, teaching her how to use them and handle them. She taught me and Wichita to use her katanas, and she was right… it was great for close quarter combat. It kind of made me feel like a knight or a samurai with the sword, although my damsel-in-distress has a sword too, so she can kick butt as much as I do.
Vegas said no more about her life, and she was often times the first one to take watch. But I got a feeling that she's becoming close to Tallahassee, since he was always up with her when the three of us were sleeping. Once, I looked at them during their watch, pretending to sleep again. Vegas was tired from driving all day, and her head leaned on the side, as if she was falling asleep while sitting. Tallahassee noticed this, and came forward, and after placing a hand on her shoulder, she laid her head on his shoulder as he sat down beside her. Tallahassee put his arm around her as he looked at the horizon.
When I see Vegas and Tallahassee like that, it… reminded me of my parents. Sure, my parents were probably older than they are, but the way acted towards us… it was like Vegas was a mother, and Tallahassee was our father. Vegas might fight hard, but she was always careful of our well being. She'd find an abandoned house and stop the Jeep and tell us that we're resting when Little Rock was falling asleep with her mouth open. She'd teach Wichita to clean guns so they won't malfunction. And she'd train me so I could learn to use a sword. Plus, she made excellent dinners. It was like dining in a restaurant when she cooked.
As for Tallahassee, well, I'd always thought of him as a father figure. I'm thinking that it was because his son… died. He'd treat us like his children, too… taking care of us, making sure we're okay, especially towards Little Rock.
Ever since my family in Columbus died, I was lonely, but one night, while we were resting, I looked that the four of them… Tallahassee, Las Vegas, Wichita and Little Rock… and I remembered that these people are my family now. They are all I have left… and probably Vegas' son too, if he really is alive.
I asked Vegas once why she still wanted to go to Miami. She'd just smile and said, "Because I know in my heart that my son is alive. Call it a mother's instinct." I'm beginning to hope that it's true, because I dread the day that she finds out her son is a zombie, and she'd have to kill him. I never got back to Columbus, Ohio… where my family is, so I never thought of what it's like to kill my zombified loved ones. Tallahassee and the sisters didn't either. It made me feel a bit sorry for Vegas, and a bit scared, because it seems like I'm the only one who is as optimistic as her, and I'm afraid it's our optimism that'll kill us.