Almost a week after planning and organizing, Joel and Tommy finally decided where to go.
They had decided to go to Nebraska, in hopes of finding some kind of family. Joel wanted to go back to Dallas, but Tommy said since it was a pretty populated area, that it would be infested with the infected. Joel caved, agreeing to go to Nebraska. They decided that while they were in Nebraska, they would wait for the government to build the QZ's. Joel also wanted to find some horses so that they didn't have to siphon everything in sight.
Tommy only worried about Kryse and how she would react to the change. Kryse had become attached to the warehouse, for a reason only Kryse would understand. Tommy knew what Kryse was going through, for he and Joel too lost their mother when they were young as well. Tommy tried to comfort Kryse, but knew she just wanted Kacie. Tommy would move mountains for Kryse, but the one thing she wanted most was too impossible for Tommy to accomplish. Kryse had found something about the warehouse that she had grown to cherish. Tommy assumed that the warehouse symbolized in Kryse's past, most likely Kacie.
Winter was coming, the temperature becoming more and more cold. Joel suggested that they moved fast, wanting to get to Nebraska before snow came. Tommy agreed, wanting to get on the road as soon as possible.
It was almost night fall, Joel on his way back from siphoning gas and scavenging for winter clothing. Tommy took the time to heat canned beans, making sure to give Kryse a larger portion. Since the warehouse was located in an isolating area, they didn't have many houses or really anything near them, so it was up to Tommy and Joel to go out and find decent food. They knew that the government wouldn't rebound as quick as many would think, so they had to plan ahead. Tommy also noticed how Kryse's clothes became much more loose, not fitting her as well as they used to. If anything, Kryse went down a couple of sizes. She hadn't been over weight before the outbreak, but now with being fed once every day, she had become skinnier and skinnier. Kryse's face was hollow, and her arms and legs were bony. From the car accident right when the outbreak started, they found out her foot was only fractured, her foot having to be bandaged.
"Kryse, dinner's ready." Kryse came from behind the blanket curtain and walked towards the fire place, sitting in the chair.
Tommy handed her a bowl full of beans, also giving her a spoon. Kryse thanked him, eyeing his own portion. Kryse and Tommy ate their beans in silence, waiting for Joel to come back. Tommy broke the silence.
"How would you feel about leaving?" Kryse met Tommy's eyes.
Kryse shrugged, playing with the contents in her bowl. Tommy sighed, taking another big bite of beans.
"We will be leaving tomorrow, early. 'Want you to be getting to be early tonight." Kryse nodded, putting her bowl down on the table.
"Goodnight." Tommy's mouth quirked into a smile, happy to hear Kryse's voice.
The trio left early in the morning, before there was any sign of daylight. Kryse still was asleep, and since Tommy didn't want to wake her, he had put her in the back seat of the truck. Joel was in the passenger seat, and Tommy was driving.
"It looks like a good week 'til we get where we're s'possed to be. I don't wanna be out at night, so we're going to have 'ta take baby steps." Tommy nodded, not taking his eyes off of the ride.
"Sounds good. I wanna stop by some stores on the way an' look for another jacket for Kryse, and whatever else we need." Joel nodded, looking out of the window.
"What's goin' on with Kryse?" Tommy sighed, propping his elbow up on the window seal.
"We didn't know mom as well as Kryse knew Kacie. Dad just told us that mom died in a ridin' accident. She left when I was born," Tommy knew that his father blamed him for his mother departure.
"She's takin' it pretty hard, Tommy. It's been a good five months and she's barely said a sentence." Tommy hoped that when they reached Nebraska, that Kryse would become a little more talkative.
"When we get to Nebraska, I wanna find a barn or ranch to take shelter in. It'll do us some good to find a place kinda far away from the city." Joel nodded in agreement.
After a couple hours on the road, Kryse woke up. She took a jacket out and pulled it close around her. For a change, she did not have a nightmare. Kryse knew she should consider herself lucky for having caring people with her like Tommy and Joel, but she missed her mother so much that she didn't care about anything. Since Kryse was only five, there wasn't a lot of things she could understand, but she understood perfectly well what the line between life and death was, and she knew her mother was dead.
After an hour of silence, Joel told Tommy to get off of the next exit because he had to pee. Tommy drove into the nearest gas station, wanting to siphon more gas. Joel got out of the car, gun in tow, and went behind the building.
Tommy grabbed the can and looked over to Kryse. He sighed wanting her to get some fresh air, knowing they still had a few more good hours of driving until they had to find shelter elsewhere.
"Come 'ere, Krysey. 'Do some good to get some air." Kryse nodded, hopping down from the seat. There was a chill in the air, making it visible when you breathe.
"Come 'ere," Kryse did as he said, and he zipped up her jacket, laughing a little when he saw how big it was compared to her.
"Grabbed my jacket, didn't 'ya?" Kryse nodded, looking to the floor. Tommy muttered, "Stay close, Kryse, don't wander off. 'Last thing we need." Tommy put his shotgun over his shoulders and gestured Kryse closer.
Tommy started to siphon more gas, but stopped when he heard the first gunshot. He scanned the area, looking to see where it had come from.
"Kryse, get back in the car," Kryse eyed him wearily, as if she was scared that something would happen to him, "Kryse, get back in the car, now." He didn't have the time to deal with her not listen. Kryse quickly boarded the car.
"Duck your head and close your eyes." Kryse complied, and Tommy went off to find his brother. Several more gunshot were fired, and a woman came back from the store, with Joel following her behind.
"Start the car," she ordered. Tommy wanted to ask what the hell was going on, but when he saw the vast amount of Clickers and Runners coming towards them, he go in the front seat and turned it on. The woman got in beside Kryse, and Joel got in the passenger side.
Tommy hit the gas, seeing the infected become farther and farther.
After getting a good distance away from the hoard, Tommy stopped the car, surprising both Joel and Kryse. Tommy turned behind him and look at the woman. She had dark caramel skin and brown curly hair. She had light green eyes, looking to be about the same age as Tommy, maybe a little older.
"Who are you?" The woman eyed Tommy cautiously, but answered, "Marlene."
Tommy sneered, "Well, Marlene,who the hell are you?"
Marlene scoffed and said, "I wouldn't use that tone with me, your companion would have died if it wasn't for me. 'Bastard didn't even see them." Joel huffed, turning to Marlene.
"And for that, I thank you." Tommy looked at Joel, communicating silently.
Tommy started to drive again, looking back to Marlene in the mirror every once in a while.
"I'll be leaving you on the side of the road once we get back in the interstate. 'Don't need no extra mouth to feed."
Marlene sighed, taking in the scenery, "I 'gotta campsite 'bout ten miles away. Since I left my car back there, 'wouldn't suppose you'd be opposed of taking me there?"
Tommy was about to say something, but Joel cut him short, "Alright, Marlene, but we need a place to rest our heads tonight, so I'm askin' if you'd let us stay at your 'site, just for tonight."
Marlene scoffed, "Hell no. As a matter of fact, I should just get out now, I don't y'all knowing where our 'site is."
Joel growled, "We have a kid, 'ya see?" he gestured to Kryse, "We 'cain't be sleepin' in the car, out in the open like that." Marlene eyed Kryse.
"Little girl, where's your 'momma? Two grown men, hauling a little girl 'round the country; y'all know what I do to pedos like you two?" Tommy slammed the car on brake, and turned around to Marlene, furious.
"Shut your big f***in' mouth! You don't know nothin' 'bout-" he was cut of mid-sentence by Kryse.
"Tommy! Mean words aren't nice!" Kryse turned to Marlene and said, "Mommy's gone. Tommy and Joel have been taking care of me. Mommy's gone." Marlene's eyes softened, placing her hand on Kryse's shoulder.
"Don't worry, kid." Marlene caved, directing them to her campsite.
Tommy still wasn't sure if it was worth risking Kryse's safety. Joel glanced at Tommy, reassuring him that it was a good idea. After a few minutes, Marlene broke the silence.
"What's your name?" Kryse looked up at the strange woman and said, "Kryse."
Marlene smiled and said, "Well Kryse, we have a dog back at the camp. His name is Rascal. He's real nice, I'm sure he'll want to sleep with you tonight. He loves meeting new people." Kryse nodded.
"Tommy used to have a big doggy. His name was Shaggy. We called him Shaggy because he had long hair." Kryse's face scrunched up in concentration, wondering what happened to Shaggy.
Before Kryse could say anything, Tommy interjected, "How far are we away from your camp?"
Marlene looked around and said, "Take the next right. 'Should be on your left."
After about five minutes, Tommy pulled into what it seemed, an old camp where kids would come for summer camp. There was a lake behind the cabins and a tire swingset where Joel assumed kids would go to dive into the water.
Marlene exited the truck, whistling. A German Short Hair Pointer came to greet her. A tall man, though a few inches shorter than Tommy walked towards them, a shotgun in tow.
The man had a beard, reaching to his adam's apple and long hair, reaching his shoulders. He looked and dressed like a farmer.
"Who are they?" He addressed Marlene.
"They need a place to stay," before the man could say anything, she interjected, "They 'gotta kid, Bill." Bill was not fat, nor skinny; he had a few extra pounds, but even though he dressed like a farmer, he looked like he could kick some serious a**.
Bill glanced at Kryse, who was standing behind Tommy. Tommy stood in front of her protectively, not trusting Bill, or Marlene.
"How long are y'all planning to stay?" Tommy quickly said, "Just tonight. We need to hit the road early tomorrow." Bill scoffed.
"Where are you plannin' to go?" Tommy narrowed his eyes.
"I s'pose that's my business." Bill stayed silent, while Marlene rolled her eyes.
"Follow me." Tommy took hold of Kryse's hand, and followed Marlene, with Joel right beside him. They were led to a cabin on the farthest side to the right. When they entered, there were several cots, all bunkbeds.
"Why don't you let Kryse sleep in my cabin? I've got some clothes that I could give her. They're probably a little big, but-"
"No. We're fine." Marlene frowned.
"Let her. I'm sure she's sick of the two of you; let her." Tommy set his jaw.
"If anything happens to her-" Marlene quickly interjected, "Nothing will; 'promise." Tommy nodded.
"Alright, then."
A/N: Please review! Tell me some ideas as to what you all want to see next! Huge thank you to Mickeys Swaggmuffins for being this story's first review! :D