Where Do We Go From Here
Fluffy-142
I HAD A PLAN! I kid you not I have a plan. It is a good one, and this is where THE LAST OF US material really comes into warning. Sorry the last one was so short. Try not to cry…
Chapter 5: The World We Live Now
The funeral was short. Only a few words were said, and no one wanted to say anything. I found a dusty Bible in the closet, and thought it appropriate to say a few words from it.
"Well… that's that," the last words that were said. Shoveling the last few loads of dirt on her grave, I missed her already, and all of the good times we had together flew around in my mind. Fighting back tears, the rest of us slowly trudged back to the trucks. Now that there are only 5 of us, we only need one truck, so we siphoned the fuel from it, and left it in the dust of the road.
As we're leaving the state, I hear an unexpected break in the silence.
"Do you want to talk about it," Inquired James from the passenger seat. "Whenever I feel down like this, talking usually helps."
"No…" I know I want to, but driving in tears is really not the best idea right now. Being in around West Virginia, I really don't want to drag myself into the rain from a wreck.
"Well… whenever you need something, I'm here." As he rolls over towards the window, I can't help but wonder if I'm doing the right thing. I have no idea what we're going to do. We have no plans and running low on basic supplies. Maybe we'll find a small town with a place we can last out the night. But that'll have to wait.
As we enter the small town of Lewisburg, I realize that we're better off staying in the truck.
"Well, this is it… home sweet home…" As I turn off the truck, and the interior lights, I pull out the blankets from the house and cover my friends up.
"Better cover up. It's gonna be a long night." Sleeping with my shotgun in my lap, and using my coat as a makeshift blanket, I somehow manage to fall asleep despite the pounding rain.
20 Years Later
I woke up to the prodding of a shiv on my arm. Starting to yell at the unwanted wake up call, a hand covers my mouth. A silent shushing sound followed afterwards. Realizing it's only my Jess, my heart rate starts to slow, and my own hand lowers the 9mm jammed into her neck out of reaction.
Hearing the silent shuffle of feet outside the house we're staying in, my body instantly shakes off the after effects of sleep. As the doorknob of the front door turns slowly, and silently squeaks open, the pistol re-emerges from underneath the pillow.
I heard the footsteps come closer and closer, the swish of the curtain covering the doorway sends adrenaline soaring through my veins. Eyes now adjusting to the low light from the shuttered lantern held by James, I lower the gun again.
"Where the hell have you been?" James seems unaffected by my sarcastic remark. I know where he's been, down the road to check on Debra, who had died three months earlier. The Government found out about her weapons, and the shooting squad "just happened" to be right down the street. I hate having to burry two of my friends, which is two more than I had liked. I knew that they had something going, but I didn't know that it went that far. I know what he's going through; I had to bury someone I cared about too. Remembering that day 20 years ago, it still bothers me. How we got to Texas I'll never remember. All I know is that the truck became our best friend. When we finally broke down just outside Kentucky, it was all downhill from there. Runners everywhere, living in broken down house after broken down house. How we all kept the will to live for that long is beyond me.
"Want to talk about it? It'll make you feel better." Remembering the same words he told me all those years ago. Making the connection, he gave me a weak smile.
"You know the answer to that. Better get back to sleep, big day tomorrow."
"It is tomorrow." The come-back brings a smile to my own. Rolling back over, with my hand curled around the concealed weapon under my pillow. I listen to everyone shuffle back to their beds as I drift off into the blackness that had replaced dreams long ago.
"Rise and shine everyone!" waking up before everyone has its perks. Alyssa is usually up and at 'em around the same time as I am, but we usually let her sleep in. Stalking over to James' bed, I whisper softly in his ear: "Wake up. It's, time for breakfast." I like using my Batman voice. As a smile slowly spreads across his face, I leave him to attend to his morning rituals, which includes another 5 minutes of sleeping. Walking to Jess' room, I knock loudly on the floor boards. She instantaneously snaps awake. She's a very light sleeper. It's almost as if she doesn't sleep at all. As I walk over to the opposite bedroom, a smile touches my face.
"Knock! Knock! Rise and shine camper, there's a wonderful hot plate of government ration shit waiting for you,"
"Ugh! Thanks for the motivation you Duchenugget." Mornings were never really Rebecca's favorite time of day.
"Sorry, but these don't really get you a platter of eggs and bacon now do they?" I'm on a roll with the sarcastic jokes. But those will have to wait. Getting up at 5:30 means that you only have to wait an hour for the ration booths to start serving the government slop, but when you run a smuggling business, ration cards become the currency. We've only been in Texas for 19 years, and it isn't a walk in the park.
There's also the matter of trying to keep Becca's secret from the soldiers. The bite is just a reminder of what she is: Immune.
"All right, ladies. Who's hungry? I know the answer to that, but its quick energy to take on the day, and what's out there. Heading out the door, the birds and the sun give us a warm welcome. This is going to be a bad day.
Sorry about that cliff hanger at the beginning. The funeral was for Kaitlin, we went back into the woods, found what was left of her, and buried it. Sorry I didn't write that in, but I forgot until now.
Fluffy-142