Chapter 12
The next day I woke knowing that we were about to set off on a long journey- the CDC. It was a risk, we knew that, but I would trust Rick with my life if I had to. If he's wrong, he's wrong, there's just as much a chance Shane's wrong too.
I joined Shane, Rick and Lori near the RV to hear them discussing the options once more. "Morning" Rick greeted me, followed by a head bob off Shane and a forced smile from Lori. "Everyone ready?" I asked, impatient to start the journey. Rick and Shane exchanged glances, "Yeah, guess we'd better hit the road ASAP" Rick replied before we all started congregating towards the cars.
Rick and Shane gave a small speech before we began the journey, and one family, the Latino man Morales' group, decided to part ways. I didn't give it much thought, other than 'good luck with that'.
Due to my medical knowledge, I volunteered to sit in the RV with Jim for the journey, along with Glenn, Dale, T-Dogg, Jacqui, and Andrea. Me, Glenn and Dale exchanged small chit-chat in the front seats whilst the back filled with an awkward and tense atmosphere.
Several hours passed, and we eventually settled in silence, well, apart from the rattling of the RV engine. After a while, I trailed off into a deep slumber, and my mind whizzed over the events of the past 48 hours. Amy, the woods, what may have happened if I gave into her seduction. And now she's dead. I guess that's the world we're in now.
"Chris! Get over here now!" Jacqui shouted over, disrupting me from my thoughts. I bounced out of the chair and walked up to her and Jim, being careful not to lose my balance and hit my head off of something. When I looked up at Jim he had blood trickling out of one of the corners of his mouth and down his nose. Swiftly, I joined Jacqui beside him, unable to tell whether he knew I'd moved.
After a moment, he slowly turned his head towards us, trying to avoid any discomfort. His face was a picture, gleaming with sweat and smeared in blood, but the most distinctive feature was the pain he showed- his features were all scrunched together as he tried to hold back any noises. "Heyya bud," I began, "how you doin?" I asked, rather stupidly. He squinted his eyes at me as he attempted to take in a clear deep breath, but failed, "I- I can't go" He paused, in a sudden panic for breath, "-any longer. I'm… I'm done."
The words shocked me and I couldn't help but leave my mouth hanging open ever so slightly. Slowly, I raised my head to look at Jacqui, who clearly had seen this coming; she had tears welling in her eyes at the thought of leaving him. I placed a hand on her knee as if to comfort her and gave her a small, yet fake, re-assuring smile.
Gradually, I rose to my feet and went back to my seat at the front, purposefully avoiding the gaze of T and Andrea. "Dale." I said, that was all that was needed. He looked up at me and saw it in my eyes. We're going to lose yet another member of the group.
Eventually, we all stopped our vehicles and congregated outside the RV. Rick and Lori walked over together, hand in hand, and I could already see the look of resentment on Shane's face. "Is Jim okay?" Rick said, releasing his grip on Lori's hand. I wasn't sure how to respond to that, was he okay? Was he just delirious? Or does he know he's not got long left? Thankfully, however, Dale replied before I had a chance, "He won't make it any further; he wants us to leave him." No matter how he could have said it, the words still would have lingered in the air, leaving behind a bitter atmosphere with it.
I spent the next 30 minutes or so in Shane's car. After everything that had happened lately, I just didn't want any more pain or stress. Once everyone had said their final goodbye's to Jim, Shane joined me in the car and we continued on the journey.