Napalms. They were napalming the city. So what, that meant no refugee center. No chance for us... And all those people in Atlanta? Suddenly I was thankful for city traffic. That could have been us, burning in the streets.

"That is a haunting scene." I looked to my side, finding an old gentleman standing beside me. He pulled a fisherman's hat off his head, and held it to his chest.

"It's horrible," I said, looking back out at the retreating aircraft.

He nodded, "God help us."

I left, and went back to the highway. Carl was sitting in our car, alone. I climbed in beside him and offered my arms out. The kid fell against me, and I leaned my head on his.

"What's happening, Chloe?" He asked.

"I dunno, man. I really don't have a clue. All I know is, I got you. I got my dad, your mom. And we're gonna figure this out, somehow. I know we will."

"How?" he asked, and I was stuck. I lied when I said we'd figure it out. I didn't know what else to tell him. The truth? That they set the city on fire? That everywhere we turned, people were dying? People were... not themselves?

"We just will, okay? Trust me."

The front doors of the car opened, and Lori and my dad got in. They shut the doors, and dad locked them, their eyes glued somewhere outside the windows. Lori covered her mouth with her hands, and my dad's hand hovered over his holster.

"What's going on?" I asked. Lori looked back at me, her eyes red. I looked to the driver's seat. "Dad?"

"They're coming." He said quietly.

Carl let out a whimper and I pulled him closer. He grabbed one of my hands, holding on tight. A hand slammed against the window, and I screamed. I looked over, seeing a young blonde, waving at me. I reached over and rolled down the window.

"Hey! Go back! We're heading away from the city. Follow the winnebago."

I nodded and she dissapeared, heading to other cars. My dad turned over the engine, and I rolled up the window as we pulled back, and started driving away. Carl squeezed my hand, and I fell asleep, holding him close.

When I woke up, it was morning. Carl had migrated to the other side of the car, curled up into a little ball, his eyes looking out the window.

I sat up, rubbing my eyes. "Where are we?" I asked.

"Driving to Fort Benning," He told me. "We just stopped for gas."

I nodded, looking around. There were ate least four other cars, including the RV. "Where's our parents?"

"Shane's getting gas," he said, "My mom's over there," he nodded towards the RV, where Lori was speaking with a blonde woman and that man with the fisherman hat from last night.

It wasn't a dream.

I looked over at Carl. "Hey, you okay?" I asked, moving over beside him.

Hs shook his head. "Not really."

I hugged him close. "Me either. But let's go eat, yeah? No sense in starving ourselves."

He nodded, "The asian guy has peaches."

I laughed, "Okay, then."

Carl went off to find food, and I headed over to the RV, walking up beside Lori.

"-exactly, and last I heard, this is America, you know. We have guns, and-" The girl looked to me questioningly.

"Oh, Chloe, you're awake!" Lori threw her arms around me animatedly. "How are you feeling?"

"Ridiculous," I said, looking down at the ruffly dress I was still wearing. "And hungry."

"I have the cure for both of those ailments," The young blonde from last night smiled at me, appearing beside Lori. "You're about my size... And we have plenty of food."

I looked to Lori and she gave an encouraging nod. I followed blondie into the RV.

"What's your name?" She asked.

"Chloe," I told her, shutting the door behind me. "Yours?"

"Amy," she smiled, "That's an awesome dress, by the way."

I smirked, "Thanks. I just got home from a party when... Well, you know."

She smiled sadly, handed me a pile of clothes. "Yeah. My sister and I were in Atlanta. Dale, the guy who owns this thing? He saved us."

I took the clothes, "What happened? In Atlanta?"

She looked at the floor. "I'm... I'm not really sure. My memory's trying to block it out."

I snorted, "I know the feeling."

She went to the cupboard, and grabbed a plate. "Go ahead and get changed in the bathroom," She said, "I'll serve you up a plate."

I nodded, heading for the back. "Don't happen to have hashbrowns, do you?"

She gave me a weird look. "No... But I have pancakes. And bacon."

I shrugged, "That's cool, too."

When I walked out of the RV, I had on a black t-shirt and a pair of short jeans shorts. I was still wearing my ballet flats from the party, Amy and I didn't share a shoe size unfortunately. I had a plate of hot food in one hand, fork in the other. I shovelled pancakes, eggs, and bacon into my mouth as I surveyed the scene. We were parked on the side of a road, and there was about a dozen people around, talking in hushed voices and gathering gear together. There was a gas station about twenty yards up the road. Everything else was empty fields.

"Hi, Chloe," I looked over, finding Sophia smiling up at me.

"Morning, Sophia," I smiled. I took another bite of pancakes.

"Do you know where Carl is?" She asked.

"Good question." I looked around, not seeing any trace of the little guy anywhere. "Hmm... There. I see him." I pointed to one of the cars, where Carl was sitting leaning against a wheel, throwing a rock into the air and catching it. Lori stood by him. Sophia and I walked over, and I sat beside him. He offered me a bowl.

"Peaches?"

I laughed and displayed my plate. "I got pancakes, bro."

He eyed me jealously. "Where'd you get those?"

"Amy, at the RV," I said. "Go ask nice."

He got up and hurried over, and Sophia followed him. I took a bite of bacon, and looked up at Lori. "What are we doing?" I asked, standing.

"Right now, we're waitin' on Shane, and one of the others," She said. "Glenn, I think."

"Wait, my dad left? Where is he?"

She guestured up the street. "They're getting gas, and supplies."

"Why aren't all the cars up there?" I asked, taking my last bite of food.

Lori wrung her hands together. "There were... Some of those things down there."

"Oh." I stopped talking. I wished to avoid the entire end of the world subject altogether."So, Fort Benning?"

She nodded, "The Army Base. Shane thinks it's our best bet."

"Hot soldier men with big guns and tons of supplies? Heck yeah."