Chapter 331
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After burying Lily Eve spent the rest of the day hunting for breakfast. She set traps like Amy had taught her, best to preserve bullets. If anyone tried to hurt her, she'd use it. If it was just one, she'd kill them , more than one, she'd use it on herself. Around 2pm Eve saw a wolf with it's leg caught on a tree branch. She was still full from breakfast. Maybe this could be dinner, but that would either mean waiting here, wasting time, or killing the wolf now and carrying it around. At any rate, for some reason, this wolf reminded Eve of Cujo. She felt sympathy for him. Against her better judgement Eve lifted the branch, set the wolf free. She feared he'd hurt her, but he didn't. As Eve walked away the wolf followed her. He didn't attack, but he followed her, probably hoped Eve had some food. Eve tried telling him "No food" then the wolf left. He might not understand english, but her tone seemed to get through. He had no reason to follow Eve if there was no chance of food. But an hour later this wolf found Eve. He brought her a present, a dead bird. Was it possible he thought Eve was asking him for food? At any rate he had brought Eve an early dinner. She cleaned this bird, and they ate together. This wolf could help Eve find food until she reached home. And Eve decided she could use the company.
Over the next few days Ev and this wolf settled into a new routine. Walking towards New Jersey, hunting for food, sleeping close to each other at night. A few times they heard voices, tried to avoid them. Eve couldn't help but wonder, was this how the concept of pets started? Just a human and a semi-tame animal, hunting together for their mutual survival. Eve was grateful to have a new friend. Sometimes, in the morning before heading out, or i the evening after making camp, Eve and the wolf would just play together. Eve named this wolf "Balto." after an old movie she'd watched as child, before all this insanity. She knew these moments were likely the last moments of joy she'd ever experience in this life, possibly forever. It wouldn't be fair to leave Balto alone to starve or freeze to death. Eve decided that when she got home, she would use this gun on the dog, before putting herself down like the animal she was.
April 28th 2036. 83 days until impact. Eve arrived home on this day. Her old suburb seemed desserted. Between the plague, food shortages, people desperately trying to sneak into the Arks, it seemed that all survivors had left. Eve stood outside her house. It didn't belong to her legally, there was still the notice saying this house had been siezed by the government, but it seemedlike there was noone around to enforce the law. Eve and Balto went inside. Not suprisingly lootersand cops had taken anything of value a long time ago. No food, no furniture, not even any pictures. Pieces of the walls were missing, even the wood of the actual house had been stolen. Eve would've been very suprised if the water or electricity still worked. Eve could see the imprints of two chalk outlines, where her father had died, and where she had murdered Karen. She looked at Balto, was it right to kill him? He was a survivor, he deserved a chance. Or maybe she wasjust too weak to do it herself. At first Eve told Balto to go away, but he wouldn't. Then Eve fired thegun at him, and Balto took off. Eve then went to what used to be her bedroom. This had been her safe place once. Now, she didn't even recognize it. Eve tried to comfort in the fact that her pain would soon be over. As she put the gun to her head, Eve found it's cold steel a relief. One second of courage, and all her problems would be over. Eve put her finger on the trigger and closedher eyes. Then the darkness came.