1 Year Ago
Only light was coming through cracks in boarded up windows and from the flashlight in his hand. He moved towards the door at the end of the hall. Finger on the trigger, blood was seeping from underneath, and he heard her call out weakly.
The Present
'Hailey's dead Jay and need I remind you the world has changed. You're waiting on HR to interrogate you. Nobody's holding you accountable for your actions or hers. I know you miss her; we all do... She was like a daughter to me. But you, you're my son kiddo.' Is what Voight told him the day Hailey died. Voight had found Jay isolated in the abandoned parking garage they were squatting at. Somehow Voight knew Jay would blame himself. Voights advice got him through tough days. Days he could've put his arm in front of the infected. Days he was thinking about Will, war and bullets. Days his partner shoots herself in the head without saying a word. "50-21 Ocean status update." Some days there's lighthearted moments in between the blood and brains. "We're coming out." Dante replied. Ellie walked out of the corner store; Dante covered her from behind. "Vehicle 2-10 in route rendezvous." Jay updated the team.
Abandoned vehicles scraped the doors as they crept down a long stretch of road in darkness. No lights, the lights attract them. "Daylight we're making a supply run, we're low on food." Trudy trailed off; she was in the passenger's seat fiddling with a duffle bag. Jay drove behind Voight and Kevin had the tail end. The formation was based on the vehicle mods. His lacked front and rear armor but the windows were barred. "Vehicle 2's low on food." Trudy had Jay's walkie talkie. "Copy that, vehicle 1's in the same boat." Voight's raspy voice blared through the speaker. "Vehicle 3 would do anything for some authentic down south barbeque." Kevin joked, usually Kim handled the coms for that reason. "According to the road sign we passed there's a gas station 28 miles out." Jay told Trudy who informed the rest of them.
5 Hours Later
The gas station was remote hence the shelves were stocked. Majority of the food was inedible though. They're running into that a lot lately. "Growing up in the system I learned to live without the luxuries kids with families had and I envied them. Now I walk past jewelry and clothes that were worth hundreds, thousands of dollars and you know what's worth more? A cheap blanket and a can of beans." Ellie was trying on the diamond ring she found in the pocket of a straggler crawling in the parking lot. He opened a bag of stale chips and offered her some. Trudy took the whole bag out of his hands. "Halstead, eat more rations and I'll open your coffin." He held his hands up in mocking surrender. "Jay, aren't you the leader?" Ellie asked him teasingly, he walked away and joined Voight posted in front of the building.
"Florida… I've been thinking about us settling down. Our traveling lifestyle is unsustainable. I had a dream we were having a home cooked meal, we built something together. The weather is predictable, water sources are everywhere and wildlife. Kevin said he likes Florida, Adam and Kevin visited Adam's dad in Florida once. We can find something in a rural area and stake claim." Jay stonily contemplated. "Florida's the destination then, I forgot to pack my swimsuit." Voight laughed and shoved him playfully. "I see you in a swimsuit and I'll shoot you myself." A dark-skinned woman approached them. A small cluster of trees by the gas station seemingly concealed her presence. She didn't know who drew faster Voight or Jay?
Monologue:
Who was Megan? What made her different from the other survivors they've crossed paths with? What did Voight see in her? Jay knew someone running from their past, he has. In high school he joined the military to get away from family. A few tours later he returned to Chicago to escape the confines of the military. She was 'honest and respectful' as Trudy put it - but why leave Pinewood? The team was standoffish for about a month; their opinions of her were formed over time. By the time they reached Florida.
The Present
Why'd she expect the driving to come to an end as soon as they crossed the Florida line? Ellie was fooling herself thinking relocating to a past vacation hotspot would make her life easier. She tucked strands of blonde hair behind her ear and flipped through yet another outdated magazine. Sometimes she pretended all these celebs she read about were still alive. Even looked for them in the faces of the dead. Until a few weeks ago when she came face to face with a housewife in an auto shop. Looking into her dead eyes made it all real. The world was really over.
"Captain Halstead when you announced the sunshine state as our destination, I was thinking beaches and fruity drinks. Do we have to live in the boonies? The pink motel we passed was devoid of blood splatter…" The road trip small talk changed from tanning to Ellie throwing out potential homesteads till Jay approves of one. "Motels are practically made to be seen. Voight's looking for some place under the radar and defendable." Megan let Ellie down for Jay. Jay and Ellie's relationship was interesting to say the least. "We stick to residential areas and small shops on the outskirts. Being in Florida changes nothing."
3 Weeks Ago
The sliding glass doors were ajar. Jay and Dante pushed them open and Ellie and Megan entered the auto shop. The auto shop was further into town than they typically venture. Jay and Dante took the lead. Jay Motioned for Dante to go right. Megan and Jay proceeded left. The auto shop smelled of death and gas. Suddenly Jay halted and held his hand up. A small horde was huddled in the customer service center. Just as Megan was about to grab what they came for Ellie screamed. The horde snapped out of their trance-like state and ran towards the sound. Megan and Jay put a couple down and lured some in the process. The horde inside were strays from a larger horde around back. Trudy watched in horror as they ran across the parking lot chased by hundreds.