Happy 3rd anniversary to IOTD! This story came a long way to get to where it is now. Now, I'm a little disappointed considering that I planned to release Chapter 33 today instead of 32, but college really took up most of my time. Sucks, man. But whatever, let's just get straight into the story.
-Day 1000-
The sound of a large explosion reverberated across a dark void. Gunshots echoed at ear-piercing volumes. The clanging and crumbling noises of marble and stone materials crashing onto each other as they fell to a hard ground created a thunderous noise.
The void rumbled. More gunshots were fired. The sound of another large explosion rocked the void. Nearby screams and cries were overwhelming. All the deafening noises repeated.
A nearly-four-year-old Lily was fidgeting around her sleeping bag with her eyes closed and her arms tucked in. Sweat dripped from her forehead as she whispered incoherent words from her mouth. Then, her whispers turned into whimpers and low screams.
Lori quickly awakened as she removed a blanket from herself, leaving Bobby fast asleep and alone. She grabbed a flashlight, turned it on, and quickly crawled to the other side of the blue tent and looked over at Lily before placing her hands on her and shaking her softly.
Lily gasped as her eyes opened. She looked around while panting heavily, tears falling from her eyes as she continued to whimper. Lori quickly grabbed a towel and wiped it across Lily's face before hugging her close to her chest. Lily cried softly.
"The—the big boom!" whimpered Lily. "I-I hear it. I hear it again!"
"It's okay, Lily," whispered Lori. "I'm here. I'm here."
"I'm… I'm scared…."
"I know, it's okay— just listen to my heart. I'm here. Nothing's gonna happen to you. I… I promise."
Lily continued to cry into her chest. Her cries were barely audible from outside of the lit blue tent surrounded by cold and sturdy grass and dirt. Their tent was the only tent lit up in the middle of the night. The other tents where the rest of the group slept at remained dark.
Chapter 32: The Brink
I - Day 1000
"A youthful spirit is not a bad thing to have. Too bad it doesn't last for many. It must suck knowing that part of growing up means that stress and responsibilities and pessimism replace that youthful spirit, so enjoy it while it lasts."
Lincoln peeked into his canteen before shaking the open cap downwards— however, only tiny drops of water came out.
"That was George's last message to me. Lori may have butchered it a bit but the message was clear no matter how it was said. I'm young. I can find a ray of hope when no one else can, and I hold energy that none of the older people have. I should enjoy it."
Lincoln then tossed his canteen away as Ronnie Anne and Clyde remained seated by their sleeping bags, listening to their best friend.
"That youthful spirit is gone. Everything that's happened… my childhood was robbed. And with it my innocence and optimism. All because… I have to kill to survive."
Clyde rubbed his left kneecap and adjusted his glasses on the face with spots of facial hair growing across his jawline and in between his nose and lips. He then removed a spoon out of his mouth and placed it on an empty can next to him.
"What happened before— that was in the past," said Clyde. "I mean, those kids gave you no choice. You had to do what you needed to do."
"It's what it is now," said Lincoln. "Not in the past. Now. Always. Nobody is gonna give us a choice. I'll always have to kill those who threaten you guys. Mercy is possible… for those who don't care so much about living. But I do."
Lincoln stood up as his ruffled hair rubbed against the top of the yellow tent. Clyde then stood up and grabbed his can as well, following his friend out of the tent.
"This doesn't mean you are merciless," said Clyde. "This world just hasn't given you enough chances to be merciful."
He then looked back at Ronnie Anne, who simply stared at the sleeping bags. Clyde rubbed his head before clearing his throat.
"Coming?"
"Huh? Oh. Yeah, just give me a minute."
Clyde nodded. He then walked out of the tent with Lincoln.
"Hey, Lincoln. That canned tomato soup isn't sitting right with me."
"What do you mean?"
Clyde knelt down and gagged before vomiting onto the cold dirt. Benny, who stood outside the tent, looked at him and patted his back. Lincoln grabbed Clyde's arms and helped him up.
"These canned foods must be spoiled," said Benny. "Bobby just threw up his stomach out his mouth."
Lincoln looked over at a nearby tree and found Lori holding Bobby's hair back. He then looked around the tents in the middle of the woods and found the group members all groaning and dumping their canned soup on the ground. He grit his teeth out of disgust.
Leaves rustled as Benny turned around, seeing Luan return to the camp holding an empty roll of toilet paper. She groaned as she used her other hand to hold her stomach. As she approached Benny, she tossed the empty roll away and pulled out a tiny bottle of hand sanitizer from one of the pockets in her light coffee-brown leather jacket.
"Are you good now?" asked Benny, placing his arms around Luan's shoulder.
"No, not really," replied Luan. "I need water."
"What's wrong with you?" asked Clyde.
Luan faced him and let out a deep breath.
"I got a mean case of diarrhea," she answered. "Yeah, it's funny, I know."
"I wasn't laughing."
"I'll have you know that with barely any water, barely any food, and no freakin' hospital, it's a shitty situation. Get it?"
"I get it, Luan."
Luan frowned and leaned her head against Benny's shoulder.
"We're going already?" she groaned. "I'm tired of walking around."
"I know," whispered Benny. "We're all tired."
"How close are we to Pittsburgh?" asked Clyde.
"Maybe a mile," said Lincoln. "Or maybe fifty."
"Feels like we're getting slower every day," said Benny. "Come on. Let's start packing up."
"I need to know what I can do for my… condition," asked Luan. "Where's Carol?"
The wind blew against Carol's brittle neck-length hair as she squatted behind a tree, her jeans and underwear rolled down to her knees. She held a menstrual cup and raised it up to her veiny eyes, seeing only spots of blood. She then sighed as she inserted it back inside her before rolling up her underwear and jeans. Her legs then gave up and dropped to the ground as she felt nauseous. She shivered as she stood herself back up, her thin fingers grabbing the bark of the tree.
Suddenly, she heard the sound of a guitar stringing from a distance behind her.
"Ah, no," sighed Carol. "The hell is she doing?"
Smoke lingered from the dead campfire in the center of the tent. The group members were packing up their tents and belongings while Sam— already packed and ready— plucked her fingers across an acoustic guitar as she sat against a tree.
"Sorry eyes…"
Sam sighed a breath of cold air from her dry lips.
"...they cut through the bone,"
A grief-stricken Luna stood next to Sam, looking at the woods away from everyone.
"They make it hard…"
Lynn looked at Sam and smiled while holding Lily's hands.
"...to leave you alone,"
Lily lay her head on Lynn's lap, looking at the vibrating strings.
"Leave you here…"
Ronnie Anne walked out of the yellow tent and stared at Sam.
"...wearing your wounds,"
Lori and Bobby both walked back inside their tent.
"Waving your guns at… somebody new, oh,"
Lana grabbed her crutches and rubbed Kimi's head.
"Baby, you're a lost… baby, you're a lost…"
Benny walked Luan back towards their tent while carrying a full backpack.
"...baby you're a lost cause…"
Vonda sat next to her backpack and simply stared into the ground.
"Tired of fighting, yeah… tired of fighting…"
Lincoln and Clyde began to unfold the yellow tent, preparing it for packing.
"...fighting for a lost cause."
Becky rolled a bullet cartridge around her palm, which was partially covered by the sleeves of her bomber jacket. She then looked at Carol returning to the camp and placed the bullet inside her pocket.
"Hey, Sam!" exclaimed Carol as she stormed towards the guitar player.
"Ah, shit, my throat," whispered Sam.
"Sam! What the hell are you doing?"
"Taking a break. Like a really long break, 'cause my nose and throat's killin' me and my head feels like—"
"You play and sing inside a house! Not out in the woods!"
"Hey, Pingrey!" called out Lynn. "Why don't you just chill? We're about to leave."
"We're leaving already?"
"Yeah," said Lori, coming out of her tent. "By the time the roamers get here, we'll be gone."
Carol sighed as Becky approached, holding a granola bar. She gulped hard.
"Eat something," said Becky, her voice sounding low. "We're gonna hit the road and we're not gonna stop until we're at Pittsburgh, right?"
Lori looked at Becky, who glared back. Carol grabbed the granola bar and began chewing on it before she glanced at Lori, who then looked at Lily's exhausted eyes.
"We'll try to go as far as we can," said Lori. "Pittsburgh may have to wait another day."
Becky groaned as she thrust her axe onto the ground. She then sat down on a log and looked away, grumbling to herself.
Lori turned around and closed her eyes as she let the group finish up packing.
The cold wind blew against Lori's chest-length hair, prompting her to tie it back into a long ponytail while she held a green hat sewn by Leni for Lisa. She then lowered her hands in a slow and weak motion.
Around her was the group, all taking a poignant walk in the road surrounded by pine trees for miles, seemingly heading nowhere. They had nothing but their somber and desperate thoughts as the cold wind was the only source of sound occuring.
On Bobby's shoulders were Lily's legs as she sat on them, placing her hands on Bobby's wool hat. However, even the piggyback ride did not lift up Lily's spirit. She could only look ahead with scared eyes and shivering lips.
Lana walked ahead with crutches adjusted to her size, as well as having its tip modified by a black rubber hole plug, reducing the volume of the crutches to such an extent that Kimi's heavy pants made more noise.
Clyde looked ahead, clenching his jaw as he took slow and stiff steps forward, as if limping. He closed his eyes and gulped with difficulty as he continued to walk.
"Something wrong, Clyde?" asked Lincoln.
"No," he whispered. "My metal leg is just getting cold. And… I feel it."
"We'll find warm shelter soon."
"Okay."
Sam coughed while mucus leaked out of her red nose. She wiped her nose with her coat sleeve and sniffled, taking a huge sigh before placing her hand on her forehead, feeling her warm and moist forehead. Her backpack lacked a guitar, as she left it behind in the woods for the worms.
Becky held the top of the iron blade of her long fire axe and used it as a crutch to help her move forward and reduce the pain of her healing foot. However, with each of the past hundreds of thousands of steps she took, a piece of her sanity tore down. The agony of each step on her wounded foot reminded her of the boning knife that caused the injury in the first place— resulting in Calvin capturing her, Jace, and George. Each step came with the reminder of the paralyzing fear that gripped her when the cannibals were interrogating her for the location of the cure, even going as far as to scarring her arm with cuts resembling a vulture— scars that are still present and will be present for the rest of her life. Each step flashed an image in her mind, showing Damien's terrifying and demented face as he cauterized her throat that he slashed open— the burn scars now visible to anyone facing her.
Each step triggered the voices that only she could hear. The voices would swirl around her mind, bothering her with all sorts of violent intrusive thoughts. Now, the voices were telling her to fend off her hunger using the flesh of the dog, Kimi. She looked at the Japanese chin dog walking next to Lana before quickly looking away. She continued to ignore the voices.
The hungry, cold, and demoralized group continued to walk ahead. They all walked next to each other. From left to right walked Sam, Luna, Luan, Benny, Clyde, Ronnie Anne, Lincoln, Lori, Bobby— carrying Lily, Carol, Becky, Lana, Kimi, Lynn, and Vonda.
The road was empty and appeared to be that way for the miles to come.
A white-tailed deer bit into a soft grass leaf and removed it off the ground, chewing it as it moved its head around in search for more grass. Suddenly, its head stiffened and stared at a noise ahead. Then, it darted off before an arrow flew past it, hitting a wooden staircase that led up to the porch of a two-story cabin.
"Don't worry about it, Vonda," said Ronnie Anne. "At least we found shelter."
Vonda remained silent as she lowered her bow and looked down at the dirt, looking for more deer tracks.
Lori looked up at the gray sky where her eyes spotted a small snowflake falling down. Her eyes followed it until it hit the ground.
"Let's go inside," she said.
The front door to the cabin opened. Lori walked in with her hatchet raised next to her head. Bobby stood next to her, holding up a Glock 17 and a small switchblade. Becky walked behind them, looking into the dim living room while holding her axe up. Carol flicked the light switch while keeping her trench knife raised, though the lights did not turn on. Vonda walked into the dark living room and looked at the logs at the fireplace. Lynn stood next to her and placed her hands on the couch, feeling dust and cobweb. Lincoln poked his head into the dim kitchen, keeping his Bowie knife pointing forward. Clyde followed him as he opened the cabinets, finding almost nothing inside besides water bottles. Ronnie Anne walked up the stairs with her crossbow aimed at the hallway before hearing a noise. Lana gasped as she saw a rat run down to the bottom of the stairs where she stood before moving inside a hall in a wall. Luna looked inside a room lit by faint winter sunlight as she tapped her MSR-10 rifle on the wall. Sam then put down her guitar and placed herself on the bed, ignoring all the dust she was laying down on. Benny looked inside another room with Lily, opening up a drawer that had small and dry socks in them. Lily smiled and removed her tiny boots and took off her socks before replacing them with the dry ones. Luan went inside the bathroom and opened up the cabinets, frantically looking for toilet paper. Kimi simply lay on a small carpet and began to doze off as the rat passed it.
"We need to catch that rat," said Ronnie Anne.
"Yeah, I'm with you on that," said Lana. "Usually, I would feel bad, but… I'm starving."
"Huh? We're not catching it to eat it, that's gross!"
"Well, why do you want to catch it then?"
"To get it out of this cabin! It's riddled with an insane amount of germs and diseases!"
"We can cook it."
"Not without a fire," said Lynn. "Lori's lighter's not working. Ran out of fluid, I guess."
"That's too bad," said Ronnie Anne. "There's nothing in here to start a fire?"
"Nope, kitchen's all empty," said Lincoln, walking into the living room.
"I heard you got taught how to make a fire by a psycho," said Lynn, handing her two wooden sticks. "Why don't you show us what you learned?"
Ronnie Anne sighed. She palmed the sticks with her fingerless gloves and knelt by the fireplace. She began to rub the sticks against a carved hole in the log.
"So, what's your opinion on eating rats?" asked Ronnie Anne.
"They're high on protein, right? Or was that bugs?" asked Lynn.
"I think it's the bugs," said Clyde.
"You guys are just as gross as Lana," said Ronnie Anne, as she continued to rub the first wooden stick faster and faster. "I'm gonna kick the rat out. No one's gonna eat that disease-ridden plague spreader."
"Just wait until you're starving," said Becky, watching the smoke lingering from the wooden stick. "Hunger has a way of turning people into the worst kinds of monsters. You should all know that by now."
"Right. Vonda, you're getting that deer?"
Vonda ignored Ronnie Anne. She simply sat on a table, looking out a foggy window. The smoke then had embers floating around it as Ronnie Anne removed her hands from the fireplace.
"Alright… who's up for some hunting?"
"Settle down first," said Lori. "And don't get too excited, Ronnie. You're staying here."
"What? Why? Is it my overprotective brother telling you to do this?"
"Nothing overprotective about keeping you safe," said Bobby.
"Can you even keep me safe? I mean, seriously, can you even kill someone to keep me safe?"
"Enough," said Lori. "You need to keep the flame intact."
"Why do you let him do this? Why do you let him treat me like I'm still a little girl?"
"This is my decision. Treat your brother with some respect."
"Whatever."
Ronnie Anne walked towards the stairs. Lincoln looked at Lori.
"I'm going to talk to her," he said.
Lori nodded before Lincoln jogged towards the stairs. As his footsteps faded, she turned towards Bobby, who simply looked at the fire spreading around the logs.
"She can handle her own," said Lori. "I'm tired of benching her all the time."
"It's for her own good," said Bobby.
"How? She's more adapted to this world than you."
Bobby scoffed. Becky gasped as she formed a smile. Lynn and Clyde looked at each other.
"We're gonna go up…" said Lynn, grabbing Clyde's hands. "Maybe explore the attic or something."
"Yeah," said Clyde, letting out a nervous chuckle. "Don't forget to drink some water! It's in the pantry. Alright, bye!"
Lynn and Clyde bolted up the stairs with Carol slowly following them. Vonda walked into the kitchen while Lana followed her, leaving Kimi alone near the warmth of the growing fire at the fireplace.
"We're not doing this again," said Bobby. "She's my sister. She's my responsibility."
"Two times you let her take backseat," said Lori. "And those two times— you lost her. When Houlton fell, she survived together with Lynn. And after DC, she survived with Lincoln. She's killed people to survive. She can protect herself, and that's something you have to understand."
"Oh, I understand fine. Maybe I just don't want her out there killing people. Think about that?"
"Not everyone is as lucky as you. One of these days, your luck's gonna run out and you will have to do what needs to be done. I can't always be there for you, Bobby."
"Trust me, it's not that bad," said Becky. "World's full of assholes. It's… satisfying sometimes."
"Oh my…" groaned Bobby as he walked away.
Lori shook her head and looked at Becky.
"Did you really have to say that?"
"It's true," said Becky. "You gotta do something about your husband."
Lori sat down on the couch and faced Becky.
"Tell me more," Lori whispered.
The door creaked open before Lynn and Clyde slowly walked up the dark and narrow stairs at the end of the second floor hallway. Lynn turned on her flashlight, revealing an overwhelming amount of cobwebs lining up the entire attic like transparent walls.
"Yikes," whispered Lynn.
Clyde looked at a cockroach scurrying across the wooden floor. He felt chills going through his spine.
"You were joking about being willing to eat bugs earlier, right?" asked Clyde.
"Maybe."
The attic then went dark as the flashlight turned off.
"Uh, Lynn?"
"I think the batteries are runnin' low."
Clyde felt his heart palpitating. Lynn smacked the flashlight before it turned back on. She smiled as she moved it around.
"Ah, good, the dark still gives me the creeps— AH! Clyde!"
"What?"
Clyde then looked at his leg and saw a spider crawling up his jeans. He gasped before Lynn kicked it, squishing the spider to death. Clyde groaned in pain as Lynn quickly ran up to him.
"My bad, I thought I hit your metal leg," said Lynn.
"You did," said Clyde. "You did, it's just… a phantom limb kinda thing. Doesn't hurt. It's just in my mind."
"Oh, okay. That's nice."
Clyde grabbed his stomach and squirmed as he felt every word of his nauseating lie slip out of his mouth. Then, he looked at the splattered body of the spider on his jeans.
"How come you didn't pull a Leni and freak out?" asked Lynn. "Aren't you allergic to those things?"
"No."
"Then how come your leg got all numb when you got bit by a spider that day? Remember, like a couple years ago?"
"That's what the venom does to everyone. And it wasn't just a normal spider. I'm pretty sure it was a black widow."
"Ah, I see. Not me. I'm built different."
Clyde chuckled. Lynn smiled and chuckled back as she brushed her hair to the side.
"You brought her up."
"Yeah," whispered Lynn.
"I'm proud of you. Though you got some new scars… at least your old ones are healing. I'm… I'm happy for you."
Lynn's smile grew.
"I wish Lincoln could bring up our old friends again," added Clyde.
"You should help him get there."
Clyde nodded.
"Hand me the flashlight?" asked Clyde. "I want to look around this attic a bit more."
"Conquering your fears, eh? That's good. You're braver than me 'cause damn, this place gives me the creeps."
Lynn tossed the flashlight towards Clyde, who caught it with his forearms. She then waved goodbye as she walked down the steps and out of the attic.
Clyde smiled before forming a deep frown. He looked around the attic and found a wooden chair nearby, littered with dead bugs. He sat on it and sighed, lifting up his left leg before pulling up his left pant, revealing his metal leg. He grabbed the thigh part and pulled on a lever, loosening the metallic band on the top, allowing him to pull out his metal leg. He grit his teeth as he slid it away from his limb, exposing a tight mark around the swelling muscles. He looked down at his limb and rubbed against it, dreading the use of his tight metal leg again.
A door closed. A candle was lit on. Two teenagers were sitting next to each other on the floor against a wall, making out.
Lincoln continued to press his lips against Ronnie Anne's as she grabbed his shirt and pulled him close to her. He placed his hands on the back of her head and caressed her hair as their tongues began to make contact. He then released his lips.
"This is so risky," whispered Lincoln as he took a soft breath.
"But it's getting you excited, right?" panted Ronnie Anne.
Lincoln nodded before falling on Ronnie Anne's chest.
"Ugh, I'm getting lightheaded," he groaned.
"I can imagine," said Ronnie Anne, lifting him and placing his back against the wall again. "All that blood's leaving your head and going somewhere down there."
"It's the hunger. It's making me tired. And it's probably making you hasty."
"I don't wanna die before I get the chance to make love with the guy I'm in love with."
"You think we're gonna die?"
"I think horrible things are gonna happen soon," said Ronnie Anne, placing her hands on Lincoln's lap. "Might as well enjoy the time we have now."
Ronnie Anne leaned towards Lincoln's face and began kissing him before the door creaked open. She quickly turned her head away from Lincoln and looked at the door.
"Oh, damn…" said Lynn.
Lincoln and Ronnie Anne looked at her standing by the door. Lincoln sighed as he covered his face with his hands. Ronnie Anne placed her hand on her sweaty forehead.
Suddenly, Becky walked inside the room. She looked down at Ronnie Anne and then moved her green eyes towards Lincoln.
"The hell are you guys doing?" asked Becky.
"Nothing," said Lincoln. "What's up?"
"Where's Carol?"
"I don't know," said Lincoln. "I don't know anything."
"She's not here, that's what I know," nervously chuckled Ronnie Anne.
"What are you so sweaty for?" asked Becky.
"Some weird stuff was going down here," chuckled Lynn.
Becky faced Lynn.
"Weird stuff?" whispered Becky.
Lincoln looked at Lynn and clenched his teeth as he shook his head. Becky then faced Ronnie Anne, who quickly stood up and sat on the bed. Her green eyes tried to look into Ronnie Anne's brown eyes, but they kept glancing away.
"Look into my eyes."
Ronnie Anne gulped and faced Becky.
"What are you hiding from me?"
"Nothing," said Ronnie Anne. "We were just talking about stuff."
"Well. I suppose if you were talking about stuff here alone in the room, then I suppose it's none of my business, right?"
"Look, Becky, just back off," said Lincoln. "We don't know where Carol is. Ask someone else."
"Right, you two aren't the type to keep secrets. Except for that time when Lana killed Simon Weber, right, Lincoln?"
Lincoln exhaled deeply through his teeth.
"Or what about that time when you killed that poor innocent cook, Ronnie Anne? Didn't think anyone was going to bring that up?"
"Why are you doing this?" asked Ronnie Anne.
"Secrets tear apart the group. Or in Lisa's case— the whole world. Richard, Pike, Zoey, Weber, Lana. This group is on the verge of falling apart. I won't tolerate any more secrets."
"They don't know where Carol is," said Lynn. "You don't have to be so paranoid."
Becky glared at Lynn.
"I respect you," said Becky. "You actually bust secrets. Keep doing the good work."
Becky then left the room. Lincoln and Ronnie Anne let out a deep sigh as Lynn closed the door.
"What… the hell… was that about?" asked Ronnie Anne.
"Maybe she's still pissed that you guys were willing to let Becky die," said Lynn. "Remember when Calvin told you to stay in the room?"
"I remember," said Lincoln. "Still… something's off about her."
"I'd say she was close to busting your lovebird asses," cackled Lynn. "You two? Wow, it finally happened. Best friends my ass."
"You cannot tell anyone!" said Ronnie Anne.
"You making out with Stinkoln? I can see why that's embarrassing. You have my word."
"What are you doing here, Lynn?" asked Lincoln.
"Put some dry underwear. We're going hunting."
Lynn then left the room. Lincoln looked down at his jeans.
"But I already have dry underwear…"
"Don't let 'em get to your head," said Ronnie Anne. "Lynn's just being an asshole."
"Yup," said Lincoln as he stood up and walked towards the door. "Lynn is just being Lynn."
The door to the next room opened as Luna entered, finding Sam lying on an empty bed, looking up at the ceiling with her dry eyes. Luna's eyes showed a lack of energy, though she still found it in herself to move her lips and speak.
"The pillows and blankets are downstairs," said Luna. "The couch is all yours."
Sam's dry eyes slowly turned towards Luna, who looked down. Luna crossed her arms and tapped her right boot on the floor as her mind began to race quickly— some including the vivid images of the explosion that took away her close friend.
"A little help?" asked Sam with a stuffy voice.
Luna kept her head down but moved her eyes up.
"Help? You want me to help you get up?" asked Luna. "From the bed?"
Sam nodded. Luna moved her eyes down and shook her head softly.
"I'll ask Carol to help you get downstairs," said Luna.
"Heh, why?" Sam said nervously. "Last time I remembered… you got two legs and two hands. And those arms of yours— wow— I don't know if you noticed lately… but your arms are toned."
"You got two legs and two hands too. Your arms are toned too— I guess."
"But I'm—"
"Sick. With the flu. Carol says it's very contagious and that people shouldn't really be touching you, especially me. We don't have any medication, so we can't risk more people getting sick."
Sam lowered her eyes. She then closed them as she cleared her throat, feeling phlegm moving around.
"I see what it is now," said Sam. "You… you don't think I'm going to make it."
"That's not what it is."
"You're distancing yourself from me. You don't want to talk to me. By not spending my final moments with me, you think it's gonna hurt less. Hurt less than it did with Jace."
Luna scoffed and turned away from Sam, placing her hand on the doorknob. She then sighed as she hesitated.
The door then burst open as Lynn walked inside the room. Lincoln stayed back outside in the hallway, peering inside to see Sam.
"You ready?" asked Lynn.
"Yeah," said Luna.
"Can one of you get Carol?" asked Sam, slowly lifting herself from the bed. "I need help getting downstairs."
"We can help you," said Lynn, walking towards the closet. "Luna was here, why didn't you ask her?"
"She didn't want to help."
Lynn pulled out a gray T-shirt from the closet.
"Why not?" asked Lynn.
"She's sick," said Luna. "I don't want to get sick too."
Lynn wrapped the shirt around her lower face, covering her nose and mouth and tied it around the back of her head.
"She's your girlfriend," said Lynn. "I thought you were willing to die for her or something."
"This group can't take any more losses," said Luna.
"Right. And I can't have you watching my back. Not when you're like this. I'm benching you."
Lynn grabbed Sam's arm and placed it around her shoulder. Sam groaned as she walked forward, her fever and migraines attacking her head, making it impossible for her to keep her balance on her own. Lynn continued to guide her out of the room.
"Dude, come on," groaned Luna. "I'm not being selfish, I promise!"
"Don't make me suspend you."
"You're so infuriating."
"It's been like two months now. Jace died. Get over it."
"Lynn!" exclaimed Lincoln.
Luna shook her head and walked out of the room and past Lynn and Sam, heading down the stairs.
"I'll see you in the living room, Sam," said Luna.
"Luna, wait—" gasped Lynn.
The steps moved further downwards until they faded. Lynn sighed as Lincoln blew out the candle in the room.
"Not cool, dude," whispered Sam.
"Can't you stop being a jerk for five minutes?" said Lincoln.
"Whatever, at least I got the balls to help a sick person get downstairs."
Sam rolled her eyes before sneezing. Lincoln covered his nose and mouth with his sleeves and followed Lynn and Sam down the steps.
Snowflakes dropped from the sky and collected on the branches of the evergreen trees. Despite the rising sun, the temperature of the air continued to drop. The woods were windy and there was nothing to smell as the frost had burned the nostrils of three survivors.
Lori, Bobby, and Vonda lay low behind a rock and a thick fallen branch, each covered in a thin layer of snow. Ahead of them were prints on the snow, which led to a shrub about twenty meters away. Next to the shrub was a white-tailed deer— the same white-tailed deer that the group spotted near the cabin earlier— chewing on twigs from the shrub.
Vonda kept her wavy hair tied in a messy bun while holding her bow against the log. However, she did not draw an arrow. Next to her was Bobby mounting an AR-15 on top of the log. Next to him was Lori looking at the deer and nudging her husband.
"You can give me the gun now," whispered Lori.
"What do you mean?" whispered back Bobby. "I'm taking the shot."
"Let me take the shot. We can't risk losing this deer."
"My shot's fine. It's not even far."
"It's not that— just give me the damn gun before you freakin' hesitate again."
"I told you already— the gun jammed. I didn't hesitate."
"Yeah, okay."
"Really! David and George were the only ones who cleaned the guns, so it's not my—"
"Shut… up…" whispered Vonda. "Just take the shot before the deer gets away."
Bobby lined up the crosshairs on the scope to his right eye and aimed at the neck of the deer. The deer then lifted its head up and faced the log.
As soon as he pressed the trigger, the deer flinched and the bullet grazed its antlers. The deer quickly leaped away from the shrubs and fled into the woods
"Aw, man," groaned Bobby.
Vonda jumped over the log and chased after the deer, running past the shrubs as the wind blew against her face.
"Vonda!" shouted Lori. "Come back!"
"Vonda!" shouted Bobby.
Lori and Bobby ran up to the shrubs and tried to follow Vonda as she continued to leap and dash across the woods. With each passing second, however, her red-orange hair seemed to fade into the cluster of trees and hills. Then, Lori tripped over a rock and fell on her knees against the snowy ground.
"Ah, dammit!" yelled Lori as she picked herself up. "Dammit! You fucked up again!"
"It was a hard shot—"
"That's why I told you to give me the gun, 'cause I knew you don't have the balls to shoot living things!"
"Y-You think I hesitated?" scoffed Bobby.
"I know you hesitated! Like you always do!"
"It was windy—!"
"Oh—!"
"—a neck shot is hard! It's hard and you know that!"
"Enough with the bullshit! Why take a neck shot?"
"Well, Sam—"
"Well, there's your fucking problem! You're not Sam! She can actually hit her shots and she's not a coward!"
"Let me finish my sentence, Lori!"
"What is there to hear? More excuses coming from your lips? Enough with your excuses!"
"They're not excuses—!"
"Oh, stop talking already—!"
"—just explaining what happened!"
"—give me the gun already!"
Lori reached for the AR-15 though Bobby quickly moved away, holding the gun behind his back. Her eyes began to gleam in anger.
"What are you, a child?" yelled Lori. "Am I fucking married to a toddler?"
"You don't have to be married to me."
"Oh, is that how you feel? You're such a baby."
"Mock me all you want. You're not getting this gun. We're going home."
"Give me—"
Lori leaped forward and shoved Bobby's head away as she tried to reach for the rifle. Bobby grunted and pushed Lori away.
"That's the most aggressive you've ever been in your life!" yelled Lori.
Bobby huffed as he shook his head.
"Coward! Weak! No guts!"
"That's right," said Bobby. "Keep the insults coming."
"I wouldn't be insulting you if you actually killed that deer! Grow some balls!"
"Why don't you stop being such a cold-hearted perra!"
"Oh is that what you think I am? Some heartless bitch who doesn't love you?"
"You have a problem, Lori. All of you do! A problem comes and you all want to face it with violence! Have you guys no empathy?"
Lori's eyes began to tear up.
"And you think I don't feel anything when I kill my enemies? You honestly think I don't care about their lives?"
"Lori…"
"No, screw you, Bobby! You're not the first person to bring this up and you won't be the last. Just get out of here!"
Bobby lowered his head and removed the strap from his back before tossing the AR-15 onto the snowy ground. He then unholstered his Glock 17 and began to walk away.
"I'll be waiting for you at the cabin," said Bobby before disappearing into the woods.
Lori gulped and gasped as she let out her tears. She placed her back against the bark of a tree and sat down, lowering her head behind her arms and knees as the wind continued to howl and the snow continued to fall.
Their feet crunched against the thin layer of snow, leaving behind a trail of shoeprints that were quickly being masked by falling snowflakes. Lynn carried her bow and arrows while Lincoln carried Ronnie Anne's crossbow as they walked across the woods, scouting the hills and fields around the naked trees.
"I'm jealous of that crossbow," said Lynn. "Is that part of the friends-with-benefits package? Or is it like a reward for taking her virginity?"
"Stop," said Lincoln before smiling. "We didn't do anything of that kind."
"You know… I'm proud of you. I didn't expect you to bag a girl as pretty as R.A."
"Gee, thanks."
"You're welcome. Though, that means I'm disappointed in her. I really thought Ronnie Anne could get someone better-looking. Like Clyde without his glasses."
Lincoln smiled as Lynn continued to talk.
"Sure, Clyde had a total dork-face before all this but puberty has been shaping him up pretty well. That and all the calories he's been burning."
"From starving," said Lincoln with a condescending tone.
"Don't be so depressing. From walking and lifting and running. He seems to be getting taller pretty fast these days— that's such a bonus."
"So… is that why Ronnie Anne is too embarrassed to tell others about her and I? 'Cause I thought puberty was starting to make me look good too."
"Nah, you still look skinny."
"So is Clyde."
"Eh, he's got some muscle. Toned arms. Thin but toned like mines. Your arms could've been toned too if you actually went with us to the gym back in the White House."
"So is it because… I still look like a kid?"
"Nah, it's probably 'cause you're a dork. Reading Ace Savvy comics and playing with your toys in your spare time."
"They're action figures."
"Whatever."
"Clyde does that too. In fact, Clyde does the same things I do!"
"Yeah, but the difference is… I don't care. People have other things to worry about than who's kissing who."
"So she doesn't want to tell people… because dating me is embarrassing?"
"Yeah."
Lincoln frowned. Lynn rolled her eyes and placed her hand on her brother's shoulder.
"Come on, I'm just messin' with you," said Lynn. "I don't know why she doesn't want to tell people. It's something you gotta ask her yourself. Don't be a sissy about it either. Stand your ground and get the truth out. She's a tough girl so I'm bettin' she'll bite back."
"That's true. Can't believe I'm saying this but… thanks for the advice, Lynn."
"My pleasure. The least I can do with all the—"
"Wait! Look!" exclaimed Lincoln.
Lynn turned her head and looked upwards where Lincoln pointed at. A roamer wore a backpack and had a rope tied around its neck that hung from a branch about ten meters high. As its golden eyes spotted movement below, its mouth opened up and a growling sound came out of it.
"Dang, that's sad," said Lincoln.
"We may have to watch our backs," said Lynn. "This roamer doesn't seem all that old. I mean— it's certainly not fresh… but this dead girl's got winter gear on and her body doesn't seem all that decomposed. Maybe she's been dead for a couple months. Maybe weeks."
"Think she has food in her backpack?"
"I'm betting she does."
Lynn placed her backpack, bow, and quiver down and ran towards the tree.
"Lynn? What are you doing?"
"Just gonna—"
Lynn jumped and grabbed onto a couple branches before climbing her way up the tree.
"—get this gal's things."
"That's a pretty high climb. Think you can do it?"
"Of course. I'm not unathletic like you—"
Lynn yelped as a branch snapped and caused her to fall to the snowy ground. She groaned as Lincoln looked at her.
"I'm okay!" exclaimed Lynn. "This is one tough tree to climb."
"Why don't you just shoot it with your bow and arrow?" asked Lincoln.
"Why don't I just— ha! You feel this wind? You see the height? How thin the rope is? Not even Ki Bo-bae could hit that."
"Who?"
"She's the current women's recurve world champion. How could you not know her?"
"The Olympics don't interest me."
"She got her title at the World Archery Championships— not the Olympics— you freakin' nerd. Though, I bet she woulda' kicked ass in the 2016 Olympics."
Lincoln looked down at the ground and crouched as he began to dust away the snow using his gloves. Lynn then jumped up and hung onto the tree before slowly climbing it.
"Are you looking for ants to bite the rope for ya'?"
Lynn let out a laugh before stumbling on a branch. She quickly fell down onto the ground again as Lincoln picked up a pebble. He then shook his head and dropped it as Lynn ran towards the tree again. Lincoln stood up and walked away as Lynn continued to climb before she fell again.
"Damn this son of a— Lincoln?"
Lynn looked around and noticed Lincoln walking towards a playground in the distance. She rolled her eyes and made another attempt at climbing the tree.