Lisa

The truck pulled up to a narrow bridge – only one lane to govern traffic both ways. She detested these small, back roads, but the main roads were littered with the derelict vehicles of the entire population when they attempted to flee, so safe passage wasn't exactly smooth nor inviting. She stopped and took a long look ahead. No sign of danger. She sighed. The only way was forward.

She crept across the old bridge slowly, careful not to become the cause of anything that would hinder her progress. The truck had enough fuel for a few more hours at least, so she made sure to keep an eye out for any situations that might benefit her as well. In this part of the Riverlands, she wouldn't find any large cities from which to scavenge. She made do by looting farmhouses, small towns and rest areas. The main highway was nearly impassable, but these country roads could easily take her North.

The bridge groaned and creaked as the truck rolled over it. As she approached the middle of the bridge, she suddenly felt a wave of anxiety wash over her. Her skin began to form goosebumps and her hair stood on end. The end of the bridge had a small car crashed into the side of the final support beam, and behind that she swore she saw something move. She pulled the gearshift into neutral and let the truck slowly roll to a stop. That was all that she needed to do.

Within moments, a flurry of activity erupted from all sides. Human shapes darted from shadows and crevices, the sound of shouting and footsteps nearly paralyzing her with fear. She reached for the gearshift and slammed her foot down on the clutch, only to stop when she saw one of the figures had stopped in front of the car. She couldn't tell if it had been a man or a woman, but it was covered in leaves and tattered green and brown cloth. She took in her breath before she suddenly realized that the figure had stopped. In fact, they all had. And they were pointing guns at her.

"Get out!" a male voice boomed from in front of her. "Let us see your hands or so help me, you'll find out which Gods are real!" She did not need a second invitation. She killed the motor and stepped out. One of the figures moved forward to check her. Camouflage, she realized. Homemade. She nearly began crying as the men checked her and the truck for her supplies.

"You're alive," was all she could whisper. The man lowered his rifle.

"So are you," he replied. "How?" She shook her head.

"I, honestly, don't know..." she admitted. "I've just kept moving." He snickered.

"Keeping away from the dead, eh?"

"Trying to."

"It's clean, sir. She's travelling pretty light," another man announced from behind her. The leader lowered his cloth mask and pulled the hood away from his head, revealing a middle-aged man underneath.

"Where are you coming from?" he asked.

"Branton," she admitted. "I'm heading North."

"What's in Branton?" the man asked with suspicion while the rest of the men slowly stopped circling her and decided that she wasn't a threat.

"I was captured," she explained. "I'm... just trying to get away from them." Seventy-five percent of the truth, she reasoned.

"Who?" he furrowed his brow.

"The people who took me," she lied. He stared her down before nodding in understanding.

"Well, we're not taking you," he finally declared, motioning to his men to return to their duties. "Why are you going North?"

"I've got... family there," she lied again. "I have to know," she added for flavor. It was more than enough for him.

"I see," he began. "Got anything to trade?"

"Not really," she shook her head. "I was hoping to find some gas for this," she continued, motioning towards the truck. "Then I wanted to keep moving until sundown."

"You!" a voice called from behind her. "I know you!" She turned and saw a somewhat familiar face staring her down, a rifle hanging from his chest.

"You're..." she began.

"You're the doctor, from Higgart!"

"You're Martin – I remember you!" it finally clicked for her, thankfully verbally. She finally let a few happy tears flow. He laughed.

"Sir, this is a doctor! The government had her doing research when the shit hit the fan! I was with her in Higgart when it all went sideways," he explained. The leader grinned.

"Any friend of Martin is a friend of ours," he declared. "Let's get your truck rolling. We'll take you to the border."