Forgetting the Apocalypse

22. Welcome to Montana

Several weeks have passed since we celebrated our anniversary and gave our gifts to one another. Blackie was sporting his gifts well and no doubt Fredi was loving that he no longer had to share his shirts. The pup was lovable and had soft fur but he shed constantly and sometimes those little stray hairs can cause an itch on our clothing. That and that Blackie has an actual leash not some old rope or belt, which surely gave Fredi more peace of mind.

These last few days had been uneventful and we couldn't be happier seeing the border of Wyoming and Montana on the horizon. Though instead of staying on the backroads, the boys said that we should head back into the trees so that we could find the river again. I was reluctant at first with good reason but according to them they wanted to show me something magical. However they wouldn't tell me what it was because it was a surprise.

When I saw it, it took my breath away. I knew that memory or not that this was in fact one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen. Roone said it was called the Wind River. From there it turns into the Big Horn River at cross section called the Wedding of the Waters. By day I have no doubt that it is still beautiful but it wasn't until midnight struck that it became ethereal. Looking up into the night sky or at the water's reflection, it almost makes you forget the world is shit. Honestly, another hoard could sneak up on me and I would be to enchanted by the scene to react until it was too late.

With Blackie as our lookout we were able to stay there for while just enjoying the view, not having to worry about such things. I just wanted to take it all in before we had to start moving again. It was bittersweet. Despite the ruin and destruction these damn zombies had caused the world, nature was able to preserve something that was indeed to be magical. I was sad to leave this place that felt so much like a haven. Yet it also motivated me to survive. To survive long enough so that when the last undead dies, I can come back here. Enjoy it in a whole new light and say that I made it.

After our detour was over we headed back onto the roads towards the first town on the border. Hoping to find a new map soon.
The first sign of any civilization was a large highway. Abandoned cars where scattered everywhere. It felt uneasy walking alongside them, almost like walking in a graveyard mixed with a maze. They weren't just left in their lanes but looked more like people had tried to drive in all kinds of directions in hopes of getting out of the jam. It made us feel exposed and trapped at the same time.

Only adding to our discomfort was that some of the cars still had zombies inside them. A few were chewed up but the majority of them still had all their skin. Besides the decay, they looked relatively clean or new or whatever the correct description is. I guess they had stayed in their cars waiting for the perfect opportunity to leave which never came.

Yet, that uneasy feeling we had, it wasn't being caused by the ones in the cars. There was something else here. I know it wasn't just our paranoia because even Blackie was sniffing around in the air. He sensed it too. His ears were pointed up and his tail tucked between his legs. We felt like we were being watched. Just itching for a reason to run. It wasn't too long until that reason finally came.

Blackie was the first to make a move. He didn't just turn around. He full on jumped to look behind us. At first we didn't see anything. Then one popped up. Maybe a hundred yards away. He just stood there staring in our direction, tilting his head. He didn't move like a regular zombie but we remained absolutely still and quiet. It was night so he, it, shouldn't be able to see us. The tension increased when it began sniffing the air like a hound. We touched up our clothes with their blood a day ago so we prayed it hid us well enough to remain invisible.

Nope.

Right away his face turned back to us. He sniffed even harder.

The loud snarls the zombies were scary enough. This was a whole new level. This bastard stood to his full height and let out a high pitched screech. I'm not talking about a scream or a roar but a screeching sound. Much higher than that of tires. It didn't stop there. He then doubled forward on all fours and rapidly started crawling to us.