Chapter 14 Jebedaiha
They had been on the road two weeks, looking for other small town, surronding the big city Justin had lived .Jebedaiha didnt understand the last town would have been perfect , if he was honest it would have been his choice in his son shoes,he had like the " no time for bullshit," of the person in charge there , if people had a chance ,it was in this place . He saw some movement in the backseat , ah Pezzie , he knew the world was done for ,he knew ressource were gonna grow thin , he knew hungry people were untrustworthy people , he trusted family , close friend if he had any left , and there was Pezzie . What an oddity , definitely a sign from god , he couldnt believe she had some of all of his three kid traits . She made him reminisce, old family time , when the kid were younger , when the family live under his roof , he had a moment of reflection.
- Morning , she said
- morning , lil miss he answer , was the hotel on wheel comfortable , he told her smilling.
- It would be if you didnt hit those bumps on purpose, she said pouting
- I have no idea , of what you are talking about , please put any complaints in the complaint box .
They had a moment of silence , then started to laugh together , what a strong kid he thought less than two months ago ,she had lost all of her family and here she was laughing. Jebedaiha didnt have any illusion , he couldnt save the world but somehow , this kid had been put in his ways . In a mess up way this could be God's doing , he had lost two kids, he had decided to make an unplanned pit stop and there she was . He was gonna take care of her , she had no one, and he had no one , together they had a chance .And what a chance they had , she might have been thirteen years old but was she ever smart , the fact that she had a gun, broke his hearts , he took it from her , no it was like she couldnt wait to get rid of the thing .
- Jeb , she said with a small voice
- what is it Pez , he answered
- we ... we are running low on food , she said worried
Jebedaiha had love having her , but two mouth ate way more than he had originally planned.
- Its okay , well stop at a gas station , hopefully they're will be jerky , beans ,he heard her sight, I know theyre aren't really tasty but listen, they'll feed you, we also gonna need more water ,maybe some granola bar for you .
- You think they have some ravioli , she ask
Jebedaiha laughed
- theyre bound to be a couple can, he answered
- Jeb , she started
- yes , he looked at her through the rear view window
- thank you , I mean for everything , he heard some soft sob
He stopped the car .
- Listen to me and listen good pumpkin , your half of this team , you are worth it , no one can survive out here alone , im glad to have you here , we will make it . Now come in the front seat well crack some tune
- If its your country music , no thanks she said laughing and just like that they were on the road again.
After a couple hour ,they found a gas station, they found more than a gas station ,
There was the body of a horse on the ground and a damn .
-you stay in the car , Jebedaiha said grabbing the gun
She stopped him
- noise bring them out ,please use something else, she whispered
Jebedaiha had planned well , food , trajectory , map , but not weapon he didnt think he would need any, his plan had been simple find Justin , join a survival community and start a farm , grow some crops . Simple quick , he didnt plan to have to defend himself , he knew how to handle a gun sure but he wasnt a pro . He didnt have a lot of weapon , only a tire iron , a knife and a gun ( which only had twelve bullet ) . He grab the tire iron , the knife was too small ,good if the damned didnt hear or see you , but the car was noisy . He came close to the damned , it was an ugly thing , he never seen one so close , he was sure the human part of it was gone , apparently the head was the only way , Pezzie had swore on it . He gave a shot with all his might , the beast was still standing , it somehow became angry , looking at him , it was
now charging at him , the movement pattern was now different, somewhat more aggressive ,but Jebedaiha was quicker all he had to do was keep moving backwards , wait for his chance to stri... but suddenly he tripped , Jebedaiha had tripped on a satchell the damned, fell on top of him , his jaw clacking desperately trying to bite him , Jebedaiha had a last thought for Pezzie then for Justin " im sorry my boy ,I could have been a better father " it was over , he heard the car door clack , he heard Pezzie screaming
- get off him , you monster , you leave him alone .
The damned fell , Jebedaiha saw her crying , holding the knife .
-Its over Pez , he said holding her thighly
- I thought you were dead ,she crying hitting his chest
- Im sorry ,he said
He couldnt stand to see her like that , he felt awful , he understood that he could no longer put her in arm ways , they needed weapon and fast. He knew where he could find weapon back in his hometown , he was hoping to not have to go back in it was at least three day ride , Justin will have to wait he was probably safe anyways , they took a look inside the store , most of the stuff was gone , but they did manage to find somethings . A rather large amount of soup that would last them at least a week , it wasnt the most nutritional food but it was food , they found four cans of ravioli that had Pezzie overwhelm with joy , two gallons of water but the best find ? A book teaching guitar that would keep the girl busy since they already had the guitar so why not . They left for the car .
- Im excited to see your hometown , said Pezzie , any survivor there you think, she said
- oh im sure old man Rickart is alive , he answered if one man could survive ,its him , I dont think you will like him
- Why ? She asked
He didnt answer , they were about to leave , Jebedaiha replayed the scene , the satchel he tought , he went back to the satchel and looked trought it ,it was a survivor gold mine ,there was incredible stuff a compass , some painkiller and a small gun , he never saw a gun that size, he look at the chamber, it had four bullet , theyre was two more clips in the satchel . That would be Pezzie gun, it wasnt really great but it was better then nothing , he went back to the car and gave her the gun .
- I ... I... she stuttered
Jebedaiha knew she didnt like gun , which kid like guns at that age ,it was only for precaution theyd be fine ,they filled up with gas . They did need a long blade weapon , Jebedaiha thought a firefighter axe would do good and for Pezzie a kitchen knife would be perfect , they also needed something to sharpened blades ,that was gonna be harder to find. With Pezzie on the map , they were doing good time and would be in town in hours it was dark but they could outrun anything in the car . They felt a bump on the road and started to really slow down a lot .
- Whats going on ?ask Pezzie
- We popped a tired , dont worry we have a spare one , answer Jebedaiha
He went outside with is flashlight , yep the tire was deflated , with the flashlight he saw what had flattened the tired , a plank with some nails hammered into it , it was delibarated , was it possibly one of old man Rickart trap?
- Well ,well look who woke us up, said a man
- How impolite , said a second voice , I hope they brought something tasty
- Who are you ,ask Jebedaiha
- how rude of us , said the first voice before turning on his car
- My name is ,he started to laugh, it doesn't matter this bridge is mine and my friend here, seem like your trespassing.
- What do you want ,ask Jebedaiha noticing that they all had knife intheir hand
- Im a reasonable man , give me your food and you can pass
- there a lady in here , a third voice, said , young but we could have some fun.
Jebedaiha saw the two other man get excited . Were they gonna rape her ? He couldnt let that happen , he had left the weapon in the car ,a mistake he promise to never make again . He could steal, steal one of the man knife by being careful when fighting him .He heard a shot fire and a body fall down , the sound came from the car , Jebedaiha ran as fast as he could toward the car while the other were distracted . Was she okay ? He arrive at the scene , theyre was some growl around lots of them , he saw a body it was a man , the shot had been from Pezzie gun, Jebedaiha got in the car locking the doors . He turn the car off , he could hear the man screaming begging to let them in the car , Pezzie look at him crying , he shushed her . They heard the growl get closer . After a few hour , things had died down Jebedaiha took a look to the window they were all alone now, the man had turn and had walked away . He quickly change the tires and they where back on the road . He heard Pezzie wake up . He didnt know how to explain the situation . He didnt even have the courage to say good morning he had let her down once again.
- Are those men dead ? She ask
The poor child ,Jebedaiha thought
- yes pumpkin listen , I euhh ,he started ,
- Good ,she said, they deserved to die , Whatdo we have for dinner ?
The world was destroying her , it was stealing her childhood away .Jebedaiha looked at the sky and ask softly
- why?
