MAKNAE [twd] *editing*

【107】

"You look different today.. Taller maybe?" Tara hums, tapping her finger against her chin in thought.

"I wish," I huff.

"Tanner?" she guesses.

"We have been out in the sun a lot," I agree, "I've gotten.. Never mind."

"What? Never mind what?" she probes curiously.

I purse my lips to try and get the smile away, poking my tongue against my cheek.

"I was just gonna say that I've probably gotten a lot more sun than any of you," I shrug.

She tilts her head, not catching on and I chuckle, biting my bottom lip as I walk ahead of her.

"Glowing.. That's what it is," she decides, "You've got a certain glow about you today."

"I'm still a virgin if that's what you're trying to get at," I say as I glance back to her.

"You are?" she asks, confused.

"Alternatives," I state simply.

"Believe me, I know all about alternatives," she laughs.

I follow in suit of her laughter and she soon catches up to walk beside me again.

"Map says there should be a little town this way," Tara points, "We should see how far out it's clear then tell the guys."

"Little town," I repeat, "Got it."

We trail down the road conversation basic and simple but comforting nonetheless- mostly teasing and questioning about last night.

We weren't too far out until I stop in the middle of the road and Tara does the same, looking at me questioningly.

"You smell that?" I ask, looking around the road and trees.

"Smell what?" she asks, glancing around as well.

I take another sniff of the air, confirming my suspicion.

"Salt.." I name, "We're near the ocean."

Tara pulls the map out, scanning over it carefully, "No.. We're still far away from the water."

I shake my head, tilting my head back, "There's definitely water nearby."

"How can you tell?" she asks, looking to me than back to the map, "The map says we're going away from the water."

"I just know," I assure, "Can I see the map?"

Tara nods, stepping closer and handing me the map. Sure enough, the red line showed that we were going away from the water. But, I'd been around the ocean enough times and had it far away long enough now that it was easy to recognize.

"Something's not right because we are for sure near water," I frown, staring at the map.

"Are we going the wrong way? Are we lost?" she asks, looking to the map over my shoulder.

"Hands up!" a sudden voice shouts.

Tara and I jump, following the order quickly as three women step out from the woods with guns. They keep their aim on us as they surround us and I notice two more women emerging from the trees behind us.

"Lost.. Definitely lost," Tara nods.

"You have any weapons on you?" one of the women asks.

"Here," Tara motions, turning so the woman could see her gun, "Just this one and knives."

Bat.. I left the damn bat in the camper..

The woman nods to the others and two step forward, taking the gun and knives from us.