Journal of Tessa

Chapter 3: I must stay strong... for her

March 24

I woke up earlier the next morning that I wanted to. I was just hoping it was all just a dream, but it wasn't...

Addy was still sleeping when I woke up, so I decided to get breakfast ready for us. But as I walked threw the woods, the only weapon I had was a pocket knife, thoughts entered my head.

All my friends just died... My family... Addy's family... all dead... I'm never going to see them ever again. The only person in my life now is Addy... I'm not going to loose her to.

It was a good thing I all ways practiced throwing knifes, because we would have starved. I came back to the camp to find Addy starting fire. "Where you learn to do that?" I asked her. She looked up at me and replied, "Girl scouts." I laughed, I genuinely laughed for the first time since all Hell broke loose.

I skinned the 2 squirrels I caught as Addy finished making the fire nice and big. "Ewww..." she said and I started to roast them over her fire. "Don't worry," I reassured her, "it's only temporary, till we find food."

We ate in silence, then I spoke up. "We need to get moving. We should try to find a shelter, search a few houses, maybe find one to hold down in. And maybe..." I looked down at my bloody hoodie, "and maybe find some extra clothes." Addy nodded in agreement and we threw our stick away, smashing out the fire, ready to start the day.

It was hard to sneak out of the woods with so many infected around, but we managed it, I only had to cut a few throats, but we made it. We traveled down rows of streets till we came to a neighborhood.

"Should we split up or stay together?" Addy asked. "Together." I replied almost immediately. We came up to the first house, and I unlocked the door with one of my bobby pins. It creeks open, everything looks untouched. "No one looted this place yet," i observed. "That means that most likely this whole neighborhood hasn't been touched!" Addy said happily. "Jackpot." I replied with a smile.

"I'll go upstairs." Addy said. "Ok," I said, "Look to see if there are any weapons, or bags up there. Maybe a set of new clothes for us, or some shampoo or some shit." Addy nodded and leaped up the stairs. I walked though the house, picking up a few candles along the way, till I got to the kitchen.

I opened up the fridge. I set all the food that could last us a while on the counter. A new packet of apples, pickle jar, and some water bottles. Then I moved to the cabinet. Cans of tuna, beans, and all different kinds off foods were in all the cabinets, but the last one I opened made me smile.

Knives, kitchen knifes n a small basket. I took the basket out and placed it on the counter just as Addy came down the stairs and into the kitchen. She had a smile on her face as she said, "Good news!" And she set a fucken pistol on the counter next to all the food, along with a duffle and book bag, sets of clean clothes, and shampoo.

"A gun!" I practically squealed, "there has to be amo somewhere. Look in all the cabinets and drawers!" We searched the drawers in till Addy yelled out, "I found them! And what's this?" She tossed me a long round object. "Addy!!" I exclaimed, "you found a silencer!" She looked at me confused, "A silencer?" I nodded, taking the pistol from the counter, attaching the silencer onto the small gun. "Yeah, it make the shoots quiet. Let's pack all of this stuff up and go to the next houses, maybe we can find some alcohol and bandages. We have a whole neighborhood to explore."

We packed all of our supplies in the bags. Addy wanted to carry the duffle, so I got the book bag. We put the food and weapons in the book bag and the clothes and cleaning supplies in the duffle.

We searched at least half of the houses on the block. We found more canned food, a can opener (thank God), more ammo, and even a fucken shotgun up in an attic. We were set for a while.

Addy and I were walking down the sidewalk when I said, "That looks like a good house to hold up in," I pointed to a decent looking house across the street. Addy nodded and we heated across the street. Unlocking the door, Addy stepped inside as it swung open and I looked at the setting sun.

Maybe this is going to look out after all...

I stepped inside shutting the door behind me. Addy and I took a tour of the house: living room on right, a staircase on the left. Walking in further was a kitchen and a bathroom, the water still worked. We then went upstairs. Three bedrooms and a bathroom, a bathroom was attached to the master bedroom also accompanied with a sideways balcony overlooking the front and back yard.

"I think we struck gold," I said to Addy as we stood on the balcony looking at the sunset. Addy hummed in agreement, "We should get to bed. Search this place in the morning and settle down tomorrow." I nodded and we went inside.

I let Addy have the master bedroom but she yelled at me so we need up in a kids room with two beds in it. We were a little small for our age of 14, but we made due.

We fell asleep to the sounds of far away chirps from crickets and the moans of the infected.