The Long Road Home

Chapter Fourteen

(Author's note: Yeah, there is no chapter 13. Call me superstitious.)

Page was happy to get back on the road. Before the last stop, she had planned to travel through the whole winter. Cold had never bothered her, and she had a long way to go. She shook her head. Back in Lakeside, she thought it would take three months to get out of Washington. Six months later, she was still here. She looked back to check on the boy and found him sitting up looking around. Page smiled but did not stop.

'The infected are tough.' She told him. Page hated that she had to tell him anything at all about the monsters, but if the boy was going to survive this new twisted world, he would have to learn. 'I have seen them running around on broken legs. I even shot one in the heart and it kept coming at me.' She looked back to see him watching her fascinated. 'Ranged weapons are safest, but seeing as I lost my bow, all we have at the moment is this bat, but I found that it can be just as effective.' He nodded and mimed shooting a bow then patted his chest. You want to learn to shoot?' He nodded.

Page was quiet for a moment, then stopped and pulled her new atlas out. She opened it to Washington State. 'Let's see, Redridge is the next city we will hit.' She smiled. 'And the last one in the state. It's big enough, so we should be able to find a place that has bows there. I can find one to replace the one I lost, and we can find you a good beginner bow to learn with. For now though, you look like you're feeling better, so time for your first defense lesson.'

She helped him out of the wagon and pulled out the little baseball bat. Page handed it to him and then pulled a stuffed sack off the cart. She used a rope to hang it against a tree. 'Okay Kid, this is your target. For an infected attacker, the best bet is to aim for the head, hitting with everything you have. Go on take a swing.'

The boy moved forward and swung hitting the sack with little force. 'Come on kid.' Page encouraged. 'You can do better than that. Anyone that is brave enough to call for help like you did can do anything.' He nodded and swung again. It was harder, but not hard enough. 'Better, but you need to hit harder than that. Think of it as someone you hate. Don't aim for the head, aim for something past the head.'

The boy stared at the bag for a long moment. His eyes narrowed, and he swung the bat much harder. He did not stop and each swing harder than the last. He was crying hard and attacking the bag with a blind rage. Page did not stop him knowing he needed this. The boy fought until he was exhausted. He fell to his knees and sobbed out his pain.

Page took the bat from his limp hand and pulled him into his arms. She held him until he settled down. The pain this poor kid had suffered ripped into her heart and she was glad he got that out of his system.

'Feel better?' She asked once he settled down. He nodded and wiped at the tears on his cheeks. 'Good.' She picked him up and set him back in the cart. Page put his bat next to him. 'This is yours. Keep it with you at all times okay.' He nodded. Page dug through their supplies and found what she was looking for. She handed him the yellow package. 'These are red Swedish fish.' She explained. 'I found them back in the store. They are the greatest candy ever made in the history of the world. I am convinced the makers of them filled them with crack, so I am not sure if giving them to you is such a good idea. You may go on a state to state killing spree to find more.' The boy smiled amused. 'Enjoy them little man. They are my favorite.' He opened them and offered her some. 'Nope, those are all yours. I've got more stashed in my pack for another time.' He nodded, and she started them off again.

The weather remained good the two days they were on the road. On the third day, they made camp inside an empty gas station. The place had been looted of anything useful, but it gave them a roof over their heads. Even better, Page had seen a small town on the top of the hill. She had hidden the boy while she went to go check it out. Just like the last town, it was void of life and all the stores were untouched. It would be a good spot to settle down.