The Outbreak

Chapter Three: Military Rations

Looking down at her hands she realized she had her gun back. She looked at the newly added suppressor that would screw on directly in place of the flash hiders. Tucking her gun in her holster she started back to the school, getting lost in thought as she walked the football field silently blaming herself for what had happened.

River and Cheyenne were in her room, about 2 days into the infection. Military curfews and rations were in effect. River tried to convince Cheyenne to come with him, to go to the 'paradise which doesn't exist. Soon, the infection got too bad and they quarantined the city when they first infected a man named Jones, he was a convict in prison. A guard was killed by a riot and turned, killing one of them and there was no stopping the spread of the pollution it just kept going killing everyone in its path.

'We were in school when the quarantine went into effect we couldn't go home because we were the only ones not infected or so we thought I remember being in 4th hour crying because I would never see my mom and babies again river tried to comfort me but that was when a piece of my soul died along with my family the rest of my soul died with river making me wonder if I had any humanity left. Making it back to the school she heard a gunshot

"What the...." Cheyenne ran towards the noise up the stairs to the room river died in and their standing was a tall man with a gasmask on standing over a dead runner the stench was intoxicating pulling out her gun she lifted it at the man

"Who the hell are you and why the fuck are you in my school,'' the man in the gasmask laughed

"You're school? I don't think this is your school sweetheart" he said. Cheyenne growled, pulling the trigger, making the bullet fly by the masked man's head as a warning.

Cheyenne coldly said "I'm sick and fucking tired of people calling me sweetheart" the man in the mask raised his hands in surrender "ok ok I'm sorry I'm only here to help" sill pointing her gun at the mysterious man "name" "what" his voice was like dark chocolate sending shivers down her spine. "Give me your name," the piety girl asked, "I want your name," Cheyenne demanded.

"Ghost.... Call me Ghost" the masked man now known as Ghost answered

Cheyenne opened her door, the wooden door creaking open as River and she stepped in. Her room was simple, with a bed in the corner, a few band posters, and hanging lights decorating the bland room. River was used to this, as was Cheyenne. The chaotic family Cheyenne lived with was nothing short of poor and abusive but Cheyenne and River didn't care, as long as they had each other.

"So, you're leaving?" Cheyenne asked. River sighed, sitting on her skinny bed, the mattress creaking as his weight shifted on the bed.

"I have too... The world is falling apart... Just look at the military presence," River stated, pointing to the opened window. A soft fall breeze flowed in, waking the curtains. As they flapped, Cheyenne shook her head.

"Listen to yourself! You're gonna get yourself killed, or worse," she stated. River scoffed, turning his head to the window.

"I wish I could explain... I wish you would just listen!" River stood, waving his hands around. He walked to the window, putting his hands on the seal. "I'm leaving because I have nothing to worry about. No problems to deal with. No-"

River sighed, looking down. "You just don't understand... My siblings, my parents..." Tears fell and Cheyenne walked to him, looking out the window, following River's gaze to the horizon. She knew what pain he suffered, the pure agony of not having his family with him. But she couldn't relate. She actually envied him. The lack of family was something she had been hoping for since they reported that first prison riot with the Infection. But all they could do was mourn, mourn the fact that a family of six was reduced to one.

"Theirs a promised land. A place deep underground where I can be with survivors. I'm heading West, toward Washington. I'll find them, and join them," he stated. Though she shared his pain, she also couldn't see the pain in his face. Not a single tear fell, not a single one. But things were different. No one could mourn, and no one could take time to themselves. And no one could simply relax.

"They'll be shifting guard positions near the back wall of the City at 9 PM tonight. Some of the Renegades are helping me escape with them. They have weapons, tools, food rations, anything we would need to-"

"STOP!" Cheyenne yelled, looking at River. He turned around, looking into the female's eyes. "Do you even hear yourself?" she sat down on her bed, groaning as River scoffed.

"You don't think it'll work," he states. Cheyenne stuttered, looking at him. River threw his hands up, shaking his head as he turned around. He scrunched his face up, bracing himself against the window, the glass cracking as shards of glass cut into his hand. For the first time, River felt a tear fall. Not due to the pain or the lack of his family. It was the last thing he had, his friendship, was breaking. Cracking due to survival.

"Cheyenne, I want to go and I am... But you have to understand that I need your blessing, and I need you. Not just your word, I need you. I need-"

Suddenly, the room shook, an echoing explosion ripped through the window, smokey black fire rose up from the back wall of the quarantined city. River shook his head, mumbling as he grabbed his backpack, rolling his sleeves up. Cheyenne lifted, looking at River.

"River, what's going on?" She asked, her breath shaky. River looked at Cheyenne, wrapping his hand up in a white-clothed bandage.

"War, Cheyenne. War."