They Called It The Apocalpse

Chapter 4

About an hour in Jason looked over at Cassie to find her shivering, she was asleep with her head against the window and her arms crossed, but her whole body trembled with the onslaught of cold that had started to seep into the car. He reached over and carefully drew her closer towards him, slowly shifting her along the backseat with one arm around her waist and one supporting her head, she breathed delicately, her eyes fluttering a little as he finally got her over to his side of the seat. He pulled the blanket up to her chin and tucked her under his arm, placing it round her and pulling her into his warmth. He drew the blanket up over himself too and rested his head against the window. He closed his eyes and remembered the last time they were that close, her golden hair trailing over his shoulder and his arms tucked tightly around her waist. He missed it, the time before civilisation broke down and he felt an overwhelming want to have that time back. He hugged Cassie tighter to himself and then drifted off into a deep sleep.

When Cassie woke up, the first signs of sunlight were beginning to peak through the forest canopy, rays of warm sunlight shone in through the car window and she took a second to stop feeling disoriented, only it never stopped until she looked over and realised that she had somehow made it onto Jason's side of the car, she scrambled forwards out of the blanket, his arm falling down to his side as she reached the other side of the car and sat looking at him. He seemed content in his sleep, head back against the window, mouth pulled into a small smile.

She reached for her bag that she'd stored down in the footwell and picked it up onto her lap, throwing back the flap and rummaging through the items inside until she found what she wanted. He hands gripped it tightly, clinging to what she had left. Her eyes drifted over its frayed fur and dead glass eyes; the stuffed bunny was tatty and old but to Cassie it was still brand new. An ache formed in her throat as she pressed the rabbit to her nose and took a deep breath in, it smelled of old talcum powder and soap. A sob tried to make its way up her throat but she pushed it back, depositing the rabbit back into her satchel and securing the flap. She curled her arms around her legs and tucked them up to her chest, folding her head down into them and breathing heavily in and out, the water in her eyes began to subside and she let out a deep sigh as Jason began to shift.

First he pulled his leg up then he adjusted his arm, yawning as he did and opened his eyes. He blinked groggily a few times at Cassie, who stared at him like a deer in headlights. "You sleep ok?" He asked, rubbing his eyes to free the pieces of grit that had settled there and Cassie was taken back by the thick, deep growl of his voice. "Uh, yeah." She mumbled, watching his jacket begin to unzip itself as he stretched. "Damn, it got warm." He remarked, unzipping it all the way and throwing the blanket off of him, the grey t-shirt he was wearing underneath was drenched in sweat and clung to him limply. "You ready to break out of this joint?" He smiled and Cassie nodded. Drawing his leg back Jason kicked at the door, one time and a cloud of dust escaped, two times and the hinges squeaked, a third and the door popped right off. He stepped out into a ray of sunlight then offered Cassie a hand, which she gratefully accepted then they set off again, this time carrying a map and a blanket with them.

Jason resolved to carrying the map and blanket whilst Cassie again practiced with the gun, she had a few bullets left in her round and chose to practice using the gun on the move. "How about that up there?" Jason asked, pointing up to a protruding branch on a nearby tree, "Can you hit that?" She took aim, continuing walking forwards as she did. Pulling the trigger, she braced, preparing her body for the recoil she expected from the gun. Jason watched as the bullet skimmed the top of the branch. "Not bad, you're getting better." She turned back to look at him with wide eyes, "Really?" He nodded, swapping the blanket from one hand to the other.
"It won't be long and you'll be able to shoot us some food." Jason answered as he passed her, she'd stopped to look at the branch she was aiming for.