Chapter 19: 500 miles

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The Georgia borders were all Caden had ever known, confined within the state lines her entire life

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The Georgia borders were all Caden had ever known, confined within the state lines her entire life. With just a simple second, push of the gas pedal, and rattle of a pothole, the Georgia border was crossed. Entering the unknown territory of South Carolina. A weird feeling buzzing in her chest, lifting then weighing, two opposites battling as her heart rate spiked.

The road felt no different, the landscape reflecting the same desertion as before. Yet the signs read different words, foreign places painted on the dusty road signs. Her fingers gripping at the hem of her shirt, balling the fabric as her heart beated irregularly.

A neighborhood came to sight, the cars slowing to a stop along the dusted asphalt. The cool air condition halting as the van shut off, feeling the hot muggy air begin to seep in. Caden slid the door open, cramped body craving to stretch, relieved to inhale the air even if a lace of rot wafted in the air.

After a brief run down of a quickly formulated plan, the girl found herself trailing behind Michonne, Carl, and Tara into one of the homes. The one story house shielded by overgrown weeds and vines wrapping along the gutters. Michonne banged on the door, silent seconds passing by as they awaited for any movement. Nothing occurred, giving them the greenlight to open the door.

The buzz of flies rattled her ears, the stench if rot forcing its way down her throat, eyes burning as they began to water. A corpse, shriveled to merely bone, sprawled on the floor of the living room. Dark splotches of old blood staining the carpet, a gun held in its bony fingers.

Caden was the first to approach, sliding past the adults as Carl's gaze pressed into her. The girl rose the collar of her shirt over her nose, holding her breath as she went up to the pile of fragile bones. Reaching down, lips curling in disgust as she moved its fingers from the gun, the odd texture nearly making her hurl.

"Disgusting" she shuddered as she back pedaled quickly to gain distance. Blinking away the hot tears glossing her eyes as she coughed a bit.

Carl took the revolver from her hand, eyes fixated with focus as he unclicked the chamber with expertise. "Empty" he muttered with disappointment.

Tara ducked her head down, the back her hand pressed over her mouth as she tried to refrain from gagging. "I'll never get used to the smell" she rasped out in a wince.

Michonne glanced around, fingers grasping over a bottle of air freshener. Innocently inspecting the dusty bottle before spraying it into the air, an apple cinnmon smell clashing with the stench. "Better?" The women grinned with hints of sarcasm.

"Actually.." Tara took the bottle, spraying it onto her fingers and reaching up dabbing her nose with the liquid. "So much bet-" she sneezed before she could finish her sentence.

Caden leaned over to Carl, partially lifting on her tip toes to hover over his shoulder. "Aren't we suppose to be the 'kids'?" She loudly whispered purposely, the boy muffling a chuckle as Michonne gave the pair a look.

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