For a long time, Eden Perkins believed she wouldn't find another human being she would willingly die for - she didn't want to. The past few months of her life, ever since the day the dead had started coming back to life - and maybe even before that...
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╔────── ╝ ☠ ╚──────╗ xix. | NO ROAD HOME. ╚────── ╗ ☠ ╔──────╝
THERE WAS NO AWKWARD MORNING AFTER. Eden had been the first to fall asleep due to exhaustion and sleep deprivation, meaning Luke took over the first part of the night's watch. He had woken her at some point so he could get some rest as well, fully aware that he wouldn't be able to make it through the next day if he didn't get to sleep for at least one or two hours. During the shift switch there had barely been any talking, they barely looked the other in the eye, unsure of what to even say. The silence had been deafening.
And when the sun started rising, they were back on their trail. They were heading towards a small town, finally out of the woods, and had to take out a couple walkers on their way – nothing out of the ordinary, though. In order to find something to eat with them having no resources left, they decided on searching the houses once they reached the town.
Eden had little hope to find a functioning car but that didn't stop her from scanning the small town's street upon arrival, looking for one. There actually were a couple, yet none of them looked in the condition to their desired destination.
Pulling Eden out of her thoughts and drawing her attention to himself, Luke spoke up, "We should check that house out." He suggested, pointing at one of the houses to their right. "Looks pretty big. Maybe we'll find something to eat."
Not thinking it was necessary to respond, seeing as his suggestion was plausible – they didn't have anything left to eat, just a couple sips of the water Eden and Luke had both filled their bottles with back at the ski lodge –, she followed towards the direction of one of the larger houses. Before walking inside, they knocked on the door first in order to create some noise and attract walkers. Listening closely, neither of them picked up on the hungry groans they were too familiar with and walked insides. Ready to pull it out if needed, Eden put a hand on the grip of her machete.
"Looks clear," Eden stated after looking around the interior of the house, scanning the area for possible threats.
Luke nodded, agreeing but holding onto his weapon as well.
The house's interior looked pretty run-down, giving Eden little hope of finding anything. It looked like these rooms had been scavenged by every survivor passing the small town. But she didn't want to give up hope this easily. "I'll look upstairs," she announced, "see if there's anything useful."
"Alright, call me if you find anything."
"Dito."
With that, Eden walked up the stairs to the first floor. The beige rug upstairs was stained with blood specks and dirty footprints that proved Eden right. According to the different sized and shaped prints on the ground, many people had been inside this room before herself. Said people had also left the cupboards and drawers opened, making it easier and quicker for her to scan the area and find... well, nothing.
