PROJECT ANDERSON

CHAPTER ELEVEN: ANDIE

My legs were burning as I continued my trek down the long stretch of highway.

I was starting to regret my decision not to just wait for Sarge, but I knew that I was a danger to not only him but also the children with him.

"Aunt Allison...I'm thirsty." Ashley complained from her place on my back.

"I know Ash...I'm thirsty too, but we have to keep going." I said breathlessly.

Just then I heard something approaching us from behind.

I looked back and noticed a large blue 1995 Ford F150 truck with something leaning over in the bed. The front grill was dented and was covered a black substance, and it was headed right for us.

Thankfully the driver had the forethought to slow down.

"Hey!" I yelled as I waved my arms at them hoping that they would stop.

The driver of the truck stopped and they rolled down the window.

"I'm glad to see someone else alive." The male driver said with a polite smile.

"We need a ride to Charlotte's Ville in Illinois." I said as I opened the truck door. "Can you take us there?"

The man thought for a moment before nodding.

"Yeah, I was headed that way anyway...I need to get back to Colver, but I guess I can drop you off in Charlotte's Ville on the way."

"Daddy..." Ashley muttered softly against my shoulder.

"I know you want to go home to see your daddy Ashichu, but I need to get you safe first." I said before removing my bag and allowing her to slip off my back.

"Where does your daddy live?" The stranger asked Ashley sweetly.

"Colver..." Ashley answered sheepishly.

"Maybe we can stop there on the way instead." The man suggested with a smile.

I looked over to my niece, who was giving me a pleading look.

"Alright, but after we need to go to safety." I said before climbing into the truck next to her.

"What's so safe about Charlotte's Ville?" The man asked as he drove down the road.

"My parents have a couple of isolated bunkers in the woods." I answered simply. "What happened to your truck?"

"People kept running into the road." The stranger answered as he stared dead eyed at the road. "I tried to avoid them, but they wouldn't get out of the way, so I had no choice but to hit them."

I wrapped my arm around my niece and held her tight, I knew that she was tired, thirsty, and hungry and as was I.

We needed to find shelter for the night, but I didn't know if the man would take us near any.

"Maybe we should stop somewhere, so you can rest, you must have been driving all night." I suggested as I looked over to the man.

"I have a cabin in Colver." The man said with a smile.

"That doesn't really help us now." I said a bit disappointed that he didn't seem to want to rest.

"Sorry princess, but I'm the one driving." The man said with an arrogant smirk.

"I wouldn't call her that if I were you." Ashley warned softly.

"And why is that little lady?" 

"Because my daddy once told me a story about my Aunt Ally breaking a boy's hand because he called her that." Ashley answered softly.

I was surprised that she was even talking to the stranger at all, since she was normally so timid and quiet around people that she didn't know well.

"My name is Jesse by the way." The man said ignoring what Ashley had told him.

"I'm Andie and the over sharer is my niece Ashley." I said glad that he didn't ask me about the story.

"Well glad to meet you both, even if it is under these circumstances." Jesse said with a smile at us both.

His eyes were an Icy Blue which contracted with his fair skin and his black long hair was pulled back into a slick ponytail.

My stomach quivered at the sight of him, there was something so familiar about him.

"Do you girls want to stop and get something to eat?" He asked as he looked back to the road.

Even though I knew it wouldn't be smart to stop now unless we were going to rest, I also knew that Ashley needed something.

"Yeah we could use something to eat and drink." I answered as I looked down at the little girl beside me.

Jesse nodded in acknowledgement and turned into the parking lot of a convenience store.

There were no cars in the parking lot, at least none that I could see.

"Do you have a gun or any weapon to protect yourself?" I asked as we got out of the truck.

"I have a crowbar in the bed." Jesse said before going to the bed.

I pulled out my gun and made sure that the clip was full and cocked it.

"Stay here Ashichu, I'll be back." I said before giving her a soft kiss on the head. "Take this...aim for the head."

Ashley looked down at the screwdriver I held out in my hand.

"Okay..." Ashley said before taking it.

"I love you..." I said before closing the door and following Jesse into the store.

Even though it appeared empty the doors were unlocked and all the lights were on.

"God, what's that smell?" Jesse asked as he held his hand under his nose.

"Rotting flesh..." I said simply as I looked around for any sign of life. "You'll get used to it."

"How are you so calm...people are dying and eating each other?" Jesse asked as he turned around to look at me.

"I've been locked in a lab for three days and god only know what they did to us...and I've been around death all my life...I'm numb to human death now." I answered as I looked over at him. "Get Down!"

"Huh?" Jesse asked before noticing that I was pointing a gun at him and smartly ducked.

I pulled the trigger and shot a woman in a black shirt with a name tag.

"Found the clerk..." I said before putting my gun down.

"Thanks smartass." Jesse said with a smile.

"You're welcome Jesse, now let's get the supplies and get out of here." I said before moving behind the counter and grabbed a few cartons of Marlboro Reds.

"Hey Andie can you grab me some lights?" Jesse asked as he filled a few bags with some snacks and drinks.

"Sure thing...if you'll find me some clothes." I said as I tried to rebutton the lab coat that covering my naked body.

"Okay, give me your gun." Jesse said as he reached his arm over the counter.

"Not gonna happen, I still don't fully trust you." I said as I stood up.

Jesse looked over my curvy figure and smiled.

"Don't look at me like that and find me something to wear." I said as I wrapped the coat around my body.

"Andie you're not wearing anything but a lab coat and you don't want me to look at you...what a shame."

"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked crossing my arms over my chest.

"Never mind..." Jesse said before walking away.

I watched him a moment before going back to the cigarettes.

Jesse was suspicious, but at least he wasn't infected and trying to kill me and something about him made me feel safe.