The Survivors

Chapter 4

Insufferably long days turned to insufferably long weeks and soon the gnawing hunger began to eat away at Sam's sanity. It hardly helped that she had to carry an unstable, blubbering girl on her back while endlessly listening to her nonsensical babbling about things that no longer existed. Whatever pathetic supply of food they had scraped together had been quickly exhausted, and Sam was positive she could no longer drag herself - and her friend (who is totally heavier than she looks) - through the sand and grime.

"I'm sure we're getting close to a city. Look at those buildings," Sam groaned under Mia's weight, attempting to ignore how her legs threatened to give out beneath her.

"It could just be a hallucination considering how malnourished and exhausted we are," Mia mumbled into Sam's shoulder.

"Alright, fuck all the way off! It's not like you're doing anything to keep us alive." Sam grumbled. "What are you doing that's so exhausting in the first place?"

"Crying until you pass out from dehydration is very taxing on the body, thank you very much." She grumbled. "And what's the point of staying alive in this hellhole anyway? What do we have that's worth living for now, huh? We could have stayed, we should have stayed - we let the two of them die-"

"That's enough!" She yelled, dropping Mia on her ass. "I know we've just been through hell and it's hard for you. It's hard for me too, Mia! Have you considered that? Everyday I just want to break down and pray that all of this was just a bad dream...but where would that get us? You're right, we're starving and exhausted, but your bitch ass whining is not gonna get any food in your stomach. So, I think the least you can do is shut the fuck up until I figure out a way to keep us alive."

A heavy silence shrouded over the two for what seemed like years - a silence only intruded upon by the pants following Sam's tirade. She gave Mia on last glare before turning around and gesturing for her to get back in her back

Mia scoffed before heaving her pack onto her back and getting back on her feet with a groan. She didn't look at Sam as she marched forward on shaky legs.

"Come on, Mia. Don't be like that," Sam groaned, picking up her pack and starting after her friend. Mia paid her no mind and continued to walk forward in defiance. "Mia!" Sam burst forward and pulled her friend to look her in the eyes. The ones she found seemed to be drowning behind a thick layer of salty tears. Sam made a sound of pity before embracing her now shaking friend. Mia's lame attempts at swatting away Sam's arms went ignored and soon the two continued forward toward the city as the sun began to set.

***

The sun had begun its ascent anew and sky had turned a welcoming orange when the girls reached the city.

"There has to be some kind of convenience store around here," Sam murmured, eyes drooping with exhaustion.

"If we don't find one, it's okay. I considered eating my boot a couple days ago." Sam shot her a look. "What? If you close your eyes, it could taste like steak."

"Don't even mention steak," Sam whined, trying to ignore the cramping in her stomach. They continued down the sidewalk, a structure the two of them hadn't seen in months. Homesickness charged through the pair, and a reassuring squeeze between hands let Mia know everything was going to be okay. Despite the complete lack of human life in the city, it seemed that after humanity is wiped out, pigeons will rule the earth. Seriously, there were a shit ton of pigeons.

"Seriously, there's a shit ton of pigeons."

"Shut the fuck up, Mia. We need food." Mia pursed her lips at Sam's negative response to her attempt at levity. They passed building after building, finding every grocery store ransacked and dingy. Each one promised hope of survival, only to show the same scene every time: barren shelves and bloody scuffed floors.