Run Away Mad Dog

CHAPTER V: Missing

CHAPTER V

Missing

2037, Earth.

There, Adam sat in the back tray of the moving truck, occupying Samuel's usual spot. Astrid lay beside him, her head resting on his knee, covered by several weighted blankets. As she dreamed, Adam couldn't help but feel grateful for whatever had transpired in that field. Maybe something had saved her.

Adam was always a believer, and In this apocalyptic frozen world, where creatures roamed and infections mutated bodies, Astrid's survival was nothing short of miraculous. Usually, a bite would trigger a devastating transformation, merging one's DNA with the creature responsible. But somehow, Astrid had been spared that fate.

Abruptly, she suddenly woke with a gasp, her pupils dilated like those of a cat on the prowl. She sprang up so fast that she almost tumbled off the trey and onto the gravelled road, but Adam swiftly caught her waist, pulling her back firmly.

"Hey, it's alright!" he huffed, relieved as he felt her body gradually settle. "You're in the truck with me. We've swapped spots with Sam and Ashanna. Are you alright?" he reassured her gently, his hand caressing her back with a soft rub.

Confusion etched the girls face as she cried out, "Where am I?"

Adam continued to comfort her, speaking in a soothing tone. "You're in the truck with me. We've switched places. Are you okay?" he repeated.

Astrid took a moment to process, sitting up and taking deep breaths. Loose strands of her hair danced like flags in the wind as the vehicle rumbled on, her hands feeling stronger than ever, her fingers gripped the side of the trey moulding the metal to her palm like butter.

"D-define 'okay'?" she huffed, her voice trembling, the memory of teeth tearing through her flesh still vivid in her mind.

Adam considered her question before replying, his hand moving back and forth on her shoulder closest to him, but she flinched and growled, warning him not to touch her.

Gulping, Adam shifted his body to the opposite end of the bumpy tray, giving her space. A painful silence hung between them before she turned to face him, shaking her head.

"I'm sorry. I just don't want to put you or the others at risk," she said, her voice laced with concern.

Adam nodded, understanding her fears. "I get it. But for some reason, you didn't turn. It's as if you're..."

"Immune?" Astrid finished his sentence.

"Yeah," Adam confirmed, marvelling at the possibility.

Astrid scoffed; her voice filled with disbelief. "And when was that ever a real thing? People turn within minutes, but me... It doesn't make sense. None of this does, I feel stronger."

Raising an eyebrow, Adam responded, "Higher purpose?"

Astrid turned away, her gaze falling to the brown zip-up coat she was wearing. It belonged to Finn, and she could still catch a hint of his scent lingering on it, its smell so strong, her nose felt so sensitive to everything around her. "You know I don't believe in that shit," she retorted.

Adam moved closer to Astrid, his hand drifting until he grabbed her hand firmly, almost forcefully. "Listen to me Ash. You're someone I've almost grown up with, and I feel like whatever happened back there was a sign. You're a part of something huge. Maybe whatever happened to you is the first step towards finding a cure for this whole thing."

"Bullshit," Astrid growled, but her hand remained interlocked with Adam's. He gently squeezed, as their eyes locked.

"Of course it's bullshit to us," he acknowledged. "But I can see you're okay. You're not a threat to us, and you're always going to be a part of this group, no matter what."