THE ONES WHO LIVED

The Hope

Kai drove as fast as he could, hoping to reach the Northbounders before it was too late. He hoped they were still at the same spot where they had left them. He hoped they had not moved on or been attacked. He hoped they were still alive and well.

He looked behind him and saw Haley's body still half alive. She was pale and weak, barely breathing. She had lost a lot of blood and was in shock. She needed urgent medical attention and care. She needed a miracle.

He looked beside him and saw the woman and the child still half alive. They were wounded and scared, barely speaking. They had suffered a lot of pain and trauma. They needed healing and comfort. They needed a new home.

He felt guilty and responsible. He felt like he had failed them. He felt like he had put them in danger. He felt like he had to save them.

He drove for hours, avoiding the spore zones and the bandits. He drove through the ruins and the rubble, the wasteland and the wilderness. He drove towards the north, towards the hope and the possibility.

He finally saw the smoke and the tents, the signs and the symbols. He saw the Northbounders and their camp, their fire and their flag. He saw his friends and his family, his allies and his companions.

He honked and waved, hoping to get their attention. He hoped they would recognize him and welcome him. He hoped they would help him and heal them.

He reached the camp and stopped the motorcycle. He saw Jack and the others running towards him. He saw their faces and their expressions. He saw their concern and their confusion.

"Kai, what happened? Where have you been? Who are these people?" Jack asked, as he reached him.

Kai got off the motorcycle and collapsed on the ground. He was exhausted and drained, physically and mentally. He had no strength left to speak. He had no words left to explain.

He pointed at Haley and the others. He gestured for them to help them. He pleaded with his eyes for them to save them.

Jack and the others understood. They quickly took Haley and the others off the motorcycle. They carried them to the nearest tent. They called for the medic and the nurse. They tried to save them and to keep them alive.

They also took Kai to the tent. They gave him some water and some food. They checked his wounds and his pulse. They tried to revive him and to keep him alive.

They asked him what had happened and where he had gone. They asked him how he had met these people and what they had done to them. They asked him why he had risked his life and theirs.

Kai tried to tell them. He tried to tell them about the town and the bunker, the man and the horror, the escape and the drive. He tried to tell them everything, but he couldn't.

He was too tired and too traumatized. He was too overwhelmed and too broken. He was too numb and too silent.

He closed his eyes and fell asleep. He hoped to wake up and to see them alive. He hoped to wake up and to see them well. He hoped to wake up and to see them happy.

He hoped to wake up and to see a better tomorrow.