Keera [1]

4. Fresh start

The next 24 hours were long.

"How long?" Vera asked her father, who, with a serious expression on his face, was looking through the window to see if there were any zombies nearby. In these times, it is important to be careful at every step.

As the car trudged through the dark, deserted road, Tanner could feel the exhaustion creeping up on him.

"We're almost there," he muttered to Vera, who was slumped in the passenger seat, her eyes closed in blissful unawareness. Tanner's eyes flickered over to her, momentarily, before he forced himself to focus on the road ahead.

After what felt like an eternity, they finally arrived at their break destination where they were supposed to stay and sleep. Tanner heaved a sigh of relief. They were in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by dense forest and eerie silence. It was the perfect opportunity for the Hulks to attack, and Tanner was determined to stay alert.

Determined to keep his daughter safe, Tanner stationed himself outside the car, his gun at the ready. The cold wind whipped around him, biting at his skin, but he didn't dare to move. He had to stay vigilant, had to protect Vera at all costs.

As the hours ticked by, Tanner's fatigue grew more pronounced. He could feel his eyelids drooping, his muscles protesting. But he couldn't let his daughter down. Not now, not ever.

The Hulks were out there, lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Finally, as the first rays of dawn started to peek over the horizon, Tanner heard a rustling in the bushes. His heart leaped into his throat as he tensed, finger on the trigger. But it was just a rabbit, darting across the road. Tanner let out a shaky breath, relieved.

He climbed back into the car, his exhaustion almost overwhelming him. Vera was still asleep, oblivious to the danger they had narrowly escaped. Tanner smiled, a fierce love for his daughter filling him up. They were safe, for now. But he knew that they still had a long way to go.

As the car traveled down the winding road, Vera could feel the anxiety building up inside of her. The gas gauge was dropping lower and lower with each passing mile, and the wind was picking up, causing the car to sway gently. Vera was eager to reach the EMK motel and finally meet her father's co-workers. As the sun slowly began to rise, Vera noticed a small hill in the distance with a peculiar round shape.

The scene panned to capture the breathtaking view of three massive hulks standing still on top of the ridge, casting long shadows on the hill. The clouds in the background provided a perfect frame for the scene. However, it was still too early, and the faces of the hulks were barely visible.

As the car inched closer, the engine hummed softly, adding to the peaceful yet weird atmosphere. Despite the stunning view, Vera couldn't help but feel disappointed that there was no radio to accompany her on this long ride to Macon. She loves music.
Who doesn't?

~

As Tanner drove down the long and winding road toward the EMK motel, he couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia wash over him. The familiar iron fence that surrounded the motel was now in sight, illuminated by the first rays of the morning sun. The intricate patterns of the fence seemed to dance in the gentle breeze, casting intricate shadows on the ground.

The motel building itself was still shrouded in darkness, its brick walls blending in with the nearby hillside.

Tanner knew that inside, the rooms would be dimly lit and quiet, with the occasional sound of rustling sheets or creaking floorboards breaking the silence.

Despite the peaceful surroundings, Tanner's thoughts were troubled. He had planned to bring both of his daughters with him, but only Vera had agreed to come. He couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment that Stella had chosen to stay behind, but he was grateful to have Vera by his side.