A Lifetime Ago || Javier Garcia

Four | Beginning

It's been a few weeks since everything took a turn for the worse. Once you and David arrived at the military point, it was quick to crumble.

You met a woman named Ava, she was stationed at that checkpoint and lost her sister in the falling out. She'd gotten close to both you and David, and decided to stick around. Surprisingly David didn't have any issues with that, you assumed he was happy to have someone with military experience that he could relate to.

Ava was a strong woman and knew what she was doing. She'd already helped you more times than you could count, all while slowly teaching you how to defend yourself.

Almost all the electricity was out now and your phone died ages ago. That didn't stop you from carrying it around all the time, as if by some miracle you'll hear it buzz.

After the checkpoint was overrun, the three of you ventured together and eventually landed yourselves in Virginia.

The whole world seemed to have gone to shit and there was so much of the dead. For a while you were unsure of how to kill them, they always came back.

One time David had one of the dead people latch onto him, you felt a boost of courage and shot the thing at least five times before David slammed its head into the ground. That's when Ava confirmed that their brains had to be damaged for them to actually be gone. 

The three of you set up your own camp, small and in the middle of no where. An old shed, enough size for some living space is what you slept in every night. The walls were thin and you always had trouble sleeping as you could hear everything going on outside. Whether that be rain, wind, the dead, animals or even just David and Ava chatting outside the shed.

As days continued to go by Javier constantly crossed your mind. This was the longest you've spent apart from each other since you met him. What a shame you had to wake up and see his brothers face every morning.

"We're going to scout out that station a few miles west from here, remember?"  Ava's voice startled you a bit as she opened the shed door, letting the sunlight hit your face.

"No." You squint to see her before standing up from what you called your bed. You didn't remember seeing anything else in the area except for trees, trees and more trees.

"Huh, well David remembers. He says to pack your stuff, we might not come back here if we find some place better on the way. Crossing my fingers."

"Me too." You chuckle. Anything was better than this.

Ava enters the shed, gathering all her belongings as you do the same, seems like David had prepared early as nothing he needed was left inside.

You and Ava met David outside, Ava clearing her throat as David was stomping out a fire. "Ready?" The two of you nod in response.

"I have a list of things we should keep an eye out for, any kind of medicine is handy. Water always water, it's more useful than any juice or soda. Keep your eyes peeled for canned goods, gas, matches, and..." Ava trails. "Do you need anything?"

"Nothing in particular." You shrug.

"Are you sure? What about you?" Ava asks again, now looking towards David.

"You pretty much have it all covered."

"Right."

"Ammunition, though I doubt that's something this station would carry." You realize.

"You need to learn how to use a knife, you can't rely on guns all the time. They're too loud, and not as common to find." Ava explains, watching as you frown at her statement.