Bloodlines of Survival

Chapter 13: The Edge of Darkness

The SUV rumbled to a stop beside a dilapidated gas station, the engine sputtering as it gave one last attempt at staying alive before falling silent. Gwen exhaled, her grip on the steering wheel loosening slightly. They were almost out of gas, and this was the first station they'd come across in miles. It was a risk stopping here, but they had no choice.

"Kohl, Samantha, stay in the car," Gwen instructed, glancing back at her children. They both nodded, the fear and uncertainty in their eyes echoing her own.

Climbing out of the SUV, Gwen scanned the area. The gas station looked abandoned—windows shattered, the door hanging off its hinges, and the once-bright signs now faded and peeling. But the pumps seemed intact, and that was all that mattered. She just hoped there was still some fuel left in the tanks below.

Gwen walked cautiously toward the door, her senses on high alert. The wind rustled through the trees surrounding the station, but otherwise, it was eerily quiet. Pushing the door open, she stepped inside.

The interior of the gas station was just as desolate as the exterior. Shelves were overturned, and the floor was littered with debris. A faint smell of decay lingered in the air, but Gwen didn't see any immediate threats. Still, she kept her knife ready, just in case.

Her eyes scanned the aisles, and that's when she saw it: a display of beef jerky, untouched and still sealed. The sight of food, even in its preserved form, made her stomach tighten. The hunger was always there, lurking just beneath the surface, but this... this was something she hadn't considered.

Could it help? Could something like jerky, dried and cured, satisfy the gnawing hunger inside her without pushing her closer to the edge?

Gwen hesitated for only a moment before grabbing a pack. She tore it open and took a tentative bite, her teeth sinking into the tough, salty meat. It wasn't raw, but it wasn't exactly fresh either. As she chewed, she felt the hunger begin to abate, the beast within retreating, if only for a little while. Relief washed over her, along with a mix of surprise and grim satisfaction.

It worked.

Without wasting any more time, Gwen grabbed every pack of jerky she could find, stuffing them into her bag. If this was the key to keeping her humanity, even temporarily, she needed as much of it as possible. She knew it wouldn't last forever, but right now, it was a lifeline.

Her eyes then fell on another aisle, where she saw some snacks that might appeal to the kids. Gwen grabbed a couple of bags of chips, some candy bars, and a few bottles of juice. It wasn't much, but it was something normal—something that might remind them of better times.

With her bag full, Gwen made her way back to the front of the store, pausing briefly to set the pump. She could see the SUV in the distance, Kohl and Samantha's small faces peering out through the cracked windows, watching her every move.

As the gas began to flow, she hurried back to the vehicle. The jerky in her bag called to her, the hunger still a constant presence, but it was manageable now—muted, controlled. Gwen handed the snacks to the kids, and they took them eagerly, their smiles a rare but much-needed sight.

"Mom, are we going to be okay?" Samantha asked, her voice small but hopeful.

Gwen crouched down beside the car, brushing a strand of hair away from her daughter's face. "Yes, sweetie. We're going to be okay. We're going to keep going, and we'll find a safe place."

Samantha nodded, holding onto her candy bar like it was a precious treasure. Kohl was already tearing into his chips, his focus on the food a welcome distraction from the horrors outside.

As the pump clicked off, signaling the tank was full, Gwen stood up and took one last look around. They couldn't stay here, but for the first time in days, she felt a glimmer of hope. The jerky was a small victory, a way to hold back the darkness inside her.

She climbed back into the SUV, started the engine, and pulled away from the gas station, the road ahead uncertain but not as hopeless as before. They still had a long way to go, but at least now, Gwen had something to help keep the monster at bay—for as long as she could.