Bloodlines of Survival

Chapter 15: Off Road

As the SUV rumbled down the cracked and weathered highway, the weight of Gwen's resolve pressed down on her. They had food, they had fuel, but time was against them. The shadows of the encroaching night stretched long over the road, and the once-familiar landscape felt more like a trap than a haven.

Kohl and Samantha had settled back into their seats, nibbling on the snacks Gwen had brought them. They were quiet—too quiet, Gwen thought. She knew they sensed her fear, her growing struggle, but she couldn't afford to show them how close to the edge she really was.

Gwen kept her eyes on the road, her thoughts a chaotic swirl of guilt, fear, and the unrelenting hunger that clawed at her insides. The image of that freezer chest back in the store haunted her, the raw meat inside calling to her like a siren's song. She shook her head, trying to focus on the road ahead.

They needed a plan. They needed somewhere safe to stay, somewhere far away from the cities, from the infected, from anyone who might be a threat. But every plan she thought of seemed more desperate, more impossible. The world had become a dark and twisted place, where survival was measured in hours, not days.

As they drove on, the landscape around them began to change. The open fields gave way to dense forests, the trees casting long shadows across the road. Gwen felt a chill run down her spine. There was something about this place, something that set her on edge.

Suddenly, the SUV's headlights caught movement on the side of the road. Gwen slowed down, her heart pounding in her chest. At first, she thought it might be animals, but as they got closer, she saw the silhouettes of people—at least a dozen of them—standing just off the road, partially hidden by the trees.

Gwen's breath caught in her throat. These weren't ordinary people. Even from a distance, she could see the telltale signs: the twisted postures, the unnatural way they moved, and the faint glint of black eyes reflecting the headlights.

They were mutants—like the ones she'd seen at the gas station. And they were watching her.

She felt her pulse quicken, the darkness inside her stirring, feeding off her fear. Gwen tightened her grip on the steering wheel, her knuckles white. She couldn't stop here. She couldn't afford to stop here. If those mutants decided to attack, there was no way they could fend them off, not without Jamie. Her heart ached at the thought, but she shoved it down, focusing on the immediate danger.

Gwen pressed down on the gas pedal, urging the SUV to pick up speed. The mutants didn't move at first, just watched as the vehicle approached. But then, as if some silent signal had been given, they began to shuffle forward, their dark eyes fixed on the SUV. Gwen's breath hitched as she saw their twisted, ravenous faces, hungry and devoid of humanity.

"Mom...?" Samantha's voice was small and scared from the backseat. She had noticed the figures too.

"Stay down, sweetheart," Gwen said, trying to keep her voice steady. "Everything's going to be okay."

The SUV roared past the first few mutants, and Gwen let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. But then, with a sickening thud, something heavy slammed into the side of the vehicle. The SUV lurched to the right, nearly going off the road. Gwen fought to keep control of the wheel as the vehicle swerved, tires screeching against the asphalt.

"What was that?!" Kohl cried, his voice high with panic.

Gwen didn't answer, her eyes flicking to the rearview mirror. She saw one of the mutants, larger and more grotesque than the others, clinging to the side of the SUV. Its hands, twisted and claw-like, were digging into the metal of the door, leaving deep gouges as it tried to pry it open.

"Hold on!" Gwen yelled, jerking the wheel to the left. The SUV swerved again, and the mutant was thrown off, rolling across the road in a heap. But more of them were closing in, their black eyes gleaming in the darkness.

Gwen pressed the gas pedal to the floor, the engine roaring as the SUV sped down the road. The mutants gave chase, their inhuman speed terrifying as they sprinted after the vehicle. Gwen's mind raced—she couldn't outrun them forever. She needed to find a way to lose them, or they'd be overwhelmed.

Up ahead, she spotted a narrow dirt road veering off to the right, disappearing into the dense forest. It was a risk, but it was the only option she had. She yanked the wheel to the right, the tires skidding as they made the sharp turn onto the dirt road. The SUV bounced and jolted as it sped over the uneven ground, dust and debris flying up behind them.

The mutants followed, their shrieks filling the night air, but the rough terrain slowed them down. Gwen kept her foot on the gas, navigating the narrow path as quickly as she could, branches scraping against the sides of the vehicle.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the sounds of pursuit began to fade. Gwen glanced in the rearview mirror and saw the mutants falling behind, their dark forms blending into the shadows of the forest. Relief washed over her, but it was short-lived. They weren't safe yet.

The dirt road wound through the forest, twisting and turning in ways that made it impossible to tell where it would lead. Gwen just kept driving, her mind focused on one thing: getting the kids to safety.

Eventually, the road opened up into a small clearing, and Gwen brought the SUV to a halt. She cut the engine, the sudden silence almost deafening after the chaos of the chase. Gwen sat there for a moment, hands trembling on the steering wheel, trying to catch her breath.

"Mom... are they gone?" Samantha's voice was barely a whisper.

Gwen nodded, though she wasn't entirely sure. "I think so, honey. But we need to stay quiet for a while, just to be safe."

Kohl peered out the window, his small face pressed against the glass. "Where are we, Mom?"

"I don't know," Gwen admitted, her voice heavy with exhaustion. "But we'll figure it out."

The kids stayed quiet, sensing the gravity of the situation. Gwen looked around the clearing, trying to make sense of their surroundings. It was just an open space in the middle of the forest, no buildings or signs of civilization anywhere in sight.

She knew they couldn't stay here for long, but they needed to rest, to think. The mutants were still out there, and who knew what else was lurking in these woods?

Gwen reached into the backseat, grabbing a bag of jerky she had stashed there earlier. She tore into it, the taste of the dried meat bringing her a small measure of comfort, but it was more about keeping the hunger at bay. She needed to stay in control, for her kids' sake.

She handed a few snacks to Kohl and Samantha, urging them to eat something. They did so quietly, still shaken from the ordeal.

As Gwen sat back, staring out at the darkened forest, the reality of their situation began to sink in. They were alone, deep in the woods, with no clear direction and no guarantee of safety. The world was a nightmare, and they were right in the middle of it.

But they were still alive. And as long as they were, Gwen would keep fighting. For Kohl, for Samantha, and for the memory of Jamie.

Taking a deep breath, Gwen made a decision. They couldn't stay here. They needed to keep moving, to find somewhere safer, somewhere they could regroup and figure out their next steps. She would drive until she found that place, wherever it might be.

Starting the SUV again, Gwen pulled out of the clearing, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. The night was dark, and the future uncertain, but she had no choice but to keep going. For her children's sake, and for whatever sliver of humanity she had left.