All Of Us Are Dead

Chapter 7 Night fall

- Jake - 

I was doing my best to keep the truck in sight, but the road had become a chaotic mess. What had started as a clear path was now jam-packed with cars, all moving at a crawl. I tried to stay close to Dad's truck, but the traffic was relentless, and every lane seemed to be filled with cars moving at their own pace.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a reckless driver swerved in front of me, cutting across my lane with a dangerous burst of speed. I had no choice but to slam on the brakes, the tires screeching as I fought to maintain control. The car in front of me skidded to a stop, and the sudden collision with another vehicle created a domino effect of chaos.

I was forced to manoeuvre around the wreckage, trying to avoid the growing pile-up. The road that had once felt like an escape route was now a nightmarish labyrinth of twisted metal and stranded cars. I glanced up, searching desperately for Dad's truck, but it was lost in the mess.

The visibility was terrible, and every direction I turned only seemed to bring more cars and debris into view. My frustration mounted as I realized I was losing Dad. The wreckage and the chaos created a wall that made it nearly impossible to navigate through.

I kept my eyes on the road, trying to find a way through, but the gridlock only grew tighter. The honking horns and shouting drivers filled the air, adding to the sense of urgency and panic. The once-open road had transformed into a chaotic mess, and my attempts to re-join Dad's truck were failing.

My heart raced as I tried to stay calm, but the fear of being separated from Dad was overwhelming. I kept glancing back, hoping to see Dad's truck emerge from the mess, but the tangled wreckage blocked any chance of finding them. I knew I had to keep moving, but every turn seemed to lead to more congestion, and the situation was quickly spiralling out of control.

The once-familiar road had become a treacherous maze, and I felt a growing sense of dread as I realized we were lost in the middle of a traffic disaster.

As the wreckage around me closed in, my heart pounded in my chest. I could feel the panic rising, a suffocating wave that threatened to overwhelm me. I gripped the steering wheel tightly, my knuckles white as I tried to keep my focus amidst the chaos.

"Come on, come on," I muttered to myself, desperately trying to find a way through the tangled mess of cars. The wreckage and debris seemed to multiply with every passing second, and my attempts to manoeuvre around it only made things worse. I glanced in the rear-view mirror, hoping to catch a glimpse of Dad's truck, but it was nowhere to be seen.

I could feel my frustration bubbling up. This was supposed to be a straightforward escape, a way to get us out of this nightmare. Instead, it felt like everything was conspiring against us. The realization that I might have lost Dad hit me hard, a cold knot of fear settling in my stomach.

I tried to stay calm, but the noise and confusion were overwhelming. Drivers around me were shouting and honking, adding to the chaos. I could see people getting out of their cars, running around in panic, and I knew I had to keep moving, but the way was blocked.

Desperation crept in as I attempted to make sense of the situation. I considered turning back, trying to find an alternate route, but every direction seemed blocked. My mind raced through possible solutions, but none seemed viable. I cursed under my breath, feeling both helpless and angry.

I thought  about Ashta and Dad, and how important it was to find them. The weight of responsibility pressed heavily on me. I couldn't let this be the end of our escape. I needed to stay focused, find a way to get out of this mess, and reunite with Dad.

With a deep breath, I forced myself to focus. I maneuverer the car as best as I could, trying to navigate through the gaps between wrecked vehicles. My hands were shaking, and my mind was racing, but I knew I couldn't give up. Not yet.