A World In Chaos

Chapter Fourteen: One Year Later

As the sun finally rose to stay risen an entire year the light hit Jay through the windshield of the now even more beaten up rust bucket they had acquired now one year ago.

He knew the journey would be long and brutal but damn he really thought they'd be there by now... the van being out of gas for the better part of five months was now a makeshift camp in the middle of the woods while one of his group healed and recovered from a wound.

Jay crawled to the back of the van being careful not to wake Laura and Michael as they slept.

He stepped over the now almost depleted gear bags and bumped his foot on a can... stopping for a second and making sure he didn't disturb the others he continued making his way through the vehicle.

He reached the very back and ever so gently shook Jason, as Jason opened his eyes Jay said "shhhh... You should be good to move now... suns coming up let's get some fresh air".

Jason whispered "sounds good".

Stepping out of the van the weather was still as cold and drab as ever with the only tiny amount of warmth coming from the sunlight that was now almost fully up.

"Still hurt?" Jay asked as they walked over to the nearby fire pit they had created, Jason lit it up back up and threw some canned beans in a pot, sitting it on the makeshift grill and letting it crackle, pop, and sizzle.

"Yeah.. like a motherfucker... feels good to finally be out of that goddamn van tho" Jason said as he stirred the food, "wish we still had gas for it man, taking my route may have cost us time but it's been safer... I'd say we're about fifty sixty miles out by now... If we had a car that is" Jay replied.

"How far on foot if you had to guess" Jason asked

"Shit I don't know man... really hard to say from here... there's a nearby town, me and Michael are gonna see what's what while you and Laura keep this place held down, last thing we need is someone stealing our shit" Jay answered.

"I had a dream about her last night man" Jason said, his voice taking a more serious tone... "about the night she.... before I put her down I saw her face... she looked almost... normal... makes me feel... makes me feel guilty..." he added as he closed his eyes and opened them looking at the sky.

"You shouldn't feel guilty... she wasn't Lex anymore... and because of you the rest of us are still here... I know you miss her and I can't tell you to let her go man I don't fucking expect you to... that guilt and that blame Jason... you gotta let that go" Jay said staring as his friend with concern.

Micheal stepped out of the van and let out a long yawn while he stretched before joining the other two, "man I hate sleeping in that van, makes my back hurt" he said as he reached them.

"If we can find a safe spot in that town you shouldn't have to much longer, Laura awake yet?" Jay asked as the van doors swung open.

Laura stepped out of the van and vomited as soon as her fit touched the ground, she puked up sludge that looked similar to the shit people hack up when they've been bit via a deadhead... Jay walked over and asked if she was okay.

"I wasn't... I wasn't fucking bit Jay what the fuck is happening?..." She asked before vomiting again, Jason walked over and said "Jay"... but before he said anything else Jay interrupted...

"I know... I didn't think about it when we decided to take the woods... fucking mosquito must've got her" his voice trailed off as he realized Laura was bit by a mosquito and she was now either infected... or was contracting blood ick which neither was ideal...

"There may be some meds in town or something, Jason stay here and if she turns... put her down" Jay said as Laura chimed in "I'm right here asshole".

"Better safe than sorry" Michael told her.