In the Empty City

The Radio Tower

Jason had been combing through the manual map for days, studying every landmark and road in their area, hoping to find something useful. He had almost given up when he spotted a tiny symbol that caught his attention. It was a radio tower, located just a few miles from Deanna's house. His heart skipped a beat. This could be their chance—an opportunity to see if anyone else was out there. The phones had died weeks ago, the cell towers were useless, and the internet had been down since the beginning. But a radio tower? That could change everything.

He leapt up, map in hand, and headed outside where Deanna was, as usual, working in their small garden. She had been carefully tending to the growing plants, focused on ensuring their survival in the now chaotic world. He rushed over to her, holding the map out excitedly.

"Deanna, look at this," Jason said, pointing to the tiny mark on the paper. "There's a radio tower not too far from here. Maybe we can use it to try and send out a signal, see if anyone's still alive out there."

Deanna wiped her hands on her jeans and leaned over to examine the map. She furrowed her brow for a moment, taking it in. "You think it's still working? I mean, after all this time?"

Jason nodded, a hopeful glint in his eyes. "It's worth a shot. It's better than just sitting here waiting for something to happen. If we can get to the tower, maybe we can broadcast something. There could be someone out there trying to do the same."

Deanna looked up at him, seeing the determination on his face. She understood the weight of what he was saying. If the tower was working, they could finally get some answers, or at least find out if they weren't the only ones left in this strange, desolate world.

"Okay," she said with a nod. "Let's do it."

They wasted no time. Jason quickly grabbed their gear while Deanna headed inside to pack some essentials. They both knew the journey could take several hours, and with the condition of the roads, it wouldn't be easy. Jason decided they'd take the red SUV, a sturdy vehicle that could handle the rough terrain better than anything else they had. He filled up the tank from their stockpile of fuel, making sure they had enough for the trip there and back.

The dogs, Rocky and Luna, hopped into the back of the SUV eagerly. They'd become part of this strange new life and seemed to sense the excitement in the air. Jason tried starting the SUV, and after a few sputtering attempts, the engine finally roared to life.

Deanna climbed into the passenger seat, buckling in. "I hope this works," she muttered under her breath, a mix of hope and apprehension crossing her face.

Jason gave her a reassuring smile as he backed the SUV out of the driveway. "Me too. But at least we're doing something. That's better than sitting around waiting for answers to come to us."

They hit the road, the sun hanging low in the sky, casting long shadows over the abandoned streets. As they drove through the neighborhood, the desolation became more apparent. The lawns were overgrown, nature slowly reclaiming the land, and the silence was heavy, almost oppressive. It was a reminder that, for the time being, they were still alone.

The SUV bumped along the rough roads as they ventured further out. They passed by deserted gas stations, closed-up shops, and houses that had been left to fall into disrepair. The once-bustling streets were now eerily empty, a shell of what the world used to be. Deanna stared out the window, lost in thought.

"Do you think there are others?" she asked quietly, breaking the silence.

Jason glanced over at her. "I have to believe there are. Maybe not here, but somewhere. I can't believe we're the only ones who made it through... whatever this is."