Error 42 (Book 5)

Highways of Desolation

Back in Los Angeles Cedar, Ellie and Lev were still backed up against the back of the bridge, watching in terrified silence as the Bloater shrieked again and turned around to directly face the trio.

Cedar pressed a shaking hand over his mouth to muffle the terrified cries that bubbled in the back of his throat as the Bloater stomped forward until he was a mere few inches away from the trio's faces, sniffing them out as they kept standing in silence.

Seeing that Cedar was starting to hyperventilate even worse, Ellie pressed her own hand against his mouth whilst rolling up both of their sleeves, exposing their bite marks.

The Bloater sniffed around for a few more moments before giving one last shriek and stomping back into the direction it had come from.

"What the hell was that about?". Cedar asked once the Bloater was fully out of sight.

"I don't know, I've never seen a Bloater just not attack someone". Lev replied, running a hand through his hair anxiously.

"It could tell that you and I are infected". Ellie realized. "That's why I exposed both our bite marks".

"So as far as it was concerned, we were just two other infected". Cedar finished with a frown.

"Pretty much". Ellie replied. "Which proves that they're evolving and mutating into something different, something smarter".

Cedar took this into consideration for a minute before grabbing his backpack and hefting it over his shoulder as he started walking away from the bridge. "We need to keep moving".

"Uh, what happened to resting?". Ellie said as she and Lev started following Cedar again.

"The sun will be up in a few hours anyways, might as well get a head start". Cedar shrugged.

"Yeah, like five hours from now!". Ellie protested. "Cordyceps are more active and dangerous at night".

"Then we'll just have to avoid them, won't we?". Cedar replied in an eerily casual tone as he kept trekking through the dark streets.

Ellie tried to protest but Lev spoke up, trying to change the topic. "On the positive side, It looks like you are immune to the Cordyceps".

"We still have six hours until the eight hour time slot ends". Cedar reminded him firmly. "Anything can happen in between that time".

Not knowing what else to say, Lev just shared a saddened look with Ellie as the two of them grew increasingly concerned about their unstable older sibling.

Back in Catalina, Benji led the group out to the pier, where they managed to find three small boats that actually still worked.

"Get those kids back safe alright?". Miguel said to Joel in a quiet voice as he hugged him tightly.

"I promise". Joel nodded, giving his fiancé a small peck on the lips before helping him into the second boat.

"Are you sure you guy's don't want some back up?". Bill asked as he helped Frank, Henry and Sam into the third boat.

"We'll be fine, you have Frank to look after". Joel said reassuringly as he gave the other man a small nod.

The two groups were obviously headed in the same direction but would be splitting up as soon as they reached Seattle since Miguel was tasked with taking Boone, Tony, Henry, Sam, Bill, Frank, and Rio out to the safe house in Bowen Island.

About thirty minutes into the one hour journey passed before Tommy walked over and sat next to a zoned out Joel. "What's going on?".

Joel shook himself from his daze and looked at his younger brother. "N - Nothing".

"It's the flashbacks again, ain't it?". Tommy realized with a frown.

Joel heaved a sigh before leaning back and nodding. "Yeah, it's just - ever since we found you the flashbacks and nightmares from what happened with Abby have come back".

"They were gone for a while there". Tommy observed gently.

"You can thank my fiance for that". Joel joked as Tommy pulled a faux grossed out face.

"Are you sure you're gonna be able to handle this?". Tommy asked quietly once he had composed himself.

"I have to". Joel replied. "Besides, this isn't about me, It's about getting those kids back safely".

"How far do you think they've gotten by now?". Tommy asked, clearly trying to redirect the conversation.

"Cedar's probably not taking many breaks so they're at least two or three hours ahead of us by now". Joel guessed, looking out at the sun starting to rise over the water.

"I can't figure out why Ellie and Lev would go with him, They know better than to just take off like this". Tommy grumbled in aggravation.

"Cedar is Ellie's best friend, and knowing how stubborn she is, Ellie probably insisted on tagging along to make sure he wouldn't do something stupid". Joel guessed.

"Something stupid like taking off to track down two psychos in the hopes of getting killed in the process?". Tommy grumbled sarcastically. "And what about Lev?".

"I think Lev's just a victim of circumstance". Joel replied with a small smirk, falling silent as he allowed his thoughts to once again consume him.

- Wednesday. August 13, 2042.

A week eventually passed as Cedar, Ellie and Lev arrived in the next city on their route: San Francisco, California.

"How much longer until we get to Seattle?". Lev whined, rubbing at his aching feet as the trio sat in a booth in an abandoned In-N-Out Burger Restaurant.

Cedar shot the teen a glare as he took out his map. "From here, It'll take about five days to get to Eureka, California".

"That's a weird city name". Lev mumbled under his breath.

"From Eureka we'll head into Crescent City, which is another five day walk". Cedar continued. "Then we'll arrive in Medford, Oregon within another two days".

"I don't know if my feet can handle all that". Lev whined.

"Feel free to turn back then". Cedar replied easily.

"No way, we've made it this far". Lev protested stubbornly as Ellie nodded her agreements.

Cedar fixed his companions with a glare as he spoke. "Why do you guy's even give a shit about me?".

"Because we're a family". Lev replied. "Yeah, we're dysfunctional as hell but we're still a family".

Cedar blinked to contain the tears welling in his eyes before roughly clearing his throat and turning his attention back to the map. "After we leave Medford It'll take two and a half days to get to Eugene, Oregon".

"You've had this planned out since the day we found Tommy, haven't you?". Ellie asked, taking notice of all the notes scribbled on the map.

Cedar hesitated a moment before nodding his head. "I was going to convince the other's to take Mel and Manny down, but then I got bit".

"Ced, we don't have to do this". Ellie whispered as he reached across the table and gently held Cedar's hand.

"I know". Cedar whispered tearfully before roughly wiping his eyes again and nodding at the map. "Anyways, after we leave Eugene we'll have a day and a half walk until we get to Portland".

"So many cities". Lev mumbled in annoyance, wincing as Ellie kicked him from underneath the table.

"Then it's about three days before we hit Tacoma, Washington". Cedar rattled off. "And finally, twelve hours until we arrive in Seattle".

"Sounds reasonable". Ellie shrugged, not wanting to piss Cedar off further even though this mission was anything but reasonable.

Lev groaned and glared at Cedar as he got to his feet again to follow him and Ellie back outside. "Fine, but I'm finding new shoes before we leave California"....