Project One - Outbreak (Hiatus)

Pitt Stop

Chapter 16 – Pitt Stop

The three drove for almost five hours without stopping, Khan kept on playing with the radio station so often that Davis was fed up with his indecisiveness and turned off the radio completely. Belinda needed to go to the toilet, Khan was hungry and Davis was tired of driving. It was already dawn and the moon shined above them. Davis purposefully drove on the wrong side the road, understanding that the roads leaving the Cabramatta would be jammed with car’s filled with infected and dead people, a sight that all three persons didn’t want to see.

Davis pulled up to a service station.

All three left the car and stretched their backs and Davis added a yawn.

‘Fuck, we need food and a lot of other shit.’ Davis started.

Khan was just focused on his stomach, ‘Mostly food.’

Belinda desperately needed to head to the toilet. Without saying a word.

‘Wait, Belinda’ Khan shouted as he saw her run for the restrooms

Belinda turned around and looked annoyed. ‘What!’

Khan slid out his pistol from his suspended holster and gave her the pistol.

‘Just in case if there might be ‘surprises’ in store for you.’

Belinda realised this isn’t a normal road trip on a normal day.

‘Thanks’ Belinda took the pistol and ran off for the restrooms.

Khan and Davis walked into the service station to find it completely abandoned. Except for the fact that the only thing that lived in it was stalls of packeted chips, chocolate bars and refrigerators filled with bottle soft drinks and water. The whole building had a thick, rotten smell to it. It was probably the fresh food going off.

Davis looked for the essentials. There was a single isle of miscellaneous items that were provided for sale, he only took what he needed. A lighter, small fire extinguisher, a crowbar, screwdriver set, wheel pump, car coolant, engine oil, even he found a small fire hatchet. Davis inspected for anything else he would need and to his surprise a small section of assorted condoms. Davis looked over the isle to find Khan busy snatching bags of junk food and drinks. Sneakily Davis pocketed a packet of Durex raspberry flavoured latex condoms. Davis made his way out of the service station and dumped the items into the back seat and returned to Khan to help him with his selection of ‘essential’ items.

Davis walked behind the counter to find a bloodied and torn apart corpse of what used to be the store clerk.

‘Whoa, that’s fucked!’ Davis recoiled as he covered his nose. ‘That’s what the smell was coming from!’

Khan ran up to see what went on only to be disgusted by what he saw.

‘Holy- dude! Oh my-‘Khan couldn’t finish talking before he threw up on the floor.

Davis stepped over the carcass and opened the small cabinet behind the counter to reveal packets of cigarettes.

Khan made his way towards the mouth freshener and opened the bottle, and washed his mouth with the contents.

Davis took three different brands of cigarettes each knowing who was accustomed to which brand: Khan loved his Winfield Optimum’s, Belinda was used to the taste of Dunhill’s and Davis enjoyed his holiday’s.

The two left the car to find Belinda sleeping in the back seat. All of the items in the back were shuffled across to make space for Belinda to comfortably sleep.