Dont look back

chapter 2

New connections

Taven

Looking over to the passenger side quickly I get a brief glance at Iris. She just sits there a small frown on her seemingly perfect face. She is looking out the window in a daze. We’ve been driving for quite some time now. To be honest I have no idea where were going. I guess you could say I’m going with the flow. Natural instincts bring me to look down as the fuel gauge I noticed that we were almost at E. realization struck me needed to get to a gas station immediately!

Driving for a little more on the deserted highway I noticed at small gas station and convenience store a little up the way. Well at least now I knew we wouldn’t have to walk to wherever the hell we were going. Pulling to a stop must have startled the others. Because I then heard a shout from Harrison saying,

“What the fuck why’d we stop?” his voice sounded deep from sleep.

“Gas” was my short response. Slamming the car door I made my way around to the left side of the truck there the gas tank and pump was, I also saw Harrison standing outside the car with awkward Vera standing next to him. He was In the middle of a yawn and a stretch. 

“Good thing man I was craving some grub” Harrison said a gun in hand he made his way toward the empty convenience store.

“Vera why don’t you go with him, to help him with anything” I silently urged her to go with him.  She nodded and my heart kept beating. Looking over  at iris who nodded knowingly. Pumping the gas I knew this would take long. A huge truck like this? It probably took a lot of gas. Standing here pumping gas brought me back to happier times.

When me and Harrison would go out onto the football field at night and drink beer. We had known each other since I moved here freshmen year. While Harrison wasn’t a nice guy I always found him rather amusing.

It was then I heard a banging and thundering of feet. A boy, maybe our age and a crowbar came barreling out of the bathroom a small hoards quickly following. The zombies were not newly bitten. You could tell by the way they had lost their skin tone, Dead eyes and blood stain covered them. They barely looked human. Forgetting the gas pump I opened the back door and pulled out a gun. Iris who had beaten me too it was shooting a zombie the same zombie who had noticed us, 3 of the 7 zombies were making their way towards us. Glancing at iris I saw her small nod and ran in the direction to help the boy. Not thinking I brought the pistol up and aimed wildly. Having a gun in my hand a pistol at that made me feel weird. Not that I’ve never held one before. I mean I have. But not since I moved to Georgia. When I was young I lived in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. My older brother was once in a gang. The gang members and leaders slowly started to notice me. Growing up around violence made joining a gang easy. That is until February 18th. My brother Donald died a gang fight. The funny thing is that it wasn’t even a fight with the gang we were in.  Rivaling gangs decide to settle their differences I Philly and something’s go wrong bullets are fired. And in the blink of an eye Donald is dead. Getting out of the gang was the toughest part.  They beat me so bad I was in the hospital for weeks. As soon as we could we got out of that hell hole. Moved some place quiet and nice.

But that felt like ages ago. Killing two zombies, I went in for the next but wasn’t quick enough because Harrison and Vera who must have heard the commotion came running out of the store in time to kill the only zombie left. Vera held a pistol like mine up and aimed at the spot were a zombie once stood. Three more bullets were fired by Vera.

We all then looked over at the guy. Who I might say looked panicked but I mean who wouldn’t?

We found out the guy’s name is Quade, and that he’s 17. He’s from Ohio. A lone wolf he called himself. If he was from all the way in Ohio I wonder how long the outbreak has been going on.

“would you like to join us/’ iris voice ran through the chatter of Harrison complaints.

“Uhm… I guess. Where are you heading’?” he stuttered out.

“No were yet” I answered; I really wish I knew our destination.

“So, another random person is coming with us Tav?” Harrison asked taking the pump, I had long forgotten about, out of the car.

Getting into the driver’s seat the rest hopped in and we sped off.

After driving for a little bit I started to notice that iris was being really quiet.

“Hey Iris?” I called over to her.

“Hm?” she said looking over at me with a questioning look.

“Uh, thanks for the save back their” I said as I looked out onto the road

“Yea well you know we got to stick together. We might be the only sole survivors.” I mean she had a point.

“Yea well, you’ve been isolated since we left Georgia” I spoke just as a burst of laugh went off in the back. It was Harrison’s, knowing him he was probably giving Quade the third degree.

She let out a chuckle that held no humor, “yea well, it’s kind of hard to deal with killing your zombie father, stealing his guns and then running off with strange kids.” She said bitterly.

“Well when you put it that way,” I trailed off “it sounds more badass if you say: I stole guns and killed a bunch of zombies, and am on a really long road trip driving to who knows were” I said tossing her a look.

Giggling softly she replied back “well when you put it that way”,

“But I guess killing all these zombies is starting to get to me, you know? Cause these people probably have family and stuff” she said picking up where she left off

“You think this is a lot?” were barely out of Alabama! We have to go all the way to L.A” I exclaimed.

Her eyes widened for a millisecond. I mean who wouldn’t be nervous about having to kill off hundreds of zombies. . I mean unless you’re a guy.

“Hey Tav! We’re making a stop at a renders, Vera is complain’ about how the food isn’t healthy   Harrison shouted from the window.

Groaning slightly I drove looking for the nearest renders. It took almost two hours to find one that wasn’t desolate or blown up. Finally finding one I pulled over near the front of the building. Vera quickly jumped out of the car. 

‘ill go with you, I need to get out of the car” iris stated. Vera nodded in agreement. They both walked slowly toward the entrance. Turning their back to us.