One year later

Chapter Twelve

"Where are your people?" the man asks angrily, his gun pointed at Christa.

"I-I'm by myself-"

"Bullshit," another one spits.

Throwing away any last hopes of escaping unseen, I throw a rock at one of the men.

"Christa, run!"

Bang.

"Christa!"

I'm woken by a loud crash the following morning, and I hear a loud yell moments later. With a start I jump out of bed and tumble downstairs, feeling dissorientated and confused.

"Christa?" I call out, my voice thick with sleep.

I stumble through to the utility romm, where Lilly is stood, surrounded by tools. She gives me a confused look, "Christa? Who the hell's Christa?"

"No one," I mumble, now fully aware of my surroundings . . . And the fact that Christa is long gone.

"What happened?" I ask, gesturing towards the mess.

"Damn tool box fell off the shelf again," she grumbles, begining to put away the various tools and other appliances which are now scattered on the floor.

I help her clear up the mess, and soon enough the floor is clean.

"Don't you think you should move the tool box from off the shelf?" I mumble, and Lilly glares at me. "No shit, Sherlock."

"What? I'm just trying to help. Now, if you don't need me I'm gonna go back to bed . . ." I start to walk away, before Lilly grabs my arm, "Nu-uh, sorry Clem, but you don't get to sleep all day. It's not my fault you stayed out all day with your boyf-" She breaks off as I glare at her.

I groan, "Why can't you just let me sleep? I'll only be five minutes, I swear it."

Lilly snorts, "You mean five hours. Come on, it's already seven-thirty. You want breakfast?"

"No, I want sleep," I grumble, but I then let out a weary sigh, "Okay, fine. What've we got?"

"Croissants, bagels, pancakes . . ."

I send her a pointed glare, "Not funny."

"Sorry, your highness. We got cereal bars, more cereal bars, cereal bars galore."

"I'm sick of cereal bars," I mutter.

"And I'm sick of you. Now are we gonna eat, or what?"

~~~

After a quick breakfast, we're ready to set off.

I stand by the door, feeling a little tetchy. I just wanna get out there and come back in one piece. That's the idea, anyway.

Lilly joins me by the door, looking a little agitated herself. She gives me a wan smile, tucking a lock of dark brown hair behind her ear.

"You ready?"

"Yup," I reply, popping the p.

"Alright," she opens the door and steps outside. I shoulder my pack, before following her down the front steps and onto the road.

"So, where is this pharmacy?" I ask her, suddenly remembering the drugstore in Macon where we stayed for a little while. The store that Lee's family worked in.

Lee . . .

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to forget about him. I don't want to dredge up old memories, I have to be strong.