The End Times

1.

Jolene's Pov:

All I can hear is the sound of my shoes hitting the pavement, as I run along the road. It's quiet, almost too quiet. I haven't seen another living human for 3 weeks now, which sadly, is fortunate for me. On the other hand there is no short supply of zed herds. They blindly wander around, tearing apart anything with a pulse, well anything they can catch. Zeds aren't a problem though, as long as you know how to handle them.

Humans on the other hand, are a huge threat. They are smarter than zeds, they can outwit you and tend to have ill intentions. Everyone is desperate nowadays, supplies are scarce. Desperation makes people willing to do things they never would have done before. People murder with no remorse, and some people even enjoy it. The biggest threat to a survivor is other survivors, especially now since most people are in groups. I don't have a group, I just travel with my German Shepard Riley. It's not that I'm against having another human with me, it's just hard to find someone you can trust.

I found Riley as a puppy, her mom and siblings were getting ripped apart by a zed, I was able to save her. She is my best friend in the entire world, we protect each other. She is a very intelligent dog, she is just as much a survivor as I am.

As Riley and I walk down the highway I keep a lookout to make sure we don't get ambushed. We are heading out of the rural areas in Ohio and making our way towards Columbus, going towards a city increases the chances of seeing herds and other survivors. I see a car up ahead which is strange since it's the only car on the highway. This is most likely a trap, which means whoever set it already knows I'm here. I continue to walk towards the car since it's too late to run at this point. As we approach the car I tell Riley to keep a lookout. I lean my rifle against the car and pull out a knife, I look through the car window and don't see anything out of the ordinary.

Just as I'm about to open the door I hear a man "don't even think about it bitch".

I slowly start to turn around but stop once I hear his stern voice say "don't even think about turning around, and call off your mutt". I grit my teeth, I was already pissed and now he has the audacity to insult Riley. I'm not worried, I have run into men like him before. Sexism really is the downfall to men, just because I am a woman does not mean I can't kick his ass. I inwardly cringe at the nervous voice I force myself to reply in

"p-p-please don't hurt us w-we don't want any t-t-trouble". I mentally gag, as if I'm one of those girls who gives up without a fight, but I need to lower his guard.

He snickers, "don't worry darlin I wouldn't dream of hurting a pretty little thing like you".

He sounds as though he smokes a pack a day, arrogance lacing his every word. "Will you please just let me go"? I beg pathetically.

He laughs yet again, "turn around doll". I do as he says and turn around but not after tucking my knife into the front of my pants and hiding it under my shirt.

As I turn around I see a man who looks like he is probably in his late forties. I am 24 years young. He is easily old enough to be my dad which makes me cringe as he looks me up and down. He has greasy jet black hair that is starting to gray. He looks to be about 6'4, he towers over me by a lot, even though I'm 5'6. He has a muscular build, but I can see his prominent beer gut. He smiles at me as we make eye contact, He has a 12 gauge aimed at the ground but it wouldn't take much for him to aim it at me if I annoy him.

"Drop your weapons and kick them over here", If my plan is going to work I need to play along. I drop my crossbow and rifle then slide them as well as my backpack in his direction. He gives me a knowing look and I pull a small knife out of my sock and toss it in the pile. I know this seems like a lot of gear, but It's a year into the apocalypse and I lived on a farm before this all started.