The Living Nightmare

Chapter 3: Our Journey Continues

"Where are we going?" Clair asked us with curiosity and the only truthful thing I could do was shrug. Terance opened the little hatch on the top of the military vehicle and turned towards us. "There's a broadcast on the radio in here saying that there is a safe haven not too far from here. We just follow the road to Mississippi, head down towards Louisiana, then we go to Nevada. It's going to take us a few months though." I processed this information in my head then nodded,"Alright, sounds like we got a journey planned." Clair said then chuckled lightly. I turned to face her when Terence descended into the belly of our transport, "So..." I said, wanting to spike up some type of conversation. "So what?" Claire asked me when she turned to face my direction. Her blonde hair was whipping in the wind as the morning sun was glistening off of- Er... I'm getting off task. "H-How did you get to the Checkpoint? Like... did you get there yourself, did you have help.." I asked her, realizing I was prying to much and going into some personal business.

"I mean: If you want to talk...  then--" She cut me off as she began to speak, and I listened with interest, "Well.. My mom, my dad, my brother, and I got a map when the plague started, it was a map of the states. I saw there was a... a large circle with the word SAFE on it and it was a  base right there and we made a plan to reach it for supplies and a safe haven, I guess..."  Her eyes seemed to go away as if she was watching the memory, looking into the trail of dust, papers, and clothes. "Then, when we were halfway there, a group of Lurkers came and... they.. they chopped my mom up to bits..." Clair explained in a choked voice, her eyes started to get watery. "Then another day or so my dad died... his appendix ruptured and my brother and I didn't know what to do..." She continued and I started to feel pity on her. "Then when we were about ten or so miles away... My brother died from dehydration, we didn't have any water left. When I got there, I found all the food and a lot of water. Then y'all came. Felt like angels came to steal everything I had." Her eyes came back and she then looked at me in the eyes, studying me again like she did last night, a shiver running down my spine. "I'm... Sorry about that." I said slowly and Then dad and Terence turned on the radio and a broadcast of the song 'American Pie' which seemed to risen my dad's spirits.
    We were driving past a town when we decided to stop at this one gas station to get some fuel if we could, depending on if the pumps still worked or not. " Dad, Terence, you two go inside for snacks and Claire and I will get what we can from the pumps." I commanded and they nodded and started to walk inside then Terence pulled me aside, one hand on my shoulder and the other holding the grip of the pump shotgun, and whispered in my ear, "Don't get too friendly now." I pushed him away then went back to Clair. "Do these pumps still work?" I asked her and she shrugged as she grabbed a handle. "Let's find out." Claire said and she went in the truck to open the gas compartment to pump the gas in. Right as I was going to turn it on, I heard a loud KAPOW!
Chapter 4: Close Calls
    I quickly opened a door to the truck and grabbed my pistol then I went inside to be greeted with about three or four droolers running at Terence and dad. I ran at one of the droolers then swung the the butt of the pistol right at his head. I heard a crack then saw the brains ooze out of it's head with maggot-like worms. I forced to look away and went for the next drooler. All the other droolers were dead by the time Clair got in and she frowned "Why can't I get out some of my anger?" She said and I chuckled. "Should've asked and I would've saved you one." Terence and dad smirked as dad unlodged his spiked baseball bat from a droolers head and Terence picked up his shotgun which was lying next to three shotgun slugs. We found some energy drinks and a few packs of gum. I held up a pack of gum and read it.

    We searched the entire place and got a few different types of gum. It was quite a good find! We got wildberry, mint, there was even Chocolate flavors! We decided to leave quickly and then we headed off down the road. Thanks to Claire, we were able to fish something out of the pumps and into the truck and in a couple Jerry Cans. Tom found a few packs of beer, which I thought was kind of a decent find. Dust ran up behind us as we drove and the sun was up in the sky, high noon. Sweat dripped off of my chin as we drove, the dust sticking to my neck and my cheeks. "When you said that some droolers... killed.. you mom, you said they chopped her up. Were you saying that they had-" I started to ask her and Clair cut me off again.

"Machetes? Yes. They had machetes and knifes." She said giving me a cold look, her icy blue eyes piercing my eyes making me look away. "Hey! Don't look away like you're embarrassed! I wasn't willing to tell you but you asked and I delivered so... there. Now you think I'm insane or something, you-" Now it was my turn to cut her off. "I do. I believe you. Right now, the only thing I don't believe is if someone that has a steak platter and mashed potatoes covered in bacon bits." I snickered and she punched me in the shoulder playfully, laughing. I smiled at her and looked up at the tall trees from the woods on either side of the road we were on. I closed my eyes and fell asleep, feeling as though all of this was a dream. A bad, bad... dream.