Ruins

5-Moving on

Thwack!
"Dad, stop!"Kaleb cried.
"Maybe you'll learn not to be selfish"
Thwack!
______________________________________

Kaleb's head stiffened up on his pillow. A day after he ran into the survivors he had found a very comfortable truck backseat late at night while looting And decided to sleep. But once again the nightmares of his father lecturing him on him not having the right to take another's life.

Kaleb huffed, he sat up And looked out the window of the blue Chevy Silverado. It was how he had found it, parked on the side of a country road leading out of the city. He had found an abundance of supplies along with keys in the ignition in this baby.

He had decided to leave the city. He decided that to survive here, in this, you have to be strong, not weak. Smart, not stupid. Ruthless, not careless. He realized to become these things, he had to change, move on, break away. At that, he left the city.

He rubbed his eyes And thought of exercises or new habits he should begin to become harmonic with this world. He looked forward at the keys in the ignition And grinned. He tossed his duffel bag into the passenger seat And hopped across the console into the driver seat.

His feet fit snug into the pedals, he shook around his hips finding a comfortable position. He he placed his left hand on the wheel, exhaled, then reluctantly And slowly, turned the key.

At first, nothing happened, then he realized he was turning it the wrong way. He smiled And twisted it around. Then, the vibration And the rumbling, hit him like a truck.
(Lol, get it?)

He flinched a little And regained posture And hardened his face. He lightly pushed a pedal. When nothing gave he determined it as the brake after checking a full fuel tank. Then he softly turned the steering wheel to the left And pushed the gas slightly which nudged him onto the dirt, country road.

He straightened the wheel forwards And glared at the road like it was a challenge waiting to be defeated. He moved forward gradually as he would tap the gas then slam the brake if he got too fast.

He eventually was moving down the road at 25 miles an hour, smiling.

Kaleb began to think as driving down these calm, quiet roads, alone were relaxing. He thought about the girl. The one he shot. The one who dropped into her Father's arms as her shirt soaked in blood. He never ran so fast from something. He never knew what he was running to, either.

Suddenly, he gasped And hit the brakes turning the truck slightly across the road as about twenty yards out, an adult male short, crew cut hair, muscle shirt sweaty. Duffel bag like kaleb's slung across his shoulders. He had a revolver, clearly showing in his back pocket.

Kaleb continued slowly And pulled up as professionally looking as possible next to him And just stared at him. Now that he saw his face, he had a brown goatee, Asian, with a tight knit, strong expression.

They stared in silence at each other for a moment."you gonna offer me a ride?"he smirked in a strong Korean accent. Kaleb, squinted, as if analyzing him one more time then moved his bag to the backseat And unlocked the passenger door.

The man stepped into the car setting his bag on his lap. He had muddy jeans And old hiking boots on."got any rules? As I'm the guest, I would like to cooperate as your helping me out."he asked Kaleb. Kaleb put the car back in gear then started back on the road."I'm driving."Kaleb said."where to?"Kaleb asks.