Survivor - A Camren Fanfiction

• Chapter Two •

I've been walking the whole day, I can already feel the blisters forming on my heels. Today is a particular hot day and it feels like the heat is taking away the air to breathe. I'm wiping the sweat from my brow and take another look at my map. I should reach Washington soon, I'm getting closer with every step I take. The thought of getting to rest and taking a shower and maybe even eating meat again after weeks gives me the strength to keep going.

I check my ammo, only 4 more bullets. I need to hurry, if another wave of infected hits me I'm dead.
It's really hard to find ammo nowadays. The gun shops are all empty, people were providing themselves with weapons hours after the outbreak escalated. If you didn't get any arms by the next day you were fucked.

Luckily my uncle used to hunt as a hobby and we had a great amount of rifles, shotguns and bullets at his house. My family and I had a good chance of surviving, I hope they're alright..

-

"I know you're worried about Camila, I care about her too, but you can't do that!" my dad says to me, fear in his voice. We've been arguing for days now. I want to leave the military station of Miami, I need to find Camila, what if she needs help?

"Dad, you don't get it! She's not a person that can fight, she's too generous and empathetic, this world will eat her alive!" I tell him, "she needs me.. and I need her! I need to know that she's alive and healthy. I need to help her and the girls, they're still in New York, do you have an idea how many infected people could be there?"

My dad sighs and holds my shoulders so I have to face him. "You don't even know if she's still alive, Lauren.."
I shake my head and move away. "She is. She might not be able to kill or to fight strangers, but she's smart, smarter than most people.."
"Lauren.." my dad starts again.
"No." I keep shaking my head. "She must be there with the others. They're alive. And i will find them."

"No you won't!" my dad raises his voice, "you stay here! You wanna throw your life away looking for someone who might be dead by now? Are you serious??"
"Yes, I am!" I answer with the same tone.
My dad shakes his head. "I won't let you, you're staying here where it's safe. Aren't you grateful that you're alive?!"
"I am, but every day I have this same sickening feeling in my stomach that I'm surviving and lot living. I sit around in these fences, doing nothing but worrying. I need to do something, I need to find her."

In the same night I'm leaving. I pack a few guns and ammo and enough food for a few days. I leave enough weapons for my family so they can defend themselves if anything happens to the military station and a letter in which I tell them how much I love them and how I will fight to see them again one day. Then I leave the room in which we all stay.
I also leave a letter for Camila's parents who live in these walls as well. I tell them how I'll find their daughter and make sure she's healthy and protected and stays alive. And that's a promise.

After leaving the building I walk to the main gate and go for the run before anyone sees me. I feel empowered and brave but as soon as I hit the road and I know that there aren't any walls protecting me anymore, fear starts to creep in my mind. I take a look around. It's dark and all I can see are a few abandoned houses and cars, but no people. It's like everyone vanished. Is this the wrong decision?

Maybe I should turn around. I look back at the big fences where the military keeps the remaining survivors safe. My family is in there. My parents, brother and sister. They're safe. I take a deep breath and close my eyes. "Come on Lauren. You can do this. You have to do this. For the girls. For Camila."

-

I keep walking, at this point I'm sure I read the map incorrectly, why am I not there yet? The sun is going down soon and I'm still not there. I need water.. really bad.
I groan in frustration when I look at my empty water bottle, trying to force any last drops out. My tongue is completely dry and my lips are getting sticky. I need something to drink.