Together We Survive

Getting To Know You

The journey back to Atlanta was far less tense than it had been recently. Any differences we may have had were all in the past, if we wanted to survive then we couldn't constantly be at odds with each other. It wasn't to say that we wouldn't have opposing opinions in the future but we had to let go of the past.

It had been difficult for me to admit that leaving the women behind had been the right decision, but looking back I could see that Elyza was right. She had most likely been bitten and we would have all been caught short by the group of walkers even if we had by some miracle managed to get her over the fence. It had been the main source of conflict between us ever since the incident but now everything had become clear to me, and even though I still hated having to leave anyone behind, at least now I had accepted that we had no other choice.

Elyza had seemingly forgiven my harsh words to her the previous day but I was not about to forget so easily. It had been unnecessary and despite the circumstances I had no right to behave in such a way. We stopped off at a store not an hour into our trip and I presented Elyza with a pair of black ankle boots, adorned with a buckle clasp over the silver zip, no use having laces that would only trip her up.

I had been fortunate to find them, only able to locate one shoe before a hurried search had revealed the other half hidden beneath the mess of clothes strewn over the floor. Elyza immediately pulled off her own blood stained boots and grinned when the new pair fit with the same comfort. They were practical with a thicker sole and Elyza grinned in thanks at the gesture. It had admittedly been my fault that the others had gotten into such a state so it was the least I could do.

We were back on the road soon after, both our spirits lifted to be away from the beach and the futile hope that I had been clinging to. I had not forgotten about my quest to find my family. The hours of driving had given me time to think of a plan. I knew for certain that the Abigail had a radio and if I could get my hands on one myself then I could get in contact with them.

Over half of the distance back to the house in Arizona was covered in that one day. We had another uncomfortable sleep in the car that night before setting off again the next morning, only another three hours to go until we arrived at our destination.

I stretched out my arms in front of me and yawned, my muscles slightly cramped from being in the car for so long. It would be a relief to sleep in a bed once more, it had been a long time since I had been treated with the comfort of pillows and a mattress.

'Will you give it a rest Alicia,' Elyza muttered, raising a hand to cover the yawn that was forming on her own lips in response. 'We would be there by now if we had taken the motorbike.'

The thought of being balanced precariously on the back of the metal bike riding at over 100 mph made me suddenly thankful for the rusting car that had gotten us this far. Elyza felt differently, she loved nothing more than feeling the air whip by as she tore down an open stretch of road.

'This old car is good enough, though it's not really in keeping with your love of top speeds,' I commented, half expecting her to have revealed an excessively fast sports car when the motorbike had been firmly refused.

Elyza smiled fondly at the dashboard as she recalled a distant memory. 'This beauty got me out of a lot of scrapes, it would hardly be fair to ditch her after all we've been through together.'

I rolled my eyes, not understanding her attachment to the vehicle and wondered if she could ever choose between the car or her beloved motorbike.

We had allowed ourselves a lie in that morning and it was now gone midday, crossing into Arizona only a few hours later. The journey passed quickly, general conversation between the two of us now coming easily and within half an hour we were pulling into Mescal Loop and I recognised the house that Elyza used as a temporary base.