Undead Incursion

Chapter 4

The sound of a gunshot made me jump awake, I turned to see Mia stagger out of the store with her arms up as a man with a pistol followed her out, aiming the gun toward her. I couldn't hear what they were saying, so I opened the automatic lock and exited the car.

"Hey!" I shouted.

The man glared his ocean blue eyes toward me, they seemed to stare into my soul, I couldn't look away.

"I'm alright, Ash!" Mia began to move gradually toward the car, but was stopped as the man spun around and pointed his gun toward her again.

"Got any weapons?"

"Only food and hygiene supplies." I interrupted, though I was sure we had no weapons, I wasn't trying to get shot by some complete stranger by a convenience store, I raised my hands aswell.

Come on, just let us go. I kept my thoughts to myself and remained compliant.

"Well, I need weapons, I have food. So, I'll let you go."

Mia let her hands fall to her sides as she rushed to the car, I stood still.

"Thank you. What's your name?" Mia asked. I glared at her. Why was she asking a complete stranger what his name was?

"Mia, I-"

"Steve. My name is Steve." He cut in, I glanced at him once more, he didn't look too threatening, excluding the gun in his hand. He had blue eyes, and brunette hair.

Another man she'll hit on. I thought, my eyes locking on Mia for a split second before my attention fixed back onto Steve. He placed the gun in it's holdster and leaned against the lightpost.

"And you two are..?" He asked expectantly.

I wasn't entirely keen on the idea of revealing my name to this man who had just attempted to kill us for his looting pleasure, before I could utter a word, Mia continued to badger on to Steve.

"I'm Mia, this is Ashley." She turned to me, and Steve did the same, with a small smile which made me shudder with discomfort. I stared at the ground as if it had my response, I kicked the dirt.

"Well, nice to meet you both."

"So much for trying to shoot us for weapons." I muttered, not realizing I said that aloud.

"Sorry." Steve replied.

"Well, Steve, Ashley and I were just about to head to a gas station, we have a long drive ahead."

What the hell? I frowned and looked at Mia, this had to be the most stupid thing she had done the entire day. I shook my head in protest, she ignored my silent pleading and turned back to Steve.

"I could use a ride back to Cincinatti."

"Alright, Mia. Can I speak to you alone?" I interjected, and we huddled to the corner of the car.

"I'm not sitting in a car with some stranger." I whispered.

"Ash, he's not going to hurt us, just let me give him a ride back to Cincinatti. It's not that far from here."  Mia pleaded, her eyes filled with feigned sorrow.

I narrowed my eyes, knowing she wouldn't stop pestering me if I didn't let Steve come with us, after several minutes, I crossed my arms and sighed.

"Fine. But if he kills us, then I warned you."

Mia squealed and ran over to Steve who was still leaned against the post, she smiled, and told him he could join. I, on the other hand, was far from happy, but I kept my mouth shut for once. I got into the car and slumped upon the seat as Steve got into the backseat. Mia grabbed her bags of looting galore and got into the car, turning the key as the engine revved.

"Alright, everyone ready?" She called.

"Yep." Steve replied.

I nodded, still peeved that we let him come along, I stared out of the window as the car pulled out of the bumpy parking lot. It soon began to rain, as raindrops hit the windows with small pitter-patters, Mia continued to talk to Steve with the radio playing softly in the background. I remained in my own world and closed my eyes, I wanted to be home already, not driving clear to Cincinatti with some stranger while a virus was spreading.

"What happened to your arm?"

I opened my eyes, not bothering to turn to Steve.

"I fell."

That was complete bullshit and I could tell he knew it right away, but I wasn't telling him I had gotten bit, he might freak out and kill me then and there. I folded my hands upon my lap and remained quiet.

"Falling doesn't usually result in a wound that bad."

I grew more irritated as I turned my head to look back at Steve, I frowned.

"Please, it's nothing. Stop asking about it." I sternly spoke, I felt guilty at thw same time, I freaked out for no reason, I most likely came off as bitchy, but it was my mood.

"Jesus, sorry." Steve leaned back, staring down at his hands as the car grew silent, besides the music that played in the background. I glanced toward Mia, seeing her shake her head, which was probably for me.

"Listen. I'm in a bad mood. I didn't me-"

"We're all in a bad mood, Ash, but you didn't need to be a dick to Steve." Mia said, eyes still fixed onto the road, the sight of a gas station not too far ahead. She turned the radio's dial as the music grew slightly louder. I went back to my place of solitude and shut my eyes once more.

I felt the need to apologize to Steve, but I didn't feel like bringing up much more of an argument than what I had already started in the span of a few minutes.

"Finally, a gas station with nobody around." Mia spoke, and turned the car up to one of the filling stations. I looked outside, the rain had finally stopped.

Mia stepped out of the car and put money into thr station, she grabbed the petrol pump and pushed it into the fuel door.

I looked back at Steve, who looked at me aswell.

"I'm sorry for snapping at you." I uttered. Steve nodded and smiled slightly.

"It's okay, the world's gone to shit, everyone is in a bad mood."

I nodded, smiling aswell as I ran my fingers through my blonde hair. We shared a few moments of eye contact before we jumped at the sound of Mia's scream.

"Oh shit!" Steve yelled, and quickly got out of the car.

I exited aswell, staring in awe at the sight before us all.

"We need to go. Now!" Steve yelled.