No place like home

chapter 5

Cora

I can't sleep. It's been hours. I made the decision of just leaving now. It would be best for everyone if there aren't any goodbyes.

I walk past Dan and a wave of guilt and sadness washes over me like a tsunami. No I can't feel like this.
I continue on and exit the tent.

I walk to the gate and a gaurd comes down from his post. "Here" He smiles handing me a bag full of supplies, "thanks" I put the bag on my shoulder and he climbs back up to open the gate for me.

"Wait!" Someone yells behind me. I spin around and Dan is running toward me. "Dan?" I question. He pants for breath and smiles.

"I wanted to show you something before you left" He concludes, "okay?" He begins to walk away and I follow.

We walk around the back of camp and he suddenly smiles at something, "now I didn't bring you here to try and convince you to stay..." He starts bending down next to a large box "but I was hoping you could take care of this little guy..." he stand back up and German Shepherd appears next to him.

"Why?" I ask bending down to the pup. He runs over to me and jumps up and licks my face. "Think of him as a companion" He says walking away slightly, "come on... It'll be light soon" Sadness hides in his voice threatening to appear.

I stand, "does he have a name?" I ask taking a step to see if he follows me. He does. "Tyler" He says with a proud chuckle. I smile and he spins in circle.

"Come" He whispers again and we walk back to the main gate. It's wide open ready for me time exit.

Please don't say it.

I know it's coming.

"See you around I guess" He says patting my shoulder. Okay, not what I was expecting. I nod and we both walk away, "Cora" He calls back, I turn slowly, "take care of Tyler" He says and waves his hand.

The gate shuts and I start to walk away slowly with Tyler at my heels. I notice that the walls of the camp are made of thick scrap metals and old materials. It's impressive.

I come to a main road. It's been deserted for years. Not a spot of blood. That I can see anyway.

I take a moment to see what supplies I was given and what I found was no surprise. Noah had packed all my favorite snacks and 6 water bottles.

I reach further down into the bag and three pieces of cold metal hits my skin and I hiss slightly at the temperature. I pull out the treasures he put the bottom.

A dog tag with Tyler engraved on. A small knife with Cora, Noah and Kiran engraved on. And a single bar bracelet. To accompany the lonely bracelet I wear on my wrist. I smile.

That's my brother.

I clip the tag the leather collar around Tyler's neck and he wags his tail. I stand and continue down the road with him trailing behind me.

The sun is rising and it paints a brightness over the road and trees. It warms my skin and sends a odly warming shiver down my spine.

A growl causes me to stop dead in my tracks. I turn slowly and a group of undead stare me down like I'm prey in a lions den.

I need to run!

Another sound is heard in the distance but I can't work it out and they can't hear it enough for them to care. I step back all to quickly and anger one of them.

They lunge and a few of them start running. Crap. I sprint backwards and Tyler follows.

I run for a while the walkers still run full speed at me but I'm losing breath fast. I don't know how much longer I'm going to be running but if I don't think of something soon. I'm going to die.

A car engine!

Of course that was the noise I heard. It was close and fast approaching. It didn't mow down the walkers but drove around them by what I can hear. It quickly came into my line of sight and the back door flew open.

"Need a lift" Dan laughs holding out a hand for me. "Get Tyler!" I yell noticing he's falling behind. He glances at him and the car slows.

I hear his paws hit the cars surface and relief drains through me. The car comes into view again and I feel myself slowing almost to a stop.

He grabs my hand before I have the chance to stop completly and pulls me into the back. He falls back and I topple on top of him. "Sorry" I pant getting up and sitting down.

He gets up and sits on his seat. "How did you know where to find me?" I ask after catching my breath, "saw the group of walkers through the trees and on the road. knew you couldn't get that far on foot. knew they'd catch up in less then twenty minutes" He smirks.

An awkward cough pulls my gaze away and two people sat at the end of the side benches. "You remember Tom and Harry" Dan says gesturing to the two figures wearing dark clothes and masks.

Damn, everyone I knew was actually alive.

It hurts they didn't stuck around long enough to find me.

"Hurts you didn't say goodbye. Or hello for that matter" Tom's heavy British accent chimes in. They both lower their masks and huge smiles plaster their faces.

"Good to see you boys" I mutter staring out the back window away from them. I see through the corner of my eyes they exchange a confused and sad look.

I don't know what came over me but seeing them didn't really make me...

Happy.