As we drove away, I glanced back in the mirror, "I'm Avery... Avery Sorries" I introduced and Griffin glanced back too, "Griffin Nolverton" He stated before continuing driving. The boy shot a smile at me before stating, "Preston Plaz, miss!" He exclaimed. The girl didn't look up and Preston nudged her, she ignored him before muttering, "...Savannah" I barely heard her, "She's Savannah Skyes" He stated and I nodded. "Nice to meet you, Preston and Savannah. To be honest, me and Griffin just met, saved my ass" I said with a comforting smile and Preston grinned, "Same!" Savannah glanced me over, "Why so many tattoos?" I was startled by the question. I had to glance down at my heavily tattooed arms, "Um... Well, they all mean things to me, they were gotten when I need distraction from my inner pain" I stated bluntly. Griffin glanced at me halfway but hid it almost well enough..
Suddenly two dogs hopped up from the backseat, "Oh sorry, forgot to tell you about these two dorks" I stated as Avalon climbed on the floor of Savannah, Avalon had a good sense with people. She laid her head on the girl's lap, the tail thumping loudly and Savannah cracked a smile. Mozert was more interested in Preston, I had a feeling they would get along great. Mozert was giving Preston's face a cleaning, his stubby tail wagging excitedly while Preston petted the dog. "Griffin, up here, let's check this place." I stated, putting my backpack over my shoulders. Savannah spoke, her hands stroking Avalon's head, "Why here?" Her voice quiet and I cracked a grin.
"Because gas station has gas, food, drinks and other small simple items" I stated with a grin before glancing at Griffin, "Griffin, I'll drive on the way back but in case there are too many infected, we need a get away driver." Griffin looked disappointed but nodded, "Got it." He mumbled. I unbuckled myself from the seat and turned around, "Before we go, Savannah, Preston, can you fight infected?" I asked and Savannah looked a little offended, "Of course" and Preston nodded, "Yep!"
I nodded, it was settled, "Alright, I'll go in first, Savannah take over the rear and I want Preston in between us, no guns unless you are going to die" They both nodded as I opened the car door, I commanded, "Stay" And the dogs' butts hit the floor in unison. They both opened the car doors, Savannah had a fire ax in her hand while Preston had a crowbar, there was also a baseball bat sticking out of Savannah's backpack which Preston seemed to be staring at, his face full of pain before glancing at me and shooting me a grin. "Once we clear this place, let's loot as much as possible, regular food are more important then junk food but grab every thing"
I opened the door and once we were all in, I whistled loudly. Two infected ran out from the corner, screeching. I took down one with ease, I had a machete out, Preston went to attack one but Savannah killed it before Preston got close enough. I nodded before doing another whistle, nothing... A few more whistles and a couple calls, I deemed it clear.
I split up, towards the drinks, I opened the door and signaled for Griffin to back the SUV to allow us to fill it up quicker. I dropped the first bag, full of water bottles, I kept filling till all the water was gone, I then worked on the Gatorade and any other drink that didn't need to be refrigerated. I saw Preston dump a bag of different foods, cans and dog food. Savannah was also working on drinks but more on juice and such. Next I got a box and threw the donuts in, I loved donuts so might as well have some snacks, there came a laugh behind me and I turned to see Savannah laughing at me. She winked at me, "Grab all of them, I love donuts" She teased as Preston grabbed one from the cabinet, eating it quickly before glancing at the soda machines, "Should we clear those out" He asked with a sly grin and the corners of my mouth tugged. I agreed easily, we got the Circle K, huge jug containers as we helped ourselves, we filled about twenty of those, laughing the entire time as I filled up some for Griffin after checking his favorite soda.
We did grabbed everything off the shelves, snack wise, cracking stupid jokes. When the store was empty and the trunk full, we piled in after I filled us up on gas, I ran back in to grab lighters, as many as I could carry in two trips along with Griffin's favorite cigarette brand, on his request. Lastly, I shut the trunk after handing Griffin's soda up to him, then Preston's, Savannah's and mine. I opened the car door and grinned, "Let's roll" I slipped in my surprise, the first CD I had grabbed in the process of getting things out of the store. "Nice!" Preston praised while Savannah nodded, "Love this band" She stated and I nodded, "Same" It was Avenged Sevenfold, my favorite album. "It's funny, this song works fairly well in this world" I switched to my favorite song, Nightmare.
I spun the volume up so it was blasting and me and Savannah started singing. "Dragged ya down below! To the devil's show to be his guest forever, Hate to twist your mind but God ain't on your side and old acquaintance severed. Flesh is burning, you can smell it in the air cause men like you have such an easy soul to steal... Steal. So stand in line while they ink numbers in your head; You're now a slave until the end of time here. Nothing stops the madness, turning, haunting, yearning, pull the trigger. You should have known the price of evil and it hurts to know that you belong here, yeah... Ooooh, it's your fucking nightmare!"
The boys were laughing at us as we sung and the dogs howled along part of the time. We laughed like losers and it almost seemed normal. Until it happened. We had pulled over at a farm, abandoned but cut off. Griffin knew of it because he use to live near it, we had driven hours away from the city and was in a tiny town, we found because of Griffin's memory. He took us out on a tiny road in the forest and after confusing turns, we found it, snuggled in a meadow in the middle of the forest, completely untouched. Animals were on it, alive. "Wow" I stated, as I turned the song down. He ran in front to open the gate before driving in and jumping out to close it. We approached and hopped out, suddenly the door was thrown open and a woman holding a shotgun in her hands shouted, "DROP YOUR WEAPONS!"
Griffin dropped his, as well as Preston but me and Savannah kept ours out. Suddenly an older man stepped out, "Griffin? Griffin Nolverton?" Griffin gave a smile, "Yes, Albert Worthington, it's me" The man threw his arms around him. "Ah, son, I thought I'd never see you again. This your girlfriend and friends?" He asked, staring at me. My eyes widened, "Uh, no, we are just, uh. Recently, er, you know met." He stared at me before laughing, "I was yanking your chain young lady, come on in." Griffin went in first while I let my dogs hop out before following, Preston and Savannah followed Griffin, they looked as awkward as I felt. A young woman with jet black hair glared at me as I went by but I ignored her, rolling my eyes. I glanced at my watch, "Griffin, I'm going hunting" He glanced at me, "What? You're kidding right?" I shook my head, "I'm quick and fast, I'll survive, plus I'm a tracker, just let me go, I have a crossbow actually in my back as well as a hunting rifle" He snorted, "in your back?" I shook my head, laughing, "No, in my stuff though. Are we allowed to stay here?" I asked and Albert nodded, a smile that shined, "Of course. Be back by dark, if you catch something I want to get cooking as soon as possible." I nodded before moving out of the house but Griffin stopped me.
Concern was etched in his face, "I don't know, alone? I don't want you to go." I grinned, "Don't worry I'll be fine." I suddenly pulled out my knife and cut off a piece of my shirt. I rubbed it against my cheek for a few seconds before dropping it in his hand. "Let Avalon sniff this once and she can find me" I explained before pulling my blonde hair back in a ponytail. I slipped towards the SUV while Preston, Savannah and Griffin began unloading, I grabbed my hunting rifle and crossbow. Savannah touched my arm, "Be careful" She said softly and Preston gave me a hug, "Come back okay" And I smiled at the two of them, I will" I patted the shorter girl before rustling the hair of the smaller boy. "See you guys in a few hours or in the afterlife" Preston smacked my arm lightly, "Don't say that" I laughed before slipping my backpack over my shoulders. "I'll be back" I finished before heading off into the forest.
