If Tomorrow Never Comes

Chapter 20

   "This is bullshit!" Baylor cursed as she tried to pry the hand cuff off of her wrist. "I already said I was sorry," Landon said, hanging his head and running his fingers through his shaggy brown hair. "Sorry doesn't cut it asshole," she glared at him. Asher was asleep in my arms and I sat on the tailgait where the creature from earlier once was. A deep purple substance remained to let us know that we didn't dream up the beast. Axel and I had agreed to keep it to ourselves for the time being not sure exactly what it was, and not interested in alarming the more immature duo. At first I refused to do so, but I know that alarming them wasn't the best thing to do while we're all on edge. I'm surprised Baylor isn't dead or seriously injured from being trapped in the trunk at 75 miles per hour bumping around with her arm cuffed in an awkward position. For two hours we zoomed down the road wanting to put as much distance between us and that thing as possible. When I stopped hearing Baylor cussing out Landon I knew we should stop for her safety. Behind me in the tailgate was Axel. He's using clear duct tape to cover up the window that broke earlier. As the  sun went down I became anxious. The truck is only a two seater so we have to continue towing the car behind us until we can find something bigger. Absentmindedly my fingers stroked Asher's soft hair out of habit. Words can't describe how attached I've become to this little boy. I'll do anything I need to keep him safe. Even if it meant sacrificing myself.

Something that disturbed me is that the monster is still out there and there could be more. It definitely wasn't a zombie, and the earthquake from earlier and the permanently red tinged sky causes me to believe that the virus wasn't someone's evil doing. This apocalypse is intended to end the world and now we aren't just escaping the undead but the rapture aswell. On the outside Axel looked calm but I know he's just as scared as I am, he has to be. Back and forth we all argued about different theory's pertaining to the earthquakes and the scarlet hued sky but none of them seemed to make sense except for the fact that the Earth is heading for destruction.

    Deciding to keep on driving after our short rest we first had to free Baylor. "This isn't Titanic moron! Rose almost cut off Jack's arm doing that!" Baylor complained as Axel held his trusty axe at the ready. We decided to try and break them because evidently the key is gone forever. "Do you want to stay in the trunk for the rest of this trip?" Axel asked in annoyance, pinching the bridge of his nose with his middle and pointer finger to decompress. She shook her head surrendering to Axel's solution. I have to keep my eyes shut for this just incase this goes wrong. "If you cut off my hand I'm soo going to kick your-ahh!" He cut her off by striking the chain between the cuffs with impressive force severing them instantly. I have to say I'm very relieved that problem is solved. Well I was until she heaved our duffle bag over her shoulder and said that we could finally leave, taking me by surprise. "Baylor you can't be serious," I said. "Did you forget that the two of them think we're worthless defensiveless women?" She asked. "Neither of us ever called you worthless," Landon interjected. "I wouldn't start talking if I were you. I'm holding myself back from assaulting your dumb ass," Baylor said angrily. "Exora get the kid and lets go, we can do this on our own. We don't need men barking at us all day and night telling us what to do," she said with a scowl directed towards the two brothers. My mind flashed to the times that Axel saved my life, one of them being just a few hours ago. We may have our problems but Landon is right, there's safety in numbers. Asher is my priority now, and staying with these two seems like the best way to keep him safe. This is not going to blow over well when I tell Baylor my take on the situation. I especially don't want to go trecking through the forrest by ourselves with that thing out there and who knows what else. "Baylor you need to calm down," I said holding my hands up and talking a hesitant step towards her wincing as I put weight on my injured ankle. "I am calm Exora, I'm calmer than I should be for being cuffed in a trunk by that idiot!" She yelled pointing at Landon. "Baylor you are drawing way too much attention. I know we all have our differences but this is life and death and if you would just put your immature vendetta away for a minute maybe just maybe we can all survive a little longer." I finally snapped at Baylor which I could tell took her back a little. I thought I had broke through to her somehow until she got a defiant look on her face. "Fine I'll go
by myself," she said before turning to walk off. I sighed and laid Asher in the back seat before going after her ignoring the pain in my ankle.

"Baylor," I said running infront of her. "You're not going out there alone you'll get killed," I said, grabbing her shoulders trying to talk some sense into her. "What do you care? You guys just think I'm extra baggage," she said shaking my hold off. She stalked off and I followed her and grabbed her arm. "Baylor I know this is hard, believe me I do. It's just I have Asher to think about, if we take off walking into no where there's a good chance we won't ever make it out of these woods. You saw how many of them there are out there. These guys are our best bet to survive. You and I are strong women and we're going to show these guys that we're just as valuable as they are. We need to woman up and take some initiative, women all through history have made a difference, now you and I need to prove that we can make it though this apocalypse all the while with a baby on our hip. We will show them we are courageous and dangerous because women still run this world, without us there will be no chance of rebuilding the human race as we once knew it, and it's not just because of our child bearing ability,  but our intuition and intelligence. Now I want you to get back there and show those two that you are a strong woman that doesn't run away from trouble, but gets the job done. You can do it because I saw it in you especially when you rescued Asher and I. You say we think you're extra baggage because that's what you believe. You are empowered to do great things Baylor you just have to believe it." She wore a small smile on her face as I finished speaking. She then surprised me by giving me a quick hug. "No one's ever believed in me before Exora," she said with a sad look on her face.  She looked like she was thinking it over before she took a deep breath and stood up straight. "I guess we can stick with them a little while longer. Let's kick some ass," she said with a devilish glint in her eyes and I knew I had a awakened a monster.