Sightless

Shane Walsh

~ Today ~

It's the fucking zombie apocalypse. 

At least, according to Dale... and Amy, and Andrea. And Max is agreeing with them based off the look of the people outside, the ones like Mrs. Albright. 

Max said that Andrea killed some of them to help us get in the RV. 

Like actually stabbed people in the head. With a fucking knife. 

So it's not looking good. 

We've been on the road to Atlanta for awhile. We live a good three hours away from the capitol, since we live on the outskirts of Savannah, but it has taken us a lot longer than three hours. 

We were stuck in traffic now. And according to my watch, which I had read me the time, it is past nine p.m.

"Are we moving at all?" I called up to Dale, and I heard a groan from where I think he was sitting. 

"No. And people are getting out to look around. I think we're going to be stuck here awhile. It's not looking good." I huffed, but nodded and leaned back in my seat. I bumped shoulders with someone, and almost shrieked but the soft hand on my arm calmed me down. 

"You're fine, it's just me." Amy said softly and I nodded, forcing myself to relax. I placed my hand on her arm and nodded, taking a deep breath in the process. 

"He still wearing that ugly hat?" I asked jokingly, and she giggled. 

"The white yellow fisherman hat? That kind of comes out on the sides? Yeah he's wearing it." She whispered to me conspiratorially, and I felt myself actually relaxing. 

"Irma bought him that hat, he was supposed to take Max and I out fishing. It never ended up working out but he loves that hat. I don't think he's ever fished a day in his life, but I think he's always wearing it. Just for her." 

"Who's Irma?" Amy whispered from beside me, and a sad smile graced my lips. 

"She was his wife. She had cancer. She died about two years ago now. This RV was for her. He was going to take her on a trip, let her see the world before she died. But she never got to see it. He went on his trip though. Comes back every few months to check on Max and I, but I think... I think it was helping him, before all this stuff happened anyway." 

"Andrea was down for my birthday. It's not my birthday yet, it's in a few weeks... but she was free now so she came to get me. We were going to go on a little road trip. Just up to Nashville and back. We got stuck in the middle of the interstate, there was a big pile up and I think we were going to die. Dale picked us up, helped us." I nodded, and squeezed her hand, just to let her know that I was there, and a moment later her head fell onto my shoulder. 

"Well I'm glad he helped you."

"I'm glad we helped you. Dale? What's that?" She jerked up off my shoulder, as a rumble roared outside and the ground shook us and the RV. Hendrix whined from his spot by my feet, and I could feel myself starting to shake. 

I thought I hated being blind before, but this, the not knowing? It was torture. 

"Mom?" Max called, starting awake from where he had been laying on the seat beside me, but I didn't say anything, just waited for someone to tell me what was going on. Dale's whispered words were like ice over my heart, freezing me to the core. 

"They bombed Atlanta."

"What do we do now?"

"Why would they do that?"

"Mom?" Andrea, Amy, and Max all started talking at once, and I wanted to cover my ears to the noise, but I had to listen to what Dale said. He was the leader of our little troupe, the one that brought us together, and we would do what he said. 

"I'm going out for a minute. Let me see what everyone else is doing. Andrea, keep a watch okay?" I heard Andrea's muffled grunt as she scurried out the RV and climbed the ladder, and Dale's heavy footfalls followed her out the door. 

"Mom?" Max asked again, softly, finally drawing my attention. I turned in his direction, and he put his hand in mine to give me an anchor. 

"Yeah?" I mumbled, pulling him into my side, and he relaxed, falling into me. 

"What do we do? We can't be out here alone." 

"Dale will figure something out. You know, in a different world, Dale wouldn't be your Uncle, he'd be your Grandfather?" I said calmly, trying to distract him, and it seemed to work. 

"Really?"

"Yes. Dale wanted to adopt me, but then we found out I was pregnant with you, and I didn't need to be adopted anymore. I was an adult. And then Aunt Irma got sick, and he couldn't take care of us. But yes, in a different life, Dale could have been your grandfather." 

"Who are my real grandparents?" He mumbled, and I felt his chin move and knew he was looking up at my face. I knew these questions would come someday. Questions about his father, and his family, but I didn't want to answer them. 

"Well my Father is dead, or gone, I don't really know. He wasn't around when I was little, and Mom never got to tell me who he was before she died. And... your father... he wasn't a good man. So... you don't have any grandparents. I'm sorry baby." I whispered, leaning down to kiss his forehead. I missed a little, and got his eyebrow, but he was used to it and didn't say anything. 

"If he wasn't good... then why did you have a baby with him?" 

"How about... we talk about that when you're older? Okay?" Before he could argue, the door the RV pushed open, and Dale's heavy footfalls were followed by three more sets. 

"Meg, Amy, Max, this is Shane Walsh, Theodore Douglas, and Juan Morales. Guys, this is Megaera Genovese, her son Max, and Amy Harrison. Amy's sister Andrea is up on the roof keeping watch so you can meet her later. Girls, and Max, what do you think about joining these guys? They were thinking of setting up a camp, up by a Quarry? They think it could be safe until we can figure something out." 

I froze when someone took a few steps closer to us, and then there was the obnoxious clearing of a throat from in front of us. 

"Mom, uh... he's trying to shake your hand." Max whispered to me, and I felt the blush rise up onto my face as Max gripped my hand in his and raised it up and then let it go, only for it to be grabbed by a much larger, much rougher hand. 

"I'm sorry... I uh... I'm blind so I couldn't see you." I mumbled, and the hand in mine stiffened for a long moment before it released me. 

"Oh, sorry. I didn't know. Shane Walsh. I'm a Deputy from the King's County Sheriff's Department. Y'all are more than welcome to come with us. We got a couple more kids coming with us, about your son's age I would think, and I think it'd be pretty safe for awhile. Especially if we got more people up there to look out for everyone." I nodded, but didn't say anything, instead turning my head to where I think Dale was. 

"What do you think?"

"I think it's our best shot." 

"Well... whatever you think is best, is what I think is best. So we're in. Thank you for your offer, Officer Walsh." 

"No problem Ma'am. We'll meet you up there."