THE DISTANCE

Chapter Six- GOOD OLD RUBY

Carson's pov-

We were driving down the almost empty road, the only things in our view were empty cars, bodies and lone Biters. I still can't wrap my mind around this whole thing. I knew something was wrong but everyone just brushed it off. What was by far the most haunting was the lack of people who were actually alive, not even in the school. I guess everybody had made a run for it and got out of town. All this shit happened in less than twenty-four hours.

We decided to go to my house at least for the night. We can gather supplies and rest in some beds and not some locker room benches. My main priority is checking if my mom went back home, since the power lines are down I haven't been able to get through to the hospital or her cell phone. My mind is racing a mile per minute. I try to gather my thoughts and figure out what we should take with us from my place. I'm brought out of my survival state of mind by the sound of Sam's voice. "Car, where's mom?, do you think she's okay?" he says. I turn to face him in my seat. It takes me a couple of seconds to collect myself before I reply "Yeah Sam, I'm sure she is. She is either at home or the hospital. It has to be on lockdown to keep everyone safe, so I'm sure she is just fine." I managed to bullshit because I didn't want to scare or worry him. The truth is I don't know if she's okay because she is almost two hours away at work. My hope is that if she isn't home where we're heading, then maybe it's not so bad over at the hospital.

Ryann is driving a lot slower and more careful than normal, well I mean she is having to swerve around a lot of things. The car ride is incredibly silent, almost a scary silence. I think we are all sitting with what we were forced to do. Especially Ryann I can't imagine how she is feeling right now after leaving Spencer behind like that. Oooh and killing Mrs. Goosenberry that was rough. We are only eight blocks away from my mom's house when Ryann suddenly swerves sharply towards the right side of the road. We shriek in a panic as the car begins to flip. Glass shards are flying everywhere, piercing our clothes and skin. I reach for Sam's hand and squeeze it tight until the car finally stops flipping. It falls on the passenger side leaving massive dents in the car's frame, preventing any of us from getting out. Ryann turns to face us all in disbelief, while attempting to utter the words, "is everyone okay? I- I -'m so sorry." "Everyone is fine Ryann, are you okay?" I said back. She replies with a nervous yes and struggles to reach the back of her pocket. She pulls out her vape and takes a huge inhale. She calms herself while reaching back into her pockets for her switchblade. She attempts to cut her seat belt off and set herself free. When she is finally loose she cuts Jaxon free from the passenger seat while I try to undue Sam and Elena's seat belts. Through what felt like hours of struggle to break ourselves free from the seat belts we were finally able to escape out of the sunroof of the escalade. We manage to get our bags as we crawl out of the tattered remains. Our faces drop simultaneously at the sight in front of us.

Now I understand why Ryann totaled her beautiful escalade. A massive herd of Biters were standing ten feet in front of us blocking the road. They were standing front and center, completely oblivious to the crash that just happened. They stood mumbling and limping not even looking in our direction thankfully. We all looked at each other and ran to hide behind the beaten up car. I looked behind us to see the running trail me and my mom used to take for our daily runs. "Follow me guy's this way" I say in a loud whisper and they all run with me into the forest that would eventually lead us to my street. It was the safest idea to go around the Biters and hope they don't see us and or lose us in the forest. I grab onto Sam's hand as we are running into the dense forest, and of course Ryann is hitting her vape while running.

After a couple minutes of running we all are exhausted and stop to catch our breath when all of a sudden the sound of a Biter grows closer. "Give me the switchblade now Ryann!" I holler at her. While still bent over catching her breath she pulls it out of her pockets and lifts it up in my direction. "Go behind the tree's I will be right back" I say to everyone, they obey and fall right behind some shrubs, Elena taking Sam's hand and guiding him. I took a deep breath, and off I went into the direction of the growls. I couldn't believe I was doing this. I came out from where we were hiding and spotted a Biter, to be more exact it was my neighbor Mr. Jansen. I flip up the switchblade and confidently walk myself up to him. With a rush of adrenaline I plunged the blade into his forehead before he could make another move. The blade went in way smoother than I expected and I pulled it out with no effort, then the groaning started up again. As Mr. Jansen's body falls to the ground. I look, and to my horror as another four Biters are heading my way.

With my adrenaline still pumping I practically charged at them. The first Biter I got to is a woman from down the block and again I thrust the blade into her head, which causes blood to splatter all over me and the ground. Next thing I know Ryann is coming up behind me. She took down a Biter with a massive log. That thing was sure to bite me if she had come a couple seconds later. She hit the Biter over the head like she was practicing at the batting cages and swung at the other one. That one wasn't down as quick so I stuck the already bloody blade in my hand into his forehead and that was that. Out of breath I managed to get out a "Thank you Ry." When I'm back on my feet Ryann is already hitting her vape "Of course bitch!" We stand in silence for a couple minutes to see if we hear anymore Biters but we don't. They must have just kept going.

We walked back to the group, Ryann whistled at them letting them know it was safe to come out of the shrubs. Sam ran to me with tears running down his red and puffy face. He ran into my arms still sobbing "I was so scared that you were gonna get bit." "Wow have a little more faith in me Sammy." I say while letting out a little giggle. "Guy's were not too far away. If we keep moving we will get there before sundown." I say while wrapping my arms around Sam still comforting him. Elena grabs Jaxon's hand while walking behind me Sam, and Ryann as we make our way quietly through the forest. We were weary, we looked around constantly in case there were any more Biters nearby. After a half an hour or so the sun began setting. We were nearing my house just around the corner, so close in fact I could see my bedroom window from the path. "I better be able to charge my stlth or I'm not going to be happy" Ryann says breaking the silence. Everyone just giggles.

We get onto my street and it's still dead silent, nobody on the street but my neighborhood  is a disaster. Doors and garages open, clothes blowing around and empty car's with their doors open. I still have a little bit of hope that mom's at home waiting for us but with the neighborhood looking like this my hope is slowly going down the drain. We cautiously walk up to the front door and I grab my cheetah printed key and slowly put it in the lock, Jaxon stops me from opening the now unlocked door. He then rings the doorbell I assume to see if anyone or any Biters were inside. After a minute of nothing I opened the door. We all get in and it's just a sigh of relief that we had made it to safety. "Mum!" Sam yells. He receives nothing but silence as a reply. "This just means she's at the hospital safe and sound okay buddy, don't worry." He just nodded his head slowly and walked off to the kitchen for a dunkaroo snack. It's always been his favorite. "We have power, the fridge light is on" Elena yells. "Great, I can charge good old Ruby!" Ryann says while brushing past me to find the closest outlet. I just silently walked over to the kitchen island I was sitting at just yesterday talking to my mom. I lifted my bag on top of the island and unzipped the front pocket. I pulled out my own stlth, trust me I'm not as addicted as Ryann but right now I just need it. As soon as I Inhale the sweet taste of blue raspberry there's a shriek from upstairs.