In a world that has gone to shit, Lana Simmons has survived on her own. It isn't until a certain group comes along that she finds happiness.
OR
In a zombie apocalypse, Lana Simmons survives alone until she meets 10k and his group of survivors. As th...
"Is this entire state uphill? Where are we anyway?"Murphy wouldn't stop complaining, and it was starting to bother Lana.
" I like that it's uphill. Mostly works out my calves and my ass," Lana exclaimed. She walks in front of 10k and in the middle of Doc and Cassandra. 10k stopped to see that she was, in fact, not wrong. Her ass did look good. They soon came to a clearing that overlooked Mount Rushmore.
"Oh, my God. Look." Everyone looked at Mount Rushmore. Except it was spray painted to look like the presidents had turned to Z's
" Now, who in the hell did that?"
"Some daredevil with a sick sense of humor."
" Is that Mount Rushmore?"
" This is why we can't have nice things."
" Probably the same jackass that tagged the Liberty Bell."
"I think it's awesome."
" If I ever catch who did that, they're gonna get a whoopin'." Lana chuckled, and it then turned into a big laugh. Everyone looked at her like she was crazy. "What are you laughing at," Murphy had asked. Lana then took her bag off her shoulders and pulled something out. She tossed the item to Warren, wanting to see her reaction. "Not my best work, but it's what I could do."
Her statement confused Warren until she looked down at what Lana tossed her. In her hand was a half-empty can of red spray paint. She gave the girl a little shove. "Be careful."
...
"Tommy, I don't feel so good." Lana started to stumble around. 10k looked at her to see that she was pale. Paler than she usually was. The guy ahead of the group introduced himself and his daughter, Amelia. After that, he wouldn't stop coughing.
"I'm Roberta Warren. This is Murphy. And that's Cassandra. And in the back are 10k and Lana. The man continues to cough. "Is he okay?"
" No. Radiation poisoning."
He then spits on the ground and claims that he is fine, but Lana has a sneaking suspicion both she and the man are not "fine." Doc had noticed this. "Hey, Lana, you don't look too good." She started to stumble when 10k caught her to keep her from falling. As they got to the shelter, everyone was tested for radiation. However, the machine held up to Lana doesn't go off.
The man looks at 10k, who is holding her head in his lap to comfort her. "Son, if she doesn't have radiation poisoning, she might have the virus." 10k then glares at the man, telling him to back off. "She's fine. She's just a little sick." After everyone was scanned, Amelia came over with pills for everyone. Lana slowly leaned up to take the medication so she wouldn't choke.
The alarm to the waste factory blared as we approached it. The plan was for Lana,10k, Murphy, and Amelia to stay outside and cover for the others when they went inside. If they didn't make it back, Murphy was then their responsibility.
After everyone came back, nothing had changed. Except Amelia's father had to be mercied. Plan A had failed. Amelia mentioned a man who was her father's boss who could help them. After avoiding the traps he set up, and with a bit of persuading from 10k's knife, he let the group inside his house.
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Lana's P.O.V
10k helped me lay on a couch while the others talked in the next room. "Thank you, Tommy," I said while holding his arm. Tears bubbled in my eyes, thinking this was it. I would tell him what I wanted to say since we were kids. "Tommy. If I don't make it..."
"You're going to make it, Lana. I said it before, and I'll repeat it. I can't lose you." He then stands up and goes to look at something across the room.
"You know you're looking at the original building plans for this reactor. I was part of the design team." The older man said, walking into the room and glancing at Lana's pale figure on the couch. "You're pretty handy with that knife for a kid. My son... he had one like it but with a longer blade."
"Yeah, older model. Got to be good to make it work."
"Oh, Max was good."
"I heard about your son. I'm sorry."
"There's nothing worse than outliving your own child. Nothing."
Long story short, Plan B also failed to plan C. Tommy and the older man had to shut down the reactor by hand. I stayed outside with Doc and Cassandra. Murphy got on a plan with Amelia to fly to Cali, and Warren was finding us a ride. We could hear everything over the walkie. The two on the inside had succeeded in their task, but there was more to it.
Homer had sacrificed his life to be with his son Max in the grave. But the thing was that Tommy had to watch it happen. He hugged me tight when he came out of the gates, and I felt something wet on my shirt. He was crying on me. Then, finally, Warren drove up the hill with a golf cart, and we all got in. And then Murphy showed up.
Turns out vodka wasn't a good substitute for gasoline because the plane crashed and killed Amelia.
We all got in the cart and drove off. I held Tommy's hand in the back of the cart and whispered comforting things in his ear.
