There's Light at the End of the Tunnel

Chapter 10

The sun just breaks the horizon when he wakes me up.

"Mornin' sunshine. Time ta get up" His voice raspy

I groan, "I don't wanna"

"Neither do I but we gotta, come on"

I sit up, stretch and make those weird dinosaur noises.

"That's cute" He teases.

"I know right" I smile.

I get out of the tent and put my boots on. He follows and folds the tent up. I braid my hair to the side and start packing my bag.

Within fifteen minutes, you can't even tell someone camped here. I throw my crossbow over my shoulder along with my bag.

"Ready?" He asks handing me his bag

"Yeah but why do I gotta carry ya bag?"

"You'll see" He goes behind the tree and brings around a motorcycle.

"She's a beaut. She your's?"

"Nah it's ma brother's but he never rides 'er"

He gets on, then motions me to get on behind him. He has a thing on the front of the bike to hold his crossbow. I fix my crossbow over my body along with our bags. Thankfully the tent fits in his bag.

The sun is above the horizon as he starts the bike. It echoes through the woods, everyone can hear it.

"Hold on" He says.

I wrap my arms around his waist and we pull outta there like there's no tomorrow. I don't look back, I don't have a reason to. I hold onto him and watch the scenery go by. The wind in my face makes me feel so free.

We pull into a town and he pulls over.

"We gonna need gas soon"

I hop off, "There's a station at the other side a town"

"No power"

"There's a generator" I start walking to the station.

He walks his bike behind me. I get to the station, hop the fence and turn on the emergency generator.

"Look at ya go" He grins

"Used ta work at one"

"Where didn't ya work"

I climb back over the fence, "Strip club, bar, school... Ya get the idea"

"Yeah..." He chuckles, as he pulls his bike over to a pump.

I fill the tank and the ten gallon gas tanks and hide them behind the fence.

"There ain't anythin' 'ere. Should keep movin'" He gets back on the bike.

"Nothin' 'round for miles" I get on.

We drive North East until the sun starts to set. We are nowhere near any kind of building or shelter. The highway is surrounded by woods. He pulls over and I hop off. I pop open the tent and start setting up for the night.

He starts a fire, "Ya gonna be alright while I get a squirrel?"

"Yeah ya won't go far anyway"

"I won't but I'm just checkin'"

"I'll be fine sunshine, go 'head"

He nods and disappears into the woods.

I sit in the tent and change into comfier clothes. The fire is small, but it gives off enough heat. I sit by fire for awhile before he comes back with two squirrels.

"Two?" I ask.

"Why not. Squirrel each" He sits next to me and starts skinning it.

I take the other one and prepare it to be cooked. I skewer them both and hold them above the fire. He puts his arm around my waist and pulls me close. I rest my head on his shoulder.

"...Will ya be ma girl..."

"Like ya girlfriend"

"Yeah. I good at the whole romance thing, n I didn't know how else ta ask.."

"Of course n it's a'ight" I smile and kiss him.

He smiles and pulls me onto his lap. I hand him his squirrel.

"Perfect" He takes it and bits into it.

We sit on the pavement eating our squirrel.

"C'mon we gotta move in the morning" He says as he licks his finger cleans.

"Alright alright" I stand up and stretch.

He puts the fire out and climbs in the tent. I get in after him and zipper it shut. I lay my head on his chest, he holds me close.

"Winter's comin'" I say.

"I know. It's gon' suck too"

"We gotta find some blankets or shelter. Tent ain't gonna work"

"We will don't worry" He rubs my back.

"I ain't worryin' I trust ya" I smile and snuggle close to him.

It was cold last night. I could barely sleep. Body heat wasn't enough at all, we need sweatshirts or something. After the sun breaks the horizon, I wake him up.

"Wakey wakey sunshine"

He groans, "Do we gotta"

I smile and kiss his cheek, "Yes we do. Gotta keep movin'"

He smiles, "Yeah I guess we gotta"

I put my hair up and get out of the tent. I start to pack up, not bothering to change. He folds up the tent, I put the bags over my shoulder with my crossbow and off we go.

We end up at all a closed up mall. It doesn't even look touched. I hop off and open the doors, he pulls into the mall and parks his bike.

"There's not a shot there's food 'ere" I sigh.

"Yeah but we got a place ta stay"

"True"

"Find some blankets, maybe a bed, new clothes"

I check the directory, "We got a mattress store, more than 'nough clothes, and plenty a blankets"

From behind he snakes his arms around my waist and kisses my neck.

"We gon' stay 'ere awhile?" He asks.

I smile, "Probably the winter, then move in the spring"

"No heat but it'll work"

"Don't be so greedy. Ya got me"

He grins, "I know and I'm glad I do" He spins me around and kisses me.

I smile and deepen the kiss.

"Shall we find some clothes?" I ask

"I know just where to go" He takes my hand and leads me to Victoria Secret.

I laugh, "Yeah I don't think so"

He smirks, "They got comfy clothes though"

"How would ya know?" I smirk.

"Friend drug me 'ere and made me help 'em shop for his girlfriend"

"Were ya the model" I laugh.

"How'd ya know" He smiles sarcastically and starts picking out outfits and under garments.

"Ya know sizes too? What ya work 'ere and measure 'em?" I giggle and follow him.

"Ya left ya clothes out one night" He grabs a bag and puts arms full of clothes in it.

"Creep" I tease.

He chuckles and goes to the fitting rooms.