US
Chapter Fourteen
Dan placed the last bag of food in the trunk. "Is that everything?"
"Yep," Meredith answered.
The others hovered near the vehicle, keeping a close eye on the property. The sky had turned a rust-colored red, the sun hidden by a swell of clouds. Since the others had sighted the helicopter, they'd seen no further signs of humanity.
If Dan had seen the chopper himself, he might've questioned his sanity, perhaps chalking it up to exhaustion. But John, Quinn, and Meredith had all laid eyes on it.
He reminded himself of that fact as they prepped the vehicle, stashing the last of their belongings into the cargo area in back. He just hoped they'd make it before dark. Being outside after nightfall was a circumstance he'd rather avoid.
Meredith insisted on Ernie riding up front, though they'd taken a crate just in case. They'd also taken their remaining food, their weapons cache, and spare clothing.
If things went well, they'd never return.
With the SUV packed, the group got into the vehicle. Meredith offered to drive, as she was most familiar with the area, and Dan sat in the passenger seat with Ernie. John, Quinn, and Tim rode in back.
Once they were all in the car, Meredith cranked the engine. The SUV roared to life, breaking the silence that had settled over the farm.
Meredith glanced at the Sanders'. "I'm going to miss this place."
"It's been nice," Dan agreed.
Meredith sighed and backed down the driveway. Dan watched the building recede, his mind skipping ahead to the journey. No longer would they have the four walls of the building to protect them.
They were on their own.
The drive began peacefully—rolling fields dominated the landscape, with an occasional farmhouse dotting the areas between. Abbotsville was west of Settler's Creek, opposite the way Dan had driven with Tim for gas. Dan recalled traveling the same road when he'd come in from Arizona. He picked out several landmarks he recognized: several houses and some cars that had been abandoned.
Meredith glanced at the scenery, probably immersed in memories of her own. He could sympathize with her. Dan had been sentimental leaving St. Matthews, too. It had been difficult knowing he'd probably never return.
"How were the roads in Abbotsville? Do you remember, Tim?"
Tim leaned between the seats.
"They were pretty clogged," he replied. "But that was a few days ago. I'm not sure what they're like now."
Dan nodded and glanced out the window. Several infected emerged from the tall grass, as if they'd been summoned. They stared at the passing vehicle, their heads turning like swivels on a stick. Dan tried to recall what Abbotsville looked like, but it was just another faded memory, another dead town in a slew of dead towns he'd passed.
Ernie whined. Meredith reached over and scratched his ears. "It's all right, Ernie," she consoled.
"How big is Abbotsville?" Dan asked her.
"Larger than Settler's Creek. We should have a few options to get in if some of the roads are blocked."
Dan fell silent. Although they'd settled on getting to Abbotsville, he had no idea what would happen when they arrived. In the ideal scenario, they'd find help waiting, ready to assist with food, shelter, and provisions. He had no idea what to do if that wasn't the case. They'd be back where they started.
The last thing he wanted to do was turn around.
For days, Dan had planned their departure, envisioning what it'd be like to leave Settler's Creek. As secluded as the town seemed, danger lurked in all directions—there was no true safety in a lawless land. Even if the infected were to die out, there'd still be the matter of looters, lunatics, or worse.
He owed it to his companions to get them to safety.
Meredith took the turns with practiced ease, leading them through the rural roads. Dan was already accustomed to the scenery. The endless fields were as commonplace to him as the desert shrubs or the White Mountains had once been. It seemed
Chapter Fourteen
Dan placed the last bag of food in the trunk. "Is that everything?"
"Yep," Meredith answered.
The others hovered near the vehicle, keeping a close eye on the property. The sky had turned a rust-colored red, the sun hidden by a swell of clouds. Since the others had sighted the helicopter, they'd seen no further signs of humanity.
If Dan had seen the chopper himself, he might've questioned his sanity, perhaps chalking it up to exhaustion. But John, Quinn, and Meredith had all laid eyes on it.
He reminded himself of that fact as they prepped the vehicle, stashing the last of their belongings into the cargo area in back. He just hoped they'd make it before dark. Being outside after nightfall was a circumstance he'd rather avoid.
Meredith insisted on Ernie riding up front, though they'd taken a crate just in case. They'd also taken their remaining food, their weapons cache, and spare clothing.
If things went well, they'd never return.
With the SUV packed, the group got into the vehicle. Meredith offered to drive, as she was most familiar with the area, and Dan sat in the passenger seat with Ernie. John, Quinn, and Tim rode in back.
Once they were all in the car, Meredith cranked the engine. The SUV roared to life, breaking the silence that had settled over the farm.
Meredith glanced at the Sanders'. "I'm going to miss this place."
"It's been nice," Dan agreed.
Meredith sighed and backed down the driveway. Dan watched the building recede, his mind skipping ahead to the journey. No longer would they have the four walls of the building to protect them.
They were on their own.
The drive began peacefully—rolling fields dominated the landscape, with an occasional farmhouse dotting the areas between. Abbotsville was west of Settler's Creek, opposite the way Dan had driven with Tim for gas. Dan recalled traveling the same road when he'd come in from Arizona. He picked out several landmarks he recognized: several houses and some cars that had been abandoned.
Meredith glanced at the scenery, probably immersed in memories of her own. He could sympathize with her. Dan had been sentimental leaving St. Matthews, too. It had been difficult knowing he'd probably never return.
"How were the roads in Abbotsville? Do you remember, Tim?"
Tim leaned between the seats.
"They were pretty clogged," he replied. "But that was a few days ago. I'm not sure what they're like now."
Dan nodded and glanced out the window. Several infected emerged from the tall grass, as if they'd been summoned. They stared at the passing vehicle, their heads turning like swivels on a stick. Dan tried to recall what Abbotsville looked like, but it was just another faded memory, another dead town in a slew of dead towns he'd passed.
Ernie whined. Meredith reached over and scratched his ears. "It's all right, Ernie," she consoled.
"How big is Abbotsville?" Dan asked her.
"Larger than Settler's Creek. We should have a few options to get in if some of the roads are blocked."
Dan fell silent. Although they'd settled on getting to Abbotsville, he had no idea what would happen when they arrived. In the ideal scenario, they'd find help waiting, ready to assist with food, shelter, and provisions. He had no idea what to do if that wasn't the case. They'd be back where they started.
The last thing he wanted to do was turn around.
For days, Dan had planned their departure, envisioning what it'd be like to leave Settler's Creek. As secluded as the town seemed, danger lurked in all directions—there was no true safety in a lawless land. Even if the infected were to die out, there'd still be the matter of looters, lunatics, or worse.
He owed it to his companions to get them to safety.
Meredith took the turns with practiced ease, leading them through the rural roads. Dan was already accustomed to the scenery. The endless fields were as commonplace to him as the desert shrubs or the White Mountains had once been. It seemed
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