too. Danielle and I took the opportunity to run. We didn’t stop for hours except to bandage up my leg the best we could. It was nearly the next morning before we ran into a couple of medical students who agreed to help us out.”
“Wow! Wait, what about the other girl?”
“Danielle said she was already dead. We really didn’t talk about it after that.”
“Where is she now? Danielle I mean,” I asked, hoping he wasn’t about to tell me she was dead now too.
“We stayed with the medical students until my leg healed and she had the baby. Then they were going to try to make it to the military base in the south. Danielle wanted to take the baby and go. I didn’t.”
“Why not?” I couldn’t imagine Will wanting to go off on his own rather than stay with people he was comfortable with. He gave me enough lectures about how much better off we were staying together. Why would he do the exact opposite when he had the choice?
“I had my reasons.” Will got that faraway look again. I didn’t want to press the issue after he had told me so much already. “Now you, young lady, are going to get some rest so we can be on our way.”
I really was very tired. I knew it wouldn’t take much for me to fall asleep. My head continued to throb. I couldn’t wait to get back to the basement and find some of the pain medication Mom had stockpiled.
“You didn’t finish the story. How do you know they aren't coming back?” Just the thought of either of the cousins showing up back at the cabin made me shudder.
“Andi,” Will sighed. “Please get some rest. I promise they aren’t coming back. We can finish the story later.” He put his arm around my shoulders and gently pulled me closer to him. My head easily rested on his warm chest. That familiar heaviness in my eyelids returned and I drifted off to sleep once more.
~Chapter Six~
By the time we left the cabin daylight gave way to late afternoon. Will tried to change his mind about leaving, instead wanting to spend the night. He didn't think I was ready for the trip but I assured him I'd be fine. I don't think he was any more convinced than I was, but he relented and we were on our way. I think he just wanted to get out of that cabin. It wasn't the greatest place to be out in the middle of the woods. It wasn't secure from the living or the dead. Not to mention it was the place five of his friends had died. I couldn't even imagine having to walk away and leave my friends there like that. Wherever I had been since the outbreak usually provided us with the opportunity to bury our dead and at least say goodbye. Will had to just walk away with no closure.
I had no idea how Will expected us to get back to the basement before dark until I saw the motorcycle at the end of the dirt road that led up to the cabin. It was a good thing we had the bike, because my head was not only throbbing, but spinning as well. I had tripped three times on the way to the bike. Will needed to hold on to my arm to keep me on my feet. I was kind of nervous about taking the bike in my current condition but the choice between that and walking all the way back to the basement was a no brainer. I sure hope Will knew what he was doing though, because I had never been on a motorcycle before. He put the helmet on me and fastened it snugly under my chin. Then he climbed on the bike, motioning for me to do the same. I wasn't sure this was the best idea, but down the road we went.
By the time we made it to the basement, it was already dark. We would have made it sooner but we had to pull over three times on the way so I could puke. This concussion really sucked. By the third time we stopped, I was sure I wasn't going to make it all the way back. Will pleaded with me to give it one more try. I held on to him so tightly I wasn't sure he could breathe. My head was spinning and it felt as if my brain was going to bust through my eye sockets. Finally, we made it home. It felt strange to use that
“Wow! Wait, what about the other girl?”
“Danielle said she was already dead. We really didn’t talk about it after that.”
“Where is she now? Danielle I mean,” I asked, hoping he wasn’t about to tell me she was dead now too.
“We stayed with the medical students until my leg healed and she had the baby. Then they were going to try to make it to the military base in the south. Danielle wanted to take the baby and go. I didn’t.”
“Why not?” I couldn’t imagine Will wanting to go off on his own rather than stay with people he was comfortable with. He gave me enough lectures about how much better off we were staying together. Why would he do the exact opposite when he had the choice?
“I had my reasons.” Will got that faraway look again. I didn’t want to press the issue after he had told me so much already. “Now you, young lady, are going to get some rest so we can be on our way.”
I really was very tired. I knew it wouldn’t take much for me to fall asleep. My head continued to throb. I couldn’t wait to get back to the basement and find some of the pain medication Mom had stockpiled.
“You didn’t finish the story. How do you know they aren't coming back?” Just the thought of either of the cousins showing up back at the cabin made me shudder.
“Andi,” Will sighed. “Please get some rest. I promise they aren’t coming back. We can finish the story later.” He put his arm around my shoulders and gently pulled me closer to him. My head easily rested on his warm chest. That familiar heaviness in my eyelids returned and I drifted off to sleep once more.
~Chapter Six~
By the time we left the cabin daylight gave way to late afternoon. Will tried to change his mind about leaving, instead wanting to spend the night. He didn't think I was ready for the trip but I assured him I'd be fine. I don't think he was any more convinced than I was, but he relented and we were on our way. I think he just wanted to get out of that cabin. It wasn't the greatest place to be out in the middle of the woods. It wasn't secure from the living or the dead. Not to mention it was the place five of his friends had died. I couldn't even imagine having to walk away and leave my friends there like that. Wherever I had been since the outbreak usually provided us with the opportunity to bury our dead and at least say goodbye. Will had to just walk away with no closure.
I had no idea how Will expected us to get back to the basement before dark until I saw the motorcycle at the end of the dirt road that led up to the cabin. It was a good thing we had the bike, because my head was not only throbbing, but spinning as well. I had tripped three times on the way to the bike. Will needed to hold on to my arm to keep me on my feet. I was kind of nervous about taking the bike in my current condition but the choice between that and walking all the way back to the basement was a no brainer. I sure hope Will knew what he was doing though, because I had never been on a motorcycle before. He put the helmet on me and fastened it snugly under my chin. Then he climbed on the bike, motioning for me to do the same. I wasn't sure this was the best idea, but down the road we went.
By the time we made it to the basement, it was already dark. We would have made it sooner but we had to pull over three times on the way so I could puke. This concussion really sucked. By the third time we stopped, I was sure I wasn't going to make it all the way back. Will pleaded with me to give it one more try. I held on to him so tightly I wasn't sure he could breathe. My head was spinning and it felt as if my brain was going to bust through my eye sockets. Finally, we made it home. It felt strange to use that