It's been about 6 months now, we left Los Angeles long ago.If I've been keep track right, it's Valentine's Day, or I think it is yesterday.We're still functioning with this Caravan as I've organized the the key ring with keys that matter.I got the car keys and our old home keys, plus we've found some useful ones that work around town.We're in Yuma, Arizona for now, kinda like that Bobby Darin song.Well it's been us two for now, we've tried to keep that promise she said of helping others when we can but no dice, ends in tragedy.We've driven from Utah, then made it through Nevada but didn't stay long and ended up in Arizona for now.Still hoping to see what lies ahead, no intel from our governments.They've left us in the dark, to fend for ourselves like roaches.
We're parked in the a deserted location, the sun is beaming as our caravan is filled with much needed necessities.We got only Six 60 packs of waters left in the trunk.Scavenged Protein bars and Almonds, nuts and all sorts of nutrients.If you're gonna die in an apocalypse, at least be healthy for a zombie to eat.Scarlett's goes for a water bottle as I'm looking around to seeing nothing.I look in the distance and it looks to be this tree, I look even closer and see a man laying aside it.
"Hey you see that tree, do you see someone there ?" I ask Scarlett as she pulls out binoculars and says "oh my god it is, he has a sign with him" she says as I start to walk,
"I'll be back …" I say as I head towards him, gun in hand.Looking around cautiously I see no one nearby, I see the sign as I pick it up.The man is dead, looks like a he was attacked, guess he do didn't win.I walk back to Scarlett with the cardboard sign as she asks "what does it say ?"
I reply as I turn it over "It says
"Ron, go to Santa Barbara, I'll be waiting for you
From Bob."
It's very interesting to read and can't really tell how long it's been there.
"You think bobs still out there ?" She ask as I drop the sign and say
"I don't know, you want to go find out ?" I ask as she replies
"You never know, maybe bobs the madman that caused all this, maybe he's got all the answers …" she says jokingly as we laugh.
"Maybe bobs dead…..but if you want I'll go for a trip back to California…..we haven't been there in what, 4 months now ?" I asks as we enter the car again.
"Yep around there, it's February right ?" She ask as I say
"Feels like it …"
She gets to driving as we drive off into the routes we've been upon before.
"How the hell does it feel like February?" She asks curiously as I reply
"Well you know, the feels hot, burning in this month, a burning love like Elvis said …." I say as we continue to drive,
"You sound stupid …" she says as she starts laughing at me.
We've made out of Arizona as we've made it to near Yosemite National Park.We stop as we see a big obstacle.
"We're gonna need to walk for a while…" I say as I exit.She exits as well as I open the side door and get my backpack out.She gets her duffle bag and says
"We gotta come back for this stuff eventually, can't just let it go to waste…." She says as we start walking through the Park.
"Oh we will sweetheart, just not today ….." I say as we walk a bit.We start to conversate,
"You remember in 10th grade, damn teacher, Mr.Hills, crazy bastard but hell of an educator."
I say as we start to reminisce. "Yes, oh my gosh he was a one in a million man, he's met so many famous people it's crazy, just in random occurrences….." she says as I add on
"Yea well I remember he gave a speech at a PSA meeting about the dangers of smoking cigarettes…..god that rally was boring but he sure lightened the mood…." I say as she smiles
"Yea he was a great guy ….." she says as she starts to feel quiet and saddened.
"What's wrong Scarlett ?" I ask as she tears up a bit and says
"I don't know it's just it's all over now, I just can't still wrap my head around the thought that this is real, like why live now, our parents our dead….." she says as I am shocked
"Oh I didn't mean it like that Bruce it's just -" she says as I interrupts
"No I get it, we're lost right now, no goals or ambition, but there is one thing we can do, live long enough to see this blow over-" I say as she yells
"The hell you mean blow over, it's over life won't go back to how it was, it's the end Bruce…." She says as we walk in silence together.I was about to try to make the mood more calm until we heard screaming.
"This way !" I yell as we're armed and ready, running towards the yells as we see Four people fighting off at least a dozen.We get there in time to stop a zombie from biting a man as I shoot it point blank in the head.He notices is us and sees us a call for help.We see two about to attack a person as Scarlett Shoots them both.We see at least six bombard us as the others are still fighting off some.We quickly demolish them but sadly one has bitten a woman.She screams in pain as one of there own kills the zombie with a machete.We are zombie less for now and in a state of panic, two men carry the woman off to get help as the last man aims his gun at us as we aim back.
"Drop your weapons !" He yells as I reply
"Are you fucking crazy, we just helped y'all out and you're trying to pull this, lower yours and let's talk …." I say as he says
"Well my names Sue and I'd like you to drop your weapons !" He demands as I yell
"God damn it that woman could be dying, there's really no time for all this, so we'll all lower ours and calm down …." I say calmly.Sue slowly lowers his as we lower ours, Sue goes for s handshake and says "Sorry …" he says as I shake his hand quickly and follow the people carrying the woman.Sue and Scarlett follow as we stumble upon their little group.At least twenty people, from the looks of it, no children, thank god.
I know you think why thank god, during an apocalypse children are a suicide trap, they'll get you killed like nothing, not worth it.Sorry to say but children are a pain in the ass, especially babies.We see there little camp exist of a school bus, a little cabin and A foldable table and chairs.Two men are playing Cards as they've seen the ruckus of the injured woman.The commotion gets them all gathering around the cabin, it's only her and the two men that Carried her in there.
"get the doc in here !" Yells a man inside as a man starts to enter.Me and Scarlett distance ourselves as Sue yells out
"Alright listen up !" They all turn as a person assumes
"Did those two bastards hurt her huh ?" He yells out as people look at us angered.I quickly am clutching my Gun as Scarlett whispers to me
"No, don't …" she says as I hold fire.
"No Bill there not no bastards that hurt her, they actually helped, without them I think I'd be dead too …." Says Sue as they show more remorse and respect for the help.
"Now can we get two volunteers to start digging up a hole ?" He asks as two men stubbornly agree.The two start walking to get shovels from the bus as I say to the man
"The hell you making a hole for ?" I asks as we walk towards the cabin.
"well we've all decided that it'll happen sooner or later, so be ready to bury our own and respect them after their passing…..it's a sick world but it's gotta be done…." He says as he opens the door to seeing havoc inside.The doctors covered in blood as she's screaming in pain.the two men do anything they can like giving her pills to ease the pain but nothing.They she'll die as screams out, "when I turn just kill me quickly !" Sue walks in and hands the doctor a pistol.The doctor sighs as we exit the cabin.We get back out see the people going back to there ways of living and relaxing.Those men continue playing Cards as others just talks amongst themselves.They act like nothings happen as we hear one gunshot.Sue goes back in to see the woman on the floor, dead.The doctor turns around and hands over the gun and heads out.Sue tells me "help me with her please …" he ask as I walk in and carry her out by her feet as he gets her by her arms.We walk her out to the direction of the men digging the hole.
"Cmon fellas, I would've been done by now, Solo…" says Sue jokingly as one of the man
"Just lay her there, we'll put her in right now-" as the other man adds
"Very respectfully…." The other corrects himself
"Yea sorry, god bless the dead and all I mean ….."
We lay her down gently as Scarlett stands in the distance.I walk with Sue who is near the bus as I say
"Hey sue can I talk to you for a minute over here ?" I ask as we walk out of hearing distance.
"Listen I'm not gonna bother with this whole burying thing, it's respectable but me and My girl are trying to get to Santa Barbara, seeing if you'd like to join us ?" I ask as he says quickly
"What's in Santa Barbara ?" I breath in and out and says
"Well maybe nothing, being honest with ya or maybe help…..but hey also with that we had a caravan, a couple miles from here with like 6 packs of water bottles, 60 in each pack, if you want to go get it for your people here…." I say as he says
"Is it in the woods ?" He says as I reply
"Yea…"
He walks back into the cabin as I follow him in.
"No that waters gonna be tuff to get, but we can probably get some of the guys to carrying them, it'll be a hassle but they can do it …" he says as I forget to mention the cabins decor.it's vastly empty but had a wooden table, a fire place and refrigerator.Sue nods his head and says
"So Santa Barbara ?, alright I think they'd like too ." He says as I smile in excitement.
It's about night time now as we're shown that they all sleep in the cabin together, like a little slumber party.Well earlier today the men went for the water bottles and got only 4 packs back for now.Thankfully that woman's been buried in peace and one of the woman here placed Cyclamens on her grave, in honor of her.Me and Scarlett sleep in the corner of cabin as the others stay a bit distant as they still fell uncomfortable with us.Sue is outside keeping watch as he's smoking a cigarette, he throws the cigarette and puts turns his lighter on.Looking into the little flame as he's mesmerized of life so far, how far he's taken these people.
We awaken to see me and Scarlett are the only one still in the cabin.We listen in on noise sounding like it's a regular day in life, feels odd.We both go outside to see the people preparing to leave as me and Scarlett see our things are missing.
"Hey, Bruce your stuff already on the bus, don't worry these vultures didn't look in, i didn't let em ." Says Sue as they people start to walk into the bus like it's a school field trip all over again.
We start to walk into the bus to pass by the people as we sit in the back, Sue does a headcount and says
"Yep this should be everyone, Bill let's go Cmon…." He says as Bill starts to drive.I look at the back to see the foldable chairs and tables back there, also the some duffle bags with clothes and shoes.Sue walks back to us and sits aside us, as we're on the right side he's on the left.Scarlett's sitting window seat as I talk with Sue,
"Gosh you two look young, how old are y'all ?" He ask as I say "well I'm 18 now and I think she's 19 now right ?" I ask her as she nods and continues to stare out the window.Sue is at joy and says "jeez you two seem so mature to be feeling calm through all this, he'll I'm 32 now and I feel like shit ….." he says jokingly as a person calls on him in the front of the bus.
"Hey sue come here !" He yells laughingly as Sue walks up to them to see what's happening.I turn to Scarlett and say
"You know this like our senior field trip right here, maybe our trip to Disneyland or something ….hehe." I says as she turns to me smiling and replies "yea it sure does, just wish we'd actually go …." I think of it on the spot now,
"Well we can if you want, heard it's free right now …" I say as she laughs and says
"No you ass, like working and functioning right …." We both laugh as we just resort back to silence.
"You know that guy right there kind of looks like Mr.Hill…" I say and point as she turns to see him and laughs.
"You're right, gosh if Mr.Hill shaved that beard, that's him …." She says as we both laugh in our little tirades.Feels crazy the "luck " we've been having with finding these people and the adventures that awaits, I do hope Bob is alive.