District 17

“No!!!” Ayla screamed, she leaned forward, blocking Skylar, her hand gripped around the barrel of the shot gun. “I’ll do it, when it happens.” She spoke, she searched his eyes. He began arguing with Eva in that moment.

Skylar gently pushed Ayla to the side, she stared at the barrel of the shot gun, the two huge round pieces of steel, staring at her. Her head would shatter into bits, when he shot her. She looked up then as Andrew slumped forward. Her breath caught in her chest. She looked to Eva who threw Andrew into the jeep. “Thank you.” She spoke softly and looked away, she was ashamed. She’d made it this far. She’d fought through so much. To get bitten? Like this? To Die here like this? After all of that?

“Thank you, Eva.” Ayla spoke as she took the bandana. She reached and took Skylar’s arm into her lap, she carefully began cleaning the wound. She paused as Skylar flinched. “S-sorry, Sky. I just want to make sure.”

“What’s the point?” Skylar turned her face to the side, staring out the side of the jeep. “Don’t waste your time, Ayla. Andrew is right…I’m a danger to all of you…” She muttered and grit her teeth.

“What if this is just from the fence? Or Something else? Hm? Did he beat you too, like it he to me? What if it’s from that?” Ayla carefully wrapped the bandana around Skylar’s arm. “I’m not giving up until you stop breathing, at that point I’ll know.” She nodded.

Skylar leaned her head against the seat. She took in shallow breaths, it felt like something was clutching onto her chest. Eventually though, her eyes began to flutter. Ayla watched Skylar closely, she shook her gently and furrowed her brows as Skylar’s head slumped forward. Her body was trembling. Eva was speaking by this point, talking about finding a place to stay. Ayla looked to Eva when she asked about Skylar. “She’s really warm…” She spoke softly, she hadn’t seen someone turn. She’d been inside the walls since the beginning. She’d been Skylar’s friend from the beginning, before this all happened. Ayla was going to school to become a doctor. But when everything fell apart, she’d ended up washing clothing. Funny turn of events, she’d always thought.

“That bite is really bad.” Alden spoke as he looked to the bandana. Blood was soaked into the cloth. He looked around as they pulled into the farm. He gave a nod and climbed from the jeep as Eva and Andrew hopped out. “You got her Ayla?” Alden asked softly.

Ayla shook Skylar gently, “Sky.” She spoke, “Come on.” She shook her a bit harder this time.

Skylar’s eyes fluttered and cracked open. She took in a sharp breath, “What…what’s…going on?” Her voice was weak.

“We are at a farm, can you stand up?” She questioned. “We are going to stay here tonight, okay?” Ayla climbed out of the jeep. “Come on, Sky.”

Skylar nearly fell into Ayla’s arms, her breaths were shallow. Her world was spinning. “Ayla…I don’t know if…”

“You’ll be okay, come on.” Ayla spoke as she wrapped her arm around Skylar’s waist and helped her into the living room.

Alden trailed behind with the bags of weapons and food slung over both shoulders. “She’s slipping.” He spoke as he set the bags down. He looked to Eva, “I haven’t seen someone hold on this long before though. She’s tough.” He let out a soft chuckle.

Ayla set Skylar down on the couch. She moved to Alden and reached to his belt where she pulled cuffs. “Just…in case…you know…” She bit her lip and turned. She knelt down next to Skylar whom was slipping in and out of consciousness. “Just in case, Sky.” She spoke as Skylar looked to her and lay her head back down, her eyes fluttering. Ayla carefully placed the cuffs on and then sighed. “We need to get some water into her.” She spoke softly.

“Here.” Alden stepped forward, he pulled a bottle from his pack and sat down on the couch. He pulled Skylar so her back was against his chest, her head leaned against his shoulder. He held the bottle up to her lips and tipped it. She coughed and water ran down the sides of her mouth at first but then her eyes opened a bit and she reached up with her cuffed hands and weakly held the water, drinking from the bottle. “There you go.” He spoke as he watched her. Skylar gave a slight nod and leaned her head back against him, her eyes fluttered. “I can take first watch, if you’d like to sleep.” He looked to Eva and Andrew.

Ayla crossed her arms, she took in a slow breath as she looked around the living room. “This place, it’s so clean.” She shook her head. “I didn’t even think places like this existed anymore.” Her eyes looked to the window then, “Did you hear that?” She stepped toward the window.

“Ayla.” Alden spoke, he slipped from beneath Skylar and set her gently on the couch. “Get back.” He moved to the front door. The sun was nearly set. He could see headlights on the roadway they’d turned off from. “We need to get upstairs, get an advantage. That’s one of our military trucks.” He spoke and moved quickly. He grabbed Skylar whom whimpered from the quick jerking motion of him lifting her. He ran up the stairs and into the second bedroom. The windows faced the road. He set Skylar down on the bed, she let out a groan as she curled onto her side, blood dripped from her nose slightly. “Ayla.” He spoke, his voice hushed, “Sit with her, okay?” He placed a pistol into Ayla’s hands and then moved to the window. He looked to Eva. “There will be six of them, if they even come this way…” He watched the truck as it drove down the road slowly, searching.

Ayla’s eyes were wide as she listened to everything happen. She glanced to Alden, whom stood next to the door, his pistol gripped tightly in his hands. She looked to the pistol she had sitting on the bed next to her. She then looked to Skylar. She sighed heavily. When all was said and done and Eva came back into the room. When she mentioned the icy look that would cross over Skylar’s eyes, she gave a nod. “Okay…” She whispered. She sat there, wringing her hands. She stood and opened the closet door and looked inside. She pushed through the clothing and rummaged through the drawer where she found another cloth. She moved to Skylar’s side and changed the bandana out with the plaid cloth. It looked like it had been the sleeve of a shirt at one point before it was turned into a rag. Skylar didn’t move as Ayla dressed the wound. Ayla looked to Alden with sad eyes, “I don’t think she’s going to make it through the night, Alden…” She whispered.

Alden leaned against the wall, his arms were crossed. He gave a slow nod. “I know.” He spoke. “I never thought that it would be her, you know?” He came to the bed and sat down. “I figured above anyone else, she’d be the last man standing. I mean. Have you seen her fight?” He let out a soft chuckle. “She’s saved my ass several times in the field.”

Ayla let out a giggle, “When this first began, before the containers were put up and the walls were set up, I remember. It was one of the first nights. We were in Jerry’s, having a few beers. One burst through the door and made a beeline for us. I remember the confusion on her face when he lunged forward at me. Though, before I could even blink Skylar was up, had him on the ground and held her pistol to his head. She killed him once she realized that he was sick, once she realized there wasn’t any reasoning to be done.” She shook her head, “I never thought Skylar would get bitten, I figured I would go first.” She smiled slightly, “I can just imagine her, cussing me out for getting bitten, after all she’s done to help keep me safe over the years.”

Alden gave a nod, “Yeah, I remember those first few days, it was hectic.” He then sighed, “I’m going to clean up the bodies.” He looked to Eva and gave a nod. “Ayla, you should get some rest.”

“I’m not sleeping until she’s gone.” Ayla spoke softly.

Alden gave a nod, “Alright.” He stepped from the room. He started with the first body. The boots of the soldier clattered as he pulled him down the stairs. Alden stripped the bodies of their gear and set the gear in the living room. He set the guns in the bag that held all of the other guns. He then took the bodies outside and carried them to the barn where he dug a hole for each individual body. It was well into the night by time he came back in. Sweat lined his brow, his breath was labored. He stepped into the bedroom to find Ayla had fallen asleep, her hand held onto Skylar’s forearm, holding pressure on the wound. Her head was slumped against Skylar’s shoulder, her pistol was still sitting next to her on the bed. He came to the edge of the bed and looked over Skylar. Her skin was pale, waxy. He reached forward and lifted her eyelid, he pulled a penlight from his pocket and shined it into her eyes, checking for any change. Her eyes were bloodshot. Though, the crystal blue remained the same. Her skin was hot like fire. He sighed slightly as he sat down on the end of the bed, his back leaned against the wall. His eyelids were heavy. Eventually he too fell asleep.

**

The sunlight came the next morning, peeking in through the blinds of the old farm house. Alden opened his eyes and looked over to see Ayla still sleeping peacefully, her hand still gripped onto Skylar’s forearm. He looked to Skylar and his brows furrowed, she was still breathing. He stood, quietly and moved, he once again touched her cheek, feeling her temperature. She was still warm to touch. Skylar’s eyes shot open, her hands shot up and she gripped tightly onto his chest piece, her chest heaved. Alden stared to her, “Hey, you’re alright.” He spoke. “It’s me.”

Skylar took in quick breaths as she looked around the room. “Where, am I?” She asked, she blinked her eyes several times. “What’s going on?” She looked to him. She then looked to Ayla whom was still peacefully asleep on the bed next to her.

Alden searched her eyes for a moment. “How do you feel?” He asked, “You should be dead, Skylar.” He shined the light in her eyes again, he felt her pulse on her wrist. Her heart was pounding.

“I’m cold.” She spoke softly. She then thought back, she looked to her forearm and then stared to her cuffed hands, “That…wasn’t a dream…” She gasped. She jumped up quickly and stumbled. Alden caught her hand held her close. “I was bitten…I…” She pulled from him and stumbled into the wall with a loud thud.

Ayla woke to this, she sat up quickly. “Sky?” She looked to Alden. “Wait!” She cried and stood up. “Skylar…” She stepped forward.

Skylar looked to her, “I…should be dead…what’s going on? Is this a dream?” She blinked several times, she pulled against the cuffs.

Ayla stepped forward and brought Skylar back to the bed. “You’re alright.” She spoke, she touched her forehead. “Your fever isn’t as high…” She noted and looked to Alden. “How is this possible? Most don’t last 2 hours, let alone an entire night…” She untied the cloth around Skylar’s arm and looked to the wound. It seemed to be healing, it wasn’t bleeding anymore.

Skylar pulled at the cuffs again, “Tell me what’s going on…” She muttered, her voice full of fear now.

Skylar looked to Eva as she spoke to her. Memories of their other lives flooded her mind, her eyes softened. She gave a nod. “Maybe we can find a lab? Maybe my father knows where these scientists are?” She pondered and then sighed slightly. She watched as Eva left the room and headed down to put some form of breakfast together.

Alden watched Skylar for a moment before he turned and pulled some of the gear he’d taken off of the soldiers, “Here Sky.” He spoke and gave a nod.

Skylar looked to her bloody arms and her sports bra, she then took in a breath. “Thanks, Alden.” She spoke as she took the gear from him. She disappeared into another of the upstairs bedrooms and wandered into the walk-in closet. She thumbed through the clothing and found a black tank top which she pulled on. She then found a set of jeans that were a little loose but they fit her rather well, she zipped a leather belt upon her hips as she thumbed through a few more things. She then pulled a dark blue flannel button up long-sleeve shirt from the rack. Skylar pulled it on and buttoned a few of the buttons before she came back out. She rummaged through the gear that Alden had found, pulling on a set of gloves and grabbing a face mask which she let set around her neck.

“I haven’t seen you in normal clothes since before…” Ayla spoke as she looked to Skylar from the bed. “It’s funny, how you forget…you know? What it was like before.” She laughed. “Remember we used to go to Jerry’s bar? Every Friday night. It was all laughs and games, karaoke.” She shook her head then. “I was horrible at that.”

“At least you’re the first to admit it.” Skylar let out a soft chuckle then sighed. “Do you really think I’m immune?” She asked softly.

Ayla looked to her, she stepped forward and lifted up her sleeve and looked to the wound. “I’ve never seen a wound that looks like that, it looks like the infection didn’t even spread, just a bite. It’s almost healed up completely.” She laughed slightly. “If that’s not immune, there isn’t an immunity. Come on.” She tossed a pack over her shoulder and then looked to Skylar.

Skylar fastened a pistol to her thigh and then tossed a bow over her shoulder. She then stepped down the stairs and to where the others were. She looked to Eva for a long moment, almost as if she froze. Remembering. She then shook her head slightly. “We need to get ahead of the soldiers, they will be out looking for us in force today, I give them about an hour before they start.” She spoke and looked to Alden, he nodded in agreement. “My father’s group is staying in the next city over, it isn’t terribly far, but they have supplies, they have food, it’s safe there…or at least as safe as it’s going to get out here.” She then looked to Eva, “I think it’s our best bet to get ahead of them and get to safety.”

Alden crossed his arms slightly as he munched on an MRE. “But what if that is where they expect us to go? Hm? He just linked Ayla to New Hope, you busted out with her, he is going to blame New Hope for you all.” He pointed to Andrew and Eva.

Ayla gave a nod, “He has a point, Sky.” She looked to the others for a moment. “What if we go there and the Commander and his men are waiting for us?”

Skylar furrowed her brows slightly, she was still a bit foggy from the bite. She then gave a nod, “That would be something he would do…” She muttered. “I’m not sure where to go…Eva…do you know anywhere we could go? Do you know where the doctors would be maybe?” She watched Eva for a moment, her arms crossed.

Skylar watched Eva as she spoke, her points were clear. Maybe her father had been holding on for her? It seemed that they had a purpose, of some sort. He wanted the Commander dead, she knew that much. Maybe he hoped that if he killed off the Commander the military beneath him would crumble? Or someone else would come into power that was not corrupt like he was. Skylar stepped forward and grasped the compound bow, “I’ve always loved a good bow.” She spoke, “It’s silent, quick.” She pulled the quiver over her shoulder and pushed a handgun into a holster on her thigh. She then looked through the melee weapons on the table before her. She glanced to Ayla whom held the pistol in her hands. “You can do this, Ayla.” Skylar gave her a gentle smile. “I’ve taught you, remember? We’ve been in the gun range a lot. You know how to do this.”

“Knowing how, and doing…that is a totally different thing…” Ayla whispered as she grasped a dagger. It was a good sized dagger, tactical. A military issued one. “Just, don’t turn on me….Okay Sky?”

Skylar pulled Ayla into a hug then and then grasped both of her shoulders. “We are getting to safety. We will get to my father, everything will be just fine.” She gave a nod. “I’m not turning any time soon, so far as I can tell. Alright?” She turned and looked for a dagger of her own. She reached forward to a Dagger that had holes through the hilt for her fingers, with spikes outside of the holes. She slipped the dagger from its sheath and looked to the jagged edge of one side and then to the smooth sweeping line of the other. Upon the metal it had some form of inscription, it was in another language. “Nunquam non paratus.” She tilted her head slightly.

“Never Unprepared.” Alden spoke and gave her a smile. “It’s an old Latin phrase.”

Skylar looked to him a slight curve in her lips, “You amaze me with the knowledge that you have between those ears.” She chuckled. “Let’s go, huh?” She grabbed a tactical rifle and slung it over her shoulder with the crossbow on her back. She stepped to Eva outside and looked to the map that she had on the hood. She listened to Eva speak. Skylar placed her finger on the map, “This is where they were a few nights ago…If they are still there, which it looked like a pretty well fortified camp. If not I’m sure my father left something, for me to find him. I’m sure he knows. He had men on the inside. He told me. Just no one could get as close to the Commander as I could.” Skylar looked at the map a moment, “This road is the road that we used quite frequently, it is a back road, but it is highly traveled by the military, we wouldn’t want to go here….” She then traced along another road. “The jeep would make it through here, it’s an old off road trail, but the jeep could definitely do it, no problem. The best part, they would have a hard time following us in the Humvee. It’s too big to make it over the pass. That would drop us down right about here.” She traced and pointed, “It’s about an hour out from the city. We would be above it, have a good vantage point, we could use your sniper to look in and see if they are set up to ambush us…or if anything is going to happen.” She then sighed, “I hope that everyone is alright where my father is…he had a lot of men, people who have been missing from the city for a long time. I’ve searched for them out here, and yet they’ve been under my nose this entire time.” She gave a smile. She then looked to Eva for a moment, “Thank you for doing what you did, Eva.” She placed her hand on Eva’s shoulder before she turned and climbed into the jeep. She sat next to Ayla and Alden climbed in on the other side of her, squeezed into the back of the Wrangler.

Alden smiled to Eva, “Let’s get this show on the road, huh?” He then looked to Andrew and gave a nod.

Skylar sat quietly in the back, she glanced around her surroundings taking in the forest. The worst part about this route happened to be the visibility. It was something she’d worried about, but any other route would have the soldiers right at their heels and begging to kill them. Skylar knew if they got a hold of them that they would take them back, they would do anything in their power not to kill them. So that they could be tortured, until their bodies finally gave out. Until they wished to be dead. Until they prayed for it. That is what the Commander would do. He’d told her. He asked her if she’d been working with her father and when she denied it he’d beaten her senseless. Skylar looked to her wrists where the cuffs had been, deep bruises marked her skin, cuts were etched across her wrists from her fighting against the restraints. She then pulled her sleeve up and looked to the bite mark on her arm.

The pain she’d felt when the zombie gripped onto her. She’d ripped her arm back and kicked it aside. It was in the rush of the escape. She’d been caught from behind by one, and in that second she thought she’d lost everything. Yet, here she was. Living. Breathing. She was very much alive, there had to be something good to come from that, right?

“Hey Sky, come on.” Ayla shook her shoulder. “We gotta move this tree.” She climbed from the jeep.

Skylar looked around in a daze for a moment before she climbed out. She stepped forward to the tree and gave a nod to Eva. “Alright.” She spoke and then readied herself as Eva began to count. It was then that the zombies emerged. Skylar slipped her blade from her thigh and gripped through the holes of the grip. She lunged forward and sliced through the soft skull of a zombie. “Get to the jeep Ayla!” Skylar shoved Ayla in the direction of the jeep. She gripped onto the back of another and slammed it into the ground, it snarled just before her heel came into its face and a sickening crunch came from its skull. “No!” Skylar leaped and grabbed Alden’s hand she ripped a pistol from his hand and then slammed a zombie that was headed toward him against the hallowed log. The log collapsed from the force. Skylar sliced into the head and then looked to Alden. “No guns.” She spoke. “it’ll just attract more.” She looked to Ayla who was pinned against the jeep. Her eyes fell on Eva as she called out for Andrew’s help. She glanced to Andrew. “Help him.” She shoved Alden in his direction.

Skylar rushed forward, she slammed her knee into the side of a zombie, knocking it easily to the ground. She reached up and grabbed her bow from the back of the jeep. With swift precision she lifted the bow and aimed. She released the string and the arrow cut through the air and sliced into the skull of a zombie. She ripped the arrow from the skull and stabbed into the eye of another zombie. She sliced into another and shoved another into the ground. Skylar was covered in blood by this point. She gripped Eva’s hand and lifted her from the ground. She glanced over Eva for a moment and then turned and stabbed a zombie through his eye socket before she kicked its chest and knocked it down the hill. Skylar continued to take zombies down, thrashing at them, shooting arrows. Her movements were fluid. It was a rather incredible display of her skills. She’d trained very hard over the years, even before the outbreak. She’d been on the special operations team. She’d always pushed herself.

Skylar’s arm was grabbed and she was tackled to the ground by a rather large zombie. She thrashed around and flipped the zombie onto its back. It snarled and its jaw snapped as it clamped its teeth at her. She took her dagger and slammed the jagged blade into its face, grinding through the bone. Skylar’s breaths were heavy. Blood dripped from her arms. She took in a slow deep breath. She stood quickly and looked around. Alden stood with a loose jaw as he looked to her. He’d never seen her fight so well. Her fighting was always incredible, but that was beyond anything he’d seen before. Skylar sheathed her blade. “Come on.” She grabbed the log and gave a nod. “Pull.” She spoke and they shoved the log to the side. A twig snapped then and Skylar lifted her bow, an arrow already in place. She stared down the barrel of a pistol her breaths were quick, her brows pulled together. “Get in the jeep.” She spoke and glanced to the others. “Get in.” She didn’t loosen her hold on the arrow, if he shot her his life would be gone as well.

“You’re going to give me everything you have.” He spoke a smirk on his lips. “Everything.” He nodded toward the jeep. “That’s a really nice jeep, looks like you have supplies there.” He went to take a step forward.

Skylar released the arrow and ducked. The arrow sliced through his shoulder and he pulled the trigger on his pistol. The shot rang out like a dinner bell on a farm. Skylar was on top of him in an instant. She ripped the pistol from his grip and tossed it to Alden in the jeep. “We aren’t giving you anything.” She said through grit teeth. The man thrashed against her but she brought her fist into the side of his head, before she slammed his head harshly against a rock. The man’s body loosened as blood leaked from the cut in the back of his head. A low growl came from the forest. Skylar rushed to the jeep. “We need to go.” She climbed into the back as they peeled out and rushed up the trail. Skylar looked as a horde came from the trees and zoned in on the man. She looked away as they began to rip him to shreds. Skylar turned around and looked to Alden for a moment before she gave a nod and looked to Ayla. “Are you alright?” She asked.

Ayla gave a quick nod. “Yeah…I’m good. Thanks.” She gave a weak smile. She wasn’t much of a fighter. She could do it. But she was easily the weakest link of the group.

Skylar nodded as she looked ahead. They crested a hill and the city could be seen down below. She leaned forward slightly as she looked around. “That building.” She pointed. “The hospital with the huge yellow banner.” She nodded. “My father’s men were in there when we came out here…” She paused a moment. “Stop the car.” She jumped out of the back and grabbed the set of binoculars. She stepped to the edge of the huge boulder. Skylar stood there and held the binoculars up to her eyes as she scouted the city. She bit her lip slightly. A few of the military convoy trucks were headed through the town. “The commander sent his men.” She spoke as she scanned over to the hospital. She couldn’t see any movement. But her father wasn’t stupid. He would keep his men safe and they would make it look like the building was abandoned. She headed back toward the jeep. “Can I drive?” She asked Eva. “I know how to get us there the safest way possible. It’ll be hard to explain.” She gave a gentle smile.

“She’s a good driver.” Ayla chimed in, a soft smile on her lips.

Alden chuckled. “She’s gotten me out of some deep shit before.”

Skylar climbed into the driver’s seat and then started down the trail. She crept over roots and boulders until they finally made it back to the blacktop. Skylar made a turn off of the city street onto a major highway. She dipped off of an exit and into a tunnel. The path was clear as could be. She knew exactly how to get back, her father had given her the directions. She took a right and then they were back up on the city streets. She curved up the levels of a parking garage all the way to the top then. She parked the jeep and gave a nod to the others. “That walkway leads inside the hospital.” She spoke as she climbed out and grabbed her bow.

Ayla climbed out and looked to the city, “How many are in the group that the Commander sent?” She asked.

“I’m not sure, it was a Convoy, about 4 vehicles….” Skylar spoke as she pulled open the doorway to the walkway that led into the building.

“Does your father have enough men, Sky?” Alden asked as he trailed behind, his assault rifle in his hands, ready for anything.

Suddenly the loud sound of an explosion shook the building. Skylar rushed forward as she saw the convoy approaching the hospital from below. A soldier was perched on top of one of the armored units with an RPG in his hands. Another shot rocked the base of the building. “Sky!!!” Ayla cried as she ran forward. Skylar was in a full on sprint at this point. The only thought on her mind was her father. She rushed into the halls of the hospital. She’d pulled her assault rifle from her back.

“Wait up!” Alden called as he pushed on, she’d always been quicker than him. Skylar disappeared down the dark stairwell. Another explosion sounded from below, the building shook. Smoke began to rise through the staircase. “This is suicide!!” Alden called.

**

Skylar pushed through the final door at the base of the stairs. She came out into a fog of smoke and debris. Fire roared around her, the heat felt like it could melt her skin. She pushed forward, her rifle lifted. She rushed through the smoke and flanked around to the side. She could hear a few others coughing, a few crying. They weren’t expecting this. Her father didn’t have the supplies for this.

Skylar rushed forward she brought her rifle up and fired off a few shots. She caught a soldier in the back of the neck, severing his spinal cord and dropping him to the ground. She shot another in the leg. She rushed forward and sliced her dagger through his goggles. She lifted her rifle then and rushed forward shooting two more down.

**

Alden rushed through the fire. He watched in surprise as Skylar rushed the convoy and took down several of the men. He too lifted his rifle and shot down several. Soon the soldiers climbed into their vehicles and peeled out, rushing away from the scene. “Sky!!” He called as he rushed forward.

Skylar leaned down next to a man, one of her father’s soldiers. “Where are they? Where is everyone?” She asked.

“They…went…ahead…” He choked out, blood spilling over his lips. “North…to…Esrey…there…is a camp there…with walls…safe…your father…he’s…safe…Sky…lar…” His voice choked on the blood.

“Sky…we need to go!!” Alden called as he pulled her to her feet. “Let’s go! Now! Now Lieutenant!” He shoved her. Skylar stumbled she looked over her shoulder as zombies rushed from the city. She pushed through the doorway of the stairs and began to climb frantically. Alden pulled the door shut and fastened a metal pole into place before he followed her up the staircase. “Come on.” He grabbed her and pulled her up the stairs. Everything was a blur to Skylar as she climbed. Suddenly Alden shoved her against the side of the jeep, his eyes were angry. “What the fuck was that?” He snapped. “You can’t do that!” His voice was shaky. “You could have died, Skylar.”

Skylar looked to him in a daze. “I…thought…”

“No, you didn’t think.” He gripped her shirt and shook her slightly. “You could have died.” He said again. “You might be the cure to this thing, you can’t do that.”

“My father…” Skylar whispered softly.

“Alden…” Ayla pulled his hand away. “Hey…” She spoke. She pulled Skylar into a hug. “We will find him.” She whispered.

“There were so many bodies…charred…bodies…they…they didn’t have a chance…” Skylar stammered.

“What did that guy say to you? The rebel?” Alden questioned.

“They went north…to Esrey…” Skylar spoke softly.

Alden gave a nod. “So we go north.” He looked to the walkway. “Eva, want to come with me? We can grab supplies.” He looked to Skylar. “No.” He placed his hand on her shoulder. “You’re staying right here.” He turned and stepped into the building.

Skylar took in a slow breath she sighed. She looked to her thigh, blood soaked into the jeans. A bullet had grazed her leg when she was rushing the soldiers. Ayla followed Skylar’s gaze and sighed. “Come here.” She grabbed a kit from the back of the jeep and had Skylar sit in the back of the jeep. Ayla looked over her leg. “Alden is right, you know?” She spoke as she looked in the wound for any signs of a bullet fragment. “You gotta be careful, Sky…what if you’re the only one like this? You might be the only hope we have.” She pulled out a needle and slid thread through the eye. “I mean…I’m the only medic we have, what would it be like if I died?” She gave a sheepish smile. She then shook her head and pushed the needle through Skylar’s skin stitching her up. “Just…don’t be foolish okay?”

Skylar gave a nod. “Yeah…I…don’t know what I was thinking…”

“You were worried about your father. I know.” Ayla gave a nod. “It’s hard, to think that you thought he was gone, and now he is back, and you were worried he was lost again…” She packed up the kit and sighed. “Just…be careful alright?”

Skylar gave a nod, “I know.” She whispered.

**

Meanwhile…

Alden grabbed a large rucksack and began piling food and supplies into it. “They just left all of this…” He shook his head. “They didn’t have any time; they saw that RPG and ran.” He spoke softly.

Skylar stood and stepped to the edge of the parking garage. She stared down to the city below as deep black smoke billowed from the building. The sun was beginning to set, they didn’t have a whole lot of time. Skylar furrowed her brows and in the next moment she ducked to the side. The sound of a bullet whizzing through the air and pinging off of a cement pillar sounded.

“What was that?” Ayla asked, her eyes wide.

“Sniper.” Skylar crouched as she made her way back to the jeep. “They are still out there…” She grit her teeth, “Those soldiers aren’t what they seem, they are not good at all. The whole point in joining the special forces…for me was to help people…you know?” She shook her head as she leaned against the jeep.

Ayla sighed and looked up as Alden and Eva came from the building. She stepped forward and helped him by taking one of his bags of supplies. “Wow…” She spoke as she peered into the bag. “At least…we won’t starve…this is more food than I’ve had in the whole last year…” She shook her head.

Skylar looked to Eva as she spoke of their time. “We have no time at all…” She climbed into the driver seat. “They are holed up in a building somewhere, a sniper shot at me…” She turned the key and the engine revved up. “The hospital is getting swarmed with the biters…” She shook her head. “If we were to look at our odds, it is slim to none.” She turned the wheel and pushed the gas and off they went. Skylar guided them down through the parking garage until they reached the base. Zombies turned toward them, snarling. “Alden, shoot them.” She ordered. Alden stood up in the back, he held onto the railing of the jeep and aimed his rifle. They drove forward, what zombies he missed Skylar plowed through. She sped through the city the sound of flesh crushing beneath the tires became a normal sound, as well as the speed bump of bodies. Skylar turned a corner to find headlights staring back at them, the convoy.

“Skylar!!!” Ayla cried, her eyes wide.

Skylar stomped on the gas, “Hang on!” She spoke as she jerked the wheel. The jeep was off, gunfire exploded on them, pinging off of the body of the jeep. The tires squealed. Skylar swerved as the heat off of an RPG whizzed passed them. It collided with a building and instantly a huge explosion sounded. It rocked the jeep and sent it onto two wheels. Skylar winced, her ears were ringing, she couldn’t hear. She stepped onto the gas and cranked the wheel again, causing the jeep to land back on all four. They zig zagged through the city street avoiding cars and zombies alike. Eventually they cut onto a highway, North 29. She glanced in the mirrors and continued to drive, bobbing in and out of the immobile vehicles. A path had been cleared through here, possible from her father’s group. She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked to Ayla, her lips moved but she couldn’t hear her, it was all a muddy garbled sound. She shook her head and looked back ahead.

“Sky!!” Ayla shook her again, Skylar couldn’t hear her. The explosion had been very close to her. Ayla held pressure on Alden’s side, he had been hit with a bullet. She reached into the back as blood pooled over her hand and grabbed the first aid kit. She lifted up Alden’s shirt and looked to Andrew. “Pressure here.” She spoke and placed his hand over the wound as it leaked blood. “Alden look at me, stay with me.” She spoke as she dug into the bag and pulled out supplies. She moved Andrew’s hand and fished her finger into the wound, feeling for a bullet. She leaned Alden forward he groaned in pain. “Good…” She spoke softly, there was an exit wound in the back. She then cleaned the wound and began stitching him up before she placed gauze over the wound and wrapped around his abdomen tightly. “You’re alright.” She gave a gentle smile. She looked to Skylar as they tore through the night. They plowed through a zombie then, it’s blood splattered over the windshield. “Sky?” She asked.

Skylar had her jaw tight, her eyes focused ahead. She looked to Ayla as she shook her shoulder again. The words were muddy and hard to make out. “I’m okay.” She spoke, her voice loud.

Ayla sighed and looked to Eva. “Are you alright Eva? You’re not hurt are you?” She asked softly.

Skylar drove on through the night. Her hearing began to come back, the ringing in her ears caused tears to well in her eyes as she drove. She rubbed at her ears as they came into the next town. Esrey was the next town up. The sun had set at this point. The beams of the jeep lit up the zombies just before they would plow over them. Skylar drove and pulled off onto an old back road. It was a road that she’d traveled many times with her father as a child. She knew it would be safer than traveling on the main roads, not to mention it would take them away from the city. Skylar drove on into the night until they were several miles out into the middle of nowhere. Open fields surrounded them, the mountains in the distance. The moon was bright tonight and helped light the way. She turned down a road and pulled up on an old mountain house. She looked to Eva for a moment and gave a nod. “We can stay here.” She spoke, her voice still louder than it needed to be. She pulled the jeep around the back of the mountain house and then climbed out. She held her bow in her hands as she stepped forward toward the home. She knocked on the door and waited a long moment before she pushed into the home. It was dead silent. She searched the rooms on the lower level, the furniture was covered in linen. This was a summer home for some rich yuppie back in the day. She climbed up the stairs and searched the three bedrooms. Nothing. She then looked out the window and let out a chuckle. “No way…” She spoke. She stepped down the stairs with her flashlight in hand and then found a light switch. She flipped it and grinned as a humming sounded from beneath them and then the lights clicked on.

Ayla helped Alden in through the main door, his arm was slung around her. He looked up as the lights came on. “You’ve got to be shitting me.” He chuckled. “What is this place?” He looked to Skylar as he sat down on the couch and groaned.

Skylar rubbed at her ears, everything was still muddled. She could barely hear him. Ayla stepped up to her. “Let me look.” She pulled Skylar and sat her down. Ayla leaned Skylar’s head to the side and shined a flashlight to her ear. “Ah…” She spoke softly. “I see.” She dabbed a bit of blood from Skylar’s ear. She then reached into her medical bag and filled the cotton balls with a liquid before she pressed it into Skylar’s ear. Skylar winced and shut her eyes as she fluid pushed into her ear canals. Ayla looked to Eva, “She might have a ruptured ear drum. That was a really loud blast and it was really close to her, she was in the line of the blast more so than the rest of us…” She looked back to Skylar and pulled the cotton ball away. “How’s that?” She asked.

Skylar gave a nod. “You sound like you’re underwater.” She spoke. “I’m starving…” She looked to the others. “How about a meal huh? We have power.” She chuckled and made her way into the kitchen and pulled a pot out. She searched through the cabinets and then searched through the rucksack that Alden had collected. Before long Skylar was cooking away. After a good bit she emerged from the kitchen with the food that she had created. “Mac n’ cheese with some canned chicken mixed in, and some green beans and corn on the side.” She smiled as she placed the pots on the table that she had lined with plates while she was cooking. “Come on guys.” She scooped food onto her plate as she sat down.

Ayla chuckled and stood, “Come on Alden.” She helped him up and led him to the dinner table. She sat down near Skylar and looked to Eva and Andrew. “What luck this place, huh?” She looked around the home. It was completely untouched. Hidden away in the wilderness.

“I’ve driven passed it so many times as a kid with my father.” Skylar spoke before she took a bite of her food. “A nice family stayed here in the summers, I remember them…”

Alden huffed and took a bite of his food. “At least we got away from the convoy.” He shook his head. “We really need to watch our backs...those bastards won’t give up.”

“Tomorrow we will drive to Esrey.” Skylar nodded. “We will make it. Traveling at night just isn’t the best of ideas…” She poked at her food a bit before she took a few more bites. The group ate their food and eventually Skylar pulled away and boarded shut the windows with Alden’s help. They blocked the doors to the home and made sure everything was covered, not a bit of light would be seen outside. Skylar then slipped away to the bedroom. She stood in the shower and stared at herself, blood dried on her face. She looked to the faucet and turned the knob. A hum came from the basement as the water heater kicked on. Water pushed from the faucet and Skylar smiled. She closed the door and stripped the bloody clothes from her body and stepped into the shower. She let the water get hot, the bathroom filled with steam. She leaned her head back, the showers in the camp weren’t even this good. She hadn’t had a hot shower like this since before the collapse. Skylar massaged the shampoo and body wash into her body and leaned against the granite tiling. Eventually she shut off the water and stepped from the shower. She searched through the closet and pulled on a pair of jeans and a black tank top. She lay on the bed and let out a heavy sigh. She allowed her eyes to slip shut then as she relaxed into the pillow top of the bed.