Chapter Text
I sit in my car, gripping the wheel so tight that my knuckles are going white. The car is at a complete stop but yet my heart is still beating a thousand beats a minute. I watch the blinking of the emergency lights of the car in front of me and listen to the sound of gunshots.
I see people run past my car, screaming. More gunshots follow, the sounds getting closer. I quickly shut off my car, make sure all doors are locked, and climb into the back seat floorboard. I cover myself with anything I have in the car. The screams continue and my body shakes with each passing minute.
The gunshots and the screaming lasts for what feels like hours. I stay hidden until the very end,
When the humvees finally drive away.
Fuck.
~
That’s the only word I can even think right now. Fuck being stuck on this God damn highway with all these other scared fucking people.
I am sitting a top of my trunk, watching people panic. The adults either look ready to burst at the seems or just give up. The kids, however, have no clue why their parents are acting so wierd. It’s a good thing I don’t have kids. I can’t imagine having to explain to them that their normal lives are over.
One little boy, looking maybe be ten, pulls on his mother’s arm. “Mom I’m hungry!”
She looks flustered, probably realizing she doesn’t have anything. She looks down at the little boy, “I don’t have anything right now Carl. I’m sorry just wait a little longer.”
Why didn’t she bring any food with her? Did she think everything would be solved once we got to Atlanta?
An older woman with her own kid quickly steps up, offering her son some of their MREs. Only she is quickly shot down by her husband once of out the first woman’s earshot.
I hope down off my car, grabbing some of those snack packs of trail mix. “Here kid,” I offer one to each kid and their moms.
“Thank you sweetie, that’s very kind of you.” Carl’s mom praises me, taking the trail mix. The older woman just shakes her head, walking back to her husband. Wierd dude if you ask me.
“Anytime.”
She eats the trail mix at a speedy pace, probably just now realizing how hungry she is.
A dark haired man, who looks to be traveling with the woman comes up to me. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Zoey,” I hold out my hand for him to shake.
For a minute he just stares at me. Like he’s trying to figure me out I guess? He eventually shakes it, giving me an approving nod.
Right after he says, “That was really nice of you.”
“Yeah well I’m sure your son is scared and your wife just seems really anxious so I’d figured I could at least help with that.”
He laughs for a moment, “He’s not my kid and she’s not my wife. He actually passed away before this…” He choked on his words a the last sentence. Damn, that fucking sucks.
“Oh shit,” I gasp a bit. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to assume.”
“Nah man don’t worry about it. I’m Shane, the woman is Lori, and the kid is Carl.” Carl waves as Shane says that.
“I’m Devyn, nice to meet ya.” I throw up a peace sign, smiling.
Lori smiles back, it’s a sad smile, but it’s something.
Shane opens his mouth to say something, but as he does screaming erupts in the distance.
People around us start to panic, including Lori. Shane is quick to get on his feet and get them in the car.
“I suggest you follow if you wanna stay alive.”