“I heard about Rita. Is she okay?” Nick asked once she was gone.
“No, she’s not,” Dylan replied before explaining what happened.
“That’s awful, poor girl. Did she really think Saul would dump her from the team if she took too long to recover?”
“I guess so,” Dylan said.
Nick shook his head. “Foolishness.”
“He’d never do that to her. Too bad, she wouldn’t listen to me.”
“Agreed. I’m here about something else, though,” his expression somber.
“What’s wrong?” Dylan asked.
Nick explained about the southern communities going dark one after the other. “I’m worried. Something is going on. Something bad.”
“What do you propose we do about it?”
“I’d like you to join me on a scouting trip. We need to investigate and find out what happened before it hits us,” Nick said.
Dylan’s eyebrows lifted. “You want me to come along?”
“Yes, I do,” Nick said. “It will be dangerous, though.”
“Count me in,” Dylan said, excitement filling her chest. “I could use a break from all of this.”
“Excellent,” Nick said, offering his elbow. “Now, let’s go home. We’ve got a long day ahead of us, and we need to rest.”
Dylan looped her arm through his and leaned into his side. “As long as I get to spend it with you, I’m happy.”
“What about Rita?” Nick asked.
“Let’s stop by Amanda’s on our way home,” Dylan said. “I’ll explain the situation to her, and she can keep an eye on Rita until I get back.”
“Good idea.”
If we ever get back, Dylan reflected, remembering her nightmare from that morning. For some reason, it unsettled her, and she hated being unsure of anything. After a moment, she brushed the thought aside. It’s just a dream. Forget about it.
Chapter 7 - Big Joe
Meridian, Mississippi; 10:27 am.
Joe drove through the streets of Meridian with a sense of déjà vu. He knew the town well. He’d spent the better part of his childhood biking through the suburbs with his friends and exploring the countryside. It was all still the same, and yet, nothing was the same.
The sixth-largest city in Mississippi, Meridian, boasted a population of over thirty-five-thousand souls. While that might seem like nothing to some, it was a lot to Joe who preferred solitude to crowded spaces. Now, he wondered how many of those people were still alive.
His eyes fell on the fuel gauge, and a muttered curse escaped his lips. It was time to fill up again. They’d been traveling east on the I 20 for the better part of three days now. During that time, they’d scavenged for food and fuel as they went, never stopping for long in one place. The horde was left far behind as they crossed Louisiana’s state lines, but he refused to stop. Not until he knew they were safe.
Navigating by memory, Joe turned off the I 20 and headed toward the Walmart Supercenter. It would have everything they needed to carry on with their journey.
“Alright, we’re taking a short break, everyone,” Joe called out, pulling the double-cab Ford into the deserted parking lot.
Sandy woke up with a start in the passenger seat next to him, her hands flying as she checked her shirt pockets for her glasses. Her short-sighted gaze fixed onto his face, and she blinked. “Huh? What did I miss?”
“We’re taking a quick break,” Joe repeated, reaching for his rifle. “We need food, fuel, and water.”
“It’s about time. I need to pee,” Candy huffed, throwing him a mean look. She still hadn’t forgiven him for giving up on their home, and Joe didn’t blame her. With every mile that passed, he wondered if he’d made the right decision. Maybe, we should’ve stayed. Perhaps we could’ve ridden it out in the storm shelter.
But, Joe couldn’t risk the lives of his newfound family on a maybe. “Ten minutes, everyone. No more. Do what you have to do and remember the rules.”
Candy jumped out of the vehicle, her machete in her right hand. Her eyes scanned their surroundings, and her posture was alert. Pride filled Joe’s chest at the sight. She was growing up fast. Soon, she wouldn’t need him for protection anymore.
Xavier didn’t say a word, however, and he wore a shuttered look. Joe doubted he could hear anything through the music blasting into his ears via the earphones attached to an old iPhone. He treated the thing like gold and carried a solar charger for it wherever he went.
Ordinarily, Joe didn’t mind, but rules were rules. As Xavier prepared to exit the truck, he reached over and yanked one bud from the boy’s ear. “Xavier, no music out in the open. You need to stay alert.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” came the sullen reply.
Joe sighed, and he closed his eyes for a brief second. Handling an infected horde was easier than coping with two teenagers in a sulk. Lord, help me.
Sandy’s warm touch brought him back to the present. “They just need a little time, hun. They’ll come around eventually.”
“You think so?” he asked, gazing into her bright eyes.
“I know so. Don’t let it bother you too much,” she added. “You did what you thought was right back there.”
“Was it?” he said, silently pleading with her to relieve his burden.
Sandy shrugged. “That’s not for me to say, or even you. Leave it in the hands of God.”
Joe sighed. “Thank you, Sandy. You always know what to say.”
She smiled, her hand lingering on his shoulder. Joe gazed at her kind face and fought the urge to kiss her. For months now, he’d meant to tell her how he felt, but the time was never right. Will it ever be right?
Finally, she pulled away, and the moment passed. As Joe climbed out of the truck, he made a silent vow to declare himself once they’d escaped the horde. If we ever do.
He set about siphoning gas from abandoned cars nearby while Sandy searched overturned carts for supplies. It was somewhat surprising what one could find that way, and she soon scored a case of water and a few cans of fruit. “Look. Peaches!”
“Swell,” Joe said. “Not my
