“I want to apologize again, for not coming sooner. I’m really sorry Xandra. I was so afraid, and I was such a coward.” He said, shamed face.
“Flynn, we’d just started dating. We didn’t and don’t know each other that well. I never expected it. I did expect the National Guard or the police to help.” She said softly, sounding coherent for the first time.
“They aren’t around. I think the Vermilion Strain got everyone. I think it was worse than anyone thought. Here, eat some of this dark chocolate. That might also help. There is some canned fruit over there. We can load up on crackers and canned meats. I’ll get a couple of can openers. Oh, and there are some soups. If we can find a good place to hold up, I can make a fire and we can heat some of this stuff up.” He grinned, happy for what seemed like limitless food.
He watched as Xandra tore at the candy and took a bite. Her gray eyes closed in bliss. Flynn found some cloth shopping bags and began to fill them. He went in and out of the store, shoving as much as he could into the trunk and then the back seat. He carried several bags out to the car. He might have to find a truck, something bigger to haul the supplies. The small car was getting full. He hated to leave without taking everything, but he’d just have to find another store, with a bigger vehicle. Hopefully one full of gas.
He walked over to the drug and medical aisle. He filled a cloth bag with bandages, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, aspirin, triple antibiotic ointments and he picked up a couple bottles of Pedialyte, he thought that Xandra might want to drink that, since she lost so much fluids. He also picked up vitamins, and supplements for them both. Stopping by the refrigerated section, he pulled out juices and soft drinks. His hand hovered over the beer, but he stopped himself. He needed to be clear headed, especially if Casper followed after him. No, he needed to be clear headed for Xandra. To keep her safe.
He found her and handed her one of the Pedialyte.
“Drink this, it should help. I picked up some supplements to help you as well. Let’s get out of here, I don’t want to be out in the open.” He said nervously.
“Why, what’s the matter? I thought you said no one is around.” Fear now clouding her face.
“Remember, I said we were getting out of Philly? Well, there might be a few people that might not like it. That was why I was leaving. We should be safe; I’m going to take the back roads to Amish country.” He said, helping her into the front passenger seat.
“We’re going to Amish country? Why?” She looked at him confused.
“Look, there isn’t any more food coming our way. No more deliveries. Whatever supplies we gather will eventually run out. I don’t know how to farm, do you?”
“No, I’ve no clue.” She admitted.
“So, I’m hoping that if we go to the Amish, I’m hoping they will maybe take us in. If they do, we can learn how to farm, grow things. We can survive. They’ve been living like that for a few hundred years. Other than the virus killing everyone, they probably won’t notice the lack of people and electricity. I think our best bet is the Amish. Unless you know of a place to go?” Flynn looked at her hopefully.
Shaking her head, Xandra looked around her.
“No, and you’re right. We need to find a place that can help us survive. I never even thought of that. I guess I was so afraid to leave my apartment, I didn’t think about the aftermath. Do you think the Amish will take us in? They are a closed society.”
“I honestly don’t know, but I have to try. I don’t know how to hunt or fish or farm. I feel useless.” Flynn said despondently. He felt her hand on top of his.
“You came and you saved me. You’re not useless. We’ll figure this out together. Let’s find a place, like you said, to lay low. Let me regain some of my strength and maybe together, we can figure this out.” She smiled at him.
Nodding, unable to speak, he turned the car on and pulled out of the strip mall. He handed her a map and let her navigate.
“Just keep us off the highway. Secondary roads will do us good. Keep an eye out for a house with a truck. I’d like to trade up. Something with a crew cab. We can pile a lot of supplies into it.” He said, watching houses as they passed. There was no activity. No movement. It was just after one, and his stomach growled.
“Look, there’s a couple of trucks in that drive way. Should we see if anyone is home?” Xandra said, pointing off to the left.
“Yeah, but you stay in the car. I don’t know if it’s safe or not.” Flynn said, looking into the windows. He saw no movement. He parked his car on the street. It was a residential area. The lots were large, nearly an acre or better. There were lots of trees, a nice family kind of place. He saw a bike laying in the overgrown grass. It saddened him; he was sure that the kid was more than likely dead.
He walked up the sidewalk that led to the front door. He knocked loudly. He was trembling. It was scary, not knowing if someone were behind the door with a shotgun, ready to blow his head off. He wiped his damp hands on his pants and knocked again.
“Hello? Anyone home? Look, we want to maybe stay here, for a day. If
