Tristan Harlow:
I literally see a light at the end of the dark tunnel. Looking behind us one last time, I make sure there aren't any infected still following us.
The three of us emerge from the hallway and enter what I think is the stadium's parking lot. There are still a handful of military vehicles in the parking lot, mostly Jeeps and Hummers.
"Holy hell," Bailey says, panting through her gas mask as we walk away from the pitch-black hallway. "That was intense."
"You think," I ask, resting my hands on my knees as I look around. It's nighttime now. The sun is gone, and the moon and stars cover the night sky above. Despite how quiet everything sounds, how the wind doesn't make noise, I still know better.
"Come on," I say, pushing myself up into a standing position. "We need to get out of here. During the nights, we never want to be out in the open like this."
"Yeah," Rebecca says, also pushing herself up. "Yeah. That makes sense, but the only question is where. Fenway Park is the only shelter for miles, and it's already occupied."
"With hungry, flesh-eating, infected," Bailey adds.
"Yeah," Rebecca repeats, nodding her head. She turns to me. "Any idea, Drifter?"
"One," I answer. I turn my head and eye the military vehicles left behind. "It's risky, but standing out here or traveling during the night? It's riskier."
While looking at the military vehicles, I see a rusty, camouflage brown and tan Hummer sitting in the corner of the lot.
"Come on," I say, nudging my head and running over to it.
The Hummer, a camouflage brown and tan, is also orange from its rust. It's missing its two back tires, and because the hood is up, I can see a missing battery.
"What," Bailey says, "Are we going to drive out of here with this piece of crap?"
"Are you blind," I ask. "This isn't going anywhere. The two back tires are missing, one of the front tires is slashed and out of air, and someone took the battery. No doubt a soldier took it. The same goes for all the others."
"He's right," Rebecca says. "I remember seeing it. What vehicles they couldn't move, the military stripped them for parts before moving into the bunkers. The battery isn't the only thing missing."
"If we're not driving this car out of here, why are we here?"
"Safe," I say, tapping the windows. I turn to the girls. "Stay back."
Raising one of my hands, Rebecca grabs Bailey and the two step back.
"Final test," I say, grabbing the door handle. Pulling it, the door swings wide open. Checking the inside, I see nothing but layers and layers of dust on the leather seats.
"Clear."
Looking at the two girls and the dust, I keep my hand raised.
"Stay back," I say. Raising both hands, I slam my open hands onto the seats, and an eruption of dust shoots up and hits me in the face. Wiping all the dust from my mask, I wave as much of it as I can out of the door. A little cleaner now, I nudge my head.
"Get in," I say.
"Why," the package asks. "You said it yourself. This isn't going anywhere."
"It's not for driving," I answer. "We're camping here for the night."
"You're kidding me," Bailey whines
"We're camping in an abandoned Hummer," Rebecca says. "Is it safe?"
"As long as we, well you," I start, pointing at the damn package. "Keep quiet, it will be. The windows aren't broken, and they're tinted. So no wandering infected should see us. Also, the doors are still on and steady. In a worst-case scenario, if a group of infected attacks us, the doors will buy us a few minutes to fight or flight."
"Sounds alright to me," Rebecca says. "Come on, kid. You first."
Bailey climbs in, and Rebecca follows after her. Halfway in, she stops.
"That worst-case scenario thing," she whispers. "Had that ever happened to you?"
"Once," I reply. "As I said, it's a risky move, camping in an abandoned vehicle, whether it's a Hummer or not, but the infected are more active at night, and we're short on options."
"Hmm."
Climbing in, I follow Rebecca and climb inside before shutting the door. Squeezing around and over the armrest, I grab the steering wheel and pull myself into the driver's seat.
"Get down," I order. "The windows are tinted, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't keep our heads down."
Getting down, I squeeze myself onto the floor. Rebecca and Bailey, seeing what I am doing, do the same and squeeze themselves onto the floor.
"So now what," the package asks, her knees pressing against her head.
"Now we stay here for the night," I answer, struggling to grab my backpack. Finally getting it, I throw my backpack onto the driver's seat and open it. Looking around, I find a roll of duct tape and my dinner: a rusted can of peas.
Slowly pulling myself up, I start taping the windows. I tape the two windows in the front. When I am done, I throw the roll at Rebecca.
"Tape the windows," I say before falling back down. Once I'm back on the floor, I pull off my gas mask.
"What are you doing," Bailey yells. "You just took off your mask."
"Calm down," I say, turning my head. Looking at my pack, I dig through it again and pull out a metal spoon. Stabbing the pea can with the spoon, I pull off the lid and start eating.
"Don't worry," I say while chewing peas. "It's fine. The fumes will only turn you if they're concentrated. Thankfully, not much got in when I opened the door. Still, it never hurts to tape the windows."
When Rebecca is done, she hands me the roll, and I throw it back into my pack. The two watch me eat before taking off their mask and throwing them onto the seats. They then dig out some food themselves. The three of us then start eating together.
"Soooo," the package sighs, "Is this what it's like being a drifter? Just camping in cars every night until you find a bunker?"
I don't say a word. Instead, I eat some more peas.
"Okay. Uhh, so after we're done eating, we get some sleep and then we get back on the road."
"Yeah," Rebecca says. "I think that's the plan."
"Sweet. So, how long do you think it'll be before we reach New Haven?"
Again, I don't say a word. I eat some more peas.
"Are there any bunkers along the way we can stay in? You know, like to restock on supplies?"
Tilting the can and shaking it, I get another spoonful of peas.
"Are there any other dangers we should know about? Besides the infected and chimeras?"
My spoon hits the bottom of the pea can. I look inside and see a little bit of green water.
"What should we do if we do encounter any chimeras? Should we fight them? If we do, I'll need a weapon."
In one swift move, I drink the green water and throw the empty can at the package.
"Ouch," she cries as the can bounces off her head.
"Will you shut up," I say. "Fuck. Just stop talking."
"I'm just trying to know what's ahead," the package bitches. "This is my first time outside the bunker. Ever."
"I don't care! Just do what I tell you, and that's it. You don't have to know anything. You don't have to do anything. Just shut the hell up, listen to me, and that is it! Understand?"
The package opens her mouth, but I cut her off before she could say anything.
"No, no, no," I say, swinging my hands left and right. "No! Not another word. Just nod your head."
The package doesn't nod her head. Instead, she flips me off.
"Yeah, hahaha. Funny."
Doing the same, I flip her off, my bloody, dirt-covered middle finger blocking her tiny middle finger.
"Okay," Rebecca says, suddenly joining in. Putting down her can of sliced carrots, she grabs both our hands and puts them down. "Okay. I get it. You two don't like each other, but there isn't much space in this car, so unless one of you wants to camp outside, I suggest calling it a night."
"Maybe he should go," the package says. "After all, he's the expert. I'm sure he'll be able to survive."
"Yeah, maybe you should go," I say. "After all, you're nothing more than a waste of resources. A waste of food, of water, and time."
The stupid kid reaches for the can I threw at her, but I lunge for her myself. About to grab her, Rebecca jumps in and pushes me back. She then grabs the can and tosses it to the side.
"Enough," she yells, eyeing the two of us. "Enough. Listen, we're all done eating. Let's just get some sleep. It has been an exhausting day, and I am sure we could all get some sleep."
"Fine," the package says, throwing her empty can of peaches to the car's floor. "I can sleep."
"You too, Drifter?"
"Not me," I growl. "One of us should stay up and keep watch. I'll take the first watch. Wake you up in two hours?"
"Yeah. Okay."
Adjusting her backpack, Rebecca rests her head on it and closes her eyes. Meanwhile, I pull myself up and do a quick scan.
"Nothing," I say, seeing an empty parking lot.