Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2015 22:54:07 GMT -5
The road was empty as dead as the road she was leaving behind. Every left behind vehicle that she had passed, every body that was left abandoned on the side of the road, it was a further testament to how far humanity had fallen. She especially hated it when she slowly drove past a body only for it to slowly begin to move. It gave her the creeps. As she past the first couple of corpses it did nothing to quell the fear or the dread that crept up her spine. She was childish, of course, for thinking that they could get here in the safety of the vehicle. For they were only a few amongst the rabble. If she had unfortunately found herself surrounded by more than five then she would really be in trouble. This comforting thought made the drive from Florida that much easier. But keeping the fear down was harder. She could still feel its goosebumps prickling her skin. But she had conditioned herself not to look. She had traveled a long time out of her little southern hometown. a place that she did not belong. Perhaps it was God's way of teaching her. Maybe it was a sign that outsiders are not welcome. Maybe the dead were destined to reclaim the world for a long while. Many things in life were unaccountable for - until the Plague destroyed the world. That thought knocked down the confidence that she had built on the road. One time she pulled over to a nice little field. She stopped the car, parked, and gripping the steering wheel, watched the peaceful meadow sway in the gentle breeze. Afraid.
She scanned the field, the trees on the perimeter. She did not want to leave the confines of her car, so she continued on. To an unspecified point in her journey. She lay curled up in the back seat one time crying as hard as she could. The salty tears that rolled down her cheeks left dirt-stained streaks on her cheeks. She knew could escape the dead ones but it was the place that she feared she was not going that scared her the most. The not knowing. The doubt. The loneliness. When she pulled over to a small house that lay by itself nestled between some trees just slightly off the road did she feel a slight wave of comfort. Just looking at the house reinforced her soul. Just a bit that it was enough for her to pull the car up close and get out. She stood in the shadow of the house, dwarfed by its looming presence. And for the first time a building, any structure, never looked so intimidating. She looked at the high windows clutching the strap of her rifle that lay resting across her back. Maybe there was a bed inside. Gingerly, she stepped forward and found herself climbing the short steps to the front door. She reached out for the doorknob, felt the cool metal in her palm, and turned. The door lightly creaked open giving way to the foyer and living room beyond. She thought about calling out hello. Instead she lightly stepped inside. And looked around the dimly lit interior. She felt the weariness of the road weighing down on her. For a moment she felt solace and comfort. She let the hand holding the strap fall to her side as she sighed out heavily.
Alone. Of a young heart. Misguided.
She scanned the field, the trees on the perimeter. She did not want to leave the confines of her car, so she continued on. To an unspecified point in her journey. She lay curled up in the back seat one time crying as hard as she could. The salty tears that rolled down her cheeks left dirt-stained streaks on her cheeks. She knew could escape the dead ones but it was the place that she feared she was not going that scared her the most. The not knowing. The doubt. The loneliness. When she pulled over to a small house that lay by itself nestled between some trees just slightly off the road did she feel a slight wave of comfort. Just looking at the house reinforced her soul. Just a bit that it was enough for her to pull the car up close and get out. She stood in the shadow of the house, dwarfed by its looming presence. And for the first time a building, any structure, never looked so intimidating. She looked at the high windows clutching the strap of her rifle that lay resting across her back. Maybe there was a bed inside. Gingerly, she stepped forward and found herself climbing the short steps to the front door. She reached out for the doorknob, felt the cool metal in her palm, and turned. The door lightly creaked open giving way to the foyer and living room beyond. She thought about calling out hello. Instead she lightly stepped inside. And looked around the dimly lit interior. She felt the weariness of the road weighing down on her. For a moment she felt solace and comfort. She let the hand holding the strap fall to her side as she sighed out heavily.
Alone. Of a young heart. Misguided.