Keep Going (Book 1): The Beginning (9 page)

“Yeah, okay.” She sniffled.

Alex stood up and Maggie went with her. Wrapping her arms tightly around Alex’s neck in surprise. Her breathing finally slowed down as she clung tightly, sniffing into Alex’s ear. Alex wrapped a single arm around the girl’s waist in attempt at comfort but really she was starting to feel annoyed. She didn’t much like being touched and panic started to set in at the close contact.

Petey laughed silently from his sitting position. He knew how much Alex disliked being touched by strangers and knew it was taking all her will power not to push the woman off.

With a reassuring pat on the back Alex pulled away and grabbed Maggie’s bag from where it sat next to an amused Petey. She shot him a sour look and he smiled in sympathy. She handed the bag off to Maggie and taking with a new found bravery.

“Does anybody know where we are?” Petey asked not moving from his spot.

“I think we’re by Marysville or in it. That’s still another half an hour drive or so.” Alex rubbed her face harder this time.

“So that means at least 30 miles to go.” Petey groaned. “With no car.”

Alex nodded and cracked her neck. 30 miles away wasn’t too bad if they kept a steady pace and avoided getting eaten. They could do it. She hoped.

“WE can start walking and if we come across another car that looks decent we use that.” Alex said.

Petey rubbed his chin as he stood up. Joining the two women in a circle to formulate a plan. Or something that would keep them alive.

“I’m not sure another car is a good idea. Almost got killed in the last one.” Petey said.

Alex nodded in understanding. They had escaped this time but what if next time the doors got jammed or worse. they were like canned treats for these monsters. Then again how safe was walking, really?

“How long do you think it’ll wake to walk?” She asked.

“About 12 hours.” Maggie answered.

The two turned their heads towards the now quiet woman. Her face looked sticky from all the tears and snot but her head was raised in confidence. It was a weird sight. Maggie cleared her throat and shook off their looks.

“I’m good at math.” She answered their confusion.

“Right on.” Alex encouraged.

At the praise Maggie raised her head higher while Petey rolled his eyes. She reminded him of a puppy. One to many pats to the head and they would never get rid of her. Although she was smart and that could always come in handy.

“That’s if we stick to the expressway. If we get off of it and go through the streets it’ll probably add more time. Might be safer however to go through the streets. More places for us to hide.” Maggie explained.

Alex rubbed her face again she hated math with a passion.

“If we go through the streets or towns there are more places for us to hide but not just us either. The towns are likely to have more people too.” Petey reasoned. “If we stay on the expressway, shorter time and we can see them coming better.”

He made a good case and Alex couldn’t help but agree with him again. The expressway had been more empty than not. It was their best shot and it would most likely get them there sooner. That’s really all she wanted.

Deep in thought she didn’t notice the two had finished their discussion and were staring at her waiting for an answer. She didn’t like when she was in charge but Alex supposed she didn’t have much of a choice at the moment.

“Those things are slow moving. We have a better chance of out-running them but we won’t be able to if they surprise us from around a corner. We’ll stick to the expressway.” She declared.

With nothing more to say they began moving from the underpass back to the road. They listened for the groans and steps of the monsters. Alex’s observation had been correct they were moving slowly even as they turned direction to follow the three.

Thanks to the lovely November time, night had started to descend rather quickly. They had walked at least 3 hours or what felt like it at least but they knew it wasn’t enough. The small group of monsters had dwindled down to only a few as many had given up. Either chasing a poor animal that happened to run by or betting their luck on a car alarm in the distance. Some had just walked right off the expressway into ditches or ramps.

“It’s getting dark.” Petey said looking at the purple and pink sky. “Probably a good idea if we stop for the night.” Petey said.

Before Alex could say anything Maggie was shaking her almost violently, her skin grew pale.

“No, I don’t want to stop.” She begged.

Turning wide eyes towards Alex in a silent please. Petey let out a irritable sigh and rolled his eyes. Sure, Maggie was attractive but did she really think batting her eyelashes at Alex would really work. He stopped walking and turned to her.

“We’re at a disadvantage if we keep walking. If anything decided to attack we won’t be able to see it coming.” Petey tried to reason again.

“We’ll waist time stopping.” She pouted like a child. “I don’t want to stop.”

“Petey’s right.” Alex said.

Maggie frowned hard while Petey stood victorious. The edge of Alex’s lips quirked up at the thought that even with monsters people still acted like children. She found it funny and irritating. Maggie opened her mouth to protest but was stopped when Alex raised her hand.

“We’re stopping. End of discussion.” She spoke.

Alex ignored Maggie’s pathetic whimpers and turned her back to them looking at the few monsters that still trailed behind them lazily. She felt Petey move just to the side of her, his arm pressing to her back. Letting her know he was behind her.

“What about them?” He knew the answer.

Alex laid down her bag, kneeling down she freed her machete and stood proud with it. Petey gave a small nod and dropped his own bag retrieving the forgotten crowbar. Alex eyed it with confusion, she had thought it was long lost in the crash.

“Grabbed it after you grabbed Maggie.” He answered. “Figured this would be more useful.” He muttered the end.

“You don’t have to do this.” She offered.

Petey looked his friend up and down. He knew she was telling the truth; he didn’t have to do this he could step back. She’d probably be fine with it after all she had already done it a few times. Her stance was tight, her body ready to fight; no, he didn’t have to do this. But he would, instead of backing down he found himself reading as well, copying her stance and holding his weapon up.

“I’m not letting you do this alone.” He declared.

“Aim for the head.” Alex reminded.

Strolling up to the monsters, the pair met them halfway. It stood three against two. Alex took out one with a quick swipe of her weapon and moved to the second one effortlessly. She dropped the machete hard on its head, kicking it to the ground. Alex stood over the fallen monsters staring down, this used to be a person and now it was this. She felt the acid rise in her stomach threatening to expel but she swallowed it down. ‘This wasn’t person.’ She repeated in her head over and over.

She looked over to Petey to make sure he was doing okay. His own monster had fallen to the ground already and looked to be headless before Alex went for the second one. Mimicking the actions she had done with the ham radio he kept beating the crowbar into the mess that once its head. She dashed behind him, her machete fell to the ground, and her arms curled around him stopping his movements.

His breathing was heavy as he felt the weight of Alex resting against his back. He looked at what he had done.

He released the crowbar, it clattered loudly as he broke free from her grip and went to the side of the road. His stomach expelling all contents making his throat burn. He hadn’t noticed he was crying until the bile began to mix with the tears on his face. Petey felt a warm hand rub his back and comforting words entered his ears.

After his stomach finally settled he stood up taking the rag that was offered to him. He wiped away any evidence from his face. Expecting to see a look of shock and disappointment that he could not hold his own he raised his swollen red eyes to his friends. Received neither but instead a weak smile and concerned eyes.

Alex felt bad that he had to do that. She had forgotten most people were not like her or her sister, both were raised to swallow their emotions, cry on the inside and keep going. Always keep going.

No, he wasn’t them; he was Petey.

10

They were hoping to find another overpass to sleep under but the road continued flat. The small patch of grass next to the woods area off to the side of the highway would have to be enough. It gave them coverage but still allowed the views of the highway, plus the trees provided them with fallen branches and twigs to start a small fire.

Alex sniffed at the air, her face twisted in discontented as she got more comfortable the ground. Her hands patted at patch of dirt.

“What is that smell?” She complained.

“It’s fresh air.” Petey answered not bothering to look away from his bag.

“Well it’s disgusting.” She huffed.

Alex had always made it well know her displeasure of being out in nature. She much preferred the busy cities with fumes and population to the open mountain airs. He had asked her once why did she not stay in Chicago or Los Angeles but decided to move up to Washington. Even though she lived close to the city it was still nothing compared to the other two. Her answered was always the same ‘people’ and then she would grimace. He rolled her eyes knowing that she was probably groaning at the dirt beneath her and the filthiness of it.

“I got something that will make everything better.” He said finally ending his search. He raised the bottle of wine in glory. “Snagged an extra bottle for fun.”

He showed off the bottle of wine to the two women before plopping down next to Alex and pulling the cork out. Maggie scoffed and narrowed her eyes scooting closer to Alex. She believed that for once Alex would take her side in the upcoming argument.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to be drinking right now. Shouldn’t we keep our heads clear?” She said sneering.

Petey scoffed mockingly.

“Like that’s done you well.” He bit back.

Their childish behavior got old very quick. At first it was funny now after the day’s weight it was just annoying. This is why she never liked children to begin with and having two full grown ones was just plain terrible.

Alex took the bottle from Petey’s hand and took a drink. It was dry wine but it was all they had, she took another. Maggie huffed and moved away from the two. She crumpled up her jacket for a pillow and tossed of the think blankets they had packed, over herself turning her back to them.

Petey took the bottle back and took a generous drink. He smacked his lips at the taste, it was sweet. He offered the bottle back to Alex, she knew it was a bad idea but if there was a chance she was going to die, like hell she’d be sober for it.

“Helps keep the cold away.” He joked.

Alex let out a snicker as she took another sip, smaller this time. The alcohol was taking its desired effect as the two passed the back and forth emptying quickly. Petey retrieved another and popped it open. She planned to yell at him later for bringing bottles of wine instead of other important stuff but as her mind began to turn fuzzy she didn’t care. In fact she was very happy with him.

Petey unlike his friend couldn’t really hold his liquor and as he opened the second bottle the smell of it pushed him closer to the edge. Yet he didn’t care that his vision blurred or his stomach was yelling at him. This was probably going to be the last time he ever drank so he might as well drink what he could. Besides he knew Alex would protect him, she could hold her own sober or drunk,. He had seen it before barely able to stand, drunk off her ass she was still taking care of people. Calling cabs, or offering her home for people to sleep off their drunkenness even going as far as to carry them.

His thoughts shifted from his friend to the blonde laying just feet away from them. His eyes narrowed, she was the opposite of Alex. He didn’t like that at all.

“She’s asleep, again.” He slurred.

“Maggie’s depressed. Depressed people tend to sleep a lot. Takes a lot of the body to keep going, you know?” Alex said.

She took the bottle from Petey. She figured he had enough, always a lightweight. He looked at her through squinted eyes desperately trying to focus on the blurred figure in the dark.

“You’re depressed and you barely sleep.” He regretted it after the words came out.

He knew he had made a mistake when Alex looked away to stare into the fire. Her expression turned blank. He had sent her into her own mind and that was a dangerous place. He started to apologize but she shook her head. He settled back watched as she took a drink from the bottle then chuckled darkly, more to herself then him.

“It’s a different type of depression, buddy.” She confirmed. “You know.”

He tried to apologize again but when Alex offered the bottle back he took a drink instead. She was never hid from questions or conversations but it also made her feel weak. Not the depression but explaining it knowing they won’t understand.

“When should we tell her how Charlie died?” He attempted to pull her back.

Alex rubbed her face harshly; with how many times she had done that today and the mix of alcohol she bet her face rivaled the color of a tomato. Grabbing the bottle back she chugged the remainder hoping to erase the screams in her head.

“I don’t know.” She groaned.

“Why is she still with us? She doesn’t know us. You come back saying her boyfriend is dead with no explanation and she doesn’t ask any questions. She just goes with it and us.” He spoke in a loud whisper trying to keep quiet but failing terribly.

He took the empty bottle and shook it with a pout. He should have grabbed a third one but that felt like it was too much at the time. He tossed the bottle into the darkness in protest.

“Maybe she trusts us.” Alex reasoned.

“Well I don’t trust her.” He looked at the sleeping form in the dark. “I don’t trust her with our lives, hell I don’t trust her with her own.”

“Do you trust me?”

He swore he misheard. Never in three years he had known her, had she ever spoken so timidly. Her voice sounded unsure, that wasn’t possible. He looked over to her ignoring the nausea he felt when he shifted too quick.

It must have been true because she had a distant look in her eyes. Alex was short but this was the first time she ever appeared small. The doubt and fear had shrunk her until she appeared only three feet tall. As much as he wanted to reassure her that he indeed did trust her, he needed some reassurance first.

“Do you really believe we’ll get there?” His voice shook. “After seeing those things, do you really believe it?”

“Of course, I do.” She answered more powerful this time. “We’re already halfway there. We just need to keep moving and we’ll be fine.”

He dropped his head and started fiddling with his lighter. His stupid lighter that brought him comfort in this time. He felt a nudge at his side and looked up. Alex’s stance was back. Her shoulders squared, her back straight and her head high.

“I’ll get us there.” She promised.

He rattled the thought in his head, not one wanted to settle but her tone…her strength did give him reassurance. It gave him comfort and peace.