Chapter 16

I should have looked for a map at that gas station.

Groaning in frustration at how long I've been driving I speed up a little bit since the road is clear. The car feels powerful beneath me, the engine gearing up as my foot presses the pedal further. It feels safe. Looming in the distance I see another gas station and screech in relief. Mikayla shoots up from her position sleeping, my screeching startled her. I giggle and point, telling her to look out the window. Rubbing her eyes, she glances in the direction I'm pointing.

"What's that?"

Sleepiness laces her voice heavily and she yawns, her arms stretched up as far as the cramped car will let them.

I'm giddy as I answer. "It's another gas station. We can get some more supplies and we need to find a map, so we know where we are."

"Ohhh, okay. That sounds good."

She lays her head back down and closes her eyes. I swing the car into the cluttered parking lot and park it beside the building. Mikayla yawns again before grabbing her handgun out of the glovebox and hopping out of the car. I reach back behind her seat and grab the pipe that I picked up at our last stop and follow her around to the front. Reaching my arms overhead, my muscles rejoice at the pleasurable feeling of being stretched out after sitting in a small car for two hours.

"Alright, you ready to do this?"

I grin at her in response and we ready our weapons and move for the door. Stepping inside the smell of dust and rotting milk fills my nose. I gag a little and notice that all the cooler doors are open. None of the lights are on but thankfully there are big windows all around. It's quiet as I walk behind the counter to look for a map.

"I'm going to run to the bathroom quick, I want to wash my hands and face if the water is working."

I nod at her and she begins to make her way to the other side of the store. The whole place looks ransacked. My fingers run through my hair; I'm getting anxious again. I'm hoping we get a decent amount of supplies from here, so we don't have to try looting anywhere else for a while but it's looking bleak.

I'm rummaging underneath the counter when Mikayla taps me on the shoulder. I stand up and turn around only to see that it's not Mikayla, it's a man. He immediately covers my mouth before I can scream, pointing down one of the aisles full of miscellaneous gas station wares. There's a body on the floor, or what's left of one anyway. Half of the body's abdomen and one of the legs is missing as it wriggles on the ground. Intestines snake out of the gaping wound in its side and disappear around the endcap of the aisle. I look back to the mysterious newcomer, his eyes show no cruelty and he doesn't act like he wants to hurt me. His shaggy chestnut hair tickles my neck as he leans down to whisper in my ear.

"Do you want to get it or should I?"

I look up at him and give a half-smile.

"You go ahead." I softly say back.

I watch him walk swiftly up to the body, no hesitation as he slides a small blade into the back of its head, his movements showing skill. The body jerks violently before becoming still, the blood so coagulated that the head wound doesn't even leak when he removes his knife to wipe it on his pants. He looks at me suddenly and I look at the bathroom, remembering Mikayla.

"I'm Jackson, by the way. I saw you guys come in here and thought I would say hi. I haven't seen many people over here lately. None that are friendly anyways." His voice is bitter in the last part.

"Wait... you watched us? And you've seen more people?" I say confused.

"Yeah, not many. Mostly desperate people looking for somewhere safe. I've seen a few sketchy guys in military uniforms out here though. I avoided them because they didn't look too keen on small talk." With a smirk, he walks back over and leans against the counter.

My breath hitches at the mention of the army guys. It had to be the same ones. Fear prickles my skin, knowing that if they've been here once they may come back.

"How long ago did you see them?"

He seems to notice the change in my demeanor because he slowly raises his hands in front of him.

"It's okay, it was like two weeks ago and I haven't seen them since."

I nod. Willing myself to not cry from all the pent-up emotions I've felt the past few days.

Deep breath in, deep breath out.

"My name is Alexis," I say softly once I've calmed down.

Just as I look up, Mikayla comes out from the bathroom. She walks up to me and looks confusingly between me and Jackson.

"Hey, this is Jackson. He helped me out... sort of." I smirk, thinking of how much harm that wriggling body could have done to me.

He lifts his hand in a wave and Mikayla narrows her eyes at him, sizing him up. She must not see him as a threat because she says hi and waves in return after a moment. We work together gathering supplies and talking to each other. We found a map and some more food and water along with a few pocketknives in a display case. Jackson informs us that he was alone even before Day Zero and Mikayla offers to let him travel with us. It feels nice, to have people laugh and joke with. It almost gives off a sense of normalcy. We decided to head into the closest town to find somewhere to stay for the night, our duo now a trio.