~ 4 ~ Unexpected Reality

The group of women drove on the road for a few hours, unaware of the gas they needed for their car. The car slowed down until it came to a complete stop at the edge of a town. Sofia and Desirae fidgeted while Monica looked around. Sofia's mother tried turning on the car once, then twice.

"Well." Sofia's mother sighed and turned towards the women. Jennifer and Monica played with their fingers. "We need gas. You guys wouldn't have any, would you?" The three young ladies shook their heads and Sofia's mother frowned. "I figured."

Desirae looked outside the window, thinking. "Well there might be a gas station nearby. But that just means that someone will have to look around."

"I'll go." Sofia volunteered. Everyone looked at her, annoyed.

"No." Desirae rejected. "You're hurt. Besides, zombies are attracted to the smell of blood. Your back isn't fully healed yet, and neither is Monica's arm." Sofia glanced at Monica, who frowned.

Sofia's mother looked at Desirae. "I'll go. Wait the car while I'm gone." Desirae nodded as Sofia's mother exited the car. She pulled out a wrench and stealthy walked down the street. She took a sharp left turn and disappeared into the town.

Desirae transitioned into the driver's seat, looking through the glove compartment.

"What are you doing, Desirae?" Sofia asked politely.

The friend huffed in reply, finding nothing useful. "I was looking for anything we can use as a weapon to be honest." Desirae looked at the back seat, where everyone was. "We are 3 defenseless girls with 2 kids and no weapon." Desirae exited the car and walked over to the trunk.

Sofia got out of the car too, flinching at the sudden movement. "Ow..." She mumbled as she followed Desirae to the trunk of the car. The car was an old Lincoln Navigator, with black paint and decent tires. Sofia's mother took the car at the heart of the Bismarck, scratched up and low on gas. Half of the gas was spent of driving to the girls, while the rest of the gas was spent traveling. The bats the trio collected on the first day as well as a few bags of food and water were in the trunk.

Desirae picked up the bats and looked at Sofia, angry. "I don't think I asked for someone to come along."

"I don't care, what if something happened?" Sofia worried over her friend. Desirae sighed and handed Sofia the other bat.

Desirae closed the trunk and looked around. "The zombies don't scare me, Sofia." Desirae looked at Sofia. "Not like they scare you." Desirae hummed lightly and closed her eyes. "If anything, these zombies helped me escape from the harsh reality of school."

Sofia looked at Desirae, interested. "Really? What do you mean?"

"Well," Desirae started, "my dad only wanted what's best for me." Desirae smiled bitterly. "However he stressed the importance of getting good grades and into an amazing university." She sighed lightly. "The stress of pleasing him was intense and consumed me. It felt like I was trying to swim in the ocean, waves crashing into me like a train as I tried to make it to shore where my father was waiting for me."

Sofia felt bad for her best friend. "Desirae..." She trailed off.

Desirae turned her head towards Sofia. "It's alright now though." Sofia blinked. Desirae gently rested her hand on Sofia's shoulder. "I'm very ashamed to admit this, but I'm grateful that I was able to break free from that stress."

"So you're alright with the apocalypse?" Sofia wondered. Suddenly a zombie turned around the corner of the car, behind Desirae. Sofia's eyes widened. "Desirae!" Sofia lifted her bat and swung swiftly, hitting the zombie's neck against the car.

Desirae jumped and turned around, kicking the zombie down. Sofia groaned in pain, holding her back as her wound reopened. Desirae hit the zombie's skull multiple times until it stopped moving. She huffed and puffed before turning to her injured friend.

"Yes, I am." Zombies started growling around them, making their way to the car. Desirae sighed and ran to the car. She opened the door, revealing Monica with her eyes closed. "Come on, zombies are on the way." Monica opened her eyes and looked at Desirae, confused. "We need to make it to Sofia's mom."

Monica quickly led the kids outside of the car and took the bat from Sofia. "Watch the kids." Sofia held onto Jennifer's and Melanie's hand tightly. Monica swung the bat around, getting used to the motion and looked at Desirae. "Lead the way."

Desirae nodded and started sprinting, the rest of the girls following. "We gotta either get inside a house or get to Sofia's mom. Either way, we can't let them swarm the car." The girls nodded. Zombies limped their way towards the girls as they sprinted. One zombie turned a corner in front of Desirae, who swung her bat at the zombie and smashed it's head, killing it almost instantly. Monica ran to the front and did the same. Sofia grew tired, with her bullet wound opening and her adrenaline fading.

As the girls passed a small house, a zombie grabbed Jennifer's leg, causing the child to trip. Jennifer screamed loudly as she kept trying to kick the zombie away. Sofia stomped on the zombie's head once, then twice, then a third time before it loosened its grip. Melanie pulled Jennifer up as Sofia started feeling lightheaded. Desirae and Monica ran back to help when a hoard of zombies flooded the streets, separating the group.

"Go inside a house! We'll find a way to you!" Desirae screamed at Sofia.

"Please be careful!" Monica pleaded desperately.

Melanie and Jennifer grabbed Sofia's hands and helped her into the backyard of the zombie infected house. Sofia stumbled as they climbed over a wooden fence and landed in a neighboring house.

"Do you think it's safe?" Jennifer asked, holding Sofia's hand tightly.

Sofia looked at the small shed that stayed outside the house. She huffed as she picked up a brick laying in a pile. "We're going into the shed. We'll have to make it safe for now." The twins picked up their own bricks, carrying it with two hands. Sofia walked to the shed and opened the door quietly. The shed was a decent size, containing boxes filled with old or outdated items. There was a single lightbulb hanging from the ceiling that flickered periodically. The shelves were filled with bags of fertilizer and a rack.

A body laid on the floor, limp. Sofia flinched, covering her nose from the smell. Melanie held onto Jennifer.

"Close your eyes girls." Sofia warned them. Sofia slowly crept her way towards the body and roughly smashed the skull of its head. The body moved from the sudden impact. Sofia coughed and covered her nose, disgusted. "Move out of the way, please." The twins moved away from the door as Sofia struggled to drag the body out of the shed. After getting it close to the house, her legs gave out and she fell on the floor.

"Sofia!" Jennifer and Melanie ran to the weak girl. Sofia groaned softly. "Melanie, help me get Sofia in the house!" Melanie nodded and the twins huffed and groaned as they dragged Sofia into the shed and closed the door.

Sofia barely kept her eyes open. "I'm sorry I'm so weak, girls." Sofia groaned softly. "I think I lost too much blood in one go without eating or drinking."

Melanie gently patted Sofia's head. Jennifer shook her head furiously. "Don't worry! We'll protect you! Just get some sleep!"

Sofia sighed and pulled the girls close to her. Sofia sniffed, holding back some tears. "We're going to get through this. Mom will be back soon with the others. Mom will..." Sofia fell into a deep slumber.

While Sofia slept, Melanie and Jennifer searched the shed. They found napkins, rolls of paper towels, and tape. They used it to rebandage Sofia's wound on her back, messily. They silently played hand games and kept Sofia warm by hugging her.

When Sofia woke up, Jennifer was sitting next to her, asleep. Melanie sat with a brick in her hand, facing the door. Sofia groaned lightly as she sat up, gaining Melanie's attention.

"What are you doing?" Sofia asked. Melanie stood up and walked over to Sofia, a finger over her lips. "Quiet?" Melanie nodded and pointed at the door. "Is there something outside?" Melanie nodded. Sofia slowly stood up, causing Melanie to stop her. "What?" Melanie shook her head aggressively and pointed to Sofia's back. "Are you worried about me?" Melanie nodded.

Jennifer snored softly. "Sofia please..." She said in her sleep. "You can get a fever..."

Sofia looked at Jennifer, feeling warm. "You both took care of me?" She looked at Melanie, who nodded. Sofia ruffled Melanie's hair lightly. "Thanks guys." Sofia picked up the rake and stretched slightly. "How long was I asleep for?" Melanie put up six fingers. "Around six hours?" Melanie nodded. "Alright. We need to find the others." Sofia shook Jennifer. "Wake up, Jennifer."

Jennifer quickly woke up and looked at Sofia, concerned. "Huh?"

"We need to get moving and find the others before-" Sofia stopped talking as footsteps were heard outside the shed. Sofia pushed Melanie behind her, who gripped the brick in her hand tightly. Sofia pointed the rake at the door. "Stay behind me." Sofia whispered. She mentally counted in her head. One...Two... "THREE!" She yelled and kicked the door open.

Sofia's mother screamed and jumped, standing at the other side of the door. "What the-?" She paused and looked at her daughter. "Sofia?" Jennifer and Melanie ran over to Sofia's mother and hugged her tightly. "And the twins!" Sofia dropped the rake and hugged her mother tightly.

"Mother I was so scared!" Sofia sobbed. "I just wanted to protect the kids, but I was just weak and tired! So tired!" Sofia screamed out.

Her mother stroked her hair, kissing Sofia's cheek softly. "You're okay now. Don't worry, Sofi." Sofia's heart jumped at her mother's nickname. "The others are by the car. I got the gas." Sofia nodded and released her mother, calming down. "Are you alright?"

Sofia nodded and wiped the tears from her cheeks, looking at the twins. "Yeah. Jennifer and Melanie helped me a lot." The twins grinned widely at the mention. Sofia's mother chuckled and held the twins' hands.

"Well then great work, Jennifer and Melanie." The mother praised. She led the ladies back to the car where Desirae and Monica stood, waiting.

Monica rushed over and hugged Sofia. "You're back! Are you alright?" Sofia nodded, smiling warmly at her best friend. "I was really worried. I wish I were with you the entire time!" Monica pouted.

Sofia laughed lightly and walked with Monica to the car. "Where did you guys hide?"

"Oh we just ran to the gas station, where your mother was getting gas. She went through so many cars just to get enough gas to fill the tank." Monica grinned. "We should be good to go for a while."

Sofia nodded. "Good. I need some sleep. And food." The group boarded the car and drove out of the town, passing all the undead bodies on the floor.