9

It's been a few days since the outbreak started, and I'm wondering how you think things have been going between us."

Jaime looks at you and raises his eyebrows. "This outbreak is challenging all of us," he says. "Things between us aren't like they used to be, but we're hanging in there, right? I know you like I know the back of my hand, and in the apocalypse, that means you're like family to me." He pauses, and his tone grows somber. "I'd be lying if I said that I didn't miss how things were between us before all this, though. We're like family, but even family's impermanent." It seems he's referring to Woody.

You let the conversation die out between you and Jaime.

You continue on in silence for the remainder of the trip, until Jaime turns on the radio. Static blasts through the speakers, causing him to jolt back in surprise. He quickly turns down the volume and starts flipping through channels.

Static. Static. Static. Static. A talk show?

It's in some foreign language that neither of you can identify, so you continue on.

Static. Static. Static. Static. Static.

When Jaime changes the channel again, you don't hear the same radio drone, but instead an eerie silence, followed by occasional rustling. Then, a low growl. An infected. Jaime changes the channel again.

This time, you hear short electronic tones. You immediately recognize the pattern as Morse code. You turn up the volume dial. It's a series of coordinates.

Jaime shuts the radio off. "We're coming up on our exit," he says, pointing ahead.