(internal monologue)

The year is long forgotten by now, but the place names still hold true. Canada, the great white north now left in ruins. We came here in hopes that the infection hadn't spread this far, we stayed because the cold seems to slow them down significantly. Any advantage is better then non. We travel as best we can, on anything we can find. I had a cousin who lived up here, shes probably infected, but she had a horse farm. The animals seem to be resistant so far, so I was hoping we could get some horses and travel with them. They dont break down as easy and dont need gas, which is getting harder to find every day, particularly since the power went out. We are about a days out from Caledon where her horse farm is. We havnt seen a zombie in hours, could be were safe, could be its just that unpopulated around here. For now we are just enjoying the little things. The wind blowing through my hair feels the same now as it did years ago, although the dreading is new, but what do you expect when you dont have a brush for a year. Once it was beautiful and attracted all the boys, now its a knotted matted mess, but im luck to be alive.

I'm so tired. but taking turns driving was the only way we could make it, since we dare not stop. Stopping makes you easy prey. (sigh) I hope my partner wakes up soon.

"Please, please don't leave me... don't go..." "Hurry! She's infected! It won't be long before..." "No! We have to help her!" Among the voices, a tall man emerges from the group. His jet black hair has been shaved into a mohawk, and his muscly arms are crossed in disapointment. "August, stop being such a little bitch. Your girlfriend's as good as dead. Just leave her, and let's go before she bites one of--" "AUGH!" A man in the group tumbles to his feet, the woman standing behind him. "Charity...?"

August gasped loudly as he jolted upward, pain shooting through his body as his seatblet resisted the force, bruising his collarbone. He yelled out in pain, panting as he ran frantic hands through his matted dark brown hair. "Where?" he demanded his partner, looking out onto the open road. He looked at her, looked at the bags under her eyes. "My turn," he said, motioning to the steering wheel with his head. He rubbed his face, trying to compose himself. Nightmares like this weren't uncommon. Charity was one of the first epople infected, and August had been stupid. All of his friends were dead, bitten and masscared by Charity. he couldn't get that smile out of his mind. It was burned into his brain. He saw it everywhere, in every zombie they passed, though he had been sleeping for the last few hours so he wasn't sure how many they had passed.

I was glad for the relief. Although he yelled himself awake again. He never did tell me what they were always about. We have been traveling together for a few months now. I picked him up outside of Portland, he was just walking up the freeway shooting at every zombie he could see. Thats when I thought I could use a guy like that.

I pulled over so we could switch seats, on the way over I had a good stretch. It helps to be limber, you know, just in case.

"Thanks, see you in a few hours" I say as I walk past
"Yeah, have a good one, I5" he says as he gets in the drivers seat. I hate that name, cant tell him that, cuz what else was he supposed to call me. and at the time, i didnt think that we would be together this long

"I'll try, enjoy the drive" I say as I get in the passengers seat and try to get comfortable.
"We should get some food in us at the next stop" He says as he starts to drive.

I grumble back to him as I fall asleep. Dreams begin running through my head, but I just shut them out and slept. Otherwise I wouldn't get any sleep at all.

I nod, and grip the steering wheel, leaning back in my chair. I might as well get comfortable. It's going to be a long drive. Glancing over at I5, I lick my lips. Not because I'm some sort of pervert, but because I probably have bits of the dill chips I was eating on them. Turning my attention to the road, I reflect on what has happened. I5 approached me, well, on the I5. I was coming from Portland, guns strapped to my back. I was too pissed at myself to care about anything. She figured I was a good shot, so she offered me a ride. Now we're traveling to find somewhere zombie-free where we can live in peace.

I stare at my daughter, she just turned 5. her face is a combination of blood and cake. she just bit my husbands hand clean off. pieces of his flesh fall from her tiny mouth. i fall to me knees, unable to hurt my only child... suddenly her face was no longer infront of me, or even there. My husband must have got the shot gun. I hold her dead corpse as my husband leaves before he turns. we thought she would be different. we thought, maybe it was just a cold, or cancer, we never thought it would be like this. I am unable to cry anymore, I just sit on the floor, covered in her dry blood, wishing she was still my little girl.


I feel a bump in the road and it jolts me awake. I shift in my seat and wipe a tear from my eye before it can fall, and attempt to fall back asleep. it wont be long before the car stops and its my turn again. maybe the cold will stop them, they seem to have left me alone since i became cold, so it seems like a good plan.

I notice I5 stir and let out a small moan, turning my attention to her. "You alright?" I ask, trying to keep my eyes on the road. She's probably having some form of nightmare of flashback. I know I've been having my fair share. Turning my attention to the road, I notice a street sign. There's a town coming up in 5 miles. How many kilometers is five miles? I ask myself. I'm from Canada, and never found the need to learn the American system. It would come in handy now... I chew on my lip anxiously, wondering what dangers will await in this new town. Hopefully there will be some ammunition and food. Glancing back into the backseat, I sigh in disgust at the limp-looking duffel back perched on the backseat. It's probably only a third full. We need to re-stock.

i feel the car slowing down and begin to wake up. "whats going on? are we in canada?"

"we hit a town, we need to restock"

"k i get it." i pull on my coat and grab my gun. " what are we hitting first?"

I notice a hardware store coming up on the right hand side. He drives into it. So far its zombie free, but for how long.

"ok then, whats the plan?" he was always better at coming up with the 'how to get supplies and survive' plans then me. i was better at long term plans. that why i picked him up though. wondering on the I5 with guns shooting every zombie in sight. i look at him after a while of him not responding. he has that look in his eyes. that 'im about to do something stupid look'

I crack my knuckles, pulling my shoulders back and forth, stretching my arms. Rule number one: limber up. I reach into the backseat and grab a gun from the floor, a nice rifle, and tuck some shells into my pockets. "Well. We get out, look around, grab what we can." Throwing an empty duffel bag over my shoulder, I kick the driver's side door open and slide out. I slam the door behind me intentionally. Noise attracts zombies. I want to know where they are, if there are any here. I5 follows. "Hello?" I call out, craning my neck as if it will enhance my hearing. Looking over at my partner, I shrug and take a few cautious steps forward. Seems clear.

i rush to grab my guns and my be sure to have ammo. i close the door after me, stretching as much as i can while i walk behind him. He walks into the store while i back into it, making sure there are no zombies behind us.

"hey zombies, come out come out where ever you are" he says jingly. enjoy the little things right?

"ok lets go" he tosses me the bag and i rush around gathering the supplies we need. ammo, canned food, bottled water... the essentials. i spot some twinkies, but they have gone moldy by now. thats a shame.

"k i got everything, lets go".... "hey, lets go, where are you?"

"Just around the corner," I call in a sing-songy voice, and cup my hand to my ear, grinning. I can hear a low moan from by the produce departmant and skip almost happily towards it. There, I spot a zombie man, wearing a zoot suit, hair slicked back, munching on a child. "That is so wrong..." I mutter, raising my gun and blowing his brains out without hesitation. I sigh heavily. What has our world come to? You would think I'd be used to Z-Land by now. No. Not at all...

I turn on my heels. We need canned goods. I take long, careful strides towards the canned food isle, pointing the barrel of my gun down each isle as I pass. You can never be too careful.

"the bag is full, lets go" i say just before i hear a moan coming from behind me. i turn around and shoot their head off without even having time to identify the gender. it doesnt really matter anymore anyways, they are all just zombies to me. when did i get this cold? i shrug it off.

"yeah yeah, im just getting some more canned food. "
"ok, but hurry, you know i dont like these stops and the longer we wait the more likely they will come, and we still need gas or a new vehicle" i hear another shot, i suppose he found something else to shoot at. "done?" i ask as he comes out of the isle.
"yeah yeah, keep your pants on" we leave the store but when we open the door we find that there were more zombies here then we had anticipated. i look over at my partner with a quizzical look of slight disappointment.

I frown, my mouth twitching. It happens when I get nervous. Rules, rules... I5 had had rules. What where they? They all seemed practical. My partner seemed proud of them. One came to mind amidst the choas. What was it? Know you way out...

"Back door?" I ask, shooting a glance behind me. "Let's not waste ammo."

I step back, glancing behind me once more. I try to judge the distance between the door, us and the zombies, slowly making their way towards us. We can easily outrun these beasts. I give the signal, a nod. I begin to sprint and I5 follows. The zombies jog behind us. Our run is a piece of cake, and I slam the back door into a zombie's face. "Car, car..." I glance around the parking lot. There are a few to choose from. "Take your pick."

(( eh, crap post ))

i jump into the jeep. i always had a thing for jeeps. i slam the door shut, and search for keys after i check the back seat. i give up on the keys and just start the jeep. he jumps in and we drive off.

"did you really have to get a few extra cans? was it really worth it? what did you get anyways?" he holds up the can as i drive over some Zombies "cat food? really?" " it stays good longer. and it doesnt taste too bad." i laugh, overwhelmed by the stupidity of the situation. we could have died over cat food. i shake my head before asking him where we should go next.

"well hopefully we find another gun store and we can raid it."
"K, left or right?"
he looks at me and smiles while he shrugs.
"left it is." i turn and we look for a gun store.

(( I edited it. C: ))

(me too, im waiting for you to respond now)

"Slow down, and pull over for a sec," I say, and I5 does. There's an information booth, sort of a welcome wagon type deal. I stick my arm out the window and grab a map, giving her the signal to keep driving as I unfold it, examining it.

"OKay.... turn left here. Then right at the second turn. There's a hunting store," I say, still examining the map.

"kay, will do."

i drive on following his instructions and pull into the hardware store.

"same plan as last time?" i ask with a raised eyebrow. he just nods and we go in. this time though there was nothing in here except the guns and ammo. we grab what we can and jump back in the vehicle and go about getting out of there before anything bad can happen.

"that wasnt so bad" he says and we laugh a little. he keeps looking at the map and i begin to wonder why.

"what are you looking for?" he smiles back and tells me to hang a right. i do and after i ask why. but a smile is all i got in return. following his directions we pass by a sign for a miniature golf course.

"really?" i ask questioning his judgement only for a minute

"hell yeah!" i smile and follow the signs to our wonderful destination. have to enjoy the little things right?