Alone.

"Where the hell are we?"

"I don't know."

"Why? We've been running for two days now, and not one sign has showed itself."

"I'm cold."

"Here, take this."

"I can't take your jacket. You need that."

"No, you need it more than I do. Come on. Don't be such savior."

"Ha, fine. Freeze for all I care."

"You don't mean that."

"You're right.... Hey, we'll get through this."

"Yeah, maybe we'll find some people tomorrow. More survivors."

"I hope so. I think it's better that we stick to the trees for now. Who knows where the sickness has spread to."

"Right. Hey, lend me your knife."

"Here. What you making? A spear?"

"Don't patronize me. Haha, I'm making a... pointy walking stick."

"Ha, so a spear. Hey keep your voice down. We're getting much too comfortable out here."

"Alright, alright. Damn, I really wish we could be back in our beds about now, but we have to keep moving."

"Hey, what about this place. It provides good cover and shelter from the weather."

"Well, it's a sorry excuse for a cave, but it will do I guess."

"A thank you would be nice."

"Shut up."

"I'll start a fire."

"Yeah but a small one. Who knows who's out here, but a little more warmth would be appreciated."

"I'd give anything to be back in that motel even if it was shit."

"Just not the circumstances. I'd never want to go back to that."

"You're right. Maybe this is better. At least we're not running from our abusive father this time."

"Well looks like the apocalypse did some good for us. I guess that's not really funny is it."

"We should get some rest. I'll sharpen the knives and take first watch."

"'kay. Wake me up if something happens."

"G'night"

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"Hey, wake up!"

"How come you didn't let me take a watch. Is it morning?"

"Shhhhh... keep your voice down. Something's out there."

"Oh God."

"People."

"I can see it's people but what do you make of them?"

"I don't know. There's two women and... wait... maybe one, two... four more maybe."

"What?"

"I think they're out looking for something. Hunting maybe?"

"Yeah for what? All the game left ages ago. There's nothing out here."

"What if they're looking for someone?"

"I don't know. Do they have weapons?"

"Possibly. I wanna get a closer look."

"No! Don't. That's a bad idea. What if you get caught?"

"Don't be such pussy. I won't get caught. I just need to look closer. To see if they are people we could hitch a ride with ya know."

"Fine, I'll keep watch."

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"Hey!"

"Jeez, don't scare me like that."

"They said they can help us."

"You talked to them! Why the hell..."

"They seemed like decent people. They've been on the road for a while now, and they seem to know their stuff. They're tracking a girl. I guess she got lost at some point."

"Why the hell would we want to be with people who can't even keep track of their own people?"

"It's our best bet kid. I don't know what else to do."

"Fine. Let's go meet them then."

----------------------------------------------------------

"They seem okay to you?"

"I mean we've been with them for two days and they haven't killed us. So I'd say that's a win."

"What if they decide to rob us?"

"Rob us of what exactly? You're spear?"

"Okay okay you got me there."

"Besides, if they wanted something from us, don't you think they'd have made their demands by now?"

"I do feel a little more safe now that we've found people though."

"Yeah. The leader guy, he says that he wants me to start going out on runs looking for food and such. Says that I could be valuable."

"What does that make me?"

"I don't know. Alive? A survivor?"

"I want to help."

"You're too young."

"Am not. I've been through worse than this."

"That is different. This is our life now. You've never had to hunt or go out for hours just to look for water."

"So. Neither have you."

"Yes, but I'm older, and stronger than you. Just, stay out of trouble and you can be useful while we're gone. You can help keep everyone safe."

"Fine."

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"Hey! Where is everyone?! Can anyone hear me? Damn. Why does my head hurt so much? Is anyone out here?"

------------------------------------------------------------

"My feet hurt. Why am I talking to myself. I'm going insane. No, damn it. I should have gone with them. Maybe, just maybe they would have all survived. Now I'm alone. Scared and alone. I can get through this. I have to. For all of them. I'm alone, but I survived and that's what matters. I have to keep going. Keep going on. Alone."

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"Hey kid!"

"What?"

"You alright?"

"Not sure what you mean by 'alright', but I guess I could be. Who are you? Show yourself."

"You first. Are you alone?"

"... Yeah. Yeah I'm alone."

"You look like shit kid. Been in a tornado?"

"No, just walking for days. Finding food when I can. I'm just a scavenger. Lost all my friends a few months ago. Not really sure how."

"Well kid it's your lucky day. I have a camp a few miles out."

"Then show yourself."

"Fine, fine. Hello nice to meet you."

------------------------------------------------------------

"You need to run!"

"Okay, but what about you?"

"I'll be fine. I promise I'll find you. I'm sorry you were dragged into this mess."

"It's just my luck. I always end up alone, but I guess that's what this world has come to."

"I hope I'll see you again."

"I'll find you."

"Go."

--------------------------------------------------------------

"Hey. It's you."

"Hey. You're still alive I see."

"Are you disappointed?"

"No, the opposite. Two years in that shithole really taught me a lesson."

"Know who you can trust, and who you need to watch out for. Which one am I."

"I'm still trying to figure that out."

"You're stupid."

"I know."

"Well, where to now?"

"I don't know. I was hoping you'd know."

"Well isn't this just beautiful."

"No, not really."

"Fine. Just pick a direction I guess. There's only so much to choose from."

"I'm so damn tired of these dusty desert roads."

"At least you're not alone anymore."

"Yeah. You're right. I hope it will be like that for a good long time."

"Let's go. Hey, you can tell me more about where you came from."

"That's a long story."

"Well we got plenty of time and plenty of road."

"I guess you're right... It all started with a knife and a spear and a small fire...."

"What? You're a bad story teller."

"Shut up. It's not like I've only had myself to talk to for so long."

"Okay fine. Anyway you were saying..."