Radioactive Chapter Four
Avery looked around from where she sat in the back of the camper with what was left of her group. Kate,Zoe, and Mac. They were all she had left of her family it seemed. At least the family she had left with. Natalie and River had died first and then her dad. They were gone and she wasn't sure how she could tell the others once she met up with them.
Though the thought of meeting up with them also made her nervous because she was sure the other groups had probably lost people too. More of her family was probably dead. They would be dead and she wasn't prepared to face that or even having to face Taylor if he was still alive and telling him his wife and son had died.
"Are you okay?" a voice asked from beside Avery and she turned to look at the person seeing one of the blonde girls who had already been in the camper when her group had been picked up by the old man who was driving it.
"Is anyone okay?" Avery asked her voice coming out harsher than she had meant for it too which made her cringe some.
Amy blushed as the girl beside her got harsh with her words, "Sorry, I just I meant you looked like you were somewhere else and well if you want to vent I will listen," she offered a smile forming on her lips.
When the girl smiled Avery felt herself calm some. The girls smile reminded her of her own sister Zoe who was just right across the aisle from her asleep with her head on Mac's shoulder. She knew the girl though couldn't be much older than herself or maybe a bit younger. She didn't look that old and she had a naiveness about her that Avery wished she had but feared she had lost thanks to witnessing the death of her loved ones today.
"I was somewhere else," Avery admitted as she frowned some. "I was thinking about the people I had lost tonight. Three people," she sighed as she let her eyes go to Kate. Kate seemed to be elsewhere too even as she talked to the other blonde who Avery was sure was the sister of the one talking to her.
Amy frowned as well seeing the girl beside her look sad, "H..how did you lose them?" she asked as she raised an eyebrow curiously.
At the blonde's question Avery looked away, "The first two we lost as we were leaving the hotel we were staying at," she said as her mind brought up the images of how River and Natalie had died. "We got outside to go to the car and we were just swamped with those dead people," she muttered feeling angry. "They were both taken down at the same time. My sister-in-law Natalie and her her son River I mean. She was holding him when she got bit in the neck and they closed on him too. All I remember is hearing their screams. My sister-in-law Kate, the brunette up there she wanted to stay behind but I knew she couldn't or she'd be dead and I didn't want to lose anymore people."
"But you did lose another person," Amy said knowing the girl had mentioned losing three people.
"We did," Avery nodded her head as she closed her eyes swallowing a lump in her throat. "We got into a wreck an hour after we left the hotel. We kept dodging those things and people running and other wrecks. A car came out of nowhere and hit the side of our car. Our car was stuck between two others after we went sideways," she sighed trying to forget that. "The only way out was through my window and the longer it took us to get out the more of those things came near us. By the time it was my dad's turn there were too many and he opted to stay behind and sacrifice himself so we could get away."
Amy stayed silent as the girl finished speaking, "I'm sorry for your loses," she said honestly. "I'm not sure what I would have done if I lost Andrea," she spoke as she looked at her sister. "We were on a road trip together when this hit. She was bringing me back so I could start college soon. If it wasn't for Dale saving us I'm sure we'd both be dead by now."
Avery nodded also feeling thankful for Dale, the old man who drove this RV they were all now in. If it wasn't for him then she knew she or the others in her group could be dead too. They could have suffered more loses.
"I'm thankful for him too," Avery admitted honestly as she smiled some. "If he hadn't stopped to pick us up off the side of the road we'd probably all be dead or at least some of us would be."
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Kate who had been talking to or well really listening to the blonde woman she now knew as Andrea speak made a face as she felt sick. "I umm I will be right back," she spoke before standing from where she stood and running to the bathroom. Shutting the door behind her she bent down in the cramped bathroom and lost the contents on her stomach which wasn't much just stomach acid but apparently it was enough to satisfy the baby for now because the moment her stomach was empty the sick feeling past and she flushed the toilet.
Sitting on the floor she frowned recalling the events of the last several hours. Natalie and River being attacked by the undead and Walker sacrificing himself. It was now that Kate knew this world wasn't a safe place and she was scared for her husband where ever he was in this world.
"Kate?" Avery asked as she opened the bathroom door and stepped into the small space. "Are you okay? I heard you get sick well correction I think everyone but Zoe heard you. Zoe can sleep through anything."
Kate rolled her eyes, "Is it your mission to follow me into every bathroom I go in?" she snapped feeling annoyed that yet again she couldn't get alone time to mope. She hated moping in front of others.
Avery flinched slightly at Kate's words and tone, "I was just concerned. You got sick. I'm sorry for caring about you enough to make sure you are okay."
Sighing at Avery's response Kate stood up and looked at her sister-in-law, "I'll be fine in eight to nine months," she replied finally revealing her pregnancy to someone. She may never get the chance to tell her own husband so someone had to know.
"Y..you're pregnant?" Avery asked as she raised an eyebrow. She knew Zac and Kate had tried for babies before with Kate miscarrying a few times.
Nodding at Avery's question Kate sighed, "What a fucked up time to find out huh?" she asked not caring that she had cussed. "And I may never get to tell Zac. God knows we'll never meet up with him again like we were supposed too. He could be dead as well for all I know."
At the mention of Zac being dead Avery shook her head, "Don't talk like that," she said not wanting to face the reality that more of her family could be dead even if it was likely. "Zac's strong."
"And this world is fucked," Kate said before pushing past Avery and leaving the bathroom. She was done with this conversation. Now it was just time to pretend it hadn't happened. Time to pretend she was fine again.
Leaving the bathroom behind Kate, Avery watched as she saw Kate go back to the older blonde whom she remembered the younger had said was named Andrea.She hated how Kate was again acting like she was fine after showing a few moments of vulnerability. Being vulnerable now especially with the world the way it was, was nothing bad.
"Where did Dale go?" Avery asked seeing the driver's seat empty thanks to the moon light coming in the window.
Amy looked at Avery after her question, "He went outside. He heard the helicopters flying over and what sounded like explosions.. He wanted to go see what was happening. I'm sure he will be back soon."
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Dale who had returned not long ago looked at the group he had assembled in the back of his RV. A group full of the people he had saved. "It's bad out there," he told them as he grimaced some trying to forget what he had seen. "The city seems to be a lost cause. T..they were dropping bombs on it," he continued remembering what he had overheard someone saying.
Avery frowned hearing that the city was a lost cause and the moment she heard about the bombs she couldn't help but hope that all of her family had made it out safely.
"I feel there is a but coming," Andrea piped in at the end of Dale's words.
Dale nodded his head, "There is," he swallowed before continuing his group. "There is a group of people who are going to set up camp at some kind of Quarry. I..I think we should go but I figured we could take a vote. We go or we stick it out on our own."
Kate stayed silent as everyone around her voiced their opinions after Dale mentioned that they take a vote. So far it seemed everyone was in agreement of going to the Quarry but Kate couldn't help but feel hesitant. Going there was just taking her farther away from Zac and she was beginning to lose more hope and the more she lost the harder it was to keep pretending she was okay.
When it came time for her to speak she looked down at her hands, particularly her wedding band. "I..I don't think we should go," she admitted looking back up. "But I'm out numbered so I guess we are going," she said forcing a smile.
Dale smiled at Kate's words. It was after she had spoken that he turned around and went to the driver's side. He needed to start this RV up and find a way out of this crowded highway so he could find the group headed to the Quarry.
Avery looked around from where she sat in the back of the camper with what was left of her group. Kate,Zoe, and Mac. They were all she had left of her family it seemed. At least the family she had left with. Natalie and River had died first and then her dad. They were gone and she wasn't sure how she could tell the others once she met up with them.
Though the thought of meeting up with them also made her nervous because she was sure the other groups had probably lost people too. More of her family was probably dead. They would be dead and she wasn't prepared to face that or even having to face Taylor if he was still alive and telling him his wife and son had died.
"Are you okay?" a voice asked from beside Avery and she turned to look at the person seeing one of the blonde girls who had already been in the camper when her group had been picked up by the old man who was driving it.
"Is anyone okay?" Avery asked her voice coming out harsher than she had meant for it too which made her cringe some.
Amy blushed as the girl beside her got harsh with her words, "Sorry, I just I meant you looked like you were somewhere else and well if you want to vent I will listen," she offered a smile forming on her lips.
When the girl smiled Avery felt herself calm some. The girls smile reminded her of her own sister Zoe who was just right across the aisle from her asleep with her head on Mac's shoulder. She knew the girl though couldn't be much older than herself or maybe a bit younger. She didn't look that old and she had a naiveness about her that Avery wished she had but feared she had lost thanks to witnessing the death of her loved ones today.
"I was somewhere else," Avery admitted as she frowned some. "I was thinking about the people I had lost tonight. Three people," she sighed as she let her eyes go to Kate. Kate seemed to be elsewhere too even as she talked to the other blonde who Avery was sure was the sister of the one talking to her.
Amy frowned as well seeing the girl beside her look sad, "H..how did you lose them?" she asked as she raised an eyebrow curiously.
At the blonde's question Avery looked away, "The first two we lost as we were leaving the hotel we were staying at," she said as her mind brought up the images of how River and Natalie had died. "We got outside to go to the car and we were just swamped with those dead people," she muttered feeling angry. "They were both taken down at the same time. My sister-in-law Natalie and her her son River I mean. She was holding him when she got bit in the neck and they closed on him too. All I remember is hearing their screams. My sister-in-law Kate, the brunette up there she wanted to stay behind but I knew she couldn't or she'd be dead and I didn't want to lose anymore people."
"But you did lose another person," Amy said knowing the girl had mentioned losing three people.
"We did," Avery nodded her head as she closed her eyes swallowing a lump in her throat. "We got into a wreck an hour after we left the hotel. We kept dodging those things and people running and other wrecks. A car came out of nowhere and hit the side of our car. Our car was stuck between two others after we went sideways," she sighed trying to forget that. "The only way out was through my window and the longer it took us to get out the more of those things came near us. By the time it was my dad's turn there were too many and he opted to stay behind and sacrifice himself so we could get away."
Amy stayed silent as the girl finished speaking, "I'm sorry for your loses," she said honestly. "I'm not sure what I would have done if I lost Andrea," she spoke as she looked at her sister. "We were on a road trip together when this hit. She was bringing me back so I could start college soon. If it wasn't for Dale saving us I'm sure we'd both be dead by now."
Avery nodded also feeling thankful for Dale, the old man who drove this RV they were all now in. If it wasn't for him then she knew she or the others in her group could be dead too. They could have suffered more loses.
"I'm thankful for him too," Avery admitted honestly as she smiled some. "If he hadn't stopped to pick us up off the side of the road we'd probably all be dead or at least some of us would be."
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Kate who had been talking to or well really listening to the blonde woman she now knew as Andrea speak made a face as she felt sick. "I umm I will be right back," she spoke before standing from where she stood and running to the bathroom. Shutting the door behind her she bent down in the cramped bathroom and lost the contents on her stomach which wasn't much just stomach acid but apparently it was enough to satisfy the baby for now because the moment her stomach was empty the sick feeling past and she flushed the toilet.
Sitting on the floor she frowned recalling the events of the last several hours. Natalie and River being attacked by the undead and Walker sacrificing himself. It was now that Kate knew this world wasn't a safe place and she was scared for her husband where ever he was in this world.
"Kate?" Avery asked as she opened the bathroom door and stepped into the small space. "Are you okay? I heard you get sick well correction I think everyone but Zoe heard you. Zoe can sleep through anything."
Kate rolled her eyes, "Is it your mission to follow me into every bathroom I go in?" she snapped feeling annoyed that yet again she couldn't get alone time to mope. She hated moping in front of others.
Avery flinched slightly at Kate's words and tone, "I was just concerned. You got sick. I'm sorry for caring about you enough to make sure you are okay."
Sighing at Avery's response Kate stood up and looked at her sister-in-law, "I'll be fine in eight to nine months," she replied finally revealing her pregnancy to someone. She may never get the chance to tell her own husband so someone had to know.
"Y..you're pregnant?" Avery asked as she raised an eyebrow. She knew Zac and Kate had tried for babies before with Kate miscarrying a few times.
Nodding at Avery's question Kate sighed, "What a fucked up time to find out huh?" she asked not caring that she had cussed. "And I may never get to tell Zac. God knows we'll never meet up with him again like we were supposed too. He could be dead as well for all I know."
At the mention of Zac being dead Avery shook her head, "Don't talk like that," she said not wanting to face the reality that more of her family could be dead even if it was likely. "Zac's strong."
"And this world is fucked," Kate said before pushing past Avery and leaving the bathroom. She was done with this conversation. Now it was just time to pretend it hadn't happened. Time to pretend she was fine again.
Leaving the bathroom behind Kate, Avery watched as she saw Kate go back to the older blonde whom she remembered the younger had said was named Andrea.She hated how Kate was again acting like she was fine after showing a few moments of vulnerability. Being vulnerable now especially with the world the way it was, was nothing bad.
"Where did Dale go?" Avery asked seeing the driver's seat empty thanks to the moon light coming in the window.
Amy looked at Avery after her question, "He went outside. He heard the helicopters flying over and what sounded like explosions.. He wanted to go see what was happening. I'm sure he will be back soon."
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Dale who had returned not long ago looked at the group he had assembled in the back of his RV. A group full of the people he had saved. "It's bad out there," he told them as he grimaced some trying to forget what he had seen. "The city seems to be a lost cause. T..they were dropping bombs on it," he continued remembering what he had overheard someone saying.
Avery frowned hearing that the city was a lost cause and the moment she heard about the bombs she couldn't help but hope that all of her family had made it out safely.
"I feel there is a but coming," Andrea piped in at the end of Dale's words.
Dale nodded his head, "There is," he swallowed before continuing his group. "There is a group of people who are going to set up camp at some kind of Quarry. I..I think we should go but I figured we could take a vote. We go or we stick it out on our own."
Kate stayed silent as everyone around her voiced their opinions after Dale mentioned that they take a vote. So far it seemed everyone was in agreement of going to the Quarry but Kate couldn't help but feel hesitant. Going there was just taking her farther away from Zac and she was beginning to lose more hope and the more she lost the harder it was to keep pretending she was okay.
When it came time for her to speak she looked down at her hands, particularly her wedding band. "I..I don't think we should go," she admitted looking back up. "But I'm out numbered so I guess we are going," she said forcing a smile.
Dale smiled at Kate's words. It was after she had spoken that he turned around and went to the driver's side. He needed to start this RV up and find a way out of this crowded highway so he could find the group headed to the Quarry.