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I was exhausted. To think that I could go on like this until daylight is not even possible. My feet ached. Badly. I don't know if it's because of the extra weight, or maybe it's because of been walking for about two hours straight and so far I haven't found any houses or cars, or maybe it's both. Either way, my feet were throbbing and I was tired. So tired I feel like I could pass out right here right now. Because of this, I believe I deserve a break.

Sitting in the middle of an empty road is actually really peaceful. Creepy. But peaceful.

"Stupid Walker talkie, stupid deers, stupid car, stupid me." So I was a little frustrated, because I was like I've said before, extremely tired, and I had no way of getting home any time soon.

I told Sam I'd be checking out some farm houses nearby our house but instead I ended up wandering hours away to these houses. It's not like I planned to do it either, it just happened!

I shook my head at myself. "Stupid, stupid me." I sighed, getting more comfortable on the duffel bag full of blankets while holding the second one beside me.

I was beginning to wonder if Samantha went out looking for me. Knowing her, she probably did, and gave up when she couldn't find me around the neighborhood.

Kidding, I know she'd still look harder tomorrow...or later on today. Whatever this whole time thing is annoying.

My stomach growled, and I opened my water bottle, drinking the last few gulps left. All this walking really made me dehydrated.

I got up again, feeling myself start to get droopy. If I know one thing, and one thing for sure, it's that I cannot go to sleep out in the open like this.

I'd be more vulnerable than a turkey during the month of November.

~*~

After what seemed to be hours, but really turned out to be thirty minutes. I came across a haunted looking house. Now, usually I'd stay very clear away from these houses, because frankly, ghosts and zombies? I wouldn't deal. But a girl was desperate so now I'm currently breaking inside the house threw an open window I found.

My landing wasn't neat.

"Ouch." When I fell to the floor with a thud I had hit my elbow on the wall. I groaned, standing up and dusting myself off.

The house was extremely dark, and I'm not going to lie it made my little hairs stand up. However, it was either this house, or the road.

I think I'd rather take my chances with the ghost for one night. May god be with me.

I looked around as best as I could, just double checking for any zombies or wild animals. But I didn't find any, this house was truly abandoned. From the back of the small ranch house, I jogged back to the front door to get my duffel bags I had left.

When I had brought them inside I locked the door, and closed the window before locking it as well. Thankfully this house was a one story. No basement, or attic. So it was fairly safe to say the least.

I also had multiple exists. There a backdoor by the kitchen, another door in the living room that leads into the garage, and then there is the front door. Also we have one window in the front of the house and two more in the back.

Don't worry, I made sure to lock those too.

Sadly, when I checked the garage I was disappointed to see it had no cars. Which sucked, BUT I did find a four wheeler. Yet I'm pretty sure the engine is missing. So I can't use it.

With the blankets I had taken from the other house, I made a small bed in the ground for myself.

This house was completely furnished, but everything had dust and no doubt lots of bugs, more specifically bed bugs. The idea of sleeping under the same roof with them terrified me, but I'll just have to wash my clothes and my body really good when I get back home.

I laid down onto my blanket bed, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. It wasn't long before I fell asleep.

~*~

"Hey."

"Child."

I groaned. Slapping away the hand that touched my face before I realized a hand had touched my face. My eyes snapped open and I quickly sprung away and onto my feet.

I looked at my attacker before realizing it was that lady, Harriet.

"Woah there. I didn't mean to scare you like that." She held her hands up before putting them down and furrowing her eyebrows.

"This ain't the house you were living in is it?" She asked, her southern accent still as strong as ever.

I shook my head, before stretching and yawning. "I had a car crash. I was just staying here for the night." I told her.

At that moment my stomach decided to make the loudest noise to notify me that I had to eat something. However at this point I felt nauseous from not eating.

"You must be hungry, come, i'll drive you back to my house and fix you up some breakfast." 

I wanted to turn down her offer, after all she was still a stranger and by now I know I cannot trust strangers. But I was hungry, and going with her can save me a lot of trouble. Most importantly a lot of walking.

I remember seeing lots of cars at those houses, I can Hotwire one of them and use it to get back home.

"Worry not dearie, I ain't here to hurt you." She assured, a small smile on her lips.

I stared at the old woman in front of me, looking her over for any weapons. I spotted a revolver in a holder by her hip, and she was holding a handgun.

I looked down at the blankets, before grabbing them and folding them back into the duffel bag. "Alright, fine. I'll go with you." I accepted. "But lady, I say this without offense, but I'm not afraid to kill." I warned.

My words seemed to have stunned her because she furrowed her eyebrows and tilted her head. She gave me a look, one that adults give to children. "Sad that you'd say something like that." She sighed.

"That's life now. I've been through too many shit to have a happy, naïve mindset." I stuffed the blankets into the duffel bag and zipped the bag up.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Harriet said.

I turned my head to look at her, and shrugged. "It's whatever. Like I said, It's life." Grabbing both duffel bags I looked up at her expectedly.

"Shall we?"

~*~

Now back at Harriet's she gave me some left over Mac and cheese as well as some water. Being the paranoid person I am, I of course made her eat and drink everything first before I proceeded to eat and drink.

She thinks my paranoia is funny, but I think it's safe.

"So how long have you been on your own?" Harriet asked.

I thought about it for a couple of seconds. How long has it been? Gee it's been months. Maybe a year?

"What day is it?" I asked.

"According to my calendar, it's March 21st. " she answered looking at a calendar on the wall that I had missed somehow.

"Almost four months now." I said, thinking about my mother and brother. It's been so long since I've seen them. Even if my brother did choose the military over us, I still missed him. Despite wanting to, and knowing that I shouldn't, I do.

"Well Kudos to you for surviving so long on your own. You must get lonely huh? I know I do." She gave a short laugh and I smiled lightly.

"No actually, I don't live alone. I just meant I've been on my own without adults. But I do love with my family who I care for." I explained, trying not to give her too much information at the same time.

"Really now? That's even more brave of you." She complimented, taking my now empty bowl and cup.

"Yeah, thanks." I said, moving some hair away from my face.

"I love your hair by the way. It's absolutely gorgeous." She turned away from the sink and leaned on the kitchen island across from me. "How do you keep it so nice?" She asked curiously.

I smiled sheepishly. "Well, everything is free now. And everyone is so focused raiding for food or other supplies they don't stop to get the hair supplies." I pushed some of my curly hair away from my eyes. "Just because I'm in the apocalypse doesn't mean I have to stop tending to my hair."

Harriet smiled, chuckling softly. "You must have a good set up if you got the time to be going to the store for hair supplies."

I shrugged. I didn't want to talk about my house anymore because I could tell that's what she really wanted, for me to tell her about my house and where I live.

Maybe she had a master plan, doesn't matter. She's not getting any information out of me.

"I should really get going now." I stood up off of the island stool, pulling the strap so that my gun would rest on my side.

Harriet made her way around the kitchen island and watched me put my water bottle back inside my black duffel bag with the cans of tomato soup.

"So soon?" She asked.

I looked up at her. "Yeah I'm sorry but my family is probably worried sick." I said naturally coming up with an excuse, and standing back up.

Harriet frowned but nodded nonetheless. "Your family, are there any children? I have a few toys that had belong to my granddaughter and grandson." She offered.

I picked the bags up, walking to the front door. As I walked a part of me felt sort of guilty for leaving this women alone. It's not like she wasn't capable of taking care of herself, I just didn't feel like I had the capacity or lives to trust her. I sighed. "I'm going to find a car, Hotwire it, and go home." I stated before putting one of the duffel bags down. "To thank you, I'll come back here tomorrow with some food. Sound good?"

Harriet smiled brightly and nodded subtly. "I'd like that very much."

I smiled in return, and grabbed the duffel bag once more. I turned to leave the house, walking across the street and over to a car that seemed abandoned. I smiled brightly when I saw that there was a dead walked beside the car, the driver door slightly open and the keys still in the ignition. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's sad that the guy die but it saves me the trouble of having to Hotwire it.

I put my bag into the backseat. Before closing the door and hopping inside the driver's door. As I drove by Harriet's house I waved goodbye, because she was waving first.

This time, I made sure my eyes stayed on the road the whole time I drove.

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