I awoke the next day to the smell of cooking food. Cleo, who was still sleeping on my shoulder, slowly opened her eyes too. She stretched, accidentally pushing me to the side. I stood up, cracking my back.

“Are you hungry?” I asked her, following the scent of the food.

We found ourselves in the kitchen. The man from earlier was setting out toast for Neil and Brie. He nodded to us, setting out food for us too. We sat down, digging in without a word. The guy grabbed some coffee, leaning over the table.

“We should get on the road ASAP. I know a guy who can get you to another guy near Chicago who can get you all to Pennsylvania. She has a plane that should be able to fit you all, so as long as you find a landing zone, he can take you there. They all owe me their lives basically anyway, so a favor like this is basically nothing.”

“And what about you?” Cleo asked. “Something like this needs to be repaid somehow.”

He waved his hand nonchalantly. “Don’t worry about me. I needed a reason to get out and do something. Months locked in here is as bad as a night out there.”

We continued eating until there was nothing else. We got up, collecting out things. As I picked up Bobbie’s bag and walked outside, I met Cleo who was leaning against the wall. The cold, chilly air hit my face and breezed through my hair as I leaned next to her.

“Almost there… I can’t believe it,” I stated.

“I’m glad to be here and still alive,” she smiled, nudging me.

“Where are you going to go?”

She exhaled, looking down. Then, she looked at me. “Depends. Might as well follow you around for a little while, see where that takes me.”

“You sure? I have a knack of finding myself in dangerous situations.”

“Ah, don’t worry about that. I’ll always be there to save you.”

Brie, Neil, and the guy came out too. We got into his truck. He turned the key once. The engine soon hummed to life. He pulled out, driving down the isolated road. I looked out of the back right window, looking at the cold, frosty roads, rocks, and trees that greeted us.

**************************

Brie and Neil were too busy talking to each other, and Cleo was in the front also staring out the window, which left me to my own thoughts. How many died? Bobbie, Greeta… If only they made it here.

The rest of the ride was pretty uneventful. After a few pee-stops, we made it to Lincoln, Nebraska. The cracked stone buildings stood silent over us, watching new souls enter. About a thirty minute drive later, and we made it to a house that was connected to a mechanic’s shop. We hopped out, struggling to walk as our legs got used to walking again after a few hours,

The guy went up the door, pounding on it. “Jake! I know you’re in there!”

Silence.

“I know you’re still alive, you old sob. You still owe me that favor, remember?”

The man was about to knock again, but the door swung open.

“You’re still alive?” asked the man, who I assumed was Jake “Well I’ll be damned.”

He pulled a man into a hug. “What can I do for ya?”

The guy gestured back to us. “They need a ride. Headin’ to Pennsylvania. How far can ya take them?”

“Chicago at most. Or, near it at least. From what I heard, the place is basically a death trap. But, Mary has the plane.”

We all agreed to Chicago. Jake went back inside to prepare nore. Before the guy could get back in his truck, I shook his hand one last time. “Thank you again. For all this.”

“Don’t mention it. A little bit of kindness can go a long way. And out here, I know we all could use some. Just get there safe, alright? That’s all I ask.”

“Will do.”

I stood next to Brie as we waited. “Are you feeling any better?” I asked.

She looked up to be. “Yes, I still have a rocking headache, but… I’m feeling much better. Neil may not show it, but we’re grateful to come along.”

Eventually, Jake came back out, asking us if we’re ready. His pickup sat in the actual mechanic’s shop. We stepped through the mountain of clutter, eventually climping in.

“Next stop: Chicago,” Jake said. He turned the key. The engine hummed a little, but didn’t turn on. He then banged his fist on the dashboard, and suddenly it sprung to life.

“So, who’s this person we’re going to?” I asked.

“Mary? Just a friend. Best pilot I’ve ever seen, too. She lives on this giant plot of land a little ways away from the city. Good thing too, that place is a huge cement death trap.”

The orangish-yellow sun shone brightly in our eyes, The cool wind, which flowed through the window, brushed against my face. Or, it would’ve if I didn’t get stuck with the middle seat. I tried not to shift around a lot in my seat all too much.

**************************

“This is as far as I can take y’all,” Jake said.

I awoke, groaning, not realizing I fell asleep. I adjusted my eyes to the darkness. The lights of the pickup showed a fence which expanded far in each direction. I woke up Neil, who was asleep as well. We stumbled out all at once.

Before we walked past the fence, Jake called out to us again. “Good luck! Tell Mary I sent you, or else she just may shoot you.”

The pickup pulled back, leaving us in the dirt. I lifted up the bag, throwing it around my back. I took the first step forward, taking a good look at the land surrounding us. Off in the distance, I could see what looked like a pavement, and sitting still was a plane. Guess that’s what the others were talking about.

The house came into view; torches flickered around the corners of the porch. I stood still, looking at Cleo, Neil, and Brie.

“Well?” Cleo asked, nudging me forward. I inhaled, knocking on the door. The moment I made the sound, the door burst open.

I nearly leaped back out of surprise, only to see a small woman - no bigger than five feet tall, swinging a massive rifle at us.

“Who are you?” she interrogated. “Answer yourselves, now.”

“Woah, woah, woah,” Neil jumped in. “Your friend sent us. Jake!”

She lowered her gun. “Old lard is still alive…? Well if he took the time to drive you all the way here, then it must be something important.”

“Jake and…” I was about to say the man’s name, but I realized I never got it. “...and the other guy told us you could fly us to Pennsylvania.”

She nodded, “Damn straight I can. But not now. In the daytime.”

“Thank you so much, ma’am, I can’t-” Brie was instantly cut off the moment she stepped foot past the threshold. “Nope, in the shed you all go. This is my house, not a hotel.”

She pointed out the shed in the back. It was small. Very small. In fact, I was impressed it was able to fit any of us. The door had to be literally barged open. Inside was a bunch of tools, which if fell would most likely mean the end to all of us. I leaned against the back corner, trying to close my eyes.