My heart was completely shattered and any hope I had was fading quickly. The more we drove, the more fallen cities we passed through, I realized there was nothing left around us but death. Those who had died to save someone they loved, those who had been bitten and cured themselves with a bullet, those who had no choice but to become a monster and those who were murdered because the illness took over their brain. Knowing that Tori, my beautiful baby sister, was infected.. It made me see these things in a whole different light. It wasn't their fault they were how they were. They had no choice in the matter. Like jealous little kids, the CDC released this thing and took out most living creatures. We were all a victim in this mess and I couldn't understand why we'd made it seem so easy to kill those who were just like Tor: Hungry and sick.


It made me think of my mother. I watched the entire process unfold with her, but at the end ofo the day, I told myself she wasn't the same person and did what I thought I had to do. Had I known my younger sister might have held the key to fixing her, I would have made a different move. That's not to say it would have changed anything with her condition, but at least I could have lived what was left of my days without her blood on my hands.


Then, I thought of the boys who had taken us in and all the losses they'd suffered. These men didn't even know if their own families - their blood - were still breathing. And I think for the most part, they didn't want to know. Maybe that's why they needed Tori and myself, as a subtle reminder that people, normal people, could make it through this. Maybe it was a reminder, that much like each other, when you have a bond you fight to survive. But that bond didn't keep the rest of their crew alive, did it?


Yes, hope was fading very quickly for all of us. It was obvious just from the way we carried ourselves. We were like, for lack of a better words, zombies. When we realized we needed gas, Vinny and Zack tackled it together, like they weren't even breathing anymore. They effortlessly climbed off of the bus, shot at a few of the undead, got the gas in the bus and climbed back on without so much as blinking. We were so scared we couldn't even bring ourselves to talk about the situation at hand.


We couldn't talk about the fact that Jack was weak and fragile, because his finger was infected. We didn't know if he had the virus or was simply sick, unlike the rest of the world. We didn't dare speak of my darling little sister and the fact that we'd locked her in the back lounge, all alone, to fight her demons. Sometimes, at night when we're trying to sleep, I can hear her back there. Crying, growling, breaking things. But I didn't have the heart to open the door. I didn't have the heart to find out if she needed to be put down like an old dog.


Next to me, Matt was taking Tori's illness the hardest. He truthfully loved that little girl and it tore me to pieces. There were many times where he'd leave the silence of our group and go sit by the door. His fingers would dance along the only thing blocking him from my sister and a tear would leak from his eye. We had to do something, we all knew we did, but we didn't even know where to begin.


We probaby would have stayed like that; we would have kept wallowing in our depression had it not been for Jack and his plea for medicine. It seemed to be a small reminder that we all still had air in our lungs and a beat to our heart. Because of Jack, we took a detour in the next broken town we came across. Because of Jack, we parked the bus in front of a terrible looking CVS.


"Someone has to stay back with Tori," I whispered, loading my gun. "I can't leave her here."


"What difference will it make?" Vinny asked, rubbing his thumbs against his eyes. "She's already infected, Riot."


"But she's still human. She still has feelings," I remarked, anger boiling in my gut. "She's no less still here than you are."


"I agree with Riot," Matt spoke up, his pale face fighting back tears. "Riot has to go, she's our best shooter. Zack has enough muscle to keep us out of harms way. Alex is quick. I'll go with them, the rest of you stay and guard Tori and Jack."


No one was too fond of the decision, but we agreed it was for the best. Zack and Matt went first, quickly dashing to the door as Alex and I followed close behind. There was no light coming from inside, but the blood stains around the broken glass of the doors told us struggle had happened here. We used caution as we entered the building. No movement came around us, not heavy breathing. It shook me up more than seeing an undead would have.


Zack took off running toward the pharmacy. I stuck close behind him, while Alex stayed near the door with his gun in hand and Matt took off to get us more supplies. As much as I hate to say it, I didn't have time to worry about the other two men. Zack helped me climb the counter and we started sorting through the medication. He was the one who found the antibiotics that seemed best suited for Jack, though he did throw extra things into a near by bag in case we needed them, first aid kits included.


Out of fear, we quickly made our way back over the counter and took off to find Matt. He was sitting by the frozen foods, mind you there wasn't much as this wasn't a grocery store, but what he was doing threw me for a loop. Bags were by his sides, which held things that we all needed, but what was in his hands bothered me. Meat. Raw, bloody meat that was going bad. He was stacking it up in front of him and shoving it into bags. The thought of questioning him lingered in my brain, but I fought the desire, knowing we needed to get out of here as soon as possible.


"Let's go."


Matt didn't have to repeat himself. Zack grabbed some of the bags and we took off. Alex was still standing by the door, but he was on look-out as he should have been. In his hand was a piece of paper, to which his eyes were completely locked on.


"Alex, we have to go."


"Wait," he murmured, holding up the paper for the rest of us to read. "There's hope. I'm guessing that's where most of the town went."


I ripped the paper out of his grasp and let my eyes scan the words. Over and over again.


CDC overthrown. New staff seeks help. Safety granted. Join us.


Below the words scribbled in marker was an address. Possibly the only address that could offer us anything anymore. Shoving the paper in my pocket, I gripped my gun and nodded my head to Alex. He shot me a half-smile before pushing through the broken and bloody glass.


I didn't even bother to pay attention to the scene around me. All of these towns were the same. Dead, dirty and dangerous. Needless to say, I was thankful to see the bus door open and Vinny there to welcome us back. It was Alex who took off with the medicine to help his sick best friend. Zack started sorting the new supplies. I went to the front of the bus to give Rian the new address that could possibly save our lives.


However, as I slipped into the front of the bus, I noticed Matt slipping past Alex's body with the bag of meat in his hands. He pushed open the door that kept my baby sister locked inside and tossed a package in her direction.


He was keeping her alive in a way I hadn't thought of. Matt Flyzik was an angel.

Notes

I realize having Matt as a leading character in this story is now sad. But I'm not going to stop, because he'll always be a part of the band. <3.
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