Chapter 2
Shortly after exiting the compound the two boys noticed a clearing that was lite up by the full moon. It was a strange black material, almost like rock. Well, it looked as if it used to be black, now it was a dull gray color with strange yellowish lines running down it. The moon light lite it up only enough for them to see it ran into the distance. There was also an old run down truck on the side of the road. The knew what a truck was, they heard their great uncle talking about it. Trucks were at type of vehicle that humans used for transportation. This truck had seen better days. The color was worn off and rust had eaten nearly all of it. The boys remain quiet as they searched their surroundings. They left the truck and headed up the path, shortly up there it dawned on Charlie what it was.
“A road!” He laughed. “I remember now, we learned about it in history class. A road is what was used to drive the truck.”
“Oh! That's right...” Abel laughed.
It was one of those tip of the tongue words that they knew what it was, but just couldn't think of the word. The boys continued traveling up the road until it just go so dark they couldn't see anymore. That's when they stopped at the side of the road and started to build a fire. The fire was large enough to keep them warm for the night, but small enough that if there were monsters in the woods, hopefully it would keep them away. Abel pulled out a small package from his bag; it was part of the pork that was roasted on the pit at the party. They shared the food and laughed for a while at jokes and childhood memories. Then it got serious as they talked about their adventure and what their plans were for the morning. They thought about if they were to find more humans? What if the Reverend was wrong? Where they really the last humans? What about animals? What sort of creatures will they find? Soon they were drifting to sleep. Thinking of what was going to happen and all the adventures they will have.
It wasn't long until their sleep was interrupted by branches cracking. Abel jumped up so fast one would have thought he was on fire.
“What was that?” He whispered as he nudged Charlie.
Charlies grumbled a bit before another branch crack was heard, then that caught his attention and he sat up. Together they pushed dust on the fire in a hurry to smoother it as the watched the area where they could hear the noise. The sat quietly, watching intently. Then there was a falling sound with a slight scream.
“That sounded like Katie.” Charlie leaped up.
“How can you tell?” Abel asked as he followed his friend.
“Katie, is that you?” Charlie called out.
“Yes!” She cried. “I tripped...”
Charlie found her about fifty feet from their camp site, she tore her dress that she was wearing at the party, it appeared to be from the barbed wire.
“Why did you follow us? You know we can't go back?” Charlie asked, concerned for her safety.
“Well, I couldn't just let you leave me, the other girls would laugh at me for being left.” Katie whimpered a bit.
Abel laughed. “Figures.”
They lead their new companion back to where they had the fire, curling up together they just went ahead and fell back asleep, it was only a few hours before daybreak.
The Road Page 2