Alone

Chapter 3

The wind conforms around our bodies as we slow to a stop near an abandoned wheat field about twenty miles from the old dilapidated town. The air is sticky and seems to want to cling to my skin, the hot Texas climate is unforgiving due to the change of seasons to spring. The sun shines bright upon the surrounding trees and wheat serving as the main source of life for the new growth of plants.

I welcome the heat as we both get off the bike because honestly I'm just glad to be alive. I watch as the man undoes the buckle on his saddle bag and digs around finally finding the item of his desire. A yellow tinted map lays in his hand as he unfolds it and scans the lines scattering the page. I grow uncomfortable just watching him observe the map in an awkward silence, I decide to at least strike up some conversation.

"So what's your name anyway, I feel like I should at least know that much about you," I say while leaning against his bike.

He doesn't say anything at first just continues to look at that stupid piece of paper like I wasn't even there. I see his eyes slightly shift upward to look at me then quickly refocus on the map.

"Harry."

wow would have never guessed that. Since I know he won't ask my name I decided to just tell him anyways.

"Well Harry I'm Liz."

Still I receive no reply, wow he is such great company. I hate the fact that he refuses to even acknowledge my existence. He is the only human I have been in contact with for weeks and he says about as much as one of the infected.

"You know this whole situation wouldn't be so bad if you would actually talk to me," I kick off from leaning on the bike, still with my arms crossed in annoyance.

No reply.

"I'm beginning to think you can't say anything unless you're being an asshole," I sigh loudly.

Harry stands from his hunched position over the map and glares at me.

"Well maybe you need to just shut up for five seconds and let me think," he practically yells at me.

"Yep, that's definitely it," I almost laugh at the fact he always has only ever said something negative towards me.

"I'm really starting to regret saving your ass," he says and this time I actually laugh.

"You're kidding me right, have you suffered brain damage or something because as I remember it I saved your ass," I step closer to Harry and look up to him, a scowl on my face.

Harry scoffs, "Who had the motorcycle who got us out of there, I could have just left you." He steps closer as well our chest almost touching and him looking down at me.

"Well who's the one who killed the infected that was about to bite you, I could have easily taken your bike and left but I didn't," I yell and he just continues to breathe heavily.

He clenches his jaw and says nothing because he knows I'm right. I smirk knowing I've won. He moves his hand and points to a little dot on the map.

"There is a town about three hundred miles North that has a small base where you'll be safe, I'll take you that far and then your on your own, we are going to have to camp in the forest tonight. There looks like there is a break in the trees ahead we can look for a place set up for tonight."

I look down at the point at which he depicts on the map seeing it takes me right in the direction I want to go. I have no intention of staying at a base I still have to get to Atlanta ,but it's best for now if Harry thinks I will comply with his little plan so he can take me as far as possibly. It's much faster on a motorcycle then on foot.