The sun was rising over the horizon as we hit the road, casting a warm glow over the landscape. We drove in comfortable silence, the only sound being the hum of the engine and the occasional crackle of the radio.
As we drove, the scenery shifted, and the signs of civilization grew fewer and fewer between. We were getting close to Georgia, and the excitement was building inside me.
Danielle yawned, stretching her arms over her head. "How much longer?" She asked, her voice still husky from sleep.
I checked the map, calculating our estimated arrival time. "A few hours," I replied. "We should be in Georgia bu mid-morning." I glanced at the truck's dashboard, my mind racing with concern about my truck's condition. It was a miracle it had held up this long.
Suddenly, a horde of zombies stumbled onto the road, their eyes fixed on us. I swerved to avoid them, but one of them grabbed onto the side of the truck. Danielle scremed as the zombie's face pressed against the window, its jaws snapping wildly.
I grabbed my gun and shot the zombie, its body slumping to the ground. We drove on, the adrenaline pumping through our veins.
As the morning wore on, we encountered more zombie hordes. I gritted my teeth and plowed through them, the truck's tired crunching over their bodies. The truck's engine groaned, and I could hear the sound of metal scraping against metal.
"How's the truck holding up?" Danielle asked, her voice laced with concern.
"It's taking a beating," I replied, trying to downplay the extent of the damage. "We need to find a safe place to repair it soon." I didn't want to alarm Danielle, but I knew the truck was on it's last legs. We'd been pushing it hard, and it was a wonder it still ran.
We drove on, plowing through more hordes of zombies. But with each passing mile, the truck's performance grew worse. The engine sputtered, and the tires began to lose air.
"We're getting close to the state line," Danielle said, her eyes fixed on the map. "Let's hope we can make it."
As we approached the Georgia state line, we saw the sign on the side of the road. "Georgia state line." I noticed something pinned to the sign, and pointed it out to Danielle as I slowed the truck to a stop.
"What's that?" She asked.
I got out of the truck, and ran over to the sign. I pulled off the paper that was pinned to it, and unfolded it. It was a note written in Nick's familiar handwriting
"I'm in Atlanta," the note read. "I've found a safe place, and I'll be waiting for you, because I know you'll ignore every other note that said to stay there and wait for me. Be careful, and watch out for the highways. -Nick"
I felt a surge of excitement and relief. We were close. I ran back to the truck and showed the note to Danielle, and her face lit up with hope.
"Atlanta," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Let's go."
I threw the truck in gear and we were on our way. We drove another mile or so, the truck limping along. But then, the engine finally gave out, and we coasted to a stop. The zombies began to close in, their numbers growing by the minute.
"We're sitting ducks," Danielle said, her voice laced with fear.
"I've got an idea," I said, my voice low and urgent. "We're going to use the gas can to create a trap for the zombies. We'll pour it out making a trail from the truck's tank and then get out of here."
Danielle's eyes widened in surprise. "What? Why? We can fix it," she said, but I was already pouring out the gas, creating a trail of fuel.
"We can't fix it in time," I said, grabbing her hand. "We need to go, now."
The zombies were closing in fast, their moans and snarls growing louder. I pulled Danielles along as we ran, the gas can still pouring out fuel behind us. When we were a safe distance away, I lit a match and tossed it onto the trail of gas. The flames erupted, racing towards the truck. The explosion was massive, sending debris flying everywhere. The zombies were incinerated, their screams echoing through the air.
I turned to Danielle, my face grim. "Let's move," I said. "We've got a long way to go."
Danielle nodded, and we set off on foot, leaving the burning wreckage of the truck behind. I knew I'd lost something precious, but I'd gained something far more valueable - Danielle's safety. And that was all that mattered.