Dead USA (DrTrollinski and Elwin)

[Elwin]

Coden spluttered a little, fidgeting on his seat. He pulled his fingers through his hair, which was now pretty long, and let out an awkward sigh. "..Yeah..well..my Mom was there..but she went." Coden gritted his teeth a little. A part of him knew it was the right thing to do but, well, they'd been abandoned and Phil and Beth had no intention of coming back. Suddenly the cabin seemed a little too warm. He felt angry, but not logically, he was too confused to be logical, too upset.


~~~


Luna watched Greg as he slowly broke. He wasn't the same man he always was, in-fact she'd felt this way for a while..he had been a lot more sensitive the past few months but she didn't know if it meant anything. But now he was a broken man and she didn't know how to pick up the pieces. She had been too used to mopping up after Jackson and Clayton the past half a year, but she didn't know who to help a grown man at his worst. All she could do was offer her affection and sympathy. "Greg.." Luna started to speak but stopped. She really had nothing to say but she wanted to say so much.


~~~


Beth cuddled close to Phil, still weeping. "We need to sort your wound..it must hurt?" She held onto him like a child. "And let me drive, Phil. You've been shot for god sake and I am perfectly fine." It was no use him not resting his arm, especially since they could literally do nothing about it yet.


~~~


Keeva stared at Jackson a little stiff. She really cared for him and wanted him to get back to his Dad...but it wasn't her problem. She didn't want to be taken further from why she came to Georgia in the first place. She gently held him, stroking his hair. "I.." She let go of Jackson and lent over to Jacob, towards his ear. "Let me out of the car.." She whispered, sternly.

 

[DrTrollinski]

"Uh-huh... Mommy and daddy were there but daddy told us to run 'cause people were shootin' at us... We saw daddy get shot." Daniel frowned a little and leaned against Coden, his face muzzled against his arm. The rug they were sat on was so warm and comfy. With another grumble, Frank came back over to the fire and flipped the meat over, allowing it to start cooking on the other side.


".. You dad get out alright?" He asked as he sat back down. Daniel thought for a moment.


".. I think--.. He was shoutin' when he got shot, so... He didn't die..."


"Good... Good. Where you boys headin' next, then?" He asked, and before anyone could stop him, Daniel squealed it out with joy. He really couldn't wait. If there was any hope of finding Phil and Beth, he'd go there.


"New Hampshire! Like Greg said!"


".. New Hampshire, eh...?" He reached up and gently scratched his beard. "You want to go to NH? You follow the forest straight North for a few miles. You'll hit the I-seventy-six eventually. Follow that along to the East, and then you're gonna' end up hittin' a highway that'll take you right through to NH. Goes over or through some of the main cities, so you might have'ta avoid those, but other than that, it's the best way to go." He said. Daniel turned to Coden and smiled at him. There was still a chance.


--


"What." He whimpered. "You gonna'--.. You gonna' tell me that it's all gonna' be alright? That we're gonna' get to New Hampshire and find my son sittin' on the doorstep waitin' for us? You gonna' hit me with that?" He said, tears finally breaking out down his cheeks. He did snap a little. He couldn't deny that. ".. I'm--.. I'm sorry..." He sobbed. ".. I just--.. I knew that as soon as that group started droppin' bombs on us... Things were gonna' end badly. We--.. We couldn't even be prepared! We were so, so fucking close to getting out, and now look--.. My--.. My little boy could be half way across the fucking country..." He sobbed, and then he burst out into tears again. It was a painful thing to think about - he thought of Jackson's sweet little face, and inside he was screaming for him to come back to him. It didn't happen, though. Clayton had stopped crying, but he hadn't moved his face from Luna's chest.


--


"Yeah, sure..." He sniffled, pulling the car to a halt. After that, he stepped out and went around to the passenger seat once Beth had shuffled over into the driver's seat. This was better. He laid back in the chair and then took a long deep breath, sighing a little to himself as he turned and looked out of the window. He looked in the rear-view mirror and pictured the two boys in the back, sitting there and playing with Daniel's superhero action figures, or generally just chatting while Daniel sat on Coden's lap and pointed at all the cool looking things that went by in terms of scenery.


It broke his heart.


".. We--.." He gulped away the sadness really quickly. ".. Can we stop in about twenty minutes if we ain't at Chevron? I gotta' stop to take a piss." He said, but then realized he'd been a little vulgar. ".. Sorry--.. Must have been the shot. Sorta' flushed me out a little." He said.


--


"So we can break his heart even more?" He whispered in response. Jacob was having none of this. ".. I didn't just come and save you so that you could run off into the distance. I know what you're gonna' say, and we're gonna' help you, and then we're all gonna' go to New Hampshire." He sighed. ".. Why do you think I'm drivin' straight South into Georgia? If I planned to force you into New Hampshire, I'd be going East." He stated.


Jackson was still pulling on her sleeve. He was really upset again, and by the looks of it, Jacob was done talking.

 

[Elwin]

Coden groaned a little. His head hurt from all of that information. But he didn't want to let Daniel down, not after he had started getting comfortable with the group. He was so angry with all of them for not at least making sure Daniel was alright. He did sometimes wish he was Daniel's age, so he could be that clueless. "I..It sounds far.." He mumbled, staring at nothing. The smell of food was making him feel dizzy from hunger, but he had a headache from thinking so much about their next steps. He didn't want to walk Daniel through walker infested cities. No way.


~~


Luna clenched her fists a little. "No Greg, I wasn't going to say that!" She was yelling now. "Now get a f**king grip, or we won't ever find Jackson again!" She was breathing heavily. Luna kept Clayton held against her chest as she shouted at Greg. "Look, be logical for a second, okay! He isn't alone, He is with a grown man who cares about him! It isn't over but it will be if all we do is mope around shouting about something we have the power to change!" Luna sat back a little, placing a hand on her head. "I'm sorry..I just.." She cuddled Clayton closer, stroking his hair. "I just don't see the point in getting upset when we can change the future right now."


~~


Beth took the wheel and started driving, nodding sympathetically at Phil. "Don't worry, Phil. I'll take my stop there too." She meant take a 'piss' as Phil called it, but it didn't sound quite right coming from her mouth. Beth tried to keep her mind off Coden and Daniel, as their outcomes terrified her. After twenty minutes or so Beth slowed down and parked the car on the side of the road. "Come on, dear.." She said getting out and walked over to the other side of the car to help Phil out.


~~


Keeva leaned back. She was fuming. She couldn't believe that he was using Jackson against her to keep her from leaving. After twenty minutes or so of her silent frustrations she leaned back over. "Look, Jacob. Everything I said to you..It still stands. I don't need to stay with a group and if I find my Dad I'm not coming back, I'm going with him as I originally planned. I don't want to hurt anybody but..I never agreed to take responsibility of anyone or join your group for good." She said calmly and quietly but Jacob seemed to be unreasonable. Or she was being unreasonable, she couldn't work out which.

 

[DrTrollinski]

".. It is far. You'll be able to find a car, though." He sighed and then went over and got two plates from one of the cupboards and then walked back over to the fire, taking both skewers of meat from it and placing them on both of the plates. With a sigh he handed both plates off to either of the boys and then went back to his chair. Daniel wanted to eat, but he knew that the food was really hot right now. "I've been here months now... Ain't seen nothin' comin' from up by the cities for a long time. Look, kid... No one stays in the big cities no more. They're all too fuckin' dangerous, especially this far into the whole end of the world bullshit. You'll be fine, but just avoid the cities, stick to the roads, and you'd be safer camping it out somewhere secluded." He explained, yawning.


--


"Change?" He shook his head. ".. We ain't gonna' find him ourselves, and you know that." He took a deep breath and then lied back in his seat, keeping his eyes locked on the road. ".. Now, it's all down to Jacob to get him back to us. I know it's harsh to not have faith, but... There's no way around that... That's the truth, and I ain't gonna' lie to you." He sniffled and then kept going onward, this time picking up the speed of the car. They were going to need a place to stop for the rest of the day, and then the night.


--


"Thanks..." He sighed as he took her hand and stepped out. He looked around the area and there were plenty of trees and bushes all over the place, and the only signs of life that were around were simply squirrels and birds and the occasional rabbits. From what Phil could see, there were no humans and no undead. Then again, they were pretty much in the middle of nowhere. ".. I'll head to that tree just there." He nodded to a large tree about ten feet away. ".. You go over to a bush, or whatever, but don't go too far." He squeezed her hand and then released it and then went over to the tree and disappeared behind it so he could take care of things.


--


"Well, you are gonna' be hurtin' people, and you know it." He snapped back, almost instantly. He was silent for a long time just then, but Jackson was still clung onto Keeva's side and sobbing. He didn't like all the conflict, and he didn't know if he could stop any of it. He was heartbroken. He was missing his dad and Clay and Luna more and more with every second that went by. ".. You'll hurt Jackson, and you'll hurt me." He finally added. ".. Just stop." He mumbled. "Just stop talking. We're not discussing this anymore." He said, his face finally loosening up into more of a sad frown. ".. We'll be in Atlanta by the morning." He choked.

 

[Elwin]

Coden picked up the skewer and bit at the corner of the meat. The heat shocked him and he hissed throwing it back down on the plate. He knew it was too hot, but he didn't really want to listen to Frank talk about him and Daniel moving on. He couldn't drive and he didn't want to have to protect Daniel, he just wanted him to be protected already. Inside, Coden was only small himself, barely sixteen, yet his responsibility was bigger than anything in his whole life. Hell, he thought wiping Daniel's ass was one of the biggest things he had ever done.


~~


Luna groaned and turned to snuggle herself into Clayton. She didn't particularly want to talk to Greg whatsoever as she couldn't understand why they wouldn't go back for Jackson, despite what he said. She drifted off in her stubborn mood and slept lightly.


~~


Beth rushed off and walked around to find a bush. She wandered quite far from Phil as she didn't want him to spot her doing her business. They weren't quite at that stage just yet. She managed to find a bush and thankfully Phil was far enough to not see. Beth quickly finished up, cringing at having to pee in the wild. "Urgh.." She grimaced, pulling down her skirt and walked out of the bush, pushing bits of leaves and plant from her legs.


~~


Keeva sat back with a thud, her arms crossed. She was in a fowl mood. She felt Jacob being completely unreasonable as he guilt tripped her into staying with them, and she couldn't help but feel how he wanted her to feel. It wasn't fair. She didn't want help and she was afraid of what her Dad would say if they did find him. He was never fond of outsiders, or men.

 

[DrTrollinski]

Frank looked over them both for a few minutes, struggling to eat the food due to how hot it was. Frank realized something there. He realized how sheltered the two must have been before they ended up here. It was... Quite worrying. Where had they been for the past seven months? First he finds them asleep in the wild, and now they can't even manage hot food. Have they been living in a cave this whole time, or something?


"So. How old are you two, anyway. Little one's easier to guess... Four, five, six..." He shrugged and then looked at Coden. ".. What about you? Seventeen, eighteen?" He asked, biting down hard onto his piece of food.


--


Clayton soon sobbed himself to sleep in Luca's arms. Right now, Greg fully understood why Beth wanted to end her life. Right now it felt so pointless, and shitty. He wanted it to end. He felt that the boys would be better off without him, and maybe after today... that'd be true. He kept driving, but he sobbed the whole time. He didn't stop crying, not one bit.


--


Phil went behind a tree and did what he had to do - he was there for almost two minutes. Getting shot must have completely flushed him out. When he was done he slowly wandered off to the car to wait for Beth - he climbed into the passenger seat, now feeling just the slightest bit better in terms of health, but not majorly.

 

[Elwin]

Coden pushed the meat around, staring at the plate. "I'm sixteen." He replied, bluntly. Coden looked at Daniel and took his plate from him. He blew on the meat and pulled it into smaller chunks before handing it back to him. Coden took a bite of his own which was now cool. He sighed and stopped eating it after a minute or so. "I guess..there isn't any point in hanging around if we gotta' travel." He said, standing up. "Come on Daniel. Thanks for the food." Coden was being unusual as he grabbed Daniel's hand, putting his plate down for him and tucking his coat up quickly.


~~


Luna woke up after a while. It was a peaceful wake up, as she initially couldn't remember a thing. Then she realized. Luna groaned, adjusting Clayton's position. She could see Greg. He looked extremely tense. "Greg..can we stop soon? I need some air.."


~~


Beth joined him, stroking his back. "Are you feeling any better, Phil?" She asked warmly and tucked herself closer to give him a hug. She was careful around his arm. When they set off again, Beth felt slightly unwell as they drove. "Do we have to drive for long? I might be sick.." She held a hand over her mouth. She wasn't sure what triggered it but it was probably stress and sitting for a long time.

 

[DrTrollinski]

"Hold on one minute, kid... Let me ask you some questions." He said as he slowly rose up from his chair. Daniel quickly inched closer to Coden and hid behind him. "Do you know exactly how to get to New Hampshire from here? Do you know how to Hotwire a car? Gut a deer or a pig? Skin wild game? Hell. Have you learned to drive yet? You were God darn quiet when I was givin' you directions." He said, one eyebrow raised. Coden had been out hunting twice over the past seven months. Once with Phil, and once with Greg. How depressing.


--


"Sure." Greg choked, simply. "We're not far from the next town, we--.. We can stop there." He stuttered. He was gently rocking back and forth. He still looked so upset and heartbroken and anxious. He didn't look in the rear view mirror at her, his eyes were just wide and bloodshot and stayed locked on the road.


--


"I feel fine..." He looked at her as she spoke. She did look a little queasy, now that she mentioned it. "If you want to lie down in the back seat, I'll drive again." He offered with a gentle sigh. It seemed that the forest roads went on forever. "We ain't too far from a little town... We can stop there for the day and night and rest up... I need to do some self surgery anyway." He groaned. The thought of self surgery made him grimace.

 

[Elwin]

Coden opened his mouth to protest, leaning forward towards Frank. "I..I mean.." He paused and scrunched his face up, shaking his head with shame. He was a let down to Daniel. "I don't know how to do much..we went hunting a few times and I can handle a gun.." He sighed, scratching his head and pulled Daniel over to him so he could comfort him with his arm. "This is a disaster, I know."


~~


Luna rubbed her head as it pounded with stressful aches and pains. Greg was really not in a fit state at all but she had to stay okay for the sake of Clayton who was just an emotional ball at the moment. She lean't forehead, moving Clayton to the side a bit and gingerly placed a hand on Greg's shoulder. "You need to keep strong.." She whispered anxiously. She wanted to help, but he was so on edge she had no idea whether he would snap her head off just for trying.


~~


Beth stalled then nodded, stroking his shoulder. She climbed over the top of her seat and flopped into the back, positioning herself across the seat. Her eyes remained closed but her mind was wild with thoughts of Coden and Daniel.

 

[DrTrollinski]

"Well." He sighed, and then walked over to the bed in the corner and swept a fur coat up off of it, and then slipped it over his shoulders. "I certainly ain't lettin' you two get killed off out there. Last thing we need is you two ending up in Texas when you're tryin' to get up North, ain't that right?" He snickered a little and then grabbed his rifle from against his bed, slinging it over his shoulder. It was a lot like the one that Clayton and Coden had been given for Christmas.


"Plus, I've got a car, somethin' that'll get us through any snow, and all that." He said, and then threw open the drawer of his nightstand and grabbed a key ring that had a singular key on it. "Well. I'll get you as far as I can." He said. "Too cold out there for you to be draggin' a little one like him along on foot, eh?" He said, and then walked to the door and shoved it open, stepping aside so that Coden and Daniel could follow him out.


--


".. I'm trying, Luna.." He whimpered. "I just want Jackson back..." He said, letting out a couple of quiet sobs alongside some shaky sniffles. ".. I just let my little boy get taken like that... I--.. I'm such a terrible father... I just want him back..." He whimpered in addition, and then quickly wiped his eyes with one hand. The said town that Greg was talking about was seen off in the distance, but they still had a fair way to go. He didn't know what to think anymore. Things felt so pointless - he missed little Jackson's voice, and his sweet smile. He just wanted to see those things again.

 

[Elwin]

Coden jumped up, his eyes glittering. "For real?" He seemed suddenly filled with joy. There luck had spiraled downward and what seemed like a crash had been miraculously swooped back up by this selfless stranger. "I honestly..I mean..thank you so much man-I mean Mr." Coden grinned at Daniel and squeezed his little hand. Coden calmed a little and sat back in his chair, pulling Daniel back over and took a bit of his now cold meat. It was delicious, why couldn't Phil have made them this? Phil. Coden felt a lump form in his throat at the thought of Phil and his Mom. It was a hard reality that they were gone and he was trying his best not to think about it.


~~


Luna let out a small sigh and leaned over towards Greg. She wrapped her arms around the chair so she was hugging his around his neck. "We'll see him soon..you're not a terrible Father, don't be silly, please don't say that." Luna felt tears well up in her eyes but she fought them back valiantly. "We'll find him, I promise.."

 

[DrTrollinski]

"Yeah, yeah. You can thank me when you're there... I need to see the outside world. Sitting alone in a shack for seven months does things to you, y'know." He chuckled a little once again and then brought his rifle to the ready as he stepped out of the shack. "You can bring that food in the car. I don't mind. Seein' as we're gonna' be goin' further North, it's gonna' get much colder. Grab those fur blankets and follow me." He said, and then made his way out and over towards a large patch of foliage. He could just about see his jeep hidden among the bushes. It was durable, had decent speed, and plenty of room for any supplies.


--


".. I said... He's gonna' have to find us, Luna... Jacob knows where he is. We don't. Jacob--.. He... He's a good man, and he's capable... They've got their bows, and... Jesus, Jacob's a pro with one of them. The best I've ever seen." He took a long deep breath and quickly wiped his eyes with one hand, and then placed it back on the driver's wheel. "If he's with Jacob... He'll be fine. As long as he's with Jacob... We'll see him again, I'm sure." He gulped. He looked in the rear-view mirror and saw that Clay had managed to sob himself to sleep. It was sad, he had a feeling that he wasn't going to be talking to him for a while.


"We've got Dahlonega coming up..." He sighed. "We should stop there, at least for a while." He said.


--


Phil just kept on driving. He was thinking about Coden and Daniel a lot, but he knew they were capable. When they had the chance, they could make a Northbound turn to get further up, and then they could make their way towards New Hampshire, just like Greg said. Phil was speeding like crazy, swerving out of the way of every single body and burnt out car until he came to a little turning point. "In touch Pharmacy..." He read the sign off of a building. They were literally on a tiny road that had a few buildings on it. "Shall we stop here? We need to rest up... Pharmacy might have something for my arm, too." He said.

 

[Elwin]

Coden stuffed the meat in his mouth, chewing it obnoxiously and dropped the plate onto a side nearby. Coden reached down and zipped Daniel's coat up before picking him up and carrying him outside, where Frank had gone. He smiled at Daniel. cuddling him close. "This is our chance, Dan." He said softly to the little boy. His innocent glassy eyes gave Coden the strength to try that extra mile to get him to safety. He deserved to have a family, and not be stranded again.


~~


Luna didn't reply, but squeezed Greg gently with her grip before letting go and slumping back into her seat. Not too much time passed before the group arrived in Dahlonega, which was not a surprise to be ghost city. They passed silenced untouched homes surrounded by dead trees. It was a chilling sight. Luna leaned against the window, watching her breath steam up the glass. She mindlessly drew a face into the breath mark then rubbed it away.


~~


Beth bumped her head a little on the side of the car as Phil sped. She groaned, but didn't want to nag at him right now as enough was going on. "Seems like we have no choice.." She mumbled back, rubbing her sleepy eyes. Beth sat up as they pulled up again the buildings. It was eery, but nothing she hadn't seen before since the infection had started. They parked up and Beth jumped out to open the door for Phil so he didn't have to strain himself.

 

[DrTrollinski]

".. That's good, Coden." He grinned and put his arms around his neck, hugging him nice and tight. He was glad that he was with Coden - if he was with anyone else, or on his own, he wasn't quite sure how well he'd be able to manage. At least he was with the person who'd assumed the role of his big brother - he couldn't ask for anything more right now. While he was sat there in his arms, he looked off towards where Frank had gone and smiled once he saw a jeep speed out from behind the shrubbery. He was amazed. It was a car. Something he hadn't been in for what felt like years.


"Coden, look!" He smiled excitedly and happily as he pointed off at the car.


"Get in, boys!" Frank yelled out of the window, smiling like a child as he patted his hands on the driver's wheel.


--


"Here we are..." He sighed. Greg looked around for a little while until he decided to come to a stop outside a small building. It was a small little apartment complex that only had three floors, so the second floor was probably going to be their best bet. This place was a tiny little town that didn't have any life left in it, but there wasn't anything they could really complain about. He just prayed that this place would be alright for them to stay in for the rest of the day and night.


"Wake Clayton up... We'll stay here for a little while." He sighed and took a deep breath thereafter.


--


Phil stopped the car and then hopped out, walking around to Beth's side and opening the door for her. He looked upon the pharmacy and gulped a little, and then scratched the back of his head. ".. Shall we, then?" He asked. ".. We should try and find some antibiotics for me, just in case this wound gets infected." He said.