Forgetting the Apocalypse

10. Got A Better Idea

All of us kept running until we reached the tree line into town. "C'mon, up ahead there's a gun shop. We can regroup and get what we need there." the older one says.

We slowed our pace just a bit and keep checking our surroundings, making sure nothing snuck up on us. It wasn't long until we reached the shop they had mentioned. Once there we all reloaded and tried catching our breath. I looked over to the two men who's place we just left. I felt a little bad that even though we had no choice to climb through their window, we never intended for it to be destroyed. We didn't expect there to be that many.

Thank god it wasn't a hoard.

Having said that, and after a quick and sincere apology to them, Fredi and I should go on our own way. I glance over and see him already starting to approach them.

"Fredi wait," I try to stop him, knowing exactly what he's going to say and ask them.

But of course, he's already talking.

"Hey. Please understand I'm really sorry about your home. Do you have another place to go?" He asks. Both shake their head and the oldest one responds, "That was the last we had besides each other. We have nowhere else."

Fredi nods. "Again, I'm sorry. But if you want, we have a plan if you'd like to hear if and maybe join us?" Yup, just like I predicted.

For a few minutes it went back and forth. Both sides pointing out the faults and advantages. Until the one with glasses finally spoke. "Roone, I mean this with the most respect. But do you have a better idea? Look we only ever had the plan to get to the cabin, it's gone now. The smartest thing to is go with the highest chance of survival. Even if it sounds impossible. No offense." Obviously looking at Fredi in a friendly way.

Fredi just waves it off.

A few minutes later they're still debating, this time it's between the brothers. Fredi takes this opportunity to come back over to me. I whisper to him how I'm not exactly trying to be rude here but express my opinion. "Look not that I don't trust you, but we don't know them. How do we know they aren't..." I don't get to finish.

"Alright fine we're in. But once we get to that town, we go our separate ways. You guys try anything funny and I won't hesitate to kill you both." he states. Almost makes me want to smile how he says that last bit while looking at me. I guess it's cause when we broke into their place, Fredi tried reasoning with them while I just raised my weapons at them.

Fredi smiles and stretched out his hand to shake on it with them. The guy who's called Roone, the older one, shakes it with a grunt.

With that settled, we barricade ourselves in for the day and take up camp at opposite ends of the store, but remain within sight of each other. I would've rolled my eyes at their immaturity but I think that's just how guys are.

Also, they did just lose their shelter and had two strangers barge in so it makes sense that they're on edge. And it's not like I'm any better with how reluctant myself with them joining us.

Come nightfall, we gather up our things and start planning our course.

"Look we know these woods like the back of our hand. I'm telling you, despite what the map says. This little valley here is the safest bet."

Fredi kept looking at me every time they spoke. I don't know if he wanted me to disagree with the two men or he was taking me into consideration because he knew I was guarded around the two men. Finally we ended up coming to a course that satisfied both sides.

About three hours later. If this keeps up, the duration it takes for us to agree on something to make a decision then I doubt we'd get very far.

From Colorado we'd keep traveling up to Wyoming, then up again to Montana. From Montana, we'd head west crossing to Idaho to Washington and then back up. It seemed like the fasted way to get there in theory. Once we made it to another state, we'd find a map and see if we need to change our path. But we'd mainly stick to the river.