Condemned. Sequel to 'Don't Look Back'

Chapter 4

Rayne's pov

It was odd, waking up the next day. I had almost forgotten what it felt like to wake up in a comfortable bed. It felt like I was floating on clouds, and I never wanted to move. Maybe since I have nothing else to do, I could stay here all day. But of course, the voice in the back of my mind was thinking of finding my group. I laid there for a while weighing my options, I could either go look for my people, or I could lay here and do nothing. Of course in the end I chose to go look.

I put my shoes back on and laced them up and walked around the house once more. I walked along the halls, looking at the pictures and paintings and stopped at the mirror.

I looked at the reflection and could hardly recognize myself. My blonde hair was now a dark shade, almost brunette, with dried blood in some places and was way longer than it was when this all started. My eyes, once bright blue, now a dark, almost lifeless blue. My face had slimmed out, my jawline more prominent, my cheekbones slightly noticeable.

It was weird to look at myself after almost a year. I saw all of the changes, whether they be small or big. I noticed every new scar, cut and freckle. I don't know how much time I had spent looking at myself, it could've been hours, but I finally snapped out of my trance when I heard the wind pick up.

I turned around, wiping my hands on my pants, and went to pick up my bag of trail mix. Since I had nowhere to put it, I had to deal with carrying it, which meant I would be tempted to eat it every time my stomach rumbled.

Before I wasted a day in this house, I moved on. I walked out, shut the door behind me, and just walked. I continued on the path I was taking before I stopped. It was really boring, I'm not going to lie, I was by myself, and it was really lonely. I never would've thought that being by myself would be this boring.

Hours into the walk, thunder started rumbling in the distance. I looked up at the sky and saw the greyish-black clouds meaning only one thing. It was going to rain.

"Screw you!" I yelled out at the clouds, not wanting to be drenched. I continued walking, figuring I might have attracted walkers and I really didn't need that right now since I only had three bullets. Minute after minute, the clouds slowly but surely crept up on me and were soon right above me. I was hoping they would pass over and it would be my lucky day, but of course not, that would be too easy.

Sprinkles started falling on the ground at a slow rate and I needed to find shelter before it starts to really rain. Like I mentioned before, luck was not on my side. Rain started coming down at a steadier rate and there wasn't a building for miles. The woods were on my right so I jumped the guardrails and headed in to seek shelter under the trees. The leaves caught most of the rain but a few drops would get through, but I'm not really complaining.

I kept pretty dry throughout the short storm, every once and a while thunder would roll and lightning would strike but never once did it strike near me. The rain had stopped and I needed to keep moving or I would never get anywhere. I still had no clue where I was, I could be going in the total opposite direction of what I need to be. I was going on blind faith and it was starting to discourage me. I hadn't found anything to hint that there were any survivors, my people or not.

I walked down the center of the road thinking of what would happen if I don't find anybody. I would be left alone forever. I would never have another conversation ever again. I would turn insane.

The sun started to set behind the clouds, making the sky a redish-orange color. I was approaching a small gas station where I would stay the night. I walked up to it and looked in the windows for people or walkers. I was about to open the doors when I saw something move out of the corner of my eye. I let go of the handle and slowly walked over to where the motion was. I poked my head around the corner and saw nothing, only grass.

I walked out into the open and made my way around the store, making sure nobody was hiding. Going around every corner came with anxiety. What would I do if someone was there? My gun was in my hand, and it only has a few bullets, plus the noise would attract walkers.

Coming back to the front of the store I opened the door and walked in, putting a piece of broken wood in the handles so nobody could get in or out. I stalked around the place making sure there was no setup or traps. There was nobody there so I looked on the shelves and found a bottle of water and some granola bars. I put them in a small bag I had found on the floor and made my way behind the counter, where I would sleep for the night.

Unknown's Pov

We've been tracking her for days undetected. Her every move was noticed. We knew everything, and she didn't have a clue.

We followed her to the housing complex, we followed her into the woods, we followed her to the gas station. She almost caught one of us, but we're too good, too fast, too smart. She wouldn't know what hit her, it's the perfect opportunity, especially since she's so close to the tracks, so close to the others. We need to make our move, and fast, or we could lose her, and she would be very, very valuable to us.