Chapter 23: Perilous

Headlights flashed in front of them illuminating a spectrum with the pouring rain. The gas needle hanging droopy in the red zone. Tires splattering the water on the cold asphalt. They were still very much in Georgia. A gas station would be a miracle sent down from the heavens. It was just around 5am yet the dreary atmosphere almost represented a slightly-less darker night. Almarie and Nick sleeping soundly in the backseat with Serenity stretched across their legs. They had managed to remove the weird metal bracelet from the arm of Serenity after almost an hour of struggling. She however remained fast asleep seemingly exhausted.

Layla drove as Zane watched her with the corner of his eye. He couldn't sleep with his guilt beating him with a leather belt. Layla hadn't even tried to utter as much a single word to him the entire time. Was she still mad? Maybe so, but they couldn't stay like this the entire time. To be fair to Zane, it was only January 5. Having an angry Layla at him for another 360 days didn't seem very sagacious.

Zane opened his mouth to say something but quickly aborted afraid of what she'd say. He grinded his teeth; Was he adding fuel to a flame?

"Why don't you sleep?" inquired Layla catching onto his nervousness.

Zane jumped caught completely off-guard by Layla's question. He quickly fixed himself trying to bury his very obvious nervousness.

"Nothing... I'm just not tired" he asserted.

Layla glanced over to him with a partially unamused look, "Really now?"

"Yeah! I'm certain!"

Layla sighed as if she had lost hope in Zane's acting skills, "Look, I don't hate you... I mean I was mad but it wasn't because you helped Serenity. It was because you endangered yourselves for a very childish reason."

Zane began fidgeting awkwardly, "So are you still mad? Or..."

"Gosh, you really are an idiot... I'm not mad at you anymore. It was really more of being worried than mad anyway. I admired what you did because it was cute but it was also reckless and dangerous. Risking your life to bury a single letter isn't sage Zane."

Zane allowed that to sink in, but he didn't know if he could stop himself from doing that a second time around. Helping people was something that was apart of who he was. Changing that wouldn't be easy, even if he wanted to.

"Zane"

"Yeah? Sorry... spaced out for a bit."

Layla averted her smoky grey eyes from the road and met his own. A flinty stare with a touch of worry present.

"Promise me... You'll never do something like that ever again."

Zane looked on vacantly as he thought about it. He didn't want to make a promise he wasn't sure he would be able to keep. He clenched his pants with his fist and turned his head away from Layla.

"We should really focus on finding a gas station... We're running low on fuel."

Layla took notice of his reluctance. She however decided not to press the topic. Nothing good would come from trying to force Zane to make a promise. She directed her eyes forward looking through the thick rain that pelted them. Her eyes met upon a sign that said 'Sunoco Gas Station'.

"Well seems our prayers have been answered."

Zane squinched his eyes trying to see through the thick darkness. The gas station was ghost. Not a single person to be seen. The gasoline pumps stood lonely only with themselves as company. There was also a small store at the back, possibly with supplies they could stock up on.

"Do you think we should check the store? Just in case there are supplies left..." prompted Zane.

Layla remained silent as she slowly drove up towards the station. She made sure to keep the lights on just in case anything tried to ambush them. She halted the jeep to a stop and got her gun out. She patted Nick and Almarie waking them up from their slumber. The two looked around immediately realizing where they were.

"Come on... we need everyone awake for this. I'm going to get gas alongside one other person. We'll probably check the store for any supplies we can salvage too. The rest of you will remain in the car keeping watch."

Nick rubbed the sleepiness from his eyes and gave a short yawn. He grabbed onto his rifle and placed his hand ready to open the door.

"I'll go with you since I'm the best at shooting" implied Nick.

"Wait... Let me go instead of you Layla. You're the best driver out of us. If something is to happen I'm sure you'll be able to get us out of here." declared Zane.

Layla shook her head in denial. She did not see Zane making it out of the store alive if something were to happen. He had small cuts and bruises all over his body. Not to mention his fractured leg.

"No Zane, if anything happens then we will need to move fast. Your injuries will slow us down. As soon as I'm out, get into the drivers seat and keep the engine running. If you see anything suspicious, even the tiniest signs, then hit that horn as hard as you can. If we're not out in fifteen seconds then hit the gas and get out of here."

"What? You can't expect me to do just leave you!"

"Zane, listen to me. Both of our lives are valuable but as long as one of us lives then all hope is not lost. It's better to drop one of us than lose both."

Zane made up his face in frustration. Did Layla really expect him to do something like that?

"Wait! Guy's this is dangerous. I have a feeling the Apocrypha are just waiting on us to make a move!" said Serenity who had just awoken in shock.

"Serenity! Take it easy sweetie! Everything will be okay." comforted Almarie petting her head.

"It's good to know you're awake Serenity, but Layla and I are going to do this. We have to if we want to keep moving. Honestly, I'd be surprised if we didn't run into an Apocrypha while in there." declared Nick softly.

Layla gave them one last look. She stared into the eyes of Zane strictly wanting him to obey what she had told him. Zane nodded reluctantly in approval. Layla and Nick then slowly climbed out of the jeep into the pelting rain. Zane hurried and jumped into the drivers seat keeping the engine running.

Layla and Nick carefully walked around to the other side of the jeep. Nick kept watch as Layla got the gas pump and began pumping diesel into the tank. Zane was a little worried that a fire would start with the running engine but he understood the reasons for such a risk.

The gas needle slowly lifted until it touched its cap. The tank was full. They now had enough gas to make a proper escape if needed.

Layla and Nick gave Zane the 'Ok' sign with their fingers as they crept into the store. Zane's heartbeat increased in worry. He just had to hope nothing would happen while they were inside the store.

"Zane, stay focused" prompted Almarie.

Zane snapped himself from his chain of worry. He had to do his part while keeping faith in Layla and Nick.

Both Layla and Nick moved cautiously through the store. They made sure to make as little sound as they could. The store was surprisingly in good condition. It was clean without even a spec of dust on the floor. The air smelled clean and goods laid neatly on the shelves before them. There was no blood or signs of struggle. Even electricity ran through the walls. It was basically heaven compared to other areas they had been to.

"Wow... this is surprising..." exclaimed Nick quietly.

Layla sighed as she looked at Nick as if he was just as dumb as Zane, "Really? This is obviously a trap. A Clean store filled with items desperate humans will need. It's a fat beacon for survivors. The Apocrypha are somewhere here watching us. I could bet my share of two billion lives on that."

Nick froze as Layla's words slapped him in the face. If that were true weren't they in serious trouble?

"Then shouldn't we hurry up and get the hell out of here?"

"Pfft! Like they're gonna make it that easy. I say we just grab a couple items before they charge us. I'm dying for some chocolate right about now..."

Nick was stunned at just how calm Layla was. He felt like he could go to the bathroom where he stood but Layla was so composed it made him feel a little inferior.

"Come on... Let's just hurry it up. Act casual so they think we've let our guard down. Remove the safety from your gun though. We light them up as soon as they show their ugly dark faces. I plan to make this a reverse-ambush. No Apocrypha is gonna outsmart me."

"Wow... that almost sounds... Um- a little racist."

"Every human's equal Nick. I'm just racist against Apocrypha."

Layla walked off picking up items casually as Nick watched her. He would be lying if he said he wasn't impressed. He whistled slowly as he thought about Zane, "My boy hit the jackpot with this one."

Nick then began picking up items as well. He took mostly canned items since they had a longer period of expiry. Layla took as many chocolate bars as she could carry placing them inside her backpack. She also took water, sodas and a few energy drinks all while keeping her guard up. The two then noticed a slight movement not too far behind them. Layla looked up at Nick as if saying 'get ready'.

Meanwhile on the outside of the store; Zane, Almarie and Serenity stared out through the windows. Zane was almost certain he saw a shadow move a few feet away past them. He looked back at Almarie and Serenity who nodded to him in approval notifying him they saw it too.

Zane slammed his hand down on the horn which echoed through the air. Almost exactly on queue, gunshots came rocketing through the air with the loud bellowing of Apocrypha.

"Layla! Nick!" shouted Zane hoping to see them burst through the door.

There was nothing, the shots and Apocrypha screams came to a dead stop.

"Zane! The Apocrypha are coming towards us! The fifteen seconds are up! Floor the pedal and get us the hell out of here!" screamed Almarie in panic.

Zane hovered his foot over the gas pedal. He needed to get them out of there but he couldn't just leave Layla and Nick inside. What if they were still alive and were just having issues making it out?

"Zane!" screamed Almarie once again.

The Apocrypha were now only a few feet away from them. If they didn't move now they would be surrounded without a doubt. Zane glanced back at Almarie and Serenity who had a horrific look across their faces. Zane did a double take back at the door of the store but no one came.

"Zane!!"

"We can't just leave them!" cried Serenity.

"Damn it! Almarie get yourself and Serenity out of here! I'm not leaving them!" screamed Zane as he dashed out through the door.

Serenity screamed at him trying to warn him to come back but it was to no avail. She hadn't even apologized for the trouble she had caused. Almarie jumped into the drivers seat and floored the pedal running over one of the Apocrypha. She swung the steering wheel around and drove out of the gas station. Zane watched as she disappeared down the road.

Zane had already made up his mind. He just couldn't allow Layla and Nick to die inside. He had to at least confirm they were dead before abandoning them. He dashed towards the store door as the rain sapped his hair wet. His clothes became saggy weighing him down. He reached his hand out towards the door before he felt something pounce into him slamming him to the ground. He rolled like a ball through a puddle of water. Some getting into his mouth leaving an awful taste. He adjusted his eyes above him quickly. Two Apocrypha with a chimera dog ready to feast down.

They were rank 2s. He was in trouble and he knew it. He had enough problems taking on one rank 2 chimera dog. Now that was added to two other Apocrypha. He didn't even have a weapon to defend himself. What was he thinking coming out into a hoard of Apocrypha without even a weapon? He struggled to his feet as the chimera pounced down onto his chest. It was much heavier than Zane expected. His lungs struggled to inflate as it stood a top of him. The chimera snapped down at his face aggressively. Zane put his hands in front of him holding the Chimera's head. It was a reflex but one that bought him some time. The chimera wailed and flashed it's four-section head wildly shaking Zane's hand off.

Slobber and saliva washed Zane's face as he clenched his teeth desperately trying to free himself. Some slobber fell into his mouth. He gagged as he preferred the ground water any day. The two Apocrypha then came over Zane ready to aid the chimera in killing him. Bullets then whistled through the air as he saw the Apocrypha fall to the ground beside him. The chimera ceased it's attack and began running away with it's scorpion-like tail between it's legs. A bullet slammed into it as it flipped over like an overturned car.

Zane got himself up to see Layla and Nick standing before him. They were breathing heavily and had a few cuts on their faces. They walked over to him hurriedly and helped him onto his feet.

"You idiot! I told you to leave us if we didn't come back in time!" shouted Layla.

"I'm sorry... I know I should but I just couldn't... I couldn't leave knowing you two might still be alive in there!"

Zane expected Layla to hand him another slap to his face. He squeezed his eyes closed as he got ready to accept Layla's rage. To his surprise, Layla hugged him as if she was thankful he was okay.

"You're so hopeless I swear... You really need to look out for yourself a little more. You'll eventually get killed if you continue like this."

Zane didn't know what to say. He knew what Layla said was the truth but he just couldn't help it. It wasn't apart of who he was to abandon someone in distress.

Layla sniffed him as she released her arms, "Ew... you smell like- Ugh... Chimera drool..."

Zane fidgeted awkwardly, "Yeah... we don't talk about that"

Nick laughed a little relieved everything had turned out okay, "Man... Still though, I'm glad you waited on us. We were planning to bolt it out of there as soon as we could but there were a lot more than we expected. We even ran out of bullets at one point and almost died..."

"Wait? Did Almarie take off with Serenity then?" quickly observed Layla.

Zane nodded dimly approving Layla's theory.

Nick quickly swung his head around realizing the Jeep was gone. He placed his hands on his head dramatically, "Damn it! She really left us! Well, not that I can blame her."

Just then, they began to hear tires screeching and the roaring of an engine coming into the distance. They were surprised to see Almarie driving the jeep up towards them. Serenity had her face pressed against the windshield happy to see them alive.

"Come on! Get in! We're being chased!" commanded Almarie.

The three didn't waste a second. They hurried and got themselves into the jeep. Almarie floored the gas taking off from the gas station. Everything was a success so far but they were still very much in the heat of things. They looked back to see dozens of Apocrypha giving chase to them in b@tmobiles and other stolen human vehicles.

"You came back for us!" squealed Zane happily.

"Yeah..." replied Almarie awkwardly.

"She wasn't going to come back. I was going to jump out if she didn't turn around." explained Serenity with a stern look across her face.

"Oh"

Layla and Nick gave a short and depressing sigh.

"Well we have bigger things to worry about... They're gaining on us!"

The Apocrypha were hot on their tale. Things were about to become much harder than any of them could anticipate.

Game: 2020 Survival

Time remaining: 360 days

Current task: Run!