Chapter 4

"Turns out that the chicken was inedible"

He figured as soon as he felt constipated the next day. That day he swore to Punch Greg if he ever met him. The day passed without any developments if you don't count Ralph's angry curses throughout the day.

He woke up early the next day. He had to decide whether he would search for people from now on or postpone it for some time.

It wasn't that hard of a decision to make when he thought of how he was going insane without any human interaction, for all the things he had prepared to help with his boredom they couldn't keep him cooped up in the town forever.

'I'll prepare today and then set out tomorrow, It's better to plan how I would go about the search before getting on the road and I do have to fetch a generator just in case I can't find one in other places.'

'While I have downloaded a map, I don't know if it will be that much of a help without GPS. I can't deny the fact that I have lost my way with a map before, something about following simple directions just doesn't sit with me.'

"I think I'll rob the gun store while I'm at it, The world wasn't a safe place before all of this and I doubt it became any better now that there is no one to enforce the laws, if there is even anyone to break them, other then me, and I also don't know for sure if all the animals have disappeared".

Ralph certainly didn't want to run into a bear that starved due disappearance of most of its prey.

'I wonder if they are happy with just berries. I certainly don't want to confirm that theory with my life.'

He picked up a light pistol and carefully stored it in his bag along with a few magazines he loaded. It was as easy as he had expected, a rare occurrence.

'That's that then, let's pick up rations and some new clothes next.' He went over to the mall where he selected different types of rations, after some thinking he picked up some vegetables as well, the ones that weren't spoilt. He went around and visited various stores to gather supplies for a very long outing.

'These shades are going to help with the ever-blazing sun, I could use more sunscreen.....Ah, a knife I've always wanted the kind they use in forests, its sharpness is alright I guess....Malls don't keep the really sharps knives in the open I guess.'

When his shopping spree ended he carried the bags back to the car trunk. He struggled to make them all fit.

"Looks like I'm all set to go"

He thought of the journey ahead as he settled down in his bed. He looked around the house one last time before sleeping.

When he woke up he picked up a family photo and left a note he jotted down in case his parents came back somehow and didn't find him at home.

[Hey Mom and Dad, Um are you alright? I guess you would be since you're reading this letter. I have been lonely this past month without you guys. I have had this fear that I might never see you again. Ignore the last part, I got a bit sentimental at that point. Anyway, I had been thinking about apologizing before everyone disappeared and I feel the guilt all the time, the next time we meet could you please tell me that you forgive me? That came out as a bit selfish, didn't it? I'm going to Wiltsville next, and from there I'll keep heading to the next nearest place till I meet someone else. In any case, I am writing this letter on what I believe to be 26 September, it would be hard for you to find me so I will come back home after a year at the latest. I guess I will see you in a year then.

On my way]