Chapter 1

Part 2

"Why did you come back for me?", asked the man.

    "Just because I was in jail doesn't mean I'm an actual criminal....I just....did something wrong. Something that deserved the sentence I got", I said staring off at the barren mountains. Seems like Colorado was not nothing. Denver's city looked like it was burning away. I veered right, there was no way I was headed towards that mess. If the jail cell was that bad....then the city was likely worse.

    "It's already too late, you're going to go rabid within the next few minutes", said the man.

    I could already feel the sweat building on my forehead. Freaking fever, it had to start with a fever. "No, no, it's not too late, I was just bitten, that's all", I said I tensed hunching as I felt my insides start to flare up in pain.

    "I'll make it quick", said the man.

    "You'd shoot a person who just saved your life? You really are an a**hole", I said breathing.

    I looked up feeling hairs grow on my hand. Nasty! The steering wheel vibrated as I held it tighter. What the hell was happening?! Was this what happened to everyone who got infected?! Sh**! I clenched my teeth. It f***ing hurt! My nails tore through the skin bleeding from my right hand.

    The hairs crawled up slowly, damn it! Damn it! I can't go! Not like this! I still had a f***ing promise to keep! Don't keep that from me! I will not-!

    The agony grew less intense then...the hairs stopped growing. I swallowed my throat parched. Beads of salty sweat fell down my face and dripped from my chin as I was heaving for air.

The stranger had pulled his gun. But he hadn't raised it. He was staring in silence too.

"You....you really are an a**hole", I repeated after a bit of silence.

The stranger was appalled, he was suspicious too, "What did you do?", he asked.

"Ugh-! Damn it!....Hell if I know!", I responded as my gut twisted painfully. He stared at me. "Pull over", he said.

"Hell no", I said.

"I'll drive", he stated.

"You have a gun be happy with that", I argued snapping at him. 

"But I'm in a better condition to drive", he said.

"You'll die of bloodloss before you can drive one mile. Fix that wound first", I said opening a compartment under the dash board and pulled out a first aid kit tossing it to him.

He frowned but began to administer his own care taking off his vest and shirt.

I glanced at him and then kept my eyes on the mountains. I wasn't going to take the roads. There would likely be rabbids and cars empty with no drivers blocking the lanes. Off roasting would have to do.

"Sorry for shooting you", I mumbled.

The man looked towards me as he stitched it shut with difficulty as the car rumbled over the terrain.

"You missed everything important", he said.

"How do you feel?", he asked after a long pause.

"Like sh**, hurts like hell still. Didn't know a f***ing bite could hurt all your insides. I feel like everything is being messed up and burning away", I said.

"You're still dying. You're just putting off the inevitable", said the man.

"Yeah...been doing it ever since I was born. It's called surviving and living", I said.

"It's pointless, the judgement will be passed. And those worthy in the purge will survive", said the man.

"Save your preaching, I'm not much of a devote person so don't expect me to understand that stuff", I said.

"See, you aren't devote. You're bound to die", said the man.

"Everyone dies eventually, whether we're devote, good or bad. It don't matter what sh** you do. You die. But you get remembered. That's what matters. And I'm not dying...not yet....not until I....do...grt!", I clenched my teeth swallowing my saliva sticking to the walls of my mouth and lips dry.

"Do what?", asked the man.

"Keep my promise", I said.

"What promise?", asked the man.

"You done yet?", I asked heavily. I felt like I was going to puke.

"Yes almost", he responded.

I hit the brakes the jeep slamming forward. I shoved open the door vomitting. I stumbled over hurdling over puking. My throat burned as the stomach acid traveled up. Chunks of the last prison meal stuck to my mouth. Disgusting!

The other door shut and the stranger came from the other side. I turned hearing the jeep start and accelerate off.

"Aw! Hell!", I yelled.