Page 19 of Surviving Her

“We’ll have to make do with what we can find. How about we go back to the hospital?” River said, her voice tinged with frustration. “We could be quick about it. You must have plenty of supplies there. It’s our only option. We don’t know how long this place will stay safe.”

Eliza’s response came out harsher than she would have liked. “There’s not a chance in hell I’m going back there. Half the city is in that place. No way. We’d never make it out alive. If you want to go back there, then you’re going alone.”

“Jesus, doc. Calm down would you? We’ll find another solution,” River replied, feeling guilty as soon as she realized that Eliza was hurt by her words.

I’m so sorry. Please don’t look at me like that. Come into my arms, and let me help you feel better.

As they gathered what they could, River’s attention was drawn to a faint whispering sound from outside. Her instincts kicked in and she motioned for Eliza to stay close. The sound was muffled, but it carried an unmistakable note of urgency.

“Do you hear that?” River asked, her voice tense.

“Yes,” Eliza replied, her eyes fixed on the store’s entrance. “It sounds like someone’s out there.”

River approached the entrance cautiously. The storefront was partially blocked by debris, but she could see a shadow moving outside. Her heart raced with anticipation as she prepared for whatever might come through the door.

“Look!” River said, her voice barely above a whisper. “They’re the ones who stole our stuff. That woman’s wearing your sweater.”

As if on cue, the shadow solidified into the shape of a mother and her young daughter. The mother’s face was drawn and weary, her eyes wide with desperation and fear. The young girl, clutching a fluffy toy rabbit, clung to her side.

“I guess it wasn’t really my sweater. But…what do we do? Let them keep it?” Eliza asked, her voice trembling slightly.

“Not a chance. I say we confront them,” River said, her voice steady despite the churning emotions within her. “Let’s find out what they’re playing at.”

She stepped out of the door, her gaze fixed on the pair. “Hey!” River called out, her voice authoritative. “Stop right there!”

The mother and daughter froze. The woman’s hands trembled as she tried to shield her daughter from this new danger. “I beg you,” she said, her voice quivering. “Wedidn’t mean to cause any trouble. We were cold and hungry. We’re locked out of our house, and…well…you know what’s happening.”

River’s expression softened as she caught a glimpse of the young child. “But you took almost everything we had,” she said, her tone edged with frustration. “We’re struggling, too. Everyone’s got their own shit going on.”

The mother’s eyes filled with tears as she looked at River. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to steal. I just...I didn’t know what else to do. The monsters are outside our house. The door’s locked anyway. My husband had the key, but he turned and…”

Eliza stepped forward, her face a mixture of compassion and resolve. “We understand it’s hard. Do you have any other family nearby? Someone who could come and pick you guys up?”

“If you need help,” River said, her voice softening, “you can keep what you took. It’s fine. But you need to understand it’s not easy for any of us out here. Everything’s been looted. There’s almost nobody left in the city.”

“The monsters are still here,” said the little girl with a whimper.

“There’s no such thing as monsters, honey,” explained Eliza with a kind smile. “There’s a virus going around—a nasty bug. But we’ll have a solution soon. You stay with your mommy and do as she tells you, okay, sweetie?”

The mother’s shoulders sagged with relief as she looked at River. “Thank you.”

River nodded, though the anger from losing their supplies still gnawed at her. “Alright. Get out of here. Stay safe.”

River and Eliza watched them go, their hearts heavy.

“God, this is just awful. Should we ask them to stay?” asked Eliza, looking River straight in the eye.

River felt a surge of anxiety wash through her. She knew she needed to make things clear to Eliza. They couldn’t waste theirtime and resources on saving others. They had to put themselves first. “Listen. You’re a good person, I can tell. But we can’t help everyone we see. We’ll never make it. Let’s continue north, try to find medicine if we can, but…the main point is we need to keep going. We need to get out of Campdale.”

The conversation was disrupted as a nearby window smashed and a group of infected hurtled out.

“Fuck! Get down behind that car and don’t make a sound,” River whispered as she grabbed Eliza’s hand.

“But what about the mom and her kid?”

“They can outrun them, they’re slow. Look.” River pointed to the infected, whose skin was almost green as groans left their mouths.

“This is fucking insane. They are really zombies, aren’t they? Oh my God, what if my mom and dad are like that too? I’m never gonna see them again, am I?” Eliza panicked, losing the calm and collected attitude she tried so damn hard to uphold.

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