Chapter 2: Survival in the Mountains
There was a parking lot near the school, where students and teachers parked their vehicles. It was in this lot that they spotted a bicycle, locked securely to a rack. Despite the dire situation, Souta decided that they needed it. Using the axe he had acquired earlier, he broke the lock, allowing them to steal the bike. The three of them got each mounted the bike and pedaled swiftly towards the mountains, leaving the chaos behind.
As they rode towards the mountains, they witnessed countless individuals who had been bitten by the infected.
"Help me!!"
"I don't want to die! I don't want to die!!"
The sight of people screaming in pain and others desperately trying to survive filled them with pity and guilt. Realizing their helplessness in the face of such a catastrophe, they forced themselves to focus on their own survival, pushing the guilt aside.
Without looking back, they continued to pedal, their speed increasing with each passing moment. Finally, they reached the exit of the town and escaped its clutches. Cars raced past them, heading in the opposite direction towards the town, driven by people desperate to escape.
As they continued on their journey, the presence of cars and people diminished until there were none left. They spotted a gas station ahead and decided to stop for a brief respite.
"We'll stop at the gas station," Souta suggested, and the others nodded in agreement.
When they arrived, they discovered that the employees had already fled, and the shop within the gas station had been ransacked. The broken door indicated that others had also sought supplies from the store.
Amy expressed her confusion and questioned, "Why would people would resort to robbery during such a time?" Souta replied matter-of-factly, "If the world is ending, aren't you going to try to secure what they need for survival?"
"Eh? what are you talking about? stealing is a crime, and why do they need it for their survival? the military will save us, right? we'll just have to wait, right?" Amy asked desperately, trying to get an answer
"Amy... this is an apocalypse... you saw it, too. In the movies, the military will always fail, and the evacuation center they will make will be destroyed anyway. Didn't you say it yourself?"
" 'If you were there, you wouldn't go to a place full of people because that's just stupid.' That's what we're doing by going to the mountains isolating ourselves from the people."
Amy's hope was shattered as she realized that this was more than just a pandemic. She had clung to the belief that it would eventually be contained and cured.
Steff tried to console her, assuring her that Souta would protect them no matter what.
"Amy, you don't have to worry, thou this might be hard for you and for us, but we need to survive, we have to trust Souta, he knows what he's doing, I'm sure."
Amy didn't talk while we gathered for supplies. She just stood and helped gather the supplies.
Souta spotted a backpack in the gas station.
"Hey, use these, I found them inside it's a bag. Instead of using plastic bags, use them. It will come in handy in the future."
After gathering essential supplies like water bottles, canned food, and chocolate for energy, medecines they founded, and others they find useful.
Once they had taken everything they could, they resumed their journey towards the mountains.
we're worries about Amy as she is not being talktive as always, but right after I asked her if she's okay Amy couldn't contain her curiosity and asked Souta why they were heading in that direction.
Souta explained, "A-a well, there are fewer people around the mountains, so it's likely to be safer there."
"But it's the mountains, how are we going to live there?" She asked
Steff and I smiled that she finally realized that we ourselves are the only ones that we can rely on.
"Don't worry about that, I have a plan."
As they pedaled closer to the mountains, they eventually reached their destination. The terrain became challenging for biking, prompting Souta to suggest walking instead.
"Thank God we're finally here," Amy exclaimed with relief.
"We should take a break and hide the bikes. They might come in handy in the future. Plus, biking in the mountains is difficult, so walking is a better option," Souta proposed.
Amy agreed, and they carefully concealed the bikes away from the highway, camouflaging them with leaves. They began walking further into the mountains, leaving the bikes behind.
After hours of walking, evening descended upon them. They took a short break before resuming their journey, knowing they needed to find a place to rest for the night.
"We'll walk for half an one hour, and then we'll find a suitable spot to sleep," Souta declared.
Amy and Steff nodded in agreement, their exhaustion evident. After an additional hour of walking, the darkness of night enveloped them. Thankfully, they had their phones as a source of light.
"Follow me," Souta instructed, leading them towards the left, away from the road. After approximately 15 minutes, they arrived at a waiting shed—a surprising sight amidst the mountains.
Steff couldn't contain her curiosity. "Souta, why is there a waiting shed here?"
Souta chuckled. "It seems to be a local project of the people around here. I always go jogging in the morning, passing by this area. Tomorrow, I'll show you an even bigger surprise."
A smile crossed Souta's face as he made his promise.
"You two are exhausted, so sleep first. I'll take the night shift to keep watch," Souta insisted.
Amy and Steff exchanged glances, but Amy spoke up. "No, we'll take turns guarding during the night."
"Amy is right, Souta. You must be exhausted too," Steff added.
Souta smiled, acknowledging their concern. "Alright, I'll wake you up when it's your turn."
Souta lit a mosquito coil to ward off the pesky insects. He knew it would come in handy eventually, so he had grabbed a pack from the store.
With the coil emitting a gentle smoke, Souta settled into his guard duty, keeping watch over his companions as they rested, hoping for a safer tomorrow amidst the mountains.
"Hey, are we going to survive this apocalypse?" Amy asked as she couldn't sleep.
"Amy, I can't promise you that, but I am certain that we can survive this longer than ordinary people." Souta said with reassurance
"So you're saying that we'll die eventually?" Amy continued
"No I-"
"Amy, Souta is already tired. You know it fully well that we can't live forever with or without the apocalypse. Being able to survive longer than ordinary people is already a blessing to others." Steff step in the conversation
Amy giggled, "Hehehe, I know that much, sorry for asking such a thing, Souta. I know for sure that you will lead us into a bright future."
"That's given, Hahahahaha." As the three of them laughed, and start talking about their childhood.
As time goes by, the two fell asleep.
Souta sat at the waiting shed, the faint glow of the mosquito coil providing a sense of comfort amidst the darkness. The night was quiet, interrupted only by the occasional rustling of leaves or the distant howl of an animal. Souta's eyes scanned the surroundings, ever watchful for any signs of danger.
As he guarded his friends, thoughts of their uncertain future weighed heavily on his mind. The once familiar world had transformed into a nightmarish landscape, where survival was paramount. He couldn't help but wonder if they would ever find a semblance of normalcy again.
Hours passed, and as the night slowly gave way to the dawn, Souta gently woke Amy and Steff, signaling the change in their guard shift. They groggily rose from their makeshift beds, rubbing their eyes and stretching their tired muscles.
"Your turn," Souta whispered, his voice barely audible. "Keep an eye out, and if anything seems off, wake me immediately."
Amy nodded, her senses sharpened by the gravity of their situation. Steff, too, remained vigilant, aware of the dangers lurking in the world they once knew.
The sun began to rise, casting a soft glow over the mountains, as Souta settled himself next to the waiting shed, his back against the wall. He closed his eyes for a moment, allowing the warmth of the morning rays to wash over him.
Suddenly, a rustling sound nearby jolted him awake. He glanced around, his heart pounding in his chest, and spotted a small deer cautiously emerging from the underbrush. It grazed peacefully, oblivious to the chaos that had befallen humanity.
Relieved, Souta took a deep breath, realizing that even amidst the horror, nature continued its course. It was a glimmer of hope, a reminder that life persisted in the face of adversity.
As the day progressed, the three continued their journey through the mountains.