After dinner, Zephyr drove a bit further before pulling over for the night. They'd resume their journey in the morning. Though the risk of colliding with other vehicles was gone, Zephyr, lacking both a driver's license and experience on mountain roads, decided against driving at night or while fatigued, even with the Etherscope's assistance.
Surviving a zombie apocalypse only to die in a car crash would be ironic.
They'd started on the mountain road at dusk. Now, in daylight, the route was exactly as Serena described – desolate. The occasional farmhouse dotted the distant landscape. They passed a rundown car wash and repair shop, and next to it, a greasy-spoon diner with a faded sign that read "Fast Food Restaurant."
Places like these catered to truckers.
Two tractor-trailers were parked in front of the car wash. Their windows were smashed, blood staining the ground around them. No sign of the drivers. Whether they'd been chased off by zombies or something else was anyone's guess.
Zephyr parked in front of the diner. The front door, a battered wooden affair, was closed tight, smeared with dark stains. It gave off a distinctly creepy vibe.
"Zephyr, are you…?" Serena asked, startled.
"Just looking for some food."
In these early days, fresh food was still plentiful. In a few days, when everything started to rot, they'd be relying on his stockpile of preserved meals.
He'd stocked up, but with two mouths to feed, they couldn't pass up opportunities to forage.
"Food? Here? Is it even…safe?" Serena asked, her voice laced with worry.
Zephyr gave her a reassuring smile. He knew she was worried about contamination.
The Etherscope had revealed that the world's food and water supply had been contaminated before the outbreak. Everyone already carried the virus.
But for those who'd survived the initial mutation, like him, the dormant virus was no longer a threat. Foraging was safe.
Being bitten, however, was a different story. The amplified virus in zombie saliva was still dangerous.
He wasn't going to explain all that. It was too much, and too hard to explain how he knew.
"It's fine," he said simply.
"Do…do we have to go inside?" she asked hesitantly. Venturing out was risky, but everything was risky now. Especially scavenging for food.
Her face paled slightly. She was afraid, but if he needed her, she'd go.
"Hold on," Zephyr said.
"Huh?" Before she could react, the engine roared to life.
The van surged forward, slamming into the diner's front door.
Wood and metal splintered, the door collapsing inward.
Zephyr had already assessed the flimsy construction. Thin metal sheeting, foam insulation, held together with screws. It wouldn't take much.
As the wall gave way, he got a glimpse of the interior.
It was a gruesome scene. Four zombies were on the floor, tearing at something. Blood and viscera were everywhere. Five…maybe more…bodies lay disemboweled, their remains being devoured.
He couldn't tell how many bodies there were. Or what was left of them.
"Ah!" Serena cried out, clapping a hand over her mouth.
The sight was horrific, but she'd have to get used to it.
The four zombies looked up from their grisly feast.
Bloodshot eyes, bulging veins, gore dripping from their mouths. They roared and lunged toward the van.
Zephyr floored it.
The engine roared again, the van plowing into the zombies, pinning them against the far wall.
The wall exploded outward, the van, zombies, and debris crashing through into the dirt yard behind the diner.
Blood and gore sprayed everywhere, coating the windshield. The zombies were dead.
Zephyr exhaled slowly. He stared at the mess on the windshield, then hit the wipers. The blades smeared the gore across the glass, painting it crimson. The washer fluid hissed, diluting the blood, and the wipers slowly cleared the glass.
He watched in silence. Less than twenty-four hours into the apocalypse, and he was already getting used to the carnage.
Serena stood behind him, biting her lip, watching the wipers clear the blood. She didn't know what to say.
He'd seemed so…calm. But she knew that was how they'd survive. Tears wouldn't save them.
"I'll…I'll get the food," she said, finding her voice.
Going out there, facing those…things…it was sickening. But it wasn't his job. She had to contribute.
"Opening the door," she said, waiting for his nod.
He wasn't being callous. He needed her mobile, and trapped in the van with him, she'd be useless. If she was outside, he could provide backup with the van.
The diner was a wreck. Serena carefully navigated the debris and located the walk-in freezer.
It was taller than she was, and packed with food – chicken, duck, fish, eggs, vegetables. Enough to feed a dozen people for days.
There was no way to move the freezer. She found some clean plastic bags and started loading up the van, one bag at a time.
The van had a small freezer, but it wouldn't hold a fraction of this. They'd have to eat quickly.
"Zephyr, I'll make dinner tonight. Let me cook for you," she said, returning to the van. She was a confident cook, having started young. She'd even salvaged oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, a small camping stove, and a skillet. The van's tiny kitchen had limited equipment – a single small burner and a tiny pot.
She set up in the small living area, making the already cramped space even tighter. But she was small, and managed to maneuver.
She was starving. Even with the noodles last night, she'd barely eaten, worried about supplies.
Now, with so much food about to spoil, she could finally have a decent meal.
"Sounds good," Zephyr replied.
He was looking forward to it. He was planning to stay here a while. Night was falling.
He watched her work, a feeling of anticipation building.
The van felt even smaller now, crowded with her makeshift kitchen.
If only it were bigger. More space for gas, food, amenities.
A true mobile base.
The sun had set completely, and Serena was almost finished cooking. The delicious aroma filled the van, making his mouth water. They hadn't had a proper meal in days.
Suddenly…
A low, guttural roar echoed from the darkness outside.
Zephyr froze. What was that?
The sound, carried on the wind, resonated through the silent mountains, sending a chill down his spine.