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Jenni looked at Katie worriedly for a second, then grabbed the CB "Uh, Ralph? Please tell ht?"

Katie’s laugher rang out and Jenni pouted at her

"Why don’t you just ask if their leader is a black rinned at her

"Nope and nope," Ralph’s voice cah, bemused but worried

"Keep us informed I’m worried sick"

"Ten-Four Can and will do Over and out," Jenni said trying to sound like she wasn’t scared out of her e…

She looked across the valley at the distant dark cloud of dead fleshwe can’t sit still I’o for it and turn onto FM 195," Katie said as the sign announcing the junction with their new destination flashed by

Considering the scarceness of the tree cover, Jenni had to agree They were some distance away Hopefully, they could just turn up onto the new road and disappear over the hilltop

The truck turned and sped up the hill It was a long, steady climb and Jenni couldn’t help but turn and stare out the backThe shaggy brown hair of her stepson and the back of the German Shepherd’s head were the frame for her view The dark ant-like zolers of the bigger group

The red truck crested the tall hill and Jenni could clearly see the entire valley and the hills beyond, painfully beautiful, serene, andthe other side

Jason turned around white-faced

"What?" Jenni asked

"Didn’t you see?"

"Uh…no"

"The tail end, maybe ten or twenty, turned onto this road"

Jenni rested her forehead on the back of her seat and sighed

Fro of…"fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck"

2 Salvation This Way Co, nor did she want to This was getting ridiculous She just couldn’t believe honhill their plan had gone But every ti the safety of Ralph’s hunting store, she would catch a gliy brown hair in the backseat of the truck and kneorth it

Jason’s rescue hadn’t just been important to Jenni, but to Katie as well

She had felt helpless after saving Jenni Yeah, they had survived, but she had failed too many Lydia, the kid at the convenience store…how many others had she bypassed without notice?

And now they were speeding at top speeds toward a possible ca of zo behind the pursuit of flesh Her flesh And Jason’s And Jenni’s

She glanced back at the dog that looked back at her questioningly If they wanted Jack or not that had yet to be seen, but they wouldn’t get hi on so Katie suspiciously

She looked away froht shot of road they were on The terrain was flattening out a bit They were heading ard and the hills were fading into the background Slowly, their destination shis hovered over a modest expanse of town Katie could clearly see the don area partially ringed by tall red-bricked buildings that seemed out of place with the flatness of the rest of the town The farht into the center of town

But where were the survivors?

Tirabbed the CB and flipped it to channel 9 "Survivors in Ashley Oaksl, this is Bright Red Truck heading your way We’re a party of three with a dog co in from? FM 195 or Route 6?" It was a wo

"Ashley Oaks, we’re co low on fuel and have co up the rear They are probably a few et tired"

"We understand Keep on your course and when you reach the wall, get out of your truck and we’ll lift you over"

"Wall?" Jenni and Jason said at the same time

"I don’t think we understand," Katie said with some confusion

"You will Just be ready" The woman’s voice cut out

The truck continued to barrel down the road and Katie felt the truck give a little shudder The needle on the gas gauge now sat below the line

"This is going to be close," Jenni whispered

"As usual," Katie answered

The tall red buildings, very retro, very 1930s began to looan to filter by A ss from the 1970s boarded up and closed, eas stations Katie estimated that the center of toas e and a little intis hovered over what looked like a construction site Several large trucks appeared to ring it and an enore scoop at the end was perched on an enorle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>