1. ... that we should head north to the next town. I have a detailed map of it. We could find the hospital there."
Jacob shakes his head. "That's good, but I really still think we should head for the hills."
"Well, if conditions in the town are not so great, we can always do that, still," you say.
"I guess," Jacob sighs. "I just don't want to go from the frying pan to the fire, if you know what I mean. I just have a bad feeling about staying in the valley."
Nicole comes up and hugs Jacob's leg. He gently pats her head. "I'll be OK. Wolfy will look after us. He saved me, and he'll keep us safe," she says up at him.
"Wolfy?" you say, slightly bemused.
Nicole turns and looks at you. "You're my big bad wolf!"
You snarl at her, and she gasps, pulls back a bit, and then giggles.
David laughs. "Do I get a nickname, too?"
"No," Nicole says.
There is a moment of silence. You take a look around the lobby, presumably for the last time. Odd. You again feel somewhat sad, like when you left the gas station. You're not usually a sentimental type of guy. Hell, you haven't given a single thought to your apartment that probably got blown to bits in the blast until just now.
"Well, let's get going," David says. "Wherever that might be."
"Up," Nicole says, raising her arms. You bend to pick her up, but something occurs to you.
"Nicole, is your arm hurting?" you ask, looking at the sling.
"No, not anymore," she says.
You turn to Jacob. "Is that normal?"
He shakes his head. "No. I've noticed it too. The wound is healing incredibly quickly. I looked at it this morning. It seems to have healed almost entirely overnight."
You turn back to Nicole. "How'd you do that, sweetie?"
"I dunno," she says. "I had a dream about an angel and he touched my shoulder. He was pretty."
"An angel, huh?"
David interrupts. "Look, this is fascinating and everything, but we need to go," he says.
"Yes, you're right," you say, picking up Nicole and putting her on your shoulders. "Let's move."
The four of you walk out to the car.
"Wait a minute," Jacob says. "I just got an idea."
"Yeah?" you say.
"Why don't we put up, like, a sign? A big one, out front. Leave directions as to where we're going. If any other survivors see it, they can follow us and meet up. I mean, I seriously doubt the faceless can read."
David is already opening the car door. A quick glance seems to reveal he doesn't care.
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1. "Sure, Jacob. Sounds like a great idea. Let's do it."
2. "I'm not so sure that's a good idea, Jacob. Even if the faceless can't read, I don't like the idea of something or somebody following us."
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