2. Say nothing. Go back with her to the cabin.The two of you head back inside, and gather up what supplies you can.
"Your car or mine?" you ask.
"The pickup is a piece of shit, and worse, it's almost on empty," Jesse replies, hefting a duffel full of canned goods over her shoulder. "Let's take yours."
"Alright," you say.
About a half hour later, you're packed and ready to go. As you drive out back onto the canyon road, Jesse glances over her shoulder one last time.
"Goodbye," she says simply, and then turns to face ahead.
It's probably nearing noon as you pull out of the wooded area of the ravine and into the gentle slopes near where the road re-connects with the highway. Up ahead, you can see the little market Jesse told you about. There's a single gas pump outside.
"Locked," Jesse says, preempting your question. "Spent about two hours looking for the keys. Owner must have had them on his keyring, took em with him when he split."
You nod, and pull into the gravel parking lot. As the car rolls to a stop, Jesse opens the door and steps out, rifle hanging at her side.
"Does that thing shoot anything but tranqs?" you ask.
"No," she says.
"Uh. Do you know if..."
"No. Doesn't even slow them," she says, deadpan. "I've got three shots left, before you ask."
You look up at the dusty sign. A sickly looking oak tree grows nearby, casting a pale shadow over the front of the store.
Earl's Country Market
Gas, Food and Beverage
"Anything look different since you were last here?" you ask.
"Nope," Jesse says, and heads inside. You follow.
The interior is mostly intact. Shelves of snack foods, canned goods. A few coolers in the back, lined with six packs, soda, and water. Jesse begins to shove things into a sack from the shelves. "Get the booze, would you?" she asks.
You begin to carry cans out to the car, putting them mostly in the trunk, with a few in the backseat.
You pick up a few books of matches, a few lighters, and some new shades. Looking behind the counter reveals nothing.
"Checked that already," Jesse says. She nods at her rifle.
"Earl had a tranq rifle under the counter?" you ask.
Jesse shrugs. "I guess," she says, leaving with another load of food.
You shake your head. Damn.
"We're going to need some firearms," you say to Jesse, following her to the car. "If the tranqs don't work on Faceless, the flaregun isn't going to hold up for long."
"Faceless?" she asks, raising her eyebrows.
"Er, you know. Infected."
"Oh. You make that up?"
"I guess," you say.
"Do those dogs who killed your one friend have a name?"
You wince a bit internally at the memory, both of Jacob's screams and your own "death."
"Yeah. Cavines."
Jesse smirks. "Clever. I was predicting 'Cerberus' or maybe 'Dire Wolves' or something."
"Window smashers?" you suggest.
Jesse cocks her head at you and gives you a long look. "Was that a Resident Evil joke?"
Your mouth falls open a bit. "Great, I finally find a chick who can appreciate video game jokes.
After the world has ended."
Jesse smiles, and some interior part of you lights up to see it.
Told ya you liked her.Go away, you think fiercely.
"How old are you?" Jesse asks.
"Twenty-five," you reply. She nods, and heads back inside.
You follow. "What was that? Checking to see if I was in your age group?"
Jesus, you think.
I'm flirting with her. I really must like her. Christ.Jesse doesn't turn around from her next load. "Just curious," she says, her voice even.
You chide yourself internally. This is not the time or place to be doing this kind of shit. Her family just died, the world is full of quasi-zombies, she's probably no older than seventeen, and you hardly know her.
On the other hand, that sure is a nice ass, you admire, watching her bend over.
You break your gaze as you realize that the voice you just heard inside you was not your own.
Didn't you hear me, asshole? Get lost!Faint giggling in your head. You sigh, and head to the back for a beer. Maybe if you get drunk enough, Benny will die for good.
Speaking of which, maybe getting piss drunk actually might be a good idea. You could hole up here for the night, make sure you put this infection into remission. You can't really take any more alcohol with you, but there's still enough here to get wasted.
*************************************
1. Sounds good. Tell your plan to Jesse.
2. No, you need to keep moving.
*************************************
Location: Earl's Country Market
Health: Leg wounded, bandaged and cleaned
Infection: Low
Weapons: Flaregun, 2 flares
Assets: Flashlight, about two weeks food/water, car (fourth of a tank), First aid Kit w/rubbing alcohol, bandages, scissors, peroxide, q-tips, aspirin, a sling, some stitching wire + needle; two sleeping bags, extra can of gasoline, tent, 15 six packs of beer, matches, lighters, shades.
Skills: None
Party Members: Jesse
Health: Normal
Infection: Low
Weapons: Tranq Rifle, 3 tranq darts
Skills: Unknown
"They" encountered:
"Faceless"
Form: Humanoid
Attacks: Vines
Resilience: Medium, can be killed by massive damage to torso
Speed: Low
Special/Notes: Central nervous system does not seem to be present in the head
"Flesh Worm"
Form: Worm
Attacks: Mouth, Unknown
Resilience: Unknown
Speed: Unknown
Special/Notes: Unknown
"No-Face"
Form: Humanoid
Attacks: Unknown, seemed to summon other faceless. Changed a bird into a Crawler. Killed "Jacob".
Resilience: Unknown
Speed: Unknown
Special/Notes: Can suddenly vanish, or turn invisible. May be all in your head.
"Crawler"
Form: Vermin
Attacks: Long Vines
Resilience: Low
Speed: High
Special/Notes: Can climb and stick to walls, ceilings.
"Cavine"
Form: Canine
Attacks: Vines
Resilience: Medium
Speed: High
Special/Notes: Unknown
"Halfhead"
Form: Humanoid
Attacks: Vines
Resilience: Unknown
Speed: Medium
Special/Notes: Can speak. Seems somewhat stronger than a normal Faceless. Infecting thorns on vines.
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