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c h a p t e r - t h r e e:

advanced darkness

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10:30 P.M.

They had found safety in an abandoned parking structure for the night, a few hours after attempting to cross the bridge. They hadn't yet, there were too many Zombies on the bridge itself and chasing them from behind at the same time. Their plan right now, was to wait it out all night and try crossing it tomorrow morning. That bridge was important, as it was their only way to continue toward Texas.

Bridger plopped down on one of the many curbs, using it as a seat instead of the ground itself. Letting out a rough sigh, as he leaned his back against the concrete wall, the moon shining in on them.

Margo sat against an old car, in which the windows were busted and the doors were dent. "Your trench coat's getting dirty."

Bridger rolled his eyes, "Its the apocalypse, why does it matter anymore?"

Margo scoffed, "It was only a joke, what's got you all fed up?"

Bridger stared at the low glow of their small fire, and he shook his head. "We should have been across that bridge and hours away from Los Angeles by now, if it wasn't for the amount of Zombies in the area."

"I understand, and I agree." Margo nodded. "But hey, at least we tried. We can say that much, right?"

"I suppose," Bridger shrugged. "But, if we're gonna make it to Texas we need to be passed that bridge by the afternoon, tomorrow. No later."

Bridger seemed to be a very harsh guy, Margo didn't know what  two-months into the apocalypse could do to a person. And she began asking herself, what of Bridger's past? Where was he when the outbreak started? What's with that trench coat? And how did he end up here?

Those were the questions that may never be answered, for all Margo knows. But, she can try guessing, for now.

Margo then wondered, "Why the hurry?"

"I don't like staying in one place for too long." Was all Bridger said, before laying himself on the ground, using the curb as a pillow. Though, it was uncomfortable, it would have to do for now.

Margo was the first to take watch, as Bridger was sleeping for a few hours. And then, once those few hours were up, Margo would sleep and Bridger would take watch. They would have to do a lot of this throughout their journey to Texas.

"Just like every cliché in the books I've read in the past," Margo lightly chuckled to herself, and laid her head back against the old car. Holding the pistol in her lap, that Bridger had temporarily given her for the time being.

It was his pistol, but since he was sleeping first, he let her have it just in case. To keep them both safe, when needed.

Two-hours go by, as the moon seemed to be in the middle of the sky. It was no longer pouring into the parking structure, as they were on the third floor. So now, it was advanced darkness, with the only help of the dim glow from their little fire to help ominously light the way. It didn't do much, so the image was horrifying and it didn't comfort Margo in the slightest.

She kept hold of Bridger's pistol close and tight, afraid for what might jump out of the shadows at any given moment. She should've been used to the apocalypse by now, but the truth was, she wasn't.

Margo didn't feel it was fair for a twenty-one year old to be living the rest of their days out in the apocalypse. But, here she is. She kept thinking back at the moments before the outbreak, just hours to even weeks before complete disaster struck and ruined her life.

And to think, both Margo and her mother had so many plans to have fun on the week of her birthday. As her gift for finally hitting the big 'twenty-one' mark in her life. Margo couldn't even remember half of the plans they had in store for that week... She only remembered about three; go to Disneyland, go to the theater, and visit a few museums...

She knew there were a bunch more on their list of stuff to do, but that was about all that she could remember. She never thought that two-months can feel like eternity, when it came to the apocalypse.

Everything. It was all just gone. Dead. And the days got slower and slower.

When suddenly, a tinge of pain darted through Margo's brain. As she remanences on the memory of pushing her own mother through the window, and to her death, down a four-story hotel. The memory of it hurt physically and mentally. She crinkled her fingers into tight fists, and blew out crisply into the air at the thought.

She didn't know whether it was anxiety, or just pure sadness. She went with both. The pain was a little too real. So, she attempted to push the thought to the back of her mind. To escape from further interruptions with her train of thought. Not wanting to think of the horrible deed she did toward her mother.

The quiet was almost too good to be true, when the sudden sound of light growls grew in the distance.

Margo gripped the pistol tighter, as she looked through the darkness. Seeing nothing but a black void. Thanks to the tiny dim of the fire, her eyes weren't able to adjust. So she was blind to whatever was beyond the shadows.

The growls turned into moans, as feet were dragging.

Margo pointed the pistol toward the sound, ready to fire when given the chance. Her heart raced to no bitter end. Yes, she has killed a few Zombies before. But it all still felt surreal to her.

She then paused, as more than one growl was heard. There was more than one Zombie, maybe even more than two. She didn't want to attract all of them with gunshots, as both her and Bridger would be screwed.

The light. She looked at the fire. She had to get rid of the light quick, before the Zombies noticed.

Margo went onto all fours, and quickly blew out the fire completely. As it was small, almost like four candles with small sticks.

She crawled closer to a sleeping Bridger, so that way he wasn't alone and neither was she. She attempted to quiet her breathing, as the growls grew louder along with the sluggish footsteps.

It was a haunting sound. And the fact that she could not see a thing made the whole ordeal even more petrifying. Margo cuddled her legs deep into her chest, trying to keep calm. Telling herself that all will be okay, and the dead wouldn't find them in that corner.

Should she wake Bridger? She didn't know what to do.

Margo widened her eyes, as a natural reaction to advanced darkness that she could not see through. She felt completely blind. She now knew how the blind felt, and it wasn't pleasant. She felt bad.

She began to regret ever putting out the fire, but then if she didn't, the Zombies would easily find them. So, she had no choice.

Margo then had the dumbest idea yet; she was going to go and kill those Zombies. Just to make sure that they don't kill them first. Because otherwise the Zombies were bound to find them eventually, and they'd become dinner quicker than they could shoot.

Bridger was sleeping in a safe angle, to where, Zombies would most likely not even sense he was there. Thanks to his trench coat draping over his body, like a blanket.

Margo laid the pistol into Bridger's lap, just in case he woke up and needed it. She wasn't going to need it, as she didn't want to attract more, as said earlier.

She was going to do this the old fashioned way, her hands and whatever weapon like object she could find. Which so far? Was a thick stick from the little campfire they had made.

It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing, that was for sure.

Margo slowly walked through the parking structure, in total darkness, blindly. Leaving Bridger, in the hopes of coming back. Her eyes wide, trying to adjust to the darkness, so that way, it will make killing the Zombies much easier.

She just hoped that when and if she comes back, Bridger won't be angry that she left in the first place...

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Here's chapter-three! :)

What was your favorite part of this chapter?

Sorry for the late update, I've been busy with classes and I have other books. :P

Xoxo <3