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pillow from the porch. Funny, she didn’t even remember dropping the damned things. Furiously, she’d guided Jeff to the passenger seat of the wagon. He went docilely, seemingly content to let her lead uncontested for the time being. Climbing behind the wheel, wishing he could be trusted to drive, she turned the engine over and gunned it. She took off before the nearby creatures could make their way after them and block the wagon from traveling.
    Lorna needed rest, and gratefully allowed her eyes to shut. Snuggling closer to Jeff, she pulled a shirt over her shoulders in place of a blanket. Then she finally joined him in sleep.

TEN
    The next two weeks were Hell, and April was definitely bringing the expected showers. They’d crossed into Maryland briefly, and Lorna had spared a wistful glance as they passed Salisbury Mall. She knew there were a ton of supplies available, but she also figured the mall would be packed. It usually was, as there was always a sale to be had, but this time the crowd would be pretty freaking hungry. No, it wasn’t worth the risk… but she wished it was.
    They wandered aim lessly in a pretty general area. They crossed into Salisbury, crossed back into Delaware, and then finally drove back along Route 13. It was the same sight everywhere… empty stores, looted areas, and undead things staggering through the street. Once they thought the saw an older woman in a sporting goods store, but when they turned back, there was no one there. They shrugged it off and kept driving. Lorna wanted desperately to scavenge inside that particular store, but didn’t think it was worth the risk since it was surrounded by zombies.
    Jeff had come out of his shell as the days went by, but he was still an echo of the young man he’d once been. He didn’t smile very often, and he didn’t talk nearly as much as he used to. Then again, there wasn’t much to say anymore. They’d discussed the days leading up to when she found him, and beyond that there was nothing new to add. But it was a start, and she was hopeful he would get better with time. Time, they had plenty of.
    Lorna chafed at their way of life. They had already switched from the pretty reliable station wagon to a gaudy SUV. The wagon had run out of gas, and the stations they’d visited were lacking power. They’d briefly considered siphoning fuel from nearby vehicles into the wagon, but decided that the area was too thick with zombies to waste the time. It was safer and smarter to just abandon the old in favor of something new. Lord knows there were plenty of vehicles to choose from, and most still had the keys in the ignition. There were also quite a few with dead batteries from when their owners just walked off, leaving the vehicle running, but those could be ignored for the time being. If push came to shove, they could always make small repairs later on since Jeff worked as a mechanic on weekends, but for now they were fine hopping from vehicle to vehicle. It wouldn’t always be practical. They had to find ones large enough for all their gear, as well as waste time moving everything, but it was still a quicker solution than siphoning fuel.
    Their first fight was inevitable. Jeff was nearly his old self again, and he preferred being in charge rather than sharing the duties. Lorna, however, was no follower, which is how they found themselves arguing in furious whispers in a convenience store in Seaford. They still had all their supplies except for the water and protein bars they’d consumed that first day. Lorna went on runs on her own until Jeff was more reliable, after that he’d joined her. They’d discussed this as well, and it felt like ages ago. It was smarter to eat perishables first, such as any meat still in date in locations that had power. They also stocked up on crackers and chips, and any fresh fruit and vegetables they could find. Their water purification tablets and the protein bars were to be hoarded until they needed them.
    The