Raymond was driving the truck towards the town. I thought of the funeral as the trees sped by.

Nestor, Gary, Raymond, I, and a few others were digging holes for the graves. It was hours upon hours with the wind whipping at our backs. My hand was almost all healed up, but the constant pressure of the blisters against the wooden shovel made the injury flare up.

The day of the ceremony was a rainy one. Maribelle found a black dress for Emery to wear, and Neo let me borrow one of his suits. We walked by all of the graves, I couldn’t look anywhere but the ground. I held the umbrella over us, Jack was all swaddled up in Emery’s arms. She hadn’t let him out of her sight really. She brought him to the medical ward to work every day, I knew that seeing the bubbly baby made some of the patients happier. It worked out for everyone. Emery was looking in all of the graves. The way it had been set up was some people would cart the bodies over and drop them in the hole we made, and then we would come in and pour dirt over the top. Once everyone had the opportunity to go past the rows, there were seats for your assigned group.

Roy and Joey had gone with the first wave of people, Bob couldn’t bear to go past the rows. Jay was in there. I knew where, but I would never tell him. I wouldn’t tell any of them, but they didn’t know that I had chosen spots for our fallen loved ones. I would never tell them how I kissed them all on the forehead as a final goodbye. They would never know that tears were dripping down my face with each scoop I dropped into the holes.

Bob looked better than before, his face was less blotchy, and he started talking more. I would visit him in the morning before I went to go digging with Nestor. Roy and Joey spent the most time with him. Joey had finally been discharged, he got a room with Roy right next to Bob’s. Joey was halfway into a story about his time as a summer camp counselor when Emery and I sat down. Roy waved a little towards Jack, but I could tell that he wanted to pay more attention to what Joey was saying. Bob took Jack out of Emery’s hands and started bouncing him up and down a bit on his leg. It was nice. I moved the now closed umbrella under the table. There were umbrellas for all of the tables centered in the middle, but the wind blew most of the water in our faces. Nobody cared. Nestor got up on a podium once everyone had gone through and started talking. Everyone at my table was clinging onto his words, but I couldn’t be bothered to listen. I didn’t care. I wonder what he had said.

The truck screeched to a halt, snapping me out of my walk down memory lane. Emery was sitting to my left, her leg was bouncing up and down. There were some other people in the row behind us, and Blake was to my right. They were all facing the front, Raymond must have been talking.

“Now, I’m taking all of you except for Oliver and Emery. Emery is staying back because if one of you gets hurt, we need a healthy nurse. Oliver is staying back because he is the only one I trust out of all of you to drive the truck back if something happens.” I laughed. I had no idea how to drive. “Let’s get a move on!” Raymond swung his door open and hopped out, gun displayed loud and proud. Emery and I hopped out so everyone could file out of the back. They all looked so ready to go and get supplies back to Pinckney. Once everyone was out, I walked over to Emery. She hadn’t really talked to me since I held her that night, and when she did it was small, quiet replies. I rarely saw her, and it was starting to hurt. I knew that she wanted to stay in the med ward with Jack instead of coming, but when Darcy told her that I was going, Emery was added to the list.

“Hey, Em, do you remember the helicopters? Like, right before the gates opened, this guy came into the ward yelling about helicopters.” Emery looked away.

“Uh, not really.”

“Oh, well, I saw the helicopter. What do you think it meant? And it’s kinda weird that they would show up now, and right before an attack? Like, is someone trying to fuck with us or-”

“Oliver, I really don’t want to talk about it.” Emery opened the truck door again and hopped inside. After she shut it, I walked up to the door. I was just about to rap my fist against the window when I heard her lock the doors. What did I do? Why was she mad at me? Did I hurt her? A million thoughts started swirling around in my head, each one more gruesome than the last. I resigned myself to sitting with my back against the truck. The wind was whistling in my ears, and the cool November air was settling around me.

The afternoon slowly turned into early evening by the time I started to feel cold. I wanted to get in the truck and talk to Emery, but I was afraid. Why did she hate me? She must hate me. A loud shout stirred me from my thoughts.

“Get the motor running! They’re coming!” I looked up from my lap and saw the group running back. They were covered in dirt and blood, an unconscious newcomer was with them and over Raymond’s shoulder. I shot straight up and started pounding on the truck window. Emery woke up with a start. She stared at me in confusion and then looked over my shoulder.

“Em, let me in. Em, please!” She unlocked the door and hopped out on the other side. I jumped into the driver’s seat and shoved the keys in the ignition. After I twisted the key, the engine roared. I looked out the rearview mirror, Emery was in the bed of the truck, trying to help Raymond get the new guy in. The others started hopping into the car and getting in the seats. Emery looked up and saw me staring.

Drive! She was screaming at me, but I could only read her lips. Raymond closed the door for the truck bed, and I started speeding out of the parking lot. I could hear him shoot at the zombies following us as we sped off.

...

It was supposed to be a half-hour drive back to camp, but once we got off of the highway, the truck started rattling like it was about to break apart. Raymond signaled for me to pull over; I almost hit a tree in the process since night had fallen, and the headlights were busted.

“Well, she had a good run, but Bertha won’t make it to the plantation.” Raymond patted the side of the truck with a solemn look on his face. “I guess we better start walking. Emery, can you carry the med kits? Oliver, I need you to rally the troops. I got the newcomer.” Raymond hopped back into the truck to pick up the sleeping man. Emery had started gathering the supplies in the back of the truck. In the dim lantern light, I could see her clenched jaw and pursed lips. I spun on my heel and walked back towards the right door. Once I opened it, all conversation ceased, and the heads turned towards me.

“Raymond says that we have to walk the rest of the way there, you guys ready to travel in the dark?” A symphony of groans greeted my ears. I rolled my eyes and went back to the driver’s seat to make sure that everything was clear. I had done a pretty good job driving, considering I never got my learner’s permit. I grabbed Raymond’s bottle of water and walked back over to the back of the truck. Bags were slung over everyone’s shoulders, heavy steps and muttered curses were all that made a sound as we followed Raymond through the night.

I had found my way to Emery’s side. She was carrying a lantern in her left hand and the med kit in her right. A scowl still graced her face. I looked back out towards the front. Emery and I had fallen behind the group, Raymond was leading with his spare lantern and moonlight guiding him. We took a left onto Parkway Dr., but that was too early to turn. Maybe Raymond knew a quicker way to get to the plantation.

The houses looked ghastly in the dark. Lawns were unruly and the trees had gone wild. No one had been here for two years. My chest started hurting at the sight of a rusted kids bike laying on the side of the road. Once we got closer, I could see that it was blood and not rust. We kept on marching forward, but once we took a left, I knew that we were lost.

“Raymond!” Everyone turned towards me, I could hear Emery scoff next to me. I tried to swallow, but my throat felt dry. “We can’t go left, the plantation is right! I don’t think we can get over the fence this way, so maybe we should double back to the main road?”

“Oliver, no offense but you aren’t from this area. You Sullivan's Island kids never got to understand how Mount Pleasant works. I know where we’re going, trust me, Kid.” I gritted my teeth and started walking towards him.

“I actually did use to go to high school here in Mount Pleasant, I lived closer here than Sullivan’s Island, but their elementary schools are decent. My family would also take trips to the plantation every year. We are in Snee Farms, and the entrance for the plantation is that way.” I pointed to the right. “And we need to go back out and continue going down the State Road, unless you know a secret passageway,” I crossed my arms. Raymond snorted.

“We are not in Snee Farms, you must have read the sign wrong. Kid, I think your internal compass is a little messed up.” I clenched my fingers into fists, my nails started digging into my palms. The bandage on my right hand was gone now, but the skin still erupted in sharp pain as my nails dug in deeper. I felt a small, warm hand smack mine gently. I looked over, Emery walked forward. She continued until she got closer to Raymond. He was still going on about how he has lived in this area for years, and how I must have been confused. Her lamp was off, so no one saw her weave in between people; they were all too focused on Raymond and me. I saw Emery wave next to his shoulder and gesture for him to bend down so she could whisper into his ear. Raymond wasn’t paying any attention. Emery tapped him on the shoulder, and he flipped out. He swung his lantern at Emery. Her lantern fell and shattered against the road as she brought her hands up to protect her face, and her med kit clattered alongside it. The glass from Raymond’s lantern collided against her skin and shattered. Bits of glass and drops of blood sprayed everyone closest to them. The guy Raymond was carrying on his shoulders started moaning. It reminded me of Joey when we first got to the plantation. I didn’t realize that I had run up to help Emery, but I was standing between her and Raymond by the time Raymond realized who he hit.

“Holy shit, fuck! I am so sorry, I thought you were one of those freaks. I didn’t know that you had even gotten close. Emery, I am so fucking sorry. Are you ok?” Raymond continued apologizing. The others had started getting closer. I took Emery’s hand and started looking at it, there wasn’t a lot of blood on her, but when I touched her wrist, she flinched. I looked up at her, there was a familiar look in her eyes.

“Emery,” My voice dropped to a barely audible whisper, “did the lamp burn you?” She nodded. I rotated her arm gently, avoiding touching her wrist. Even in the moonlight, I could see that she had a small burn where the bulb made contact with her skin. It was a miracle that Emery hadn’t started freaking out yet. One time I was over for a sleepover, and she touched the toast when it was still too hot. She locked herself in the bathroom for an hour. I could still hear her screaming about fires. The shrill sound was ringing in my ears as I looked at her.

“Oliver, is she ok?” Blake was next to me. I looked up at him and smiled.

“It’s going to be ok, but I know that she would appreciate it if everyone would take the attention off of her. Could you start leading us back towards the state road? We just need to go straight back. Then, at the entrance, we turn left and go until the next opening. That should take us right to the gates. Blake nodded; he turned to face the group.

“Alright. I think that we’ve had enough excitement for one day, let’s follow the road back to the entrance and then go left. The gates should be somewhere back there near the left. I’ll buy the first person who spots the gates some booze from the canteen!” The group cheered and started following Blake to the entrance of Snee Farms.

“Again, Emery. I am so sorry, can I see?” Raymond tried pushing me a bit back to see Emery’s arm, but I shoved him back with my shoulder.

“Give her some space, ok? She’s tough, but burns are something that we try to avoid altogether.” Raymond nodded and smiled at Emery.

“Of course, I’m so sorry. I’ll make sure that Maribelle gets you the best ice.” He laughed at his own joke a little too hard, the guy on his shoulder groaned in protest. I glanced at Emery, there was a hint of a smile on her face. Raymond sighed and then turned to me. “Just, tell me if she needs anything?” I nodded, and Raymond started following the group. I looked back at Emery. I kept her arm up with my left hand and started digging around in the bag I borrowed from Neo with my right. My watch kept my hand from getting in all the way. My fingertips grazed against the water canteen. After a few excruciating seconds, I wrestled the canteen out of the bag and took the cap off with my teeth. I poured the water over the small burn. Some of the tension in Emery’s shoulders dissipated, but she was still on edge. With no light but the moon to lead our way, I gently let her have her arm back and screwed the cap back on. We followed the group towards the entrance. I just hoped that I did everything right.