Chapter 11: September in Minnesota

Ethan Warren

September 2nd 2022

105 days after outbreak

Minnesota

Season 1

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We're been on the road for so long now, we've gone everywhere in this state, all the stores were either empty or full of the dead. We were becoming hopeless but too afraid to leave Minnesota. We were just kids after all. Most of us were just learning how to drive.

The autumn wind clinged to our backs as we walked the empty highway in search of a new car. We've gone through so many cars in the past few months. Normally we'd just be out of gas and a station would be nearby but not this time. Amy crashed as she was trying to avoid some of the dead ones on the road. We were injured and cold.

Rudolph was bleeding from his head. He promised he was fine but I could tell he was miserable. Dallen's leg was broken, Edin and Aiden helped him walk at least until we found something to stabilize him. Amy felt bad but it wasn't her fault.

I wondered where Addie was. I was worried about my little sister as much as I hated to admit it. I knew she could probably handle herself but I still worried.

Over the course of our time on the road, Ashton and Amy both celebrated their birthdays the same way Aiden celebrated his 18th. No cake, no presents, just surrounded by their new family. It made us all feel a sense of relief. Just the way we were somewhat still connected to "normal". For Ashton's 17th birthday, July 27th, we had the best raccoon of our lives, courtesy of "Chef" Dallen Farmswarn. Aiden also found four bottles of whisky. I swear we slept for a week afterwards.

And for Amy's 16th birthday, July 7th, we took the dangerous trip into Minneapolis to Minnehaha Falls. There were a lot of the dead in the city but it was worth it, the waterfall was truly a sight to behold.

I knew I'd never see my parents ever again because I saw they're walking, lifeless bodies in the city. I can't let myself think too hard about it, it only slows me down. I was an orphan, we were all orphans in one way or another.

As we made our way further down the road surrounded by small, abandoned houses and deserted stores we ignored the dead ones that flung themselves towards us. Occasionally Leah and Khai would kill a few but only if it was necessary. We were all just too tied.

We saw some cars at a gas station, Khai ran towards a shiny grey one and broke the door open with her new weapon of choice, a lead pipe. The glass shattered and she opened the door with ease. Aiden had taught Khai how to hot wire, none of us had the motivation to learn yet. She started the car up after we waited for a few minutes. She smiled as she saw the tank was practically full.

"This is a ghost town," Rudolph pointed out. He was right, we only had seen a few of the dead and the stores looked full.

"That's weird," I said, confused.

"We should live here," Edin said with excitement. She was onto something, this would be a good place to live. We had supplies, a car, and weapons. Now all we needed was a roof over our heads.

"Get in," Khai said, "Dallen doesn't look too good." She was right, he looked terrible. He was worn out and in agonizing pain. We got him into the car and we started to drive in search of a more permanent home. The forest was great and all but I've had ants in my hair for weeks.