Wanderer (Book 1): Wanderer

the figure peered out over the field looking for us. Then something quite strange happened, the shadow split into two. Was I losing my mind? Then I remembered my arm. I had never taken care of it. My invisible saviors never came to my rescue and now I had run a full sprint away from the compound at least three hundred yards away.
I looked at my arm, watching the blood seep out of the wound. The blood had been flowing free for about fifteen minutes. I made sure Mandy was still at my side then I passed out.

Entry 17
I woke up the next day, at least I think it was the next day. It’s definitely earlier than when I passed out, but how long had I been out? My head was pounding and the wound had stopped bleeding leaving my arm numb and swollen now. No doubt infection had already set in. I needed medical supplies.
I panicked for a second before I saw her, sitting patiently by my side, watching over me. She wagged her tail furiously when she saw me come to life then she started licking my face. Poor girl, she must be hungry. I know I am.
How stupid of me to leave the bow in the garage. If I hadn’t have done that we wouldn’t be worried about running out of food. I could shoot something with my gun, but I needed to conserve the bullets in case I ran into one of them.
I gave her a whole can of beans this time, sprinkled with some beef jerky. I had a can of corn because I was tired of beans, but not before I dressed and bandaged my arm with gauze and some tape. I cleaned the wound with a couple of alcohol wipes then I smeared on some of the antibiotic ointment, it’s not much, but it’s all I have.
I was too weak to move at all that day, so we stayed in the tunnel. After our dinner I decided to stay put until the next morning.
The remnants of the full moon made it easier to see at night so I let Mandy explore the park a little. It must be nice to be a dog, not a care in the world.
I could see the compound in the moonlight. The satellites were now pointing down, waiting to continue their useless cycle tomorrow morning. I don’t know what happened to the scavengers after I passed out. They must have on moved on.
I woke up early in a cold sweat, I didn’t sleep well. The sun had just started cresting over the eastern horizon. We needed to keep moving to reach, wherever it is we needed to reach.
Up on the street I could see how the scavengers were able to move so easily, the cars had already been pushed out of the way forming a path. They had been here before and probably would be coming back. I packed up our camp and we headed on.
It didn’t take us long to make it through the park. I decided to head south towards the mountains. I heard the search and rescue teams saying they patrolled the mountains. I was hoping we’ll run into them. I haven’t seen the smoke vehicle since yesterday. Was it yesterday? If so, I think we’re safe.
My arm started pounding again and it was stiff and sore to the touch.
That familiar red sign, now faded by the sun, of the Jack in the Box sits high up on its spire marked the turning point onto Skyline Drive. The letters had all worn away, but I could recognize that sign anywhere. I don’t think it’s too much to ask that fast food restaurants have emergency backup generators, because I could really go for a burger right about now.
At the restaurant we turned the corner on to Skyline Drive, the road that would eventually lead up to the radio tower.
Skyline Drive followed a ravine about half way up the mountain until they parted ways to take their own path up.
I remembered playing paintball in the ravine as a child, and picking oranges in the grove at the fork in the road.
Oranges! I almost forgot the road forks at an orange grove. I took off running before I remembered my last lack of judgment. I cautiously followed the fence up the dirt road, the bee hives used for honey manufacturing are still abuzz even after all these years.
It only took us a few minutes to reach the curve in the road. The grove crested out of its pit intact, albeit a little over grown. I paused to check for any dangers before I charged into the grove. I could already smell them. The grove was plentiful. I picked the first orange off the tree and peeled it like it was suffocating in its own skin. The citrus flavor burst into my mouth. My god it’s been forever since I’ve had an orange. After all I was unable to save the orange tree that grew in our backyard. Mandy doesn’t like them too much, she likes the rinds more, which is good because I don’t like wasting anything. I shoved as much as I could into the pack before we moved along.


Entry 18
My arm is getting worse. The bandage has to be changed about every hour, and I’m running out of gauze.
The oranges are gone and the canned food is running low, I haven’t been rationing well. We’ve only been gone for a few days and we only have that much food left or less.


Entry 19
I haven’t seen any sign of life, including the smoke vehicle, since that day at the compound. I’m beginning to second guess this idea.


Entry 20
Both Mandy and I are dropping weight. My heart breaks to see the ribs poking through her skin. On the bright side her wound from the wolf attack hasn’t flared up.


Entry 21
The days are long and the nights are cold.