“Oh my god...” Kylie exhaled softly. She had found them. Batteries. Kylie couldn't help but let out a speak of excitement. It was almost too good to be true. Kylie took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She didn't even know if the batteries were functioning. She pulled her backpack off her back again, pulling out the radio. The same one she had since she was a child. It used to help her with nightmares when she was young, maybe it would do the same now. She fumbled slightly with the battery hatch on the radio, her trembling fingers struggling to open it. “Fuck.” She growled. When had she last eaten anything? Or drank anything? No wonder she felt so weak, she could barely control her fingers. 

Food and water was scarce as a large group living in the woods, but alone it was even worse. She felt a pang of loneliness as she fumbled with the batteries. She missed the rest of her group. Watching them die and panic. Kylie shut her eyes, trying to control her breathing. She would be fine. She had to keep calm. 

The sound of someone pounding on the ambulance brought Kylie back into a panic as she dropped the battery, watching as it rolled away. She was hopeless to stop it as panic took over her body. Kylie scrambled to the back of the ambulance, until her back hit the back of the car. She hugged her backpack to her, with her machete held out in front of her. Her hands continued to tremble with fear. She was going to die. She thought of all the things she never did. She almost laughed at herself. She never even went to college. 

The voice outside the ambulance, even coming from a woman, filled Kylie with fear. Friendly. Ha. She wouldn't believe it. This was a trap. They always are. Kylie swallowed as she processed the woman's words. She said our ambulance. She was with a group of armed survivors. Kylie tried to keep from hyperventilating. She didn't want to exit, but if she didn't they would be coming in. Kylie slowly, trying to keep off her sore leg, opened the door to the ambulance. She tried to keep her voice steady. “I'm so so-sorry.” She mentally punished herself. Don't show weakness. Her backpack was back on her back, her machete in hands. If they were armed so was she. 

“I...I didn't realize this was yours. I just needed to get out of the streets.” She looked around, wondering where this woman's group was. “If it makes it any better, I didn't take anything.” Okay, partly a lie. She took bandages and the batteries. But they were both so valuable to her. Kylie felt faint.