Jess sat at the edge of the multiple graves she'd dug for her family and neighbors. It had taken a week to bury them all and she'd spent every moment cursing The Grey and wanting to put a shotgun to their faces. 15 people she'd buried, and every single one a precious life to her that couldn't be replaced. She wished she'd died with them, very seriously considered digging one last grave for herself, but she wasn't that brave. She'd live...live for them. Get justice for them.

The lights in the farmhouse a few hundred yards away flickered and went out as the last of the generator fuel burned away. She took that as a sign it was time to go. Taking a deep breath and wiping the last tears from her eyes, Jess stood, saying one last goodbye and entering the house. 

It was hard walking through the quiet dark, saying goodbye to the saddles that would never be used again, the butter-churn her brother had gotten her as a gag-gift, the variety of farm tools, animal shears and other basic farm gear she wouldn't be able to use for a long time. Jess took her time packing the essentials, making sure she'd have everything she'd need for a long journey. There were no humans alive in her town...she'd checked, so she was going to have to go elsewhere and the gas in the truck was limited, even with the couple of extra cans she'd packed in the back. Who knew when she'd be able to come back here.

She tucked away a pistol and ammo into her bag, locking away the rest of the weapons and tools she might need if she ever came back in a safe in the basement and hiding the key away in a bag at the back of a freezer full of rotting meat. If anyone came by to scavenge, they likely wouldn't look there. 

Once she'd packed everything she could carry she took the keys to the truck, locked the front door (lots of good that would do), and drove down the dirt road through the empty dead town. Despite the harsh Texan summer heat, and her limited gas, she kept the windows rolled up and a bandanna over her mouth and nose. The smell of rotting people and animals was eye-watering and gag-worthy. She wished she could bury them all, but that was impossible. She had to consider her own survival first. 

Jess pulled out a map after she'd weaved her way through the stopped cars and obstacles in her way and looked San Antonio. If there were going to be any survivors anywhere, it would be there. It was a crossroads city for hundreds of towns in the surrounding region. With almost a two hour drive ahead of her, she settled back in her seat and put the petal to the metal.