3 Years Later

Night began to bleed into day right as we reached the outskirts of Jackson. With the train system's location being in the heart of the city and with the dark approaching rapidly, we were left with limited options.

"God damn it!" Nick exclaimed as he ran out another decrepit building, anger raging on his face just as Jake jogged out of another store. Shaking his head as well.

"S'no good over here as well." He stated with an exasperated look. "Can't we like, run off closer? I can still see some of the high rises. Maybe if we-"

"No. There's not enough time. We'll be caught in open waters before we could scout out any other building." Nick replied shortly, quick and harsh.

I chewed on my lip, trying to run over options as my eyes scanned the area. Stray bricks and ghost shells of what the city used to be was all that's left. A leftover carcass where even the maggots don't stay long. Sure, some high rises are left but the outskirts were reduced to rubble at this point. My stomach stirred as I wondered whether the decrepit state was due to lack of maintenance or something that happened during Z-day.

I eventually settled back to the others. Picking up my pace to follow along side with them.

"I didn't realize it got this bad… We're not even near downtown yet." I mumbled out my observation causing the stockier man to scoff at my words. Soon slowing down just so he could roll his eyes right in my sight.

"Come on B, everything got pretty scorched."

"Wait, what are you-I thought you were joking!" Jake exclaimed, exasperated. He, too, pulled back to stick with the conversation. "I mean, I guess it's not that unreasonable but still! There's way too many civilians-the risk is-"

"Dude, they didn't f.u.c.k.i.n.g care." Nick spat back, tossing his cig to the ground and snuff it out with a quick twist of his heel. Shooting a glare towards the other man but that same, off-beat smile was on his face. From the looks of it, whatever Jake might have said next was now gone once he saw that smile.

Something about was just wrong. The laugh that came out soon after sent my stomach into flip.

"When was the last time you've been in this f.u.c.k.i.n.g province?"

Jake didn't reply, instead he kept his gaze to the ground. Every so often, kicking some rock on the ground as if to try and keep his mind from whatever the f.u.c.k Nick was spewing on about. Which left me to deal with it his full, unbridled attention.

"You remember Z-day right B?"

"I…" I gulped, my hands turning to thumbing the hem of my jacket, "Kinda. It's all fuzzy. But I remember the news reports. Guns, fire, police and what not…"

"Police? I wish! They don't have f.u.c.k.i.n.g access to bombs!"

I knew what he was talking about, somehow I knew. The sounds of muffled voices hiding behind static and fear hung in the back of my mind. Somehow remembering how I listening to these reports of how the city, maybe even the country, was set aflame that night.

From the looks of it, such a notion wasn't a stranger to Jake. The way his eyes was casted over with a dark shadow and his steps turned into trudges. I couldn't help but purse my lips at how quiet he got. Wishing he'd just get on with his comments like usual due to how unbearable the silence was.

"I was there," Nick spoke in a low tone causing my eyes to snap back to the other man, "Maybe not downtown, but pretty f.u.c.k.i.n.g close."

"I was uh, I was doing a set there. Hell I was in the middle of a tune up. Let me just say, nothing is as jarring as watching members of the audience bounce off the walls within seconds. Kinda cool and all, being at the epicenter. The glass and drinks and all of that shit started to go next and I… Um…"

I watched his hands slowly creep up to that matted mess of hair. Fingers knotting tight in those deep strands as his voice quiet down.

"Don't remember much after the hit…"

"Jesus… Was it really that bad here…?" Jake spoke next, the crack in his voice was almost all the more heartbreaking as he looked around again.

Nick sighed as he finally turned to face us directly, that old expression seemed just a bit more lonely than usual. Staring at the two of us through glossy eyes before quickly turning away.

"Let's… Let's just f.u.c.k.i.n.g find some place to crash."