29. Adrian

TWENTY-NINE

ADRIAN

A LANKSY PUCK

Day 415

“Riri, you ready? I’ve been waiting all morning!” Todd shouts from where he’s sitting inside the barn. Waiting all morning? The sun isn’t even out yet. I lift my hand to flip him off, causing Jay to laugh and slap Todd on the shoulder.

Todd has been planning this supply run for a few weeks, and I’ve grown excited, too. Talking to my brothers the other day made me realize how much I want to stay here and make Rolling Hills a home. I’m ready to put in the effort to help keep this place safe and running.

As I approach them, the barn’s earthy scent fills my nostrils. Jay and Todd are sitting on a pair of hay bales, highlighted by the dim pre-dawn light filtering through the wooden slats. “What are you doing here so early, Jay? The sun isn’t even up,” I say, nodding toward him. He shrugs, acknowledging what for him would be an ungodly hour to be awake.

“Had to come and see my best pal off, didn’t I?” Jay says. I think I notice a quick wince on Todd’s face, but it’s gone before I can actually tell. “Did you say your goodbyes?” Jay asks.

I glance between Jay and Todd, noticing the underlying sadness in their eyes. The absence of their group’s third is still hanging over them, making every supply run more stressful than it was before. I give Jay a quick wink and reply, “Yeah, I did. I said my goodbyes to Kenji and Theo this morning, making sure to give each of them an obnoxious and sloppy kiss on the cheek.”

Both of them give me a questioning look, raising their eyebrows in unison. “What?” I ask, now feeling slightly defensive.

Todd smirks and leans forward, his eyebrows wiggling mischievously. “No Farron?” he teases, his tone light but probing.

I think back to last night, when we were all having dinner and I told them that Todd was taking me on a supply run. I looked over at Farron, finding her food paused halfway to her mouth. Her facial expressions changed so much that I couldn’t tell if she was angry, sad, or confused. She got up so suddenly and left, and I didn’t see her for the rest of the night. The memory makes me flinch, and I quickly resume the conversation.

“Um…Well, I told Farron we were leaving last night but I didn’t exactly get a chance to say goodbye,” I say, clearing my throat, trying to push the uncomfortable memory aside.

They exchange a look that seems to convey understanding, something I’m not quite privy to, but they drop the subject.

“Alrighty Jay-beam, aren’t you going to give me a hug before I go?” I say to Jay, trying to lighten the mood. I know how tough supply runs can be–it’s not just about finding supplies before someone else does, but also keeping an eye out for the infected. I’ve been on the move since the beginning, so it’s something I’m used to. But for them, having been here from the start and only needing to leave occasionally, it must be harder, especially with their best friend still missing. I silently promise myself that Todd will make it back.

Jay rolls his eyes but still stands up to give me a hug. “You’re only going for the day, you buffoon. I’ll see you guys soon.”

We part ways, and Jay proceeds to give Todd a hug. I observe quietly as Todd closes his eyes, savoring the embrace. They share one last squeeze before releasing each other. I can't help but notice the way Todd looks at Jay, a mixture of admiration and something else , but maybe it's just my imagination playing tricks on me.

We walk over to the horses that Todd has prepared, each equipped with saddle bags. Todd has also packed backpacks for us and an extra duffle, just in case. As I’m about to mount my horse, I hear footsteps pounding around the corner. I step back and see Farron flying around the corner, her curly hair streaming behind her and her cheeks flushed.

“Wait!” Farron calls out as she approaches. She comes to a sudden stop in front of us. I'm shocked to see her after her abrupt departure last night, and my expression must show it. “I came to say goodbye.”

Todd interrupts with a cheerful smile, “Ah, Fare-bear, didn’t you say bye last night? Well, I’ll take a second hug anyway.”

Farron rolls her eyes playfully as they embrace, and I can’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy that she said goodbye to him last night. However, when Farron steps back and says, “I actually came to say goodbye to Adrian,” my ears perk up, and I catch Todd giving me a knowing smirk as he heads back to his horse.

Farron hesitantly steps in front of me, squeezing her hands together. “I didn’t think I’d see you before I left.”

“I’m sorry about last night,” she says earnestly.

I reach up and tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and she glances up at me with flushed cheeks. “Don’t worry about it, Sunshine.”

Farron leans in and wraps her arms around my neck, and I reciprocate by encircling her waist. It’s the first time we’ve shared this kind of physical contact, and I can’t help but notice how perfectly she fits in my arms, her body molding against mine. Taking a moment to savor the embrace, I lift her slightly off the ground, eliciting a giggle from her when we separate. A smile naturally spreads across my face at the sound.

“Be careful out there, Riri,” she says softly, shooting me a cheeky grin as she uses the nickname Todd coined for me. “Make sure you both come back safe.”

I nod, feeling a strange mix of emotions. “We will, I promise.”

She gives a small smile, then steps back, letting us continue. After bidding one last goodbye to Todd, Farron heads out. I glance back at Todd, who’s grinning from ear to ear.

As I begin to mount my horse, I realize I’m smiling, too. Feeling the sturdy leather beneath me, I settle into the saddle with a sense of readiness. The horse beneath me snorts softly, sensing my eagerness. Adjusting my grip on the reins, I meet Todd’s gaze again.

“Let’s get going,” I say, eager to embark on the journey. After all, the sooner we leave, the sooner I’ll get to see Farron again.

We're about two hours out from Rolling Hills, heading North. Todd mentioned they've scoured the West and South but still have areas in the East and more to explore in the North. As we pause to give our horses a rest, we pull out the list we received from everyone in the community. Farron has a comprehensive list of medicines to keep an eye out for, while Nora's list is dominated by peaches and ‘any canned food you can find.’ There are a few specific things needed for the Alden farm, and then there's something from Trevor.

"Hey Toddy, what in the hell is a lansky puck?" I ask, confused by the unfamiliar term.

Todd's reaction is telling—he rolls his eyes and hesitates before responding, rubbing the back of his neck. "It’s used to sharpen his rake," he explains briskly, as if eager to move past the subject .

I can’t help the laugh that escapes as I bend over and place my hands on my horse to keep me straight. Realizing how insensitive that is to laugh at his brother, I quickly wipe the tears away to compose myself. I look over at Todd to gauge his reaction. After a second of staring at one another, we both burst out laughing.

Todd gathers himself and says, “Man, I don’t know what’s up with that kid, but apparently he couldn’t just carry around a regular knife for self-defense. Don’t ask me too many questions about how my brother’s mind works, because I don’t even know,” he says with a shake of his head. I do have questions about Trevor, though they’re all technically really in relation to Farron, but I don’t want to pry or push Todd into an uncomfortable position, so I just nod and stay quiet, slapping a grin on my face.

After a bit, we get back on our horses and continue our journey. Another hour into the ride, we come across a small town. It's quaint, with a few shops lining the streets, a supermarket, and an ice cream shack. Pulling up in front of the supermarket, it’s immediately clear that it's practically untouched, and I count my lucky stars, sharing a shocked look with Todd. Inside, we decide to split up. I head straight to the back corner where the large Pharmacy sign hangs, while Todd makes his way to the food.

Navigating through the aisles, I notice a few items knocked over, evidence of people hastily grabbing what they could before fleeing. Nevertheless, there’s still plenty left on the shelves. I gather more than half of the remaining antibiotics, pain relievers, and other items on Farron’s list.

I meet Todd outside, where he’s loading his saddlebags with canned goods, dry food packets, and a few other essentials. We definitely didn’t clear out the whole store, but that only means we can come out here for another run to grab more soon .

“Want to check out some of the houses?” Todd asks, gesturing towards the small neighborhood nearby.

My eyes drop to my watch, and I stop to consider how long it took us to get here, and how much more time we can spare to keep searching.

“Let’s be quick. It’ll take us a few hours to get back, so I want to make sure we leave early enough to make it back by nightfall,” I tell him. Todd nods in agreement, and we remount our horses and head towards the closest neighborhood.

Entering the first house together, we swiftly move through the kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, and storage rooms. We repeat the process for the next two houses, but then Todd suggests we split up to cover more ground. Though hesitant, I reluctantly agree, trusting in Todd’s capabilities. With a nod, I venture into a house on my own.

As I step into the house, a shiver runs down my spine at the eeriness of it all. I can almost imagine some of these homes just a few years ago—alive with the sounds of laughter, the sound of music drifting through the air, and the clinking of glasses during family dinners. Now, they stand silent and desolate, frozen in time, abandoned and decaying.

My heart aches the most when I come across a children’s room with a bunk bed, stuffed animals and other toys on the ground, and crayon drawings scribbled on the walls. The innocence and joy that once filled this room have been abandoned, leaving behind a hollow and haunting space. I find myself feeling sick with the unknown.

I can’t help but wonder what happened to all these people, to these children. Did they make it out, die or become the undead? I can’t help but wonder what happened to my family. I know they escaped, left the family home, but the uncertainty of their whereabouts gnaws at me relentlessly. I never considered the need for a survival plan–I mean, really, who did? But now, hindsight readily available, I can’t help but berate myself for not being more prepared. I guess all those doomsday preppers were onto something.

Shaking off the lingering unease, I stride purposefully into the next house. After stocking up on supplies following my fifth stop, I'm just about to secure the saddlebags when a distant shout pierces the air— Todd.

Without a second thought, I break into a sprint, my heart pounding in my chest as I dash towards the direction of the scream. Todd's cries echo out into the air once again, driving me forward. Scaling the front steps of a nearby two-story house, I burst through the doors, adrenaline coursing through my veins.

My eyes widen in alarm as I take in the scene unfolding before me—Todd locked in a desperate struggle against two zombies, his movements fueled by sheer instinct.

Without hesitation, I draw my knife from its holster and charge towards the nearest threat, plunging the blade into the back of the thing’s skull in a swift motion.

Todd is still facing off with the other one, and I hear his shout, “Adrian, behind you!” I whirl around just in time to evade a surprise attack from behind. I stumble over an overturned couch, adrenaline surging as I regain my footing, readying myself for the zombie just as it comes around the corner.

It lurches towards me, and its appearance makes my stomach churn as I take in its frayed clothes barely clinging to its decaying body, and the way the skin around its mouth has completely rotted away. With a determined grip on my knife, I lift my hand, ready to strike. Before I do though, the zombie comes to an abrupt stop. I tilt my head as I watch Todd pull his knife out of the skull, causing the zombie to crumple to the ground .

“Holy shit, that was a close one,” Todd exhales, pulling me into a tight embrace. I return the hug, feeling a rush of relief flood through me as it sinks in just how close we were to disaster.

As we part, I can't help but ask, “What happened back there?”

He scratches the back of his neck as he replies, “One moment I was in the kitchen looking through the cabinets, and the next two zombies were on me. I didn’t even hear them. I always bang on a door when I first enter to see if any get drawn out, but nothing happened this time.” He takes a moment before he continues, “They must have been further in the house. Sorry, Adrian. I feel so stupid for putting you in that situation.”

The gravity of the situation is etched into his eyes, and I can see the guilt he’s feeling, but it’s not his fault. We live in a world of zombies and the unexpected is around every corner.

“Don’t worry about it, Toddy. Shit happens. We took care of them, and neither of us are hurt,” I say while patting his shoulder. He lets out a deep breath and gives me a weary smile.

“Thanks, Riri.”

I shoot a wink his way at his playful nickname. “Shit, I didn’t realize how long that took. We better head out.” Glancing down at my watch, I realize we're already several hours past the time we should have started heading back. The combination of raiding houses and the unexpected zombie encounter has thrown us off schedule.

“We need to hurry. Farron isn’t going to be in good shape,” Todd says urgently.

My heart skips a beat.

What does he mean by that?

Before I can voice my concern, he's already heading out. I quickly follow suit, mounting my horse, and we set off. The sun is starting to set, and we're at least three hours away from the ranch. We pick up the pace, and despite the urgency, a smile creeps onto my face knowing I'll soon be reunited with my Sunshine.

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