Chapter 5 5

Jillian's heart hammered in her chest, her senses on high alert. The man standing in the doorway was a stranger, but there was something about him that made her wary. His weathered face, partially obscured by the shadow of his hood, looked like it had seen too much of the world. The rifle slung carelessly by his side seemed out of place in the stillness of the gas station, but the way he held it with a casual grip suggested he knew how to use it.

Tom moved first, his hand instinctively brushing against the knife at his belt. He positioned himself slightly in front of Jillian, as though his body was a shield. The stranger noticed immediately, his dark eyes flicking between them.

"Easy," the man said, his voice rough, like he hadn't spoken to anyone in days. "I'm not here to start trouble."

Jillian took a slow, steady breath. His words were calm, but her instincts screamed otherwise. She glanced at Tom, who hadn't moved his hand from the knife. They were in a fragile position. Any wrong move could escalate the situation.

"Then what do you want?" Jillian asked, her voice firm, but not without a trace of unease. "This is a long way from any sign of civilization. What's your business here?"

The man tilted his head, regarding her with something like amusement. "Surprised? You think you're the only ones left in this godforsaken world? You're not. I'm just passing through, same as you."

Tom didn't lower his guard, though he seemed to consider the man's words for a moment. "Passing through, huh? Seems like a lot of people are 'passing through' these days," he said, his voice laced with suspicion. "You sure you don't have other intentions?"

The stranger's eyes narrowed. "I'm not looking for trouble. But I won't hesitate to defend myself if it comes to that."

Jillian could hear the subtle warning in his tone. The fact that he wasn't immediately hostile meant that he likely wasn't part of whatever twisted factions were roaming the world now. But trust was a rare commodity in this new world. She needed to remain cautious.

"Alright," Jillian said, holding up her hands in a gesture of peace. "We don't want trouble either. But if you're just passing through, then why the rifle? And why keep your distance?"

The man stepped further into the room, but his posture remained wary. He didn't offer an explanation, but instead asked a question of his own. "You two alone?"

Tom stiffened, his jaw tightening. "Does it matter?"

"Could." The stranger took a few more steps, his boots echoing in the stillness. He eyed the shelves of the station, his gaze lingering on the food and water they had collected. "People are desperate. You should know that by now. This isn't a world where being alone is safe anymore."

Jillian's mind raced. Was he talking about others? People who would rob or kill just for supplies? It seemed likely. The world had changed, twisted into something darker. In some ways, it felt like it was only a matter of time before they encountered those who preyed on the weak.

Tom's hand tightened around the handle of his knife, but his posture relaxed just a fraction. "We're not looking for trouble. We're just passing through, too."

The stranger regarded them for a long moment, then nodded. "I get it. We're all just trying to survive. But you don't want to get too comfortable. You're not the only ones in this area."

Jillian's pulse quickened. "What do you mean? Who else is out there?"

"Groups," the man said, his voice lowering. "Raiders. The type of people who would slit your throat for a bottle of water. They've been hunting this area for weeks. I've seen them, but I've been keeping my distance."

Jillian and Tom exchanged a look. Raiders. The very thing they had been trying to avoid. The reality of survival in this new world was more brutal than they had ever imagined. The thought of running into a group like that sent a shiver down her spine.

"Why didn't you tell us this sooner?" Tom demanded. "You knew we were here. You could have warned us about them."

The stranger let out a humorless laugh. "And what? You think a warning would have helped? Those people don't care about your intentions. They're killers, plain and simple. They'll come after you no matter what you do."

Jillian's stomach twisted. This was the reality of life now-danger was always lurking, just around the corner. They were never truly safe. The best they could do was keep moving, keep fighting, and hope that they didn't become another statistic in a world that seemed determined to forget them.

"Then why are you still here?" Jillian asked, her voice strained. "If you know there are raiders nearby, why didn't you leave the area?"

The stranger's eyes darkened. "Where would I go?" His gaze shifted to the window, and Jillian followed it. Outside, the night was thick with darkness, the landscape a black void. "There's no place left to hide. You can run, but it's only a matter of time before they find you."

For a moment, the three of them stood there, the weight of his words sinking in. The world outside was unforgiving, a place where survival depended on speed, strength, and ruthlessness. Jillian felt the sharp sting of realization. They weren't safe, not here, not anywhere.

The stranger broke the silence. "Look, I didn't come here to cause problems. I'm just telling you what I know. If you stay here too long, you'll be on their radar. And trust me, you don't want that."

Jillian nodded slowly, her thoughts racing. They needed to leave. They needed to keep moving before the raiders found them. But part of her couldn't shake the curiosity about the stranger. He seemed to know more than he was letting on, and though his words were full of grim warning, there was something about him that made her think he wasn't entirely without hope.

"Where are you heading?" Jillian asked. "Maybe we can stick together. Strength in numbers, right?"

The stranger regarded her with a sharp look, then glanced at Tom. "You think I'm just going to team up with you because you ask? You don't even know me."

"No," Jillian said quickly. "But we've got no reason to distrust you yet. We could help each other. You know the area. We could use that."

Tom stepped in then, his voice calm but firm. "We're not asking for charity. We can help each other, or we can part ways. But if you're right about the raiders, then maybe we have a better chance if we stick together."

The man seemed to mull it over for a moment, then shook his head. "Fine. We'll travel together for a while. But if it gets too dangerous, don't expect me to stick around. I look out for number one."

Jillian let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "Agreed. We're not here to make friends. We just need to survive."

"Good." The stranger's eyes flicked over to the back door. "I'll keep watch. You get what you need, and we leave first light."

Without another word, he turned and moved to the corner of the room, setting his rifle down against the wall and folding his arms across his chest. He was still alert, still watchful, and Jillian couldn't help but respect that. There was something about him-grizzled, worn down by whatever hell he had been through-that made him an asset. Even if she didn't fully trust him yet, she had to admit that they were better off with him for now.

Tom glanced at her, his expression unreadable, but his eyes held a trace of relief. "We can rest for now. But we leave in the morning. We'll figure out our next move then."

Jillian nodded, her thoughts still swirling. The stranger was right. There was no place to hide, no safety net in this world. But together, they might just have a fighting chance.

She didn't know what tomorrow would bring, but for the first time in a long while, she felt like they might have a shot. It wasn't much, but it was enough. They weren't alone anymore...For better or worse, they had each other.