The Last Dawn
Chapter 14: Unexpected Detour

Cody took the wheel, setting their course southward towards Florida, where his wife awaited him. The plan was to drop Ty and Daniel off at their respective destinations along the way.

As they drove, the quiet roads stretched out before them, lined with fields and sporadic clusters of trees. The tranquility outside was a stark contrast to the chaos they had left behind in the city.

“At least there’s no traffic.” Cody said.

Ty, sitting in the passenger seat, kept an eye on the map, navigating and suggesting the best routes to avoid major cities and potential hotspots of chaos.

Daniel, in the backseat, looked out the window, deep in thought. The journey was not just a physical one for him; it was a transition from the shared experiences of survival with the group to facing the future’s uncertainties on his own.

The atmosphere in the SUV was a mix of apprehension and cautious optimism. Each mile they covered was a mile closer to safety, to family, and to some semblance of the life they had known before everything changed.

Their conversation was sparse, filled more with shared silences than words, as they each processed the experiences of the past days and the reality of their current situation.

Cody, keeping his eyes on the road, broke the silence. “You know, when all of this started, I never imagined it would turn out like this. It’s like we’re living in a different world now.”

“Yeah, I don’t know how we can go back to normal.” Ty said.

“I need therapy.” Daniel whispered. The car broke out in brief laughter.

As they continued, conversations turned to outlets expressing how each of them were feeling.

As Cody, Ty, and Daniel continued their drive, the peacefulness of the road was abruptly interrupted. Around a bend, they encountered a military convoy blocking the path ahead. The convoy consisted of several armored vehicles and uniformed personnel, a stark contrast to the empty roads they had been traveling.

Cody slowed the SUV to a stop, the sudden appearance of the convoy sending a wave of tension through the vehicle. “Looks like the military. What do you think they’re doing here?”

Ty leaned forward, trying to get a better view. “I don’t know, but we should be careful. We don’t want to seem like a threat.”

The soldiers, armed and alert, quickly surrounded their vehicle. One of them gestured for them to roll down the window. Cody complied, his hands visibly raised to show he wasn’t a threat.

“Step out of the vehicle.” Soldier demanded.

The tone was firm but not hostile. Cody, Ty, and Daniel stepped out of the SUV, their expressions a mix of caution and compliance. The soldiers efficiently began to check them, looking for signs of infection and asking a series of questions about their recent whereabouts and interactions.

“We’re just trying to get home. We haven’t had any contact with the infected.” Said Daniel.

After a thorough check, the soldiers seemed satisfied that they posed no immediate threat. However, the commanding officer informed them that they would need to be taken to a nearby military checkpoint for further processing.

“For your safety and others’, we’re transporting civilians to a secure location. You’ll need to come with us.” Commanding Officer demanded.

The unexpected directive took Cody, Ty, and Daniel by surprise. The idea of being taken to an unknown location was unsettling, but they understood the necessity of the situation.

“No that’s okay, I need to get to my wife.” Cody replied.

“Sorry sir. Orders from above.” Soldier responded.

“Can we at least drive our truck?”

The officer shook his head. “No vehicles are allowed beyond this point. You’ll be transported in our truck. Your vehicle will be safe here.”

Reluctantly, the trio gathered their essential belongings and boarded the military truck. As they were driven away, they cast one last look at the SUV, a silent acknowledgment of the sudden change in their journey.

Daniel, while holding his things, tried to gauge more information. “Where exactly are you taking us?”

The soldier, while checking his clipboard, replied without looking up. “A designated safe zone. It’s a secure facility equipped to handle and support civilians during this crisis.”

Sitting in the back of the military truck, Cody, Ty, and Daniel were filled with a mix of compliance and confusion. They had followed the soldier’s commands, understanding the need for security measures, yet they couldn’t shake off a sense of unease about where they were being taken.

The truck rumbled along, and through the small windows, they could see the landscape changing, moving away from the familiar roads into more secluded areas. The other civilians in the truck sat quietly, some with worried expressions, others looking resigned.

The truck’s interior was cramped and hot, adding to the discomfort of their situation. The uncertainty of not knowing their destination added to their anxiety, making each mile they traveled more unnerving.

Outside, the day was transitioning into evening, casting long shadows across the landscape. The journey, which had started with a sense of purpose and direction, now felt aimless and out of their control.

As the truck continued its journey, the quiet among the passengers was occasionally broken by hushed conversations, everyone speculating about their destination and the conditions they might replace there.

The military truck came to a halt inside the secured facility, a compound surrounded by high fences topped with barbed wire. The doors opened, and Cody, Ty, and Daniel, along with the other civilians, were ushered out into a well-organized processing area.

They were greeted by military personnel who directed them to a series of checkpoints. The atmosphere was efficient but tense, with soldiers maintaining a strict order.

“Line up.” Soldier demanded.

The security screening involved checking their personal belongings and a brief questioning about their recent travels and encounters. The soldiers were looking for any potential risks or signs of exposure to the infected.

“Have you had any contact with infected individuals or been in high-risk areas?” Asked the guard.

Cody responded on behalf of the group, detailing their journey and the precautions they had taken. “No contact with the infected. We’ve been careful.”

After the screening, they were given identification tags and instructed on the compound’s rules and regulations. The process, although necessary, felt impersonal and disorienting.