Black Tipped Gold Chapter 2

The interstate stretched out like a long artery in front of me. I'd spent 3 days pouring over maps for this route. I'd bought four weeks of food and water. I was carrying the leftover bullets in their case on my back. The weight did not feel great with the containers pulling the straps of my harness into my skin. I'd just set up in a bus that was left alone and never come back. Looking through the scope, I searched for anyone who might mean me harm. It dawned on me this was the furthest from the settlement I had ever been.

After the EMP went off, some people got their cars working and drove them again. So it did not look like the old post-apocalypse media my dad showed me "just in case" he said. He had a very cold war perspective on the apocalypse thinking it'd be nukes. I guess technically he was right.

I needed to stop zoning out like that as I saw movement from my perch. A shape crouched down behind one of the few abandoned vehicles. Bringing my scope over the exposed parts of the person I could make out some loose markings on them. At first glance, it didn't seem like much but then it hit me, They were tied to my contract dealer. They must've found out I lied on the footage. They came out behind their cover, probably assuming I wasn't there. That was their first mistake. The second was they didn't seem to have backup. I lined the scope up with the cross hair on their neck. Slowly emptying my lungs I began squeezing my trigger, Until the telltale crack as my round left the barrel. I watched it rip through the man sending a red mist behind him, splatter made it look like he had wings. I watched him fall to the ground and break from my cover racking my bolt.

When I came upon his body I saw he was killed on impact. My eyes were drawn to his rifle, a Russian import with an integrated suppressor. It'd be better than my .308 noise and weight-wise. Plus they probably know me by the rifle and who knows if there's a tracker. Leaning down next to him on one knee I dropped my rifle and picked up his checking the magazine which appeared full and he had loaded another round plus the magazine into the gun. I threw my spare magazines from my pack and rolling him over took his. It wouldn't be zeroed to my eye but it would suffice. I searched his cargo pants and took 5 black tips from them. Not that I needed them but better to have and not need them.

The first night was going to have to be spent sleeping in what was once an old apartment building manager's office. I'd spent a good 5 hours walking and with the sun going into dusk. I settled behind the desk. My new rifle set next to me. Hopefully, when I reached the settlements out east this would not need to be my norm. But would I be fit there? I've been out here hunting and killing for the last 20 years. My 'golden years' as a young man were spent post-collapse and getting to my 40s now I had to wonder. I pushed those thoughts out of my mind and let sleep take me.

I awoke at what had to be a little past dawn. Taking a moment to listen to the sounds around me, mostly for the birds. When there was fighting or predators nearby they'd be silent. Hearing that I waited for any movement in the building, but nothing so I stood pulling my rifle and backpack with me. Cracking open the tin of cold canned pasta and opening my canteen I sat for a very depressing breakfast. It dawned on me that out east was the ocean. Something I'd never seen, and the ocean meant fish. Fresh fish. It'd be something to see, maybe I'd meet more than other scavengers. I let myself stew on these thoughts as I ate. They made the food palatable.

I got back on the interstate looking around being semi-paranoid while I was on this long trek. Soon it'd end and I'd have to hoof it through rural towns and some forest. I'd feel more at home there. I'd walked a good 4 hours and found where the interstate broke into highways through a larger city. Taking some time in an alley I checked my map. I was on the northern outskirts of a city called Fort Wayne. Or what was once that?

Deciding that skirting was going to take too long and realizing I had taken a wrong turn somewhere made me cuss myself. I could keep going straight east but I wanted to look for a bit. I took a moment and took in the skyline imagining all the lives and people who would have worked, loved, and lived here. It was sobering but something I needed to let myself have. A little bit of reflection on the light that was there before this dark age. I took up and moved east again. Maybe I'd see some of the pre-EMP days out east. Possibly they're just cannibals and the stories are lure stories. Mmm fun hypothetical.

I was shocked to find I was in overgrown planting fields, Which greatly annoyed me as it didn't afford me much actual cover so I spent a good while flattened into dry cracked dirt. Soon finding an abandoned farm, I stole myself into it and sealed the door with an old shovel. Praying to whatever god was listening that this was an unoccupied farm. After a small meal of protein paste and water, I dozed off holding my rifle. I awoke to a sharp kick to the door and it being flung open. Keeping myself still, allowing my eyes to adjust to the darkness the men storming in could be heard, "He's gotta be here! I know I saw him!" the biggest one in front yelled. There were 3. One in a heavier militia-styled uniform, The other 2 in simple daily clothes with some plate carriers and holsters. His underling behind him on the left closest to me in the loft spoke up. "Boss maybe he's gone?", This sparked some annoyance in the leader barking "No see no new tracks and he's got a hell of a bounty on his head. I saw him gawking at Fort Wayne.". They must've been sent after me for that false confirm hit.

Slowly willing my body into motion I took up a position to open fire on them, It would've been honorable to announce myself and maybe negotiate with them. I was not a man of honor. The rifle gave a dull cough as the subsonic rounds ripped from it. 2 rounds to each man and gurgles as they fell dead. I dropped down and checked their bodies for any supplies. There was nothing really of note on them maybe some canned food. I figured this would be a good time to get out of here. Anything out there was going to keep pursuing me. I'd have to rest more later. Grabbing the bag carrying my food and water I set back to the long march ahead.

After 5 days I'd covered quite the distance with little to no contact with anyone else. I also kept away from what could be population centers not wanting to be chased by any people on the wire about me falsifying my contract completion. Checking my map I guessed I'd be in Pennsylvania given the route took me straight east of Fort Wayne. The altitude also seemed to increase as I moved this way. Thinning air and my ears keep popping. Hopefully, the time spent up here will make me adjust to this. Taking a deep breath I felt a smile creep across my face, The air felt so unpolluted so crisp. Settling down in an outcrop under a tree allowed me time to open a small can of the beef stew I'd bought from Dram. Course I was going to have to eat it cold since it'd be suicide to start a fire where there could be 100 eyes focused on me.

The can of stew despite being factory-made food reminded me of a simpler time when I was just the scavenger hit person. My life was weirdly simpler but this weird feeling of trepidation kept coming over me. This was the longest I'd been on the road, Maybe I'll find a home there? It'd be nice to have a home, bed, maybe a wife. I had never had one of those. Perhaps there was hope in this wilderness we called the world.