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<div style="margin: auto;height: 170px;width: 170px;border-radius: 100%;text-align:center;border: 11px solid #141507;background: url(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/11/a8/dd/11a8dd4d6b9499a130b4b676e79ab200.gif);background-size: cover;background-position: center;font-size: 0px;margin-top:15px;">.</div><div style="margin:auto;height: 30px;max-width: 240px;line-height: 2px;padding-top: 35px;text-align:center;font-family: Space Mono;color: #000000;font-size: 20px;">jacob wyler </div><div style="margin: auto;max-width:390px;height:3px;background-color:#fffffff;margin-top:15px;margin-bottom:60px; border-radius: 0px;font-size:0px;">filler space </div><div style="margin:auto;margin-top:-45px;height: 240px;max-width: 350px;overflow-y:auto;;text-align: justify;font-size: 13px;font-family: Space Mono;color: #000000;padding:5px;"><br/>
The sound of the gas light coming on didn't really ease his nerves. They were exposed, with little gas and in what they now knew as enemy territory. It was very likely the groups working around here had some kind of treaty or mutual understanding: <i>they </i>were the outsiders. With how dark it was getting, there was no telling what was still alive within the woods that wasn't a zombie or someone waiting to take their head off. Judging by the map though, they hadn't reached city limits yet and Jacob was banking on the fact that Ash was right – the city must have some buildings: malls, outdoor shops, etc. that hadn't been ransacked to completion. They were probably surviving off rationing and with that said, it made sense why they nearly ran off the road and were killed.<br/>
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Jacob couldn't say that either of them smelled like a field of flowers, but Ash had a sweet scent about her that outranked his – or maybe he had just become so used to his smell that the scent of another person was refreshing. While comfortable around her, it hadn't become lost on him that she was the first woman he had been around in months. Even through the thick layer of his jacket, he still could swear he felt the tingly sensation of her shoulder brushing against his as she leaned over to take a look at the map for herself.<br/>
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He hadn't realized he was holding his breath out of nervousness until she pulled away – the exhale was masked by him clearing his throat and trying to return his attention back to the real important matter at hand: staying alive. It wasn't unlikely they'd find some kind of farmhouse. In 2025 there was this big shift in the population where citizens, angered by the rising costs of food and living, did away with the government and moved out of the cities and onto open land instead. The modern farmer had been created – people who'd been growing small bell pepper plants or whatever could grow on their apartment balcony, were now tending to stretches of land filled with chickens, corn, whatever they needed to survive.<br/>
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"We're not going to get anywhere far in this car, and I think on foot we'll be a bit more stealth. We'll be vulnerable, but I'd rather be a running duck than a sitting one." It was a good thing they didn't have any excess baggage from the shop. Carrying the same weight would make this trek easier. "We'll park the car close and go on foot. Worse case, we wouldn't get anywhere without any gas anyways. There's gotta be more vehicles out there. Maybe even signs pointing toward this group – if we show we aren't a threat, maybe we can work something out." Working out usually meant bartering and that came down to whether you had anything someone wanted – and well for Ash . . . there was always the unfortunate possibility of having to use herself. He'd hope she never had to go through that.<br/>
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"This spot seems pretty far, no one has come out of the blue at least so they can't be in this area. The closer we get to the city, were bound to find a camp – but maybe we can find an abandoned house to shack up in." Jacob folded the map away and made sure all his things were packed up. He checked through the glovebox and made sure to grab the tapes for Ash including from the radio as the car started up. It was going to get cold too, hopefully wherever they landed was suited to keep them warm. "Worse case we sleep outside. We can take turns, build a fire . . . there's gotta be something hopping, crawling, or nesting for us to eat." Having the car was short lived and he did hope they could come back to it, even if it was just to get them to the next city. It was in worse wear from what he could see though and if they were unlucky, someone was coming to snatch their tires. It was the only thing really worth it on the car outside of the engine possibly.<br/>
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"After the car was parked, Jacob got out and slung his bag onto his shoulders. He looked to Ash. "So, straight, left, or right?"<br/>
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</div><div style="margin:auto;margin-top:80px;color:#ffffff;text-align: center; font-size: 8px; letter-spacing: 3px; text-transform: uppercase;">code by promethean</div></div></div>