He stared at the tin. He stared at the water. He looked up at the sky and stared at the tin again. Andy knew he was stalling. Every drink he took could be the last. The water was poisoned. The food was poisoned. Hell, even the air was poisoned. However, this river was fast flowing meaning that any impurities were likely being swept away by the current. Plus there were trees still growing here, which was a good sign.<br/><br/>He used a dirt encrusted hand to dip the tin in the water. He put the drink to his lips and winced at the acrid taste. Could have been worse. It could have been acidic. He could have vomited blood.<br/><br/>Andy had been wandering in what seemed circles for days. He had somehow managed to save his guitar and that had helped somewhat. He sat at the riverbank and strummed for a while. Mainly some stuff from the music he used to play on gigs, his own stuff.<br/><br/>***<br/><br/>"Look Out!", The voice suddenly shouted in his ear. It was Bear. He pushed Andy backwards just as the ceiling of the store collapsed. It stopped Andy from being flattened but still trapped him under it's weight. Bear tried to pull him out, but even with the large man's ample muscles he couldn't lift the beam that was keeping him trapped.<br/><br/>"Sorry, Bro.", Bear looked nervously at the door. "Is your leg hurt."<br/><br/>Andy winced "I don't think so. Not badly. Just can't move."<br/><br/>"Ok, ok. I'll go get help, ok?"<br/><br/>Bear ran outside. He'd left the door open. There was a sudden flash of intense light that made Bear look like a dark shadow against it's brilliance. And then he screamed. Andy didn't. He was too transfixed as he watched his former friend ignite like a human torch. He opened his mouth but no sound came out. Just a low, disturbed keening.<br/><br/>****<br/><br/>Andy snapped out of his fuge state and back to the real world and the riverbank. This time he did scream.