<span style="font-size: 120%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">112 Days After Outbreak</span></span></span><br/><br/><br/>"The Mayor, he called himself… moron, is what he was."<br/><br/>Curtis looked up from the bottom of the empty can, which he'd been focusing on in a futile attempt at making more baked beans appear through strength of will alone. "I wonder if he's dead yet," he wondered out loud, cringing inwardly at the sight of the man as the invaders had begun taking it in turns to beat on him at the center of the burning town. Idly, he picked up a stray twig and tossed it into the fire that marked the center of the small barn.<br/><br/>"He made the deal, then went back on his word. We told him - I told him, many times, we didn't have the firepower to resist," Jacob said bitterly, watching as the twig caught on fire at the ends. "But he had to go make it about himself. Foolish pride… he deserved what he got. A lot of people died because of him."<br/><br/>Curtis nodded, glancing up at the roof above them. It was a cruel irony, that in a world that was perpetually wet, fire was their only real protection. Just as they were lucky to have escaped Mayberry with their lives, they were very fortunate to have found the small, dingy shed. There were a few leaks, but otherwise the ground was mostly dry. There'd been a stash of kindling in a dusty corner, which had prompted whispered sounds of glee upon discovery.<br/><br/>"Not us, though," Curtis answered as he put the can down carefully at his side, and the grey-bearded man grunted for a response. "He wasn't a bad guy. Just-"<br/><br/>"A moron, like I said, boy. Make sure you stash some of them logs in your pack, where they won't get wet. Wrap em in plastic if you can, one of you," he added, his stern eyes flickering over to Abigail as he spoke. "We're alive, but if we want to stay that way we need to be ready."<br/><br/>"But this is a good spot, Jacob. Can't imagine finding anything better than this," Curtis responded, as the other man stretched out one of his legs with a small groan. Jacob had fallen awkwardly when they climbed over a particularly high fence during their hasty escape, and his limp had grown progressively worse as they travelled. Their timing upon discovering the barn couldn't have been better.<br/><br/>"For now," the old man answered gruffly, fixing him with a stare that reminded him all too much of his father. They both had the same sharpness in their eyes whenever they wanted to get a point across. The thought made him a little sad. "If you wanna live, you gotta be ready for anything. That includes abandoning this spot in a hurry. And me, if you need to."<br/><br/>"What!? No<span style="font-style: italic">way</span>."<br/><br/>"Boy, use your head. You think I'd be able to outrun a pack of Purples? You're strong, but there's no way you can carry me, not without killing us both. Besides, ain't your choice. Matter of fact, you should take my gun," he added, as he held out a pistol that was promptly ignored by its intended recipient.<br/><br/>Curtis shook his head feverishly as if to say no while also clearing his brain of the possibility itself. He remembered the others, all too vividly - Max, not even fifteen yet, shot through the shoulder by a high-powered rifle as he tried to run. Barbara, with the baby face, who was forever smiling, cut down by machetes… Curtis shook himself again before turning to look at Abby. He wasn't going to let anyone else die, not if he could help it.<br/><br/>He wanted to ask her about the food situation, but he was fairly certain they had none left. The escape from Mayberry hadn't allowed much time for packing supplies. When it came to defense all they had was a torch, two knives, Jacob's pistol and a small box of ammunition. Hardly enough to last very long, even if they<span style="font-style: italic">didn't</span>starve.<br/><br/>Instead of commenting on that rather bleak outlook, Curtis focused on the insanity being spouted from Jacob's mouth.<br/><br/>"Can you talk some sense into him?"