ENDURANCE BEYOUND APOCALYPSE

Days 21-22

During days 21-22, Alexis and I found solace in our nightly conversations, discreetly held away from Lilith and Mr. Vasquez. Despite our collective efforts to support Mr. Vasquez, his decline persisted, marked by a gradual deterioration. Oddly, no physical ailment plagued him; it seemed an overwhelming heartbreak held him captive. To endure a nuclear attack and subsequently lose a lifelong love of over fifty years must be a torment beyond imagination. I empathized, pondering if faced with such circumstances, I too might consider surrendering to despair.

In one of our candid discussions, Alexis queried whether I would ever abandon someone, even if they hindered the group's progress. My resolute response was a firm denial. Her response was a reassuring smile, accompanied by a brief but comforting grasp of my hand. Despite our unwavering encouragement, Mr. Vasquez persisted in slowing down. He suggested, on occasion, that we forge ahead while he caught up, but our refusal was unwavering.

On day 22, as we prepared to set up camp within a dilapidated city bus, I detected a commotion outside. Investigating, I was astonished to discover a surviving creature – a dog, to be precise. A poodle mix, the emaciated canine revealed its hunger through its gaunt appearance. Amidst the desolation of the past three weeks, where only corpses of those fleeing the city's fallout were found, encountering a living being was a marvel. The dog, evidently anxious from prolonged solitude, overcame its trepidation and approached when called. As the group congregated to welcome him, we noticed a collar with a tag bearing the name "Lucky." The appellation resonated, as he had indeed defied the odds surviving the explosion and subsequent fallout.

The arrival of Lucky lifted our collective spirits, providing a much-needed reprieve. Even Mr. Vasquez, who had not smiled since his wife's demise, found solace in this newfound companionship. Buoyed by this unexpected bond, we resumed our journey the following day with a renewed sense of purpose and vitality.

Days 28-32

During days 28-32, our pace increased slightly, but the freeway's substantial damage compelled us to abandon it for side streets, resulting in a slowdown. It was during this detour that we stumbled upon something unsettling - a fresh corpse. Unlike the decomposed bodies we had encountered earlier, this one was recent, just a few days old, with the cause of death being evident: a gunshot wound. The absence of any valuables on the body hinted at the grim reality that a group of looters, preying on travelers, was now a present danger.

The realization that civilization's collapse had given rise to lawlessness prompted us to search for weapons. A local gun shop, known to Ben, became our destination, albeit off the beaten path. The journey took three days, but upon arrival, we discovered we weren't the first to have this idea. While this suggested the survival of others, it also hinted at the dangers, given the signs of killing and looting.

The front of the gun shop had collapsed, requiring us to enter through the rear. To our surprise, a disheveled old man with a shotgun greeted us, mistaking us for a threat. Fortunately, we managed to defuse the situation, realizing he had arrived before us and was on edge. Despite reservations, Alexis insisted on inviting him to join our group. His peculiar behavior and apparent mental instability, possibly exacerbated by the recent nuclear attack, raised concerns.

As we salvaged what was left, he agreed but insisted on taking all the shotgun ammo, leaving us with little. Afterward, he departed without joining us, waving off Alexis' invitation. Her relief, tinged with embarrassment, hinted at her genuine kindness, even in the face of uncertainty.

With Lilith's hunting experience and my military background, we initiated basic firearm training for Alexis, Ben, and Annie. Target practice in a nearby alley allowed them to familiarize themselves with the handguns and rifles we had acquired. Although the gun shop seemed like a secure base with ample weapons and ammo, we reconsidered, wary of attracting attention from other survivors who might know its location. The risk of becoming a target outweighed the benefits of staying put.

Days 36-40

During days 36-40, there was a growing tension between Alexis and me regarding my inclination to avoid contact with other survivors. My primary concern was the safety of our group, whereas Alexis, with her compassionate nature, expressed a strong desire to help anyone in need. Our compromise involved a strategic approach – sleeping in during the daytime and traveling predominantly in the latter half of the day and night to minimize the risk of drawing unwanted attention.

Despite the agreed-upon plan, Alexis remained dissatisfied. Her eagerness to assist others conflicted with our deliberate avoidance strategy. As we approached the 101 freeway, our resolve faced a harsh reality when we encountered yet another freshly deceased body, abruptly halting Alexis' protests. The sight of the grim aftermath left Alexis visibly frightened, seeking solace by refusing to leave my side when we established our camp late that night.

In an attempt to comfort Alexis, I engaged her in a conversation about the pre-apocalyptic world, assuring her that it was improbable for the entire world to succumb to nuclear warfare. I emphasized that our goal was simply to escape Los Angeles and rediscover civilization. This conversation alleviated some of her anxiety, evident as she once again held my hand. Amid the chaos of the apocalypse, the unexpected happiness derived from such simple gestures, like holding hands and her falling asleep beside me, felt strangely fitting.

Days 41-50

Between Days 41 and 46, Annie and I engaged in a thorough discussion regarding the discovery of two bodies. Subsequently, upon stumbling upon two more bodies, this time arranged side by side in the aftermath of a violent incident, we devised a strategic plan. Given Annie's background in hunting, she assumed the lead position, venturing a few hundred feet ahead of the group to scout for potential threats before we encountered them directly. Despite my skepticism about the existence of bandits orchestrating ambushes, considering the scarcity of survivors, we had occasionally heard distant human sounds but never crossed paths with anyone.

It seemed more like an unfortunate coincidence that our group and the unidentified perpetrators of survivor killings were traversing in the same direction, presumably heading towards the safety of the valley. Day 47 marked our arrival at the section of the 101 that passed in front of Universal Studios, officially placing us in the valley. However, the outlook was grim, with widespread destruction surrounding us. Despite the Hollywood Hills acting as a barrier between the valley and explosions in downtown LA, most structures in this area should have remained intact. To gain a comprehensive view of the local area, we decided to climb Mulholland Drive, aiming for its scenic overlooks.

Days 48 to 51 were consumed by a challenging three-day ascent, navigating the chaotic hills that had once been adorned with houses precariously perched on the steep landscape. The nuclear aftermath had triggered seismic events, causing houses to slide down the hills and crash into the streets. Climbing the lower sections of Mulholland Drive resembled navigating a hazardous obstacle course. Upon reaching the upper portion, we encountered another obstacle as entire road sections were washed away by landslides, forcing us to find alternative routes. Eventually, we reached the back side of Mulholland Drive, offering a panoramic view of the devastated valley, inducing a sinking feeling in our hearts.

My earlier suspicions about the adversary targeting Bob Hope Airport as a federal emergency response location were confirmed. Though we couldn't see the airport from our vantage point, the decimated ring of destruction indicated the ground zero of an atomic blast. Similar rings were visible in the direction of Van Nuys, where another airport had once stood. Between these rings lay miles of overwhelming destruction. As night fell, we set up camp to collect our thoughts, realizing that external help was unlikely, and our only viable course of action was to evacuate the city. However, as we deliberated on our options, a peculiar noise caught our attention—resembling the slow tearing of the sky. Two blinking lights in the distance, heading south, revealed the presence of an aircraft, reviving our spirits. The realization that air traffic had been absent for so long made the sighting even more impactful. We speculated that the attack was limited to Los Angeles and perhaps a few other major cities, leaving the rest of the United States relatively unaffected.

That night, as our spirits soared, Alexis and I shared our first kiss in the euphoria of knowing that civilization had endured. Lucky, our companion, seemed to sense the positive atmosphere and joined in with joyful barking. Unbeknownst to us, our exuberant celebration did not go unnoticed, as someone in the distance had observed the same aircraft and heard our cheering.

Thank you for reading, and watch out for the next part in this series. Do not forget to subscribe to this channel and leave a tip.