Redemption

             Since we left the dinner not much has happened. We've been marching on, stopping to charge the go karts, and closing the gap to San Diego. It sucks because we can only go about  30 or so miles a day it's taking so long. Luckily we're taking the freeway. Less slack jaws and there is always a building nearby, that we can duck into for the night. I've seen a change in the slack jaws recently. Some charge us like normal more often than not they just stare at us. I especially saw this when we passed by all the farm land in central California. Last night I walked up to one, I got three feet away from it before it tried attacking me, But once it got my scent it rushed me.

        This was the first time I had to fight one since the diner. as it attacked me I kept getting flashes of that girl in the diner. When I manged to get it off me I grabbed me sword, but I couldn't dispatch it. It came closer, and closer, until the the point of my sword was at it's chest, but it didn't stop it impaled itself. I could smell the rotting flesh as it inched in closer. I couldn't move I was paralyzed with fear.it had reached the hilt and leaned in. Suddenly the slack jaw got heavy. That's when I noticed the knife in it's head. I looked over and saw Evelyn hand on the knife. The same hand that in two second would leave it's mark on my cheek.

      I held my my stinging face in shock, and said, with a little laugh "This is becoming a pattern in your life." Evelyn didn't find it funny. She was really mad her face was as red as my cheek. "What is wrong with you? I understand why it upset you when you put down that girl back at the diner. It was horrible for all of us, but Jake we are at war, and we expect you to lead us. What happened to the man that crushed Quintin's rule." I responded, " I can't do it any more I can't fight these things. I don't want to lose my humanity." Evelyn just sighed and looked me in the eyes. "Jake I understand, you're concerned, but that is why I don't worry. You have a conscience fueled by compassion. You know right from wrong. That's the difference between you and Quentin. He has no compassion, so fills that void with his own desires." You didn't kill that girl because you wanted to, it was a reflex. That doesn't make you a bad man. Trust me if you ever get to far off the reservation I'll give you a good slap." I smiled at her gave her a hug, and said "Thank you." Then she looked at me and said, "Good, now you need to shape up, and be the man that survived the apocalypse, commandeered a helicopter, overthrew a tyrant, and found a cure to the worst disease of all time." I said, "I didn't do that alone I needed my team", Evelyn responded "and now they need you.

      So starting tomorrow this expedition will no longer be about trying to redeem the bad things I've done, but rather to save other people from having to share those things.