Dead Armageddon - Ep. 6

Day four-oh-six.... I got up early this morning to start working on that transport truck. So far all I've done is clean the skull chunks out of the radiator and the blood off the fenders and grille. Managed to weld together a cow catcher-esque vanguard for the front too. There's so much more to do though... Just glad I could finally get some help. Its not exactly easy to equip an ugly, sage green, 15 ton truck with armor plating by yourself...

It was fun though. Fun... A word seldom heard in an apocalypse, eh? It reminded me of when my father and I worked on my car, my El Camino. Heh, we spent two weeks straight fixing everything on that car, just so it could pass inspection. He told me once it passed, he would teach me to drive in it, and he did. My father wanted nothing more for me then a bright future, and he made it apparent in everything he did for me. Every time I look at that car, it reminds me of him, and gives me hope for the future. The future he wanted for me. The future I want. Silly, I know. Most people are given hope from things like witnessing a miracle, or the sight of a natural wonder... I'm given hope by a 1987 Chevrolet El Camino.

There was a storm last night, a big one. We had to cover the garden. We lost two tarps because the wind was so high, which sucks, because we use them to collect the water. Luckily, we collected gallons upon gallons before they blew away. I witnessed something that made me smile though, which is a rarity. As we were covering the garden, lightning struck right next to us in front of the depot. I looked over the edge of the roof to find what was once a man about in his 50's, torn and tattered clothes, nothing but the skin on his bones, scorched and smoking like a chimney on the ground. I thought it was amazing, an act of nature versus an abomination of nature itself. I don't think anyone took as much pleasure in it as I did. I suppose they didn't see it the way I did, but then again, it could have been the smell.

I'm actually kind of glad that these guys showed up. It's taken a lot off of my shoulders in terms of chores and security maintenance. I've had more time to rest and do things that are important to me on a personal level. They don't seem to mind taking over our duties, at least, Josh and Danny don't. Dalton, on the other hand, makes me uneasy. The guy always looks pissed off, and whenever I look up, I catch him staring at me. Its fucking creepy. When I try talking to him he never says more then a few words. I might as well be talking to a wall. Danny and Josh seem to avoid him, and never make eye contact with him when he's around. The thing that really gets me though, is whenever Paige comes around, his eyes get wide and he locks his gaze on her instead of me. She's freaked out by it, and I've told her to stay clear of him. If this fucking jar head try's something with her, I won't hesitate to throw him off the roof with a propane tank and a flare strapped to his back.