As they drove, the landscape began to change. The ruins of the city were replaced by vast stretches of open countryside. Nature had begun to reclaim the land, with tall grasses swaying in the gentle breeze.

The further they traveled from the city, the fewer signs of life they encountered. They passed by abandoned farms, their once vibrant fields now overgrown with weeds. It was a stark reminder of the world they had left behind, a world now in ruins.

With each passing mile, the Suburban's fuel gauge gradually moved closer to empty. Doug kept a watchful eye on it, his mind calculating the distance they had covered and how much fuel they had left.

"We should start looking for a place to refuel soon," Doug said, breaking the silence that had settled in the vehicle.

Jenn glanced at the dashboard, her brows furrowing with worry. "I hope we find something soon. We can't afford to run out of gas out here."

Just as their anxiety began to grow, a glimmer of hope appeared on the horizon. A dilapidated gas station stood in the distance, its sign half-broken but still displaying the word "GAS."

"There!" Kyle pointed excitedly. "I see a gas station. Let's check it out."

As they pulled into the station, his caution returned. He had learned not to take anything for granted in this new world. Doug parked the Suburban a short distance away from the pumps, leaving enough space to make a quick escape if needed.

The station was eerily quiet as they cautiously approached the old pumps. Doug rummaged through his backpack, retrieving his sawed-off shotgun.

"Just in case," he muttered to the others, gripping the gun tightly.

Jenn and Kyle followed his lead, equipping themselves with whatever weapons they had. It was a reminder that they were no longer living in the world they once knew, where a gas station stop was a mundane part of a road trip. Now, every action required vigilance and readiness for the unexpected.

As they approached the pump, Doug scanned the area for any signs of danger. The old store's windows were shattered, and the shelves inside were mostly bare. It seemed like others had already looted the place, leaving behind only remnants of what was once stocked.

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Suddenly he spotted a man walking toward the store. He wore a dirty tattered robe and carried a duffel bag, eyeing the Suburban suspiciously.

Doug held his weapon close, ready to draw it at a moment's notice.

"Hey, you there!" the man yelled. His voice was hoarse, almost raspy.

Doug froze, unsure what to do next. He wasn't sure why this stranger would approach them; surely he must know that he wasn't welcome.

Doug's companions tensed beside him, readying their weapons.

The stranger raised his arm, pointing his finger directly at Doug. "Do you have any food? Food! Do you?"

Doug swallowed nervously, hoping the man wouldn't attack without provocation. "Um... No. Sorry, but we don't."

The stranger scowled, his lips curling into a frown. "Why not? Why won't you share your food? What kind of monster are you?"

A horrid stench wafted their way, and Doug immediately sensed that this man had been homeless long before the Rapture.

Doug felt a surge of anger well within him. This guy didn't understand. How could he expect them to give up their precious food after all they'd gone through? This guy might have lost everything else, but they hadn't given up yet. They were tough and resilient. Just because they lived on the street didn't mean they had nothing to live for.

He clenched his jaw tight, holding back the words that threatened to spill out of his mouth. Instead, he spoke calmly. "Look, we don't want any trouble. We're trying to survive too. All we ask is that you leave us alone. Please."

The stranger snorted contemptuously and pointed at Kyle's obese figure, "Survive? Who are you kidding? You've clearly got plenty of food!"

Kyle bristled under the insult, but remained silent.

Doug raised his weapon menacingly. "Listen, pal, I don't want to hurt you. But if you try to cause something here, you'll regret it."

The man sneered, "You think you can threaten me with that piece of junk?"

Doug purposely aimed to the stranger's left and fired off a round of buckshot, narrowly missing the foul-smelling newcomer. "See? It's loaded! Now back off before I have to shoot you."

The stranger backed away warily. "Okay, okay. Calm down. I'm going."

Doug relaxed slightly, lowering the barrel of his gun and holstering it. He turned around to face the rest of the group, "That guy came out of nowhere. Maybe he heard our conversation and thought we were giving him some freebies."

Kyle shrugged indifferently, "Maybe."

Jenn's eyes still held a flicker of concern as she surveyed the stranger's retreating figure. "We should be careful. People are getting desperate out here."

Doug nodded in agreement, his pulse gradually returning to a more normal rhythm. "You're right. Let's just get what fuel we can and move on."

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