CYOA Page 3
Joel looks at you expectantly. Curiously. Not unkindly.
You're not even sure why you called to him. What do I want to say? Even after all this time together, words that convey emotions don't tumble out easily -- for either of you. "Just... that one guy almost got you. I'm immune, remember? You should let me take the lead on those -- like when there's a bunch together."
Joel smiles a little. "I'm fine. An' just 'cause you're immune... it don' mean they won't rip you to shreds. I ain't gonna jus' sit back an' let--"
"I know! I'm not saying that. Jeez. But I had enough bullets. I wasn't calling for help."
"They were comin' up behind you," Joel points out. "Close enough to you that I didn't feel comfortable shootin'."
"Okay, whatever..." You're not trying to argue with him. "Just be careful, okay? I'll never make it without you."
Joel's expression softens; you're pretty sure he knows you're not just talking about this trip. "You're stronger than you think. But don't worry. I don't plan on gettin' killed, or bitten."
"Or hurt," you add.
"Or hurt," he agrees. "Same goes for you. Double for you."
You roll your eyes and head back to your horse. "Are you coming or what?" you tease.
The next hour or so passes by without incident. You've mostly been following the highway, except for when Joel decides to veer off on a 'shortcut' (you're not always convinced it's any shorter, but what do you know, right?)... which is what you've done now, and you've just come to a place that makes Joel stop and say "huh."
"Huh what?" you ask, realizing a second later that he's looking at somewhat of a fork in the road. Only there's no actual road -- just some rocks jutting up in front of you that make it clear you can't continue straight ahead. "Oh."
Joel regards both pathways with such a studious look that you can't resist teasing him a little more: "You know, if we were following the highway, we wouldn't have this problem."
He acts like he didn't hear you. "If we go that way, I'm pretty sure we'll run into the river..." Water is always good. This, you know. And you even have a purifier this time. "But that way's prob'ly shorter. I think we'd meet the highway sooner."
Shortcuts or not, avoiding the highway also seems to be the easiest way to avoid other people. That's always been Joel's stance on it, and so far -- thinking all the way back to Boston -- he hasn't been proven wrong. Even so, people can be anywhere. There are no guarantees. Others may be drawn to the water source as well.
Joel turns to you, a hint of a smirk on his face. "You wanna take the lead more? You decide. Which way do we go?"
If you go left, towards the highway, turn to page 5.
If you go right, towards the river, turn to page 7.