Hearing Eugene's sigh, Gavin shook his head with a smile.
"If Mexican zombies don't come rushing into Texas from the US-Mexico border, I'll be thanking Mexico just as you do."
With that, he waved goodbye to Eugene.
"Go on and drive; I don't like being too close to zombies."
"Damn it, the big guys always have demands, while the little guys just want Coke, quarterback!" Eugene laughed as he returned to the old Ford, a grin on his face.
Watching Eugene leave, Madison sneered. "How damn hypocritical."
"It's better to be hypocritical. At least you still have a conscience," Gavin replied, giving Madison a reassuring pat on the arm as he settled onto the Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Madison downed the last of her Coke and marched back to the RV.
As Madison climbed inside, Winnie emerged from the bed at the back of the RV, making her way to the sofa behind the driver's seat. She leaned against the sofa, her back to Madison, and asked, "Are we going to Palmer, like the boss said?"
"Haha, you catch on quickly! That's right, Gavin is the boss. He's the best leader I've ever followed. He's brought me countless honors and wealth!"
Madison started the RV, and as the Tyrannosaurus Rex turned, she continued her conversation with Winnie. "Don't worry, kid, in under ten minutes, we'll be watching the sunrise at the artificial lake outside Palmer Town."
"I'm not worried. I'm just a bit hungry. Maybe when we get to the lake, I can wake up Mom and ask her to make us some breakfast?"
As Winnie spoke, she turned with worry to glance at her mother, who lay unconscious in bed.
This child, still in elementary school, had already begun to fret over her mother's position in their group.
In their school, the girl bullies liked to torment those who were vulnerable, like their own mothers.
Winnie even imagined that if her mother were shrunk and placed in their elementary school, the other girls would tease her until she cried all day long.
Hearing this, Madison accelerated and patted her stomach. "Breakfast? Tsk tsk, Gavin and I only had a burger this morning. Some stew would be lovely!"
Having said that, Madison turned to Winnie. "Little ghost, is your mother's cooking good?"
"Of course it is! After all, she only knows how to cook and clean the house. But I didn't expect the eldest to be Gavin. I even have a poster of him at home!"
"That's right! Haha, Gavin King, the most famous big shot in Texas."
"And I'm Madison, Madison Konacek. What about you?"
"Winnie Baker, thank you for saving us!" Winnie reached out her hand to Madison in gratitude.
Madison smiled and shook her hand, then continued, "Are there many kids like you in school? Are all kids these days so mature?"
"What's so mature about that? I'm twelve, and I'll be going to middle school next year!"
"Really? Middle school, huh? I was in a gang with my cousin back in middle school, but unfortunately, I never got the chance to steal a car."
The two began to chat back and forth.
Madison had many siblings, and though he was young, he had plenty of experience taking care of children; soon, he had Winnie giggling.
Amidst their laughter, the unconscious woman in the back of the RV slowly shook her head and unexpectedly woke up.
"Winnie…"
The woman called out weakly, but Old Mac and Winnie didn't hear her.
"Winnie… are you there?"
The woman gradually sat up, supporting herself on the bed as she raised her upper body. In her confusion, she saw a massive figure occupying the driver's seat of her RV.
"Ahhhhh!!!"
In an instant, screams filled the vehicle, startling Madison and Winnie so much that they nearly jumped out of their seats.
"Oh my god!" Winnie exclaimed, her mouth agape. She quickly leaped off the sofa and ran toward her mother.
"Mom, please be quiet! Stop screaming, I'm scared!"
As she spoke, Winnie threw herself onto her mother's legs and raised her hand to cover her mouth.
Once she confirmed her daughter was safe, the woman sighed in relief, then suddenly realized and pulled Winnie tightly into her embrace.
"Oh my God…"
The woman cried as she held Winnie close, her suppressed sobs reverberating throughout the RV.
Hearing her mother weep, Winnie rolled her eyes, patting her mother's legs. "Doris, be strong! You taught me that!"
"Wuwuwu… I will, I… Wuwuwuwu… Kenny was bitten to death by them! I saw it with my own eyes—your father, my husband, is dead, wuwuwu…"
Though she insisted on being strong, the image of her deceased husband haunted Doris's thoughts.
Strong? Can anyone's strength truly overcome the pain in their heart?
Listening to her mother's sorrowful cries, Winnie bit her lip with concern.
She feared that such a mother would be rejected by the leader of their group, just like the girl cliques at school would shun the little fool who only knew how to cry.
So Winnie struggled free from her mother's embrace, supported herself on her mother's legs, and said, "Mom, stop crying! If you keep this up, the boss will come and teach us a lesson!"
"Believe me, Gavin is frightening. He lifted an old man and tossed him to the ground with just one hand!"
"Ah…?"
Though Doris was grieving, she couldn't help but respond with surprise. "What boss?"
"Of course it's our future boss, Mom! You don't think the two of us can handle those man-eating creatures, do you?"
Winnie's eyes rolled as she wondered when her mother would grow up.
Doris stared in confusion, asking dazedly, "Are we saved?"
"Otherwise, if no one rescues us, I won't even be able to park the car!"
"Wait, you don't even have a driver's license! How can you… Oh God, what sin have I committed that you would punish me like this!"
"And Edward… Edward, he… wuwuwuwu!"
"I have to call the police! I need to call the police! I… I also have to call your grandparents!"
At this point, Doris seemed to regain some composure, and her voice softened.
Once silence fell, Madison in the driver's seat let out a long breath and continued to stare at the Tyrannosaurus Rex ahead.
On the Tyrannosaurus Rex, Gavin held the steering wheel with one hand while checking Palmer's status on his mobile phone with the other.
After locating Palmer's promotional video and watching it, Gavin set down his phone, pondering what parts of the video could be useful.
As he thought, the Tyrannosaurus Rex traveled sixteen kilometers, gradually approaching the Palmer area.
At this moment, Gavin began to slow down and picked up his eight-fold scope to survey the surrounding landscape.
When the artificial lake came into view, he exhaled, turned right off the road, and drove onto the steadily expanding grassland.
As the RV rolled onto the grass, the bumpy sensation caused Doris, who had been holding her phone and crying silently, to jolt violently.
Winnie jumped out of bed, excitement lighting her face. "We're almost there!"
"Where to? The police station or the shelter?" Doris asked, sitting up, gripping her phone, and crawling to the window to look outside.
The sky was gradually showing the light of dawn, accompanied by the mist that often rises in the early morning on the east coast, creating a dreamlike scene.
As she gazed at the ethereal view, Doris's eyes grew misty. This must be the scenery Kenny wanted her to see.
But now…
God, why did she have to endure all of this?
Fortunately, she still had a daughter.
If Winnie were dead, Doris would have wanted to curl up in the quilt and cry, then put a gun in her mouth and pull the trigger.
Perhaps that would be more satisfying.
At that moment, with tears still in her eyes, Doris glanced back at Winnie and couldn't help but purse her lips.
For the sake of my daughter, no matter what happens, I must at least hold on to life!
Doris, stay strong!
After silently encouraging herself, Doris wiped her tears and rose from the bed.
Entering the shower room, she gazed at the bloodstain on her forehead in the mirror, turned on the faucet, and slowly washed away the crimson mark with water.
The car had come to a stop before she finished washing her face, and the sudden halt made her grip the wall for balance.
Then, she felt something leap onto the roof of the vehicle, and the heavy footsteps sent chills down her spine.
Madison, seated in the driver's seat, stepped into the aisle after parking the car. She glanced at the roof and smiled.
"Gavin is remarkably swift. Come now, child. Help your mother out of the car so she can see."
"Have you told your mother about the stew yet? I'm quite eager for it. Gavin will surely enjoy the stew as well, haha..."