Earth Dies

"That seems ... way over our pay grade." Alice commented, staring at the same text on her screen that Bridgette had just read out loud. "What in the world are a pair of 18-year-old girls from Iowa supposed to do? This is like ... a job for the military. United Nations, NATO, Space Marines, someone."

"Well, I was a week away from the military, so I can't lie and say it doesn't excite me. And did you see the bit about the population centers? And disabling modern technology? I'm not sure if there is a military anymore. I think maybe the first thing we should do is head in town and see who else we can find."

"Yea, that sounds good. I sure hope we can find some other folks. I guess let's grab a backpack and some supplies, it's a few miles walk in to Defiance, and we're going to want to be back by dark."

The two girls quickly split up, grabbing two of the Thompson family's hiking backpacks and putting some basic supplies in. Alice threw in a basic first aid pouch and some food, as well as a more practical change of clothes when Bridgette wasn't looking. She then strapped on a pocket knife to the side of the bag. In the meantime, Bridgette had loaded her bag with food, a blanket, fire starting kit, and a few other odds and ends.

When they were done packing, the two looked around the kitchen. Bridgette gestured toward Fi's dress. "What do you want to do with that?"

As Alice picked it up, she heard Fi's voice in her head. Hang on to this, you'll need it later. But it's not your time to wear it yet.

"I think Fi wants me to keep it, I just heard her say to save it for later, though."

Bridgette laughed, "Oh sure, I'll love watching you put that on later - and taking it right back off you. Several times."

Alice smacked Bridgette's arm, "Not like that! Perv."

"A, it's a fucking see-through nightgown that's even more erotic than being naked. If not that, what possible use would it have?"

"Okay, true. But I didn't say I'm going to wear it."

"You'll wear it if I make you."

Alice shivered at that. "I'm putting this away upstairs before you get any more ideas." Bridgette smacked Alice's ass as she scampered out of the room, running the dress upstairs and shoving it in the back of her underwear drawer in her dresser. She was definitely ... okay, maybe not wearing that. Well, she might wear it for Bridgette. If Bridgette made her do it, she'd wear it. Just not today.

The two girls put on sensible sneakers, shouldered their backpacks, made sure to lock up the farmhouse, and started walking down the driveway to the road. As Alice looked back at her parents' house, she couldn't help but comment on how lonely and different it looked.

"It really is weird, seeing it so empty. This new world is really strange. I hope we can save the world quickly and bring everyone back."

"I hope so, too."

"If we don't find anyone - or many people - in Defiance, we might need to walk all the way to Harlan. I hope we can find Colin, his house is on the edge of Defiance nearest to us. If we have to walk to Harlan, that's going to take us all day. It's at least ten miles."

The two girls fell into a silence, each lost in her own thoughts, as the two of them walked down the road, wondering what the future held for them.