Free Zombiestan by Mainak Dhar

which Mayukh could see the faint light of daybreak. Hina was now by his side. She had a bandage on her forehead, and was trying hard to smile, though Mayukh could see her eyes creased with fatigue and stress.
     
    'Here, have some breakfast.'
     
    She held some cold French fries and a burger. Mayukh wolfed it down. He was so famished that it tasted like the best meal he had ever had. She ran her hand through his hair, and as Mayukh looked at her he was reminded of his grandmother. The same kind eyes, the same smile.
     
    'That man there is an American soldier. He saved us last night and he'll help us get to the American Embassy. Once there, we can contact someone in the government and find out where we can go to be safe.'
     
    Mayukh nodded mutely, the thoughts of what he had gone through the previous day still fresh in his mind. As David announced that they were leaving, Mayukh followed him out, his body going through the motions, but his mind totally numb and blank.
     
    David examined the car that he had rescued Hina and Mayukh from. It had been a close call. They had made it back into the shop moments before the attackers he had shot had regained consciousness. He opened the boot and whistled at all the canned food stuffed into it.
     
    'Kid, your folks sure were well prepared. No telling what we run into, so help me carry this stuff into another car. I guess today people will forgive us for borrowing their car.'
     
    David chose an SUV, and started to load the things into the back when Hina turned to him.
     
    'David, wouldn't we be able to move through the streets easier in a smaller car. There are cars and things....'
     
    She couldn't bring herself to say bodies but it was clear what she meant. David shrugged.
     
    'Maybe, but if I have run through or over things, this will come in handy.'
     
    Mayukh had hardly helped, standing by the side, and David whispered to Hina.
     
    'I hope the kid gets his senses back. He's in shock, and I understand that, but he will get himself killed real fast if he doesn't snap out of it soon.'
     
    'The poor boy has been through Hell.'
     
    David finished loading the last of the cans and took the wheel.
     
    'Hina, I think we haven't begun to see what Hell looks like yet.'
     
     
    ***
     
     
    As they drove through the city, Hina realized that what truly scared her was the opposite of what she had expected. After the events of the previous night, she had feared that they would see signs of carnage and death all around. Instead, what was even more unsettling was the fact that the city was deserted. There was not a sign of a single living soul around, nor any signs of bodies. There were just cars and bikes scattered all around where their drivers had left them, and dark patches that indicated where people had been brought down. She had never heard the city this quiet. No cars honking their horns, no rumble of traffic, no people chattering away on their mobile phones. She longed for all the things that she may have once complained about. She saw that Mayukh, sitting in the back seat, was still quiet, but at least seemed to be coming out of the shock he had been in. The young heal fast, she reasoned, and then took her first close look at their driver. In the darkness of night, she had barely had a chance to see who their savior was.
     
    Her first reaction was that he looked so young. He had close-cropped blonde hair, and a face that made him look no older than a kid just graduating from college. She knew better, after having seen what he had done the previous night, and the only real hint to the fact that he was a trained killer lay in his eyes. They seemed ever alert, constantly scanning their surroundings for any sign of trouble. Hina knew that he would probably be on his way to the US soon enough, but was glad to have his company while it lasted. Between a boy in shock and an old Professor, she and Mayukh didn't have too many chances of survival on their own.
     
    David spotted some