Michelle continues driving the bus for a couple hours without further - incidents. They pass a bunch of smaller towns, some of them being + incidents. They pass a bunch of smaller towns, some reduced to basically piles of wood and rubble while others have buildings still standing. James had gone to sleep and Annie is enjoying the view, making occasional conversation with Michelle about landmarks or anything remarkable.
-- Maybe add some comment about what Annie sees/perceives? -
- Michelle gets her attention: Look, over
+ Michelle gets her attention: Look, almost
there!
She getures to the left. Annie leans out of her seat and back to see what
Michelle is pointing to. An undefined shape is visible in the far
@@ -21,8 +18,8 @@
skyline of a large city.
- They pass a sign with completely washed-out colors off to the side
- that still faintly reads Welcome to
+ They pass a huge sign with completely washed-out colors that still
+ faintly reads Welcome to
Nova Metropolis. Quickly, they find themselves the city
outskirts. Many of the single family homes in the area are still
standing, some of them even in remarkably good condition. The city
@@ -38,9 +35,9 @@
50? That's faster than the speed limit in
Sunside Cove yet this feels so slow...
Michelle chuckles.
- This is what it feels like after doing 120
- for a while. Jack was right about the wind. Under normal circumstances,
- a bus like this one would struggle to reach 100.
+ This is what it feels like coming off the
+ highway. Jack was right about the wind. Under normal circumstances,
+ a bus like this one would struggle to reach 100, we were doing 120.
The buildings around them get taller and taller. The mix of smaller and
@@ -50,35 +47,37 @@
over over the road. Annie points them out:
Looks like this was all abandoned just
recently. Not even a smashed window.
- Over there. But you're right. Barely any
- damage – and surprisingly little sand, I thought we'd find
- a bunch of buried ruins.
+ Over there.
Okay, one smashed window.
+ I mean you're right. Barely any
+ damage – and surprisingly little sand, I thought we'd
+ find a bunch of half-buried ruins.
Michelle pulls up at a bus stop and parks the bus.
Time to wake up the guys.
- While enjoying a small meal, they decide to explore the time capsule that
+ Over a small meal, they decide to explore the time capsule that
is Nova Metropolis. Well, all of them but Jack.
- I thought sleep was for the weak?
- Michelle teases him.
+ Michelle says: I thought sleep was for
+ the weak?
I'm just gonna own that one today.
- He throws himself into his bed, not even making an effort to lay down in a
- comfortable position. Through the mattress, they hear a muffled
- Good night.
+ He throws himself onto his bed, not even making an effort to lay down in
+ a comfortable position. His words are muffled through the mattres:
+ Good night.
missing section (and maybe a missing chapter of Jack getting the radio)
Jack is gone, Annie notices while
- entering the bus. She goes to the kitchen area.
+ entering the bus. She looks around.
There's a note on the table: "Will
be back at 6:30"
Michelle looks at her watch. It is
6:30.
- I guess there's nothing to do but wait.
- He'll show up soon enough. James chimes in.
+ James chimes in: I guess there's nothing
+ to do but wait. He'll show up soon enough.
+ Michelle says: I sure hope so.
They place their bags full of found goodies on the floor and sit down
around the table.