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"Yeah, okay," the girl muttered, her head bobbing as she turned around to face where Saff now stood. She moved her cane slowly, taking a careful step forward.
Saff swung the rifle strap around her shoulder and removed her knife from its holster. If they were moving through the city, it would be wiser to take care of any zombies in a way that didn't attract as much attention or cause as much noise.
Saff led the way out, then glanced around for signs of any approaching zombies.
Choosing the best route to reach the hotel would be important. If she were alone, she would go the more exposed but faster way because she could move quicker if she came across any humans or zombies. But she wasn't sure how fast this girl could move, and even then, dodging bullets and zombies wasn't exactly a normal walk in the woods for most people.
From her time in med school and her first year of the internship at the hospital, she knew quite a bit about blindness. She understood that most blind people retained some sight, and some of them could use it to navigate. However, with this girl, she couldn't tell.
It might be safer for them to go the slower route, staying off the main streets, and instead moving inside and between buildings.
Saff walked up beside her. "Do you wanna hold on to my arm?" she asked.
The girl paused, gripping her cane a little closer to her chest.
Saff continued, "The way we're going will be harder to navigate with your cane. I can guide you through it."
The girl frowned, reluctance written across her face. And Saff couldn't blame her.
"Okay. Sure," she eventually answered. Then she cleared her throat awkwardly, holding out her hand.
Saff bent her arm, placing her bicep against the side of the girl's outstretched hand. A moment later, she felt her fingers wrap around her, gripping tightly.
"Ready?" Saff asked.
The girl nodded once. Then they began walking, slowly at first, but once they were in sync, Saff increased their speed.
"Step," Saff muttered as they came up to the first curb.
They stepped up together and continued, with Saff quickening their pace.
They needed to get out of the immediate area. All the gunshots and commotion would have attracted zombies and probably humans, too. It was only a matter of time before they all showed up. And now that she’d been off the radio for a little while, it wouldn’t be long before Mike and the others came looking for her. Or really just looking for the bag of medication she’d taken.
Theuselessmedication that now sat crushed and trampled in the street.
She swallowed, thinking about the one half empty inhaler she had left.
"How far is the hotel from here?" the girl asked.
Saff glanced up, scanning the surrounding rooftops. "Depends.”
The girl was quiet, as if waiting for some elaboration. Finally, after a few awkward seconds, she cleared her throat. "Depends on what?" she asked as they came up to their first turn.
Saff slowed, then widened their angle as they approached, peering around the corner.
"Right turn," she muttered.
They turned down the alleyway together.
"What does it depend on?" the girl repeated, a hint of annoyance entering her voice.
"What we run into."
The fingers around her arm tightened just the slightest bit.
"Step down," she muttered, and they stepped together off the next curb.
The buildings on the next block were nicer—less rundown—with large glass-paned windows.