CHAPTER 39 - Trust Issues

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Three days have passed by and it's now the fourth and almost near the very last week of October month in Z-city.

It seems that the time passing on and going by is going off either at a good peaceful start or rather at an awkward rocky one since Eden seemed to be at some kind of odds against one particular person in the group, that is the martial-arts fighting man Ryu.

Granted, it only concerns the little secret kept between them, centering on Eden's part, but it looks like she's been anxious about it that the few others started noticing this and asked her what was wrong with her, and she refused to talk about it.

It wasn't long until Ryu figured out what is truly the matter with her and he brought Eden along to a secluded spot so they can talk privately and hash out whatever conversation Eden needs to discuss with Ryu about and anything else that was on her doubtful ringing mind. And it seems that their private talk had worked because Eden looked more relaxed and relieved than before since whatever she and Ryu had talked and conversed about, it seems to ease all the doubts in her head when she had them.

After that, during the past two days out of the three that's gone by, Eden seemed to be in a daze like she was reminiscing over her memories distantly or something, and it made her appear like she was wandering around like a sleepwalker or a mindless zombie, which the latter part had to be dealt with by Talia and Sahara instantly when they noticed that her dazed actions are almost frightening the children upon seeing it.

Eden shook her head and blink in surprise whenever the two women snap her out of the memory daze, and she blushed in embarrassment upon not realizing or being aware of herself whenever she was in that deep thinking funk or something. Eden was glad that the children were not overly frightened over her strange sleepwalker actions and such, but she decided to keep her distant mind off on things, such as increasing her daily routine of training and exercising herself, both physically and mentally fit, as well as holing herself into one empty room in case there's nothing else to do besides the self-training, guard watch duties, and house chores in Safe Haven.

It was on the third day of that time during the three days that Eden finally decided to lay back in her room and relax for a bit, reaching to take out her journal from its hiding place, not worrying that someone might come by and see her write into it since Ryu now knows about it and will hold the others off from disturbing her as she wrote. Eden was thoughtful for a silent moment like she was wondering what she should write on it and then after a minute or two, she blinked and her hand moved to write the new entry into it.

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JOURNAL ENTRY: DAY UNKNOWN, 10TH MONTH OCTOBER, YEAR 2XXX

Hey, it's Eden again.

It's been three days later that's gone and passed by since the last time that Ryu found out the truth about my journal, read it but not the whole thing, and promised to keep it secret over it.

I'm relieved that he didn't see the entirety of my journal from start to finish. I don't like the fact that someone knows my inner self and thoughts, what I have gone through and suffered on my own, even though I have been sane since the very beginning of the zombie apocalypse and everything else that has happened.

I'm glad that I caught him on it and stopped from continuing to read through the whole journal, for I didn't feel like burning the book since it's been my solace and salvation throughout almost two years here in Safe Haven of Z-city.

Granted that Ryu understood how I felt about him knowing my secret, it seems that both of us needed a heart-to-heart kind of talk when I seem to continue being distrustful and doubtful towards him, only because he knows about the journal.

And we did. And it helped me ease off some of the worries and concerns I've been feeling, and it seems I was just being overly paranoid because I have been alone back then guarding my small group of two kids and two dogs until Ryu and the others came along then.

It also eases off more worries for me when Ryu offered to be someone I can trust to lean to upon his shoulder or be somebody to talk to whenever I need to vent or hash some frustrating things out of my system if they're boiling too much inside me and I need to let it out before I explode out of control.

I couldn't believe that I had such trust issues, even when it comes to new people that I have already given my trust since they are truly the good kinds.

But then again, it's understandable that I had to be guarded inside back then, even though they have been staying here in Safe Haven for almost a month now after I brought them back here.

I should have known better than to have doubts like this, despite everything they went through before badly and they were so nice and accommodating when I led them straight home here in Safe Haven after I saved them from peril.

Especially with the man Ryu himself.

Since he's gone out of his way into protecting and guarding us, to keep us all safe from any harm and danger, alongside his brother Daiyu, as the skilled martial-arts fighters that they are.

I also should have known better to trust him deeper and further than what I had given him before, just like last time back at that supply run we had gone to previously.

Right, I had forgotten to mention it and added it to the previous entry about that event. It was only two times by coincidence or maybe fate, but here's how it goes and what happened back then at that previous incident that I neglected to mention in one of the previous journal entries before.

Back at the supply run, after I saved Homer from getting himself attacked and nearly mauled by an Omega-Z, the selected teammates that were with me at the time, heeded my warnings very well and they followed my stern orders when I was instantly elected as leader unintentionally since they trusted me enough that I have the better knowledge than they do upon knowing the area and surroundings around us since I've been living longer than they do in Z-city.

Anyway, what happened during those two times from Ryu suddenly saved my life back then of sorts, in my opinion, was like this.

The first time, Homer had stayed by Mark's side, helping him to gather and pack up the needed electrical and technological devices to fix up and modify more of the devices back in Safe Haven, and I decided to stand guard for these two men while Ryu, Daiyu, and Sahara went off somewhere to scavenge or forage for any food and water supplies if there were anything or not in the area.

Just as the three of them returned after Mark and Homer finished packing up and gathering what they deemed as necessary and important, I didn't realize that an Alpha-Z was lurking in the shadows, scouting his prey until it suddenly decided to attack first instead of calling for its pack, by lunging itself right at the weakest one of the group, which is me.

But I was almost caught off-guard when Ryu suddenly drew his bow and aimed an arrow straight at me and I reacted instantly by ducking down then I heard a sudden thud almost slightly loud right behind me and I turned, much to my surprise shock, and saw the dead Alpha-Z lying on the ground with Ryu's arrow shot through and through its head.

I nodded to Ryu in thanks and he nodded back to me, holstering his weapons before he decided to draw out his second favored weapon from himself, and that is a Japanese katana sword. I almost showed the admiration on my face upon seeing how formidable Ryu looked when he drew out the sword and he looked suitable upon wielding that kind of blade melee weapon.

But then I didn't realize once more and again, as we were leaving, that I got distracted or maybe was absent-minded, that I was unaware that two more Alpha-Z's were lurking somewhere else in the shadows again, and when we were nearing the exit to leave the place, heading towards our getaway vehicle, the two most dangerous type of zombies jumped out and lunged again right at me, since I was at the forefront and leading the way for the group.

I managed to shoot one of them with a swiftly quick movement upon drawing out one of my guns but I couldn't move fast enough to shoot at the second one that was coming to my blind-side, however, Ryu got to it first before it was about to tackle me and rip my face apart or something more horrible than that.

Ryu swiftly acted in a graceful fast action, swinging the sword in an upwards move and instantly decapitating the second Alpha-Z's head off, and the dead body dropped from its attack jump and the cut-off head rolled away to a corner or somewhere.

I felt like I wanted to collapse down on my knees from relief and a little shock by the near-miss and attempt on my life and I looked to Ryu, nodding to him in gratitude again for helping and saving me the second time again. It didn't take long for us to leave and get back home to Safe Haven once I drove them safely back thereupon making sure that the way is clear first.

And that's all there is to it. The next time at next new journal entry will be about the plans and preparations for this month's holidays, which will be celebrated for only two days in October before the new month arrives.

And by then, on the new month after this one will be the time of the incoming winter season that will mark the future of another new year. And here's hoping we still live long enough and survive through this and get through it alive and well in this zombie apocalypse.

Until then, this is Eden signing off.

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After Eden finished writing the journal entry and was about to put it back, she nearly tensed like a complete statue when she heard or sense something and then abruptly turned around with the journal hiding behind her back, but then she instantly relaxed when she saw that it's only Ryu checking up on her.

Ryu seemed to be calling her over for something like it's dinner time or it's her turn to take the guard and watch duties up on the rooftop, and Eden nodded to him and responded that she'll come along and he watched calmly waiting as he saw her place her journal back to its hiding place, putting some stuff to cover and block it out from sight and then the two of them left Eden's room to do whatever task or chore is needed for her to do.

It didn't take long for nighttime to come and Eden is back lying on the bed, right beside her two sleeping kids after they had dinner and then tucked in. Eden watched them for a moment and then turned her eyes to look up at the ceiling again with a distant gaze on her face like she was thinking of something very deeply again. And it's like she's wondering what's in store for her and her group in the future once the month ends and another new one begins, as well as the incoming winter season that will soon come to Z-city.

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