chapter 20

After the whole thing with Claire, I wanted to be alone and think about my past. I mean it wasn't the greatest, ok actually it was pretty shitty and I did fuck up shit but I tried to be a better person at the end of it. I mean I stop fighting and stayed in school. Fuck I was going to join the army and try my hand at making that a career. But nothing went right. My world ended the dead growlers came to being. I know it wasn't just my world but it was everyone's world. For those who lost their lives and to those who are living trying to overcome all of this. I just wanted to be ok again. But then again what was I going to go back to. Not my family, the army yeah but after that, I had nothing. I lost the love of my life then and I wasn't shutting out my family because they treated me like shit. But because of all of this, i find a family and people I can actually call my friends. Fuck I met someone who I care deeply for and somehow I became a mom. I know Tabi is ten years old but somehow I was completely fine with this. I was taken out of my thoughts with the sound of Ken's voice. "Hey, we need help. I sent runners to shore but they are trapped by some growlers if anyone can help that would be amazing" he said. "Alright ken tell me where they are and my crew will help out" I reply to him. "Thank you, Jackie. They are on the corner of 56 and Lexington where whole foods is." I know exactly where that is. I used to go to high school there. Art and Design was a good place.

I meet a lot of good people there but I wonder where they are now. I hope they weren't in the city and if they are I hope they good or dead. I wouldn't want anyone I know to be a growler. I was starting to round of some people when I felt the skin burn. "Jackie there's a freak" yell Lucy. "you guys help ken's boys out I'm going to Lucy " I shouted as I ran towards the gate. I needed to control myself but I needed to get to BMCC as fast as I can. I let my anger take control of me.

I got there right as the freak made its way to the gate.I push myself to go faster and when I was close enough I tackle it was all my strength. That wasn't the best idea because it felt like I ran straight into a brick wall. I bounce off of it and landed on my back. I moaned in some pain but quickly got up. I took out my machete just in time because as soon as I got up it swung its arm at me. I block it with my machete and it cut itself. I started to feel my body burn hotter. I needed to control myself. I can't lose myself in this fight, I needed to control myself for Tabi and Riley. While I was trying to regain my control that freak was relentless in its attack. It swung its arms and try to grab me. I dodge every one of them and block off those that came too close. I was moving fast trying to find openings to cut and slash it. This one wasn't as big as the last freak I fought but wasn't as small. I was started to get hot again, my anger was going to take the best of me. I can't let that happen because if I do I will get reckless and get myself killed. I needed to what Claire did yesterday to help me. I needed to relax my body and think. That was going to be hard because I was fighting for my life and for the lives at BMCC. I just didn't fight for them, I am doing this because of Tabi who was just some scared kid who clung to my back when I save her, I'm doing it for Sally and her son who I told where to find safety, I'm doing this for Claire who I save because she was Sally world, I'm doing this for myself because I find people who are now a part of me and needed me.

I wasn't going to go down. My body was still burning up but I felt some unlock itself within me. I felt my body heat rise but at the same time, I felt myself controlling it better. I felt my body tense up the release that tension. I felt lighter and my teeth weren't poking out anymore. I was in full control now. I saw every movement that freak made and move to counter it. With each hit, i block and hit back. It grabs at me and I cut some of its fingers off. It cried out in pain and I move into its space to slash it. I jump and laying on its board shoulders. I was stunned that I could do this. It felt like my whole world became sharper and cleaner for me to fight. I stabbed it neck twisting my blade dipping into it. I cried out again and when I pull out my blade I push it towards the side of its neck severing the spinal cord. It fell to the ground and I looked up to see the people at BMCC looking at me. I didn't know what they were going to, but then someone started cheering. I was taken back by that and when more started I began to blush. I was going to go but then I saw Lucy and she came running towards me. She throws her arms around me and thanks me for saving her people. "Anytime," I said and started running to where my crew was. "Do anyone need any help?" I said into my walkie-talkie. "No boss we're fine we are getting ken's runners back to him as we speak," said Luke. I smile at that and made my way home.

I was running home when I heard gunfire. My hood upbringing kick in and I duck and cover. I've been in some shootouts before and that was the first thing you did until you had the chance to run. "Come out come out," said someone. Damn it, these better not be the same guys I fought when I was with Riley. "Come out girlie we just want to play," said the same voice. Io wasn't in the mood for this and my body was started to cool down after my fight with the freak. So I stayed hidden. "Damn it I thought I saw her," the voice said in anger. I needed to make find an exit and fast. I wasn't going to stay around for this. I started to slowly move and find out where that voice was coming from. That was my mistake. I felt some hard hit me in the back of my head and I fell to my knees. I didn't feel any blood but I started to get dizzy and mad. "There you all," this guy said in an overly cheerful voice. I need to control myself but also run from them. If I needed to take them down I will.

I got hit again this time on my back and side. I grab my side and pain and glare up at the guy who was smiling. Someone from behind picks me up and rubbed himself against me. That pissed me off. They took me to the ally way and block it off with a dumpster. I was still feeling a bit dizzy when I was slammed up against a wall. I was getting beyond mad." she mine first" said the overly happy one. I heard him unzipped his paint and I felt his large hand on me. My body was burning up again. I let him move closer to me before I slam the back of my head into his face. I turn around and kick him in the balls and punch the other in the neck. I was still dizzy but I made my way around the dumpsters and ran to the school. I hated this and I was going to take care of this problem soon. Not only did the dead come back we were dealing with people like this.

My body was still burning when I near the school. I needed to calm down and relax and so I did. I thought about Riley and Tabi and how they were my family. As I got closer I stopped running and walk the rest, I was in front of the school when I heard a loud bang. I turned around to see the guys who try to rape me with a gun in his hand. I felt something warm dripped down my side. I looked down to see my side was bleeding. That fucker shot me and I drop to one knee. I saw Claire up in the tower and she shot off two rides. I look over to where the guys were now lying still on the ground. I heard Claire yelling at people to bring me to Kelly. I couldn't understand why I was feeling fine, then all of a sudden everything went black.

It felt like my body was on fire in this darkness. I couldn't hear anything around me and I could see anything. I couldn't feel anything other than the burning. I wanted to make it stop. Then suddenly my I saw a light. I shot up and grab my side in pain. I cried out in pain and I felt several pairs of hands on me. "Calm down Jackie" someone yelled at me. But I didn't listen. My body was on fire and my side was killing me. I look down to find myself shirtless with a hole in my body. Then I remember that I got shot by someone. "Clam the fuck down" a different person yelled at me. I swear if someone yelled at me again I was going to break their damn arm. Then I felt someone climb on top of me. I look up and saw those beautiful forest green eyes filled with worry. I stop moving and looked at her. "Calm down Jackie," Riley said in a soft voice. She pushes me back down and got off of me. I miss her body on top of mine but she didn't leave me. the I felt pain in my side. "The bullet is still in there," said Kelly. I looked at her then back to Riley. She kissed me and then I felt something go into me and pulled out part of the bullet. I yelled in protest and started to move again. Riley grabs onto my face and force me to look at her. I felt kelly go back in with her took and took out a second piece. "Damn she use a hollow point, how the fuck are you still alive," she said to me. "Long damn story," I said in pain.

It took Kelly two hours to find all of the bullet fragments. My body help them by pushing the foreign object out but it was painful as fuck. When she was done she tried to stick me up but I told her no. she looked at me in question and I explain to her about what I am. She looks stunned and when I started eating in front of her I point to the hole in my side. It was closer but super slow. My body needed to rest but I had things to do. She wraps up the wound and I slowly get up but was push down again. I look over to Riley and she told me to rest up before moving. I listen to her and laid back down. Then Kelly started asking me questions. I couldn't answer them all because I didn't know the answers to them. I ate again and was allowed to leave and go back to work. Riley was by my side and didn't leave it no matter how many times I told her I was fine. She would just get made and slap the back of my head. I smile at her.

I was still in a lot of pain but I needed to tell Jimmy and the guys about what happen to me and I also needed to inform Lucy and Ken about sending people out. I radioed them and told them how I had gotten shot by these guys who were trying to have their way with me and how we need to be careful about sending people out."fucking hell, we are living in hell and people are using this to, ugh!" shouted Ken. I understood where he was coming from. "We need to find a safe way to travel and trade then," said Lucy. I agree with her and I told her we should map out a route that we can all use. I wanted to help plan with them but Riley came in and yelled at me to go rest, then I yell a tiny yell saying the same thing. I look behind Riley and saw Tabi looking worried and scared. In went to Tabi's level and hugged her tight. She hugged me back with her small arms and I told her that I was sorry for making her worry and that I was going to lay down. She looks pleased with my answer and I told them to finish planning with Lucy and Ken.