chapter 25

Today I woke up with my moms and Jade by my side. I have two moms now and I like it. I mean I'll always miss my mom and dad but now I got Jackie and Riley to look after me. I mean Jackie was scary at first but she saved me. She risks her life to save a kid like me. I remember that day. It was cold and I just lost my dad and I was running from that thing then I saw her running to me. She picks me up and throws me over her shoulder and climb up something to save me. She said "kid shut up and climb on my back" and I did. Jackie was really scary but now I love her and she loves me. I am her kid and she is my mom. They went out today going to help out Ken's men so I knew it wouldn't take that long. Jackie and Riley are the best out there besides Claire. Whenever those three work together you can't stop them. I just hope I can be like that. Be strong and kind just like them all. but anyway I had things to do today. I was training with Claire and then I was going to learn how to fix and build things from Jimmy then my moms would be home.

It's been a few hours since my mom's left and they weren't back yet. They left as soon as the call came in so maybe at nine but it's not one in the afternoon. "Claire why are they taking so long," I ask her. "Well they could still be trying to save the guys or coming back right now," she said with a smile on her face, but what Claire couldn't hide the smile that was in her eyes. She was worried and so was i. I couldn't let it bother me, Jackie once said to me that our world was different and anything can happen. So maybe they are still fighting or on they are on their way but I had a gut feeling they were ok. At least I hope so. I needed to stop thinking about it and so I ask Claire to show me how to clean a weapon and how to use it. She looks at me and thought about it. "Well Jackie would've taught you anyway but I know more then she does so ok," she said, I was going to get good and strong so I can help my moms. And help those around me. After two more hours of training, I went to go get some food. I was hungry and tried. I went to the lunchroom and I saw Cameron and her brother Tommy there alone. "Cameron where's mommy and daddy?" her brother asked. "Tommy, they're gone, the bad people took them from us, but that's ok cause we got each other," said Cameron. "And you got me too," I said impulsively. I looked away and blush when Cameron's dark blue-green eyes look at me. "Well I don't know you," she said. "Well, you going to" then I told them about myself. I don't know what came over me but I couldn't stop talking.

After talking to Tommy and his sister I find myself walking to the gate. I wasn't going to go outside because Riley will be mad if I did and super worried but I wanted to ask the person who was on watch if they saw them. "Hey I yell up there . "what's up kid" I looked up and saw that Luke was on watch. "Do you see Riley or Jackie?" I ask him. "No not yet ill yell for you if I see them," he said. "Thanks, Luke" and I went back inside.

It was getting dark now and they still weren't back. They didn't check-in as well. I was started to get mad. This made me think of the time Jackie left and didn't come back for weeks. But now Riley's with her and I'm going to be left alone again. I was sitting on the stairs thinking when I felt someone put a hand on my shoulder. "Hey Tabi doesn't worry they could be in trouble or helping more people," said Claire, "you aren't alone here anymore just remember that" then she got up and left. I try my best to think that but I felt something inside break. I got up and went to the room I share and lay down. Jade was there and she cuddled up next to me. "Hey, girl I guess it's just you and me," I said in a small broken voice as the tears fell from my eyes. I went to sleep feeling alone and scared.

"Riley when did you get bit when did it happen?" I question her. " I don't know Jackie one second I got shot then the next I'm alone fighting so you tell me" she yells at me. "I'm sorry but wait a minute," I said, "what is it" Riley asks in a panic.

I wake up alone. I didn't expect anything last night after I went to bed. I didn't want to get up. I was alone again. Jackie and Riley left me. I didn't want to get up, I didn't want to do anything today. I just wanted to stay in bed all day. I was sad and hurt. Then I heard thunder. I got up and look out the window and saw the dark sky. I felt like that, dark and alone inside. Then it started to rain. It rains hard. There was lighten and I just didn't want to get up. I just lay there until Cameron came. "Hi," she said. I didn't want to be rude and not answer her but at the same time, I didn't want her to be here. "Hi, " I said but didn't make a move. Cameron came in and lay beside me. I look at her and thought about the first time I saw her. She was hanging off of Jackie and Riley had her brother. They both look scared but calm at the same time. Well, I wouldn't say calm but more on guard because they didn't know where they were. Her brother looks so scared and she looks like she was about to fight. "How old are you," I ask her. "I'm fine now, today is my birthday," she said. "Happy birthday but why are you here?" I ask her. She just stays quiet and looked at me.

She just stays with me until I got tired of being in bed all day. "Finally, let go read or something," Cameron said. "You know you could've just left," I said to her. "Well where's the fun in that and besides you're the only other girl here that's my ages," she said. She did have a point. "Ok fine but I'm not up for anything," I told her. "That's ok it's raining and my brother is playing with the other boys and I just want to not think," said Cameron. "Ok, ok well we can read and just do nothing," I said. And after that talk, that's what we did. I took out my favorite book and pick the first story I saw. It was Cinderella. I really didn't like her story but I knew that Jackie did. She was weird when it came to reading. She would read anything and everything. Once I saw her reading a textbook for fun. I needed to stop thinking about her. After reading another story Cameron wanted to know more about me. She asked me simple questions such as what's my favorite color, and what my favorite animal is. I told her green and a fox then I ask her as well. She answers orange and a snake. We continue to talk until my tummy growl. I look away and she laughs at me.

She grabs my hand and pulls me up fo the bed and drags me to the lunchroom. I let her drag me. "Kira! Tabi didn't eat yet" yell Cameron. "Oh no not on my watch let's get some food in you," said Kira. I remember when Jackie brought Kira here, she was skinny but now she is all better. Kira is super nice and loves to cook. She can make anything out of nothing. She makes sure we all have enough to eat and some leftover for another day. She was really good at what she did. She lives in the kitchen. Before all this happen I ask Kira was she wanted to do and she said she wanted to be a chef. Well, I guess she is one now. It was barely ten in the morning when I had gotten my first meal of the day. I normally eat with Riley and Jackie eat which was eight. It's been a whole day and a half since Riley and Jackie left. I had hope that why would come by now but I guess they won't be. Cameron notices how sad I look and poked me. I smile and finish my food that Kira made. It was mac and cheese with ham on the side. "We are running a bit low on supplies," Kira said. "I could tell Jimmy," I told her and finish my food to go look for Jimmy. "Thank you!" Kira yelled out.

I took off in search of Jimmy when I felt something grab my hand. I look over and saw Cameron. "Dude slow down you got longer legs than me" she whines. "Uh sorry," I said and slow down a bit. We were getting close to the office when I hear people yelling. "We have to go look at them" shouted Jimmy. "Look I know but we don't know what happens or if they're alive still," said Zac. "No there alive I can feel it. It's just they might be hurt or hiding from the growlers of some gangs" said Claire. "And besides Jackie would be mad if we sent a team looking for them," said Erin. "He's right so right now let's just contact the other leaders and the seven to see if they are with them," said Claire. I was listening to them talk. They didn't believe that she had left while I did. I believe she left again but in reality, something could've happened to them. "Jimmy Kira said we are running low on food supplies," I said while running into the office. "Tabi were you outside the whole time" ask Claire. "Yes, and I want to go look for my mom's!" I yell. "It's been a day and a half," I said. My emotions were getting harder to control and I could feel the tears threaten to fall.

I wasn't going to cry. I wasn't going to leave my moms. I was going to go out and find them. Claire looks at the guys and nodded. Then she came up to me and throw me over her shoulder. "Put me down" I yell at her and started kicking and punching. I wanted to go out and find my moms. But Claire was stopping me. I was still being carried by her until she opens a door and I saw the outside. I put me down but didn't let me go. "You need to calm down kid," she said. "Why should I auntie, my moms are out there and I want to find them" I yelled. She smiles at me calling her auntie but then frowns again. "I know you do kid and so do I but we need to do this the smart way, not going out guns blazing without a plan," she said. I didn't want to hear this because she was right. And Jackie and Riley would be mad if they know I was acting like this. But I missed them and I was scared of being alone again. I wasn't alone at all. I had everyone here but without my mom's, I still felt alone. Something inside me was breaking at the thought of it. I didn't want to feel like that anymore. "Ok auntie I'll do it your way," I said. She just smiles and radios the boys to call Lucy and Ken and ask them what happen to our leader and her girlfriend.

After soon time Claire and I went back downstairs and I felt Cameron jump on me. I just smile at her and told her I was ok now. She smiles and hugged me tighter. I didn't know what was going on but I was fine with it. It was getting dark outside. It was close to five and still no word from my mom's. Claire was running around looking for our leaders. Lucy radio and said she hadn't seen or heard from them. And Ken told us that when she went to help his men she yells at them to run as Jackie and Riley fought off over forty growlers. But then they didn't know anything else because they were running away but they heard gunfire from the same area. That was it. That was all the information we had on were my moms were. My moms are badasses but now I am even more worried about them.

"Jackie why do you keep looking at me like that?" asked Riley."Because you aren't sick and it has been almost two days." said Jackie." What do you mean doesn't it take two days or a bit less for the change to happen." Jackie didn't say a word she just nodded her head. "We need to see the seven right now," said Jackie as she got up and grab Riley to leave.

"Claire, what are you going to do now?" I ask. "I don't know the table but I will think of something. Just as she was about to go outside she got a call from Stacy. She was from the seven. "Hey uh we find them, well more like Jackie came busting in here with Riley on her shoulder bleeding a bit." was what she said. I smile up at the thought of my mom's being alright but then thought about what she said. Riley was hurt and bleeding. "I need to see them!" I yell. "Hold on girlie something may have happened and we need to keep calm remember," said Claire. "But", "no buts just be calm and I will go," said Claire. "No you will not go anywhere," said a voice. "Claire you will stay where you are and keep everyone safe and Tabi I love you and Riley and I will be home soon. The reason we couldn't talk was that our walkies broke." and with that, I calm down even more. She told us that she was ok and that Riley was ok. But still was hurt so maybe they were going to stay there while Riley heals. I was still feeling mad but now that I know they were okay everything was going to be okay again.

After the small chat with Jackie, she told me to hand the walkie back to Claire so she could talk to her. I didn't want to hear there talk so I left. It was getting late and I was sleepy. But I had eaten only once today so before I called it a day I was going to eat. I made my way to the lunchroom and saw Cameron there. She had a smile on her face and said: "took you long enough". I just smile at her and to the food she offers me. We talk and soon after I finish she walked me to the room I shared with my moms. "Thanks for being with me today," I said. "No problem us girls gotta stick together," said Cameron. I pulled her into a hug and then was left alone in a room too big for me with Jade. I was getting ready to go to bed when I felt someone get into bed with me. "it's me Cameron" she said. "Why are you here," I ask her. "I wanted to be with my friend" was all she said. I didn't ask her to leave because I wanted her here with me. She is my friend. Soon she was asleep and cuddling the only pillow here. I took the pillow from her only to be attacked by a sleeping Cameron as she places her body on mine. I just let her do it and fell asleep. I thought about what happened yesterday and today. My life changes so much in these short months but I was ok with that. I had two moms now and made a good friend. But I think I like this said, new friend. Oh well, anything can happen just like how Jackie taught me.