chapter 23

Josh and I were getting ready to leave for home when I saw Julie at our borrow room door. She smiles at us and ask for a moment of our time, she wanted to ask us something. "I would like to send my rookies with you just two of them I don't think they are cut out to help anyone if they are scare of their own shadow," she said to us. I look at Josh to see what he wanted to say. "If we can teach them sure why not," he said, and I just agreed with him. If we can help her out then we will, after all we can only help ourselves now. Josh went to look for the two-extra people we were taking while I pack the remaining of our things with two more bags of supplies. I put on my pack and left Joshes bag where it was and went outside to feel the morning sun of my face. My snitches itch but I left them alone and then I heard a voice that annoyed me. "hey cutie," said Vince. "hey Haley, sorry about my dumbass brother," said Katie. "it's no problem I should be used to him by now," I said but I knew I wasn't going to get use to someone like her. "I got an idea for you," said Katie. "I know we just met and just showed up out of the blue here, but I was wonder if you can take Vince with you and some kids," she ask me. I look at her wondering why she would ask me to do that when we barely know each other. But I find myself saying that I would help her.

"Yes, I'll take them back with me, we are about three hours away by car from the city," I told her. If she ever needed to find us I told her the address. Then Joh came out with two young looking men while I had Vince and three kids with me. He looks at me asking an unspoken question and I answered him. He seems to understand what was going on but didn't fully understand why people trusted us. But looking back on it I could see why. We help them when no one else would risk it and Josh and I risked it all and I made the most dangerous risk of them all and got bit by it. But I did it for those who couldn't do it. For those who needed me to do it and if I was given the chance to make a different choice, I wouldn't. I would do it all over again if it means to kill that thing and coming back to warm people.

After a while of talking to Julie and introducing her to Katie and Vince, we left them. We didn't want to make it home too late into the night, so we left a bit before noon. We set out to the city limits where we hid our car and the gear we took for the fallen soldiers. Josh took the front of the group while I took up the rear of it and voice was on top of the shops running ahead for anything that could stop us. I had three kids with me. Their names were Maya, Kelvin, and Jose. Jose was the youngest at being right years old, he lost both his parents and Katie find him hiding in a dumpster. While Maya being the oldest at fourteen handing onto Jose's hands and keeping an eye out for anything that could hurt him. Both of her parents were overseas on their wedding anniversaries and her older brother is in Texas at school. She is all alone over here but she won't be for long. Then there was Kelvin, he was ten and lived with his grandparents, both of his parents died just after he was born in a car accident. He left his grandparents when a growler got to them. He doesn't speak much but I understand why he wouldn't. Soon these kids will be far from the city, but the dead will still be there. I just wanted to help them in any way I can.

Up front with Josh are the rookies, Nate and Zack. All I knew about them was that they were twins and both eighteen and were saved by Julie's man. They didn't say much to me, but they quickly cling to Josh like he knew what he was doing when in reality I told him what to do and he followed my lead. Whenever there was a problem up head Vince would radio me back to let me know. So, for there was nothing wrong and that bothers me. I kept a close eye on the kids and Josh moved at a pace that was fast but even in watching the area for anything. One can never be too sure until it's too late.

W were halfway to the city limits when a horde of growlers walked into our view. I told the kids to hide and went for Josh to tell them to flank them. There were too many of them for us to move around and we had to take them down. "alright Josh I need you to set up shop for a kill zone and ill draw there attention, Vince is on the rooftop ahead making his way back to us to provide cover from up top cool," I said, and he nodded and I went to kill the first one with my knife. I tried to pick off as many as I can with my knife until I had to us my postil, that was when Josh opens fire from the side of the street and I saw Vince set up his hunting rifle. Nate and Zack were no help whatsoever had they ran away. They were useless, and I needed to whip them into shape if they were going to survive. There were about ten more left from the horde of twenty-five growlers and one ticker. I was cover in that black blood and sweat. I was a mess but glad that we killed them all. These things were once people and nothing and no one should have to be turned into this. I look at the bodies that were laid out in front of my taking down but three people, this shouldn't be happening, but it is, and I wish it wasn't. life was hard and now its nothing.

I walked through the bodies and told everyone that it was safe. The kids came from there hiding spot the two boys return scare out of there mind and Josh was by my side looking at the sense that was laid out before him. Vince came down from the roof to walk with us. We were halfway there, and I doubted we would find any trouble. Maybe one or two growlers but not a horde. Hordes were uncommon but still there. I wonder how Jackie duals with hordes are areas with too many dead. Guess I'll never know. I wish I could reach her and ask her how she survives each day doing this. It was beginning to wear me down soon and I don't know how much longer I can hold out. But I drop that thought right there and think about my girls and what my father did, so I can live, and I look over to Josh and Vince and the new kids. I couldn't stop when I had some much riding on me.

An hour later we reach the limits of the city and Josh went for the packs we hid and give them to the boys and we walked to the car that was hidden about three miles away from the fallen soldiers. The sun was still high in the sky when we all got into the car and drive to the farmhouse. It was about a two-hour drive and we finally made it when the sun was beginning to dip in the sky.

Jane was there to open the gates for us when she saw us pull up and I saw Gabby outside sitting with Casey reading to her. I smile at them. I got out the supplies and handed a bag to Jane and walked towards that house but before I could get there she yelled at me to get cleared up. I laughed and followed her to the side of the house to get hosed off. The water was cold but refreshing. Jane called the other who were cover if dirt as well to get wash off. My body ached, and my snitches burn but it was nothing I couldn't handle. I walked up the sides steps and went for Casey. She looks up and jump off her seat and ran to me. She tackles me into a hug and I held her tight. She laughs at me for being wet but still held onto me. I look up and saw Gabby smiling at us and I blush and looked away from her. Damn it I need to stop blushing around her. She wasn't nothing amazing, she just has amazing brown eyes and hair so dark and pale skin that I wanted to touch all over. I quickly stop that thought and went back to Casey who didn't let me go. "hey girlie what's up?" I ask her. "its been good and Carmen was being good to," she said to me. I smile at her and went inside to find my second kid.

I find her asleep in Danny's arms. She got a bit bigger since I last seen her and that about a week ago. I didn't want to wake her, so I left her with Danny. Om the kitchen I saw Abby with someone I didn't know. Then Josh enters and went to his baby sister and hug her tight. She laughs at her brother and held him just as tight. "Hi, I'm Haley and you are?" I ask this stranger. "Sorry I'm Gale," she said. "Nice to meet you but not to be rude but how did you find this place?" I question her. "oh, um Gabby find me she went out with I think Danny looking for some supplies at the next farm and find me hiding in the barn," she said. I knew Gabby was able to handle herself but Danny going out there didn't sit well with me. I was going to have to talk with her about that but for now, I dropped it.

I was just glad to be with my girls and safe but tomorrow we were going to have to make this place safer and tell them what Josh and I went through in the city. But for now, I gather everyone up and introduce them to our newest members and one that will be leaving in two weeks' time to return to his sister. We told them what happens during our week in the city and how everything has gotten and how people are surviving. It was getting ready for bed, soon I felt the bed dip and small arms wrap around my arm. "what's up girlie," I ask Casey. "nothing I just miss my crazy mom," she said and closed her eyes. I felt something swell inside when she called me mom. That when I knew I had to tell everyone that I got bitten, I wasn't going to hide it any longer.

After a long night of sleep, I got ready for the day. The first thing I did was wake up Casey for her to get ready. Sometime later everyone was up and moving about when I called them all to the living room. I gave Josh a look and he knew what I was about to do. He didn't move to stop me, but he did move to support me. He was right by my side and we started our story. At first, we told them of the solider at the city limits and how we went to HQ and find Julie, and how we explore the city and ran into Vince and meet some of his people and how they were moving along. Then we told them about the freak we fought. And I pull off my shirt and showed everyone the bite mark on my right shoulder, I explain to them how I got bitten by it. I told them that it's healing. They believe me but the two rookies that were sent here with us started to freak out. They said I should leave this place, but they weren't in charge of this group then Gabby spoke up and show us her bite mark as well and told us she has had it four about four weeks now.

I told them that I knew about this since we met, and Josh didn't look that surprise. If one person can get bitten and live why not more but that chance of that happening are slim to none. So far, the only two people who got bit and lived was Gabby and I. Casey thought it was cool, but I still told her to never get bit by these things because one it hurts and two we don't know what will happen. She understood what I meant, and I continue the rest of my story until Vince interrupted and started talking. He talked about helping us clear out the dead to get supplies for not just his group but the other as well and how we had this idea to all stick together and clear out more safe areas for people and make a trade route and head north to see how far things thing went. I let him finish the story while I went outside to see that there was one watch tower built and it was next to the gate. I didn't notice it until now but the gaps between the metal was covering to make it more secure.

Gabby came outside and stood by me. "We started building them after you left, and I know I shouldn't have taken Danny with me, but she wouldn't let me leave without back up," she said, and I knew Danny wouldn't let her go alone. So, I let it slide but it will not happen again. If anything, happen to her Jane would have my ass. "Just don't let it happen again or Jane will kill us both," I said, and she laughs. We just stood there for another minute before she spoke up. "Look I know I kissed her and you kissed me back but I understand if you don't want to do this-"and before she could even finish what she was saying I find my lips pressed against hers. I felt her pull me closer and before anything, we could do anything more I pulled away from her. "I don't know what I'm doing but let me think about it all," I said to her and she seems to understand but I saw the sadness in her eyes. I liked her I will admit that, but I couldn't do anything about this yet. What I needed to do was act like a leader and plan these trade routes and make another safe area here for these people. But I wanted to kiss Gabby again.

After today we were going to get to work and I couldn't have her on my mind. Even if I wanted her on my mind I have t think of the people who need us. This was going to be hard, but I made my choice, I just hope I made the right one.