Chapter 3 "The secret is out"

Laura was shocked to see the safe house. It wasn't huge but considering the last few days she spent in half demolished and ruined houses, finally seeing a house standing firm was something she was pleased to see. There were only two entrances, one through the main door and one according to Peter, was hidden in the basement. The whole concrete building was made of steel and every window was made of iron. Noah told her apologetically that she would have to share a bedroom with Melissa and a girl named Maxine. Laura accepted gladly, refraining her self from mentioning that she once shared a room with a toilet. When they arrived there were three more people there, Sean and Heath . They were twins and in their early twenties. They both had athletic bodies and were blonde. Sean had sunken, brown eyes with faint eyebrows while Heath had gray eyes wuth plucked eyebrows. And Laura could tell from the mischievous look on Heath's face that he was the trouble maker. When she arrived, he stared at her with a smirk. But when their eyes met he looked away.

"Where's Maxine?" Noah asked Robert.

"She went after Peter." Before Robert could answer, Heath intervened. "He was about to explode with anger so she must have decided to calm him down using her-" Harold made the shape of a body in font if him with his hands.

"I asked Robert." Noah glared at him. Heath grinned. Laura looked closely at him. He seemed familiar, but she didn't know anyone with the name of Heath. She decided to let it go.

"Why were those a****oles looking for that girl, Laura?" Laura's heart beat fastened. Robert shrugged.

"The didn't say anything. But they were pretty serious. Also threatened Peter to find some other place to live, far from here, or they'll force us to leave." Heath spat.

"Peter's gone. I can't find him anywhere?" A girl entered the lounge where they all were sitting. She had a cleaver knife in her hand. She was wearing purple tights and a leather jacket that had a human skull sketched on it. Half of her head was shaven from the right side and the rest were cut bobs and were dyed dark blue. She was wearing a black nose pin and she had a long scar on her left cheek. Her eyes met Laura's and she frowned.

"Uhuh Noah, who's she?"

"She's Riley, I found her alone in a shop with just a rifle. Offered her to come along and she agreed. I mean look at my face who wouldn't?" Noah said with a deadpan look on his face. The girl chuckled. She walked towards Laura and held out her hand.

"I am Maxine." Laura shook her hand but her expression clearly showed she was afraid of her appearance. She smiled and pulled her hand to hug her so that Laura bumped into her shoulder. Maxine whispered in her ear. "Don't be afraid. This dress up is just to keep these idiots at bay." She pulled away. Laura chuckled slightly. 'i am in safe hands.' She thought to herself.

"I am not gonna ask what she said." Heath coughed.

"You better not." Maxine gave him glare and took Laura to her room. After they were gone, Heath frowned and whispered to Noah.

"Do you know what she said to Riley?" Noah shook his head in disappointment.

"I am gonna go look for Peter before he looses control and gets caught." Noah left with his chainsaw.

"Robert do you know what she said to-"

"Shut up." Robert cut him off.

Maxine took her to the room where Melissa was cleaning up the mess. She gave her quick smile and went back to her business. The room was simple enougj to make her feel at home. There was a large bed in the center, a small table and a chair by the window, a couch and a small closet. "Since you don't have any clothes feel free to change into anything that fits you or your comfort from the closet." Maxine said, lying on the bed. "But I need to tell you there are a few rules. One, at morning we all go out to hunt together. Everyone plays their part and we eat together all three times of the day. you are not allowed to hide any food from others. Second, we have a large but limited amount of ammunition, so don't steal from us or waste bullets, if you do you'll be kicked out with what you came with. So if you want to go out and kill zombies for fun use the knifes, blades, cleavers, and daggers not bullets. Third, never go out alone without telling Peter. He is the head, and you gotta take his permission for using the weapons as well, apart from your own obviously. Last, you could be bitten and not telling us, so we need to check you for bites." She smiled apologetically in the end. I looked at Melissa. She was done with her business, and now was sitting on the armchair.

"uhm, okay. I know I am not bitten so, uhm." Laura didn't know what to do. "Am I supposed to strip?"

"No, just take of your shirt, and roll up your pants. That's where they like to bite." Melissa saved her from the embarrassment. Laura prepared to take the shirt off when Maxine gestured her to stop. She shook her head and stood up. She went towards the closet but then quickly turned and turned the knob of the door and opened it. A gasp was heard and Heath stumbled inside.

"You pervert!" Maxine glared at him

"uhm, I was just passing by."

"Save your dumb excuses, Heath. You did the exact same thing with Melissa."

"I thought she winked at me when you took her to the room. I didn't know she was legally blind."

"You should have, only a blind would ever wink at you."

"Ouch." Heath put his hand on his chest and scowled in fake pain. Maxine then pushed him outside the room.

"I didn't wink at him." Melissa said.

"I know Melissa. You can't wink without closing both your eyes at once." Maxine sighed. Then she looked at Laura.

"Uh Riley, I trust you. Just don't tell Matt we didn't check you."

"You didn't trust me when I came." Melissa crossed her hands in her chest.

"Look at her face Melissa. She looks like she will catch a fever if she lies."

It was already midnight. Peter didn't return, neither did Noah. So they decided to have dinner. Laura ate a very small amount knowing well, it was Noah's and Peter's share. After dinner she went towards the terrace. She found Heath sitting by himself.

"Hey, Riley? Everything okay?" He asked not looking at her.

"Why does it look like I have seen you somewhere?" Laura finally asked him.

"Oh, you must have. I have done a lot of commercials."

"Really? So you are an actor."

"Of course not." He scoffed. "Look at me, do you think someone will hire this." He pointed at his face. "To sell their brand?" He went back to staring at nothing. Laura frowned. He wasn't ugly or anything. In fact she was about to compare him to Colton Haynes. But then she noticed his smirk.

"I would've shown you sympathy, if I didn't know you." Laura said. Heath stood up and walked towards her. She was surprised for a second to see how tall he was. He stopped a few inches away from her and said.

"You don't know anything about me, Riley." Then he brought his face down to stare in her eyes. Laura's breat hitched. "But I know all about you, Laura Alcott."

End of chapter 3.

Hope you are liking it so far.