Chapter Fifteen

The snows have melted. So we were all busy turning the backyard into a farm. I volunteered at cutting the tall grasses even though my body protested at the first real work I had. It was a welcomed exercise for me because I felt like my body was older than my age and I had to remind it that I just turned nineteen.

Due to my turtle pace, Zoi had shaken his head at me and helped me. I stuck my tongue out at him and he gave me a laugh that never ceased to make me beg for more. Thankfully, I had more pride than forcing someone to keep laughing. With his help though, we got rid of the grasses and weeds that were growing.

I slumped down on the bench and he handed me a bottle of water which I drank in one gulp. I realized that I have to exercise my body for a few more weeks or months before it could get used to the new routine. Carly told me not to push it since I was still healing and my body was still getting used to actually being useful and not just lying in bed.

I stretched my body, and I heard my bone snap. I groaned to myself. It was like I have a sixty-year-old for a body and not nineteen. I slapped myself on both cheeks to stop myself from dwelling into something I cannot change.

I saw Tasha and James cuddling at the wooden swing on my right and I smiled at them. Their love for each other was so obvious in their eyes that I found myself vowing I would do my best at keeping them safe so that their love would continue to grow. Because so many bad things have happened in the world that a good thing like what they have should be protected.

And speaking of love, I noticed that Griffin and Lily had been spending an awful lot of time together. Whether it be scouting the place to making sure no strangers were near to washing the dishes. I smelt something fishy around those two but when I talked about it with Coleen; she told me that everyone had noticed it but since you two hadn't spoken yet we cannot jump into a conclusion.

"Penny for your thought?" Steven's voice sounded behind me.

I turned to face him as he sat beside me on the bench. Despite the cold air that remained, he was sweating and his shirt was wet. "Done with the roof?" I asked. He was assigned to fix the new hole our lovely, dilapidated roof.

"Yeah. So, what were you thinking before I disturbed you?"

I shrugged. "Things; like how even after we faced death more than a couple of times here we are. Together, and getting stronger by the day," then, I laughed. "Well, I'm more of in the healing stage,"

He laughed. "True that. But none of us would be here if not for you,"

"Shucks, don't say that,"

He laughed at my uncomforted reaction. "It was true. If you had not acted that first day we wouldn't be here. And during the year, we have relied on you for too many things that I'm sure was so much for a seventeen—,"

"Nineteen now," I cut him off. "We've been together for two years now,"

He smiled and nodded. "Nineteen years old to handle. I tried to take some of that responsibility but honestly? Every time I did, I would always find myself looking for your decisions and guidance,"

~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~

I tossed and turned for the hundredth time but I still couldn't sleep. I stood up quietly as to not wake Annie and Tash, who I shared a room with. I hadn't bothered with my shoes since I was just going to get a drink downstairs.

On my way, I passed by the other rooms since ours were the last one. Each of the rooms was quiet. As expected, since everyone would be asleep. We had set-up old-school traps around the house. Since people in our generation relied too much on technologies they wouldn't be able to easily notice those traps.

We had set a string of line meters around the house with empty cans. If anything or anyone even bumped into it, the cans would create a rattling noise loud enough for all of us to hear. And if they manage to pass by the cans without triggering it, a lot of lots awaits them even before they could see the door.

I navigated my way from the second floor to the kitchen carefully since it was lights out. No lights shall be opened when the clock struck eight in the evening to avoid anyone seeing it in the dark. Thankfully, the light from the moon illuminated some parts so we don't really need it.

I entered the kitchen and pour myself a glass of water before I leaned on the counter as I drink. I was facing the kitchen window that faced our backyard. I could see the full moon that ruled the night.

It was. . . majestic.

The place was so quiet. So quiet that I could hear the grasses danced with the wind. Then, a shadow caught my eyes. I put my glass on the counter before I quietly moved towards the window. Carefully as to not show myself to whomever it was. I leaned on the wall beside the window and peeked outside. I wasn't mistaken. There was a shadow outside.

The shadow was swaying and moving so slow. I gasped at myself.

It can't possibly be a zombie, right?

Something moved behind me. I jumped and turned around only to collide with Zoi. He stared at me with his brow raised and when he was about to speak, I hushed him. He looked at me in confusion and I gestured towards the window.

He caught up and made his way to peek out the window. It hadn't taken him long to notice the swaying figure. We sat down below the window and faced each other.

"What should we do?" I whispered.

"Should we pretend no one's home?"

"Sooner or later, they'll reach the first trap. And whether we come out or not, they'll know someone's home,"

And even before Zoi could answer me, the clattering of the empty cans sounded, echoed by the emptiness of the place. I could hear the other rushing down the stairs and I called them towards our spot. They crawled towards me and Zoi and I filled them in on what was outside.

"It's just one," Drew said, "If they're enemy we easily outnumbered them,"

"Yeah, but we don't know if they got back-up around," Coleen contradicted.

Votes were thrown around our circle but we couldn't come into a conclusion. Every time a decision was made, someone would point out the cons. We couldn't help but be double careful about every decision we made because we clearly have learned from our first mistake back when we hadn't cover our tracks it led three army trucks towards us.

The shadow outside hasn't reached the second trap. Either he was really slow or he was slowing down to scout the place. We needed to come to a decision before it was too late to either help or run.

"Please!" a voice croaked outside. But it sounded like a female. We stared at each other wide-eyed. "I'm injured,"

Lily groaned, "We'll regret it if we don't even try to help."

"But what if it's set-up?" Rose asked.

"If it is a set-up, we can fight or run. But if she really needed help and we didn't give any, our conscience would surely kill us," Jake reasoned.

I nodded at him, "Zoi and Carly would you do the honor of seeing her first?���

They both nodded at me, and then Zoi stood up in front of the window and told her to stop where she is and he'll come out. While they did, the rest of us readied ourselves in case we needed to fight.

I actually chose Zoi and Carly for two things. If it ended up a set-up, Zoi can easily protect himself and Carly from crossfire. And if the shadow is really hurt and needed help, I chose Carly to assess the patient's wounds and if she'll be deemed safe to enter the house. Because we can't afford to get sick again.

Sure we had a semi-okay clinic but it still lacks a lot of medical equipment and medicines and no one wanted to step foot in any town any time soon.

The door opened and I saw Carly entered first then she opened the door fully for Zoi to enter who was supporting a woman to walk. She was dirty and bloodied. Her long blond hair was dirty and dried. Her blue eyes looked tired and scared. It was hard to tell her age but she was smaller than Zoi, so maybe 5'3. If her height fits her age, I'd say she's between thirteen and eighteen.

"Sao?" Steven gasped as the woman lifted her head to face him.