Survival

"Do we really get a choice?"

The old man spoke up, glancing down at the woman with her children and Becky protecting the kids. The young worker was sitting by Becky hugging his knees, the woman that had come in with Vaughan's team was quietly talking to him. The man that Vaughan's team had brought it had leaned against the wall by the old man.

"You show up with guns and push us around. Then you offer us a safe place while stating that you're taking our supplies. Will it really be safer there than we are here?"

"How long do you really think you'll survive out here? A week, a couple months? How long until they get hungry enough that you're surrounded? How long until they're smart enough to figure out how to get in here? What will you do then?"

"We're well aware of what the future holds here. That didn't answer my question though, will we be any safer with you?"

Mason could feel his anger rising and his control slipping. He did not understand why they would argue with him, why they would not jump at the chance to be somewhere safe.

"There are no mutated where we're at and we've taken precautions to keep them away. No one will harm you there."

The old man sighed and shook his head, "We would just be trading one prison for another. As you pointed out, they'll get hungry and leave the city. Going out now will just delay the inevitable."

Mason wanted to tell him that it wouldn't happen, not with Soren and his people. He wanted to say that even if they did eventually migrate to the sanctuary that they were strong enough to stop them before anyone was hurt. Instead, what came out was a growl as his control became a thin thread. His eyes started to bleed red and the sound of a gun being holstered drew his attention.

"Mason. Mason, breathe."

Mason closed his eyes and listened to Gabriel's voice. Soren had walked them through different techniques that could be utilized when an evolved started to lose control. Gabriel had worked one-on-one with Mason outside of the team. He had taken on the role of second-in-command and the added risk of being the one who would step up and help Mason refocus.

When Mason regained some of his control he turned and left the room. Gabriel stayed behind and turned to the group.

"Look, I get where you're coming from, I do, but you don't understand what the sanctuary is. It's not something that we can explain, either. You can take a chance and come with us, meet our boss, and decide for yourself if it's worth staying. We don't force anyone to stay.

"Now, that said, we will be systematically stripping the city of it's resources to feed our people and keep them safe. If you do decide to come with us, come to the bus outside. If you're not there when we leave we won't wait."

After Gabriel said his peace he walked out of the room, leaving the group to figure things out on their own.

*******

"The bastards are making it hard for us either way."

Glen spat out as he watched the last of the intruders walk away. The swelling in his eye took away some of the venom.

"They could have been worse, they didn't hurt me when they found me." Becky shivered, thinking about finding herself suddenly surrounded. "The one in charge scares me, though."

"I'm going with them. It'll be a better chance for us. They have guns and people willing to use them, that means the odds are good they'll last longer than we will here."

Tegan stood, holding the hands of her children and glancing at Becky.

"Come with us, Becky."

Becky bit her lower lip and glanced up at Louie, the old man smiled and nodded.

"It's ok. If you want to go, then go. I'm staying. I just can't see leaving this place after so many years."

"Don't be stupid, old man. They're taking the food which means you won't last more than a few days."

Glen pushed away from the wall and turned to look at Louie.

"Does that mean you're going?"

Glen winced but nodded, "It's like Tegan said, our chances are better with them. I'm willing to place my bets with them, whether I like it or not."

"If you're staying then I'm staying."

Bret, the young worker, stood up. The woman stood with him and smacked the back of his head.

"Don't you go spouting off nonsense, Bret. We're all going, no one is getting left behind."

Amirah narrowed her eyes and looked at Louie, daring him to deny her. The old man chuckled and shook his head.

"I can see when I'm outnumbered."

Becky jumped up and hugged him. Louie wrapped his arms around her and held her tight for a long while before gently peeling her off him.

"I supposed I should have thought about what you wanted."

"We have to try, grandpa. We can't give up."

"We should hurry. I doubt it'll take them long to clear out the damn place."

Glen spoke as he made his way toward the door. The other's followed close behind him. Theirs was a strange group. The morning that the tornado hit Louie and Bret had just arrived at the store to prepare it for opening. Becky, Louie's granddaughter, had come with them. She had been staying with him while her parents rearranged their living arrangements after separating.

Amirah had come in the moment the tornado passed. The supermarket had been her father's and it had recently been passed to her after he had been lost to cancer. She had come to check on the store and her employees.

On her way she ran into Tegan and her two kids. They had been out for breakfast with Tegan's sister when said sister, as well as half the people in the restaurant, mutated. Tegan had grabbed the kids and ran. They were pretty sure they ran over Tegan's mutated sister when they raced away in Amirah's car.

Glen had found his way to the supermarket the next day. He had managed to avoid the mutated after having a close call the first day. He had gone into the supermarket looking for food and found the other's hiding there. After Glen had found his way in they had decided to lock the doors as an added precaution.

Survival had brought this group of people together. It only seemed fair that survival brought them out to the school bus parked in front of the building in the hopes of a better chance for survival.

It was three hours later that supplies were stored at the back of the bus, the newcomers and sanctuary members were seated and the bus moved further into town. They had gathered more than a few supplies and had one more stop before their mission was complete. Before they went to their next stop they drove around looking for anyone who might still be alive.