Chapter 22: Snuggle Up

All of us stood in side a small little pub, as it was quite a bit of an empty pub, all at the exact same time as well, kind of like the ones that were even in our city at the exact same time as well, as I was not all too sure if it was due to the fact that no one in the city or rather, village, had money to buy drinks and food, or if it were just due to the fact that it was a bit of a small village, and there were not all too many people living in it in the very first place any ways.

This seemed to be one of the villages that the people kind of just lived off of the land, as I saw that there was only 2 people working here, as one of them was the lady that was handing us the food and the drinks, and the other, was the chief that was in the back, all at the exact same time too. I was not all too sure if it was due to the chief that the food was really good, or if it were due to the fact that I had not ate at a place like this in forever.

I did not like to drink all too much, as I knew that I was quite a bit nasty when ever it was that I got drunk, and I did not want to bring that around my wife at all, especially at a time when it was that she was pregnant with a child, all at the exact same time too. It was not the fact that I got in to fights, and I hit people, as to how it was when I got drunk. It was the fact that I said a lot of rude and mean thing, which I knew was not good for my wife at a time when she was pregnant.

I did not want her to go through any sort of stress, as I wanted a healthy baby when it was born, all at the exact same time too. Sadly though, I did not have my wife around any more how ever, as that just seemed to make every thing feel very cold, as to the fact that I was even thinking on her right now, as it hurt me do as such a thing.

I was not going to lie, I did in fact want to go out and buy a couple of drinks when it was that I had lost her, but I knew that I could not, as I knew that I should not sit and loath over all of it, as I knew that I needed to be strong, and that I needed to keep on fighting, and I knew that I could not give up on her, as I knew that I had to try my damn hardest to get her back, and to live out a good life with her.

I was not all too sure if that was even possible, even if I did get her back alive, and I even made it out of there alive my self, due to the fact that I knew that she was going through a lot of shit, and a lot of terrible stuff where ever it was that she was at right now. I was sure that if I brought her back, she still would never be the same again, as she more than likely had gone through too much in that place if I had to guess. I did not care how ever, so long as I tried, and so long as she was back.

I sighed a bit, as I then finished off my drink, all at once, as I got my focus off of all of that. I saw that every one that was in the pub, seemed to be having a fairly good time right now, which did in fact bring a little bit of a slight smile to my face none the less, as I was glad to see that there were some happy folk in here. It still felt quite a bit cold, and quite a bit lonely for me though, even if I did have my best friend Randy beside me right now, I could tell that he did not seem to be feeling all too good about this either.

I wondered if that was due to the fact that some thing bad was going to happen here, which I was fairly certain that nothing bad was going to happen here at all the very least. I felt like Randy was the way that he was right now, due to the fact that I was sure that he too was thinking back on his old wife that had passed a while ago. I knew that it scared him, but at the exact same time too, it also made him feel like, now more than ever, we needed to do some thing.

I blinked my eyes a few times still, as I then all of the sudden shook my head, all at the exact same time too, as I then began to start to wrap up my food, all at once, as I was done with my meal, and I was ready to have my plate taken away, all at the exact same time too, which I was sure was going to be hard for the waiter, as I knew she had to tend to 100 other people first, before she could get to me.

I sighed, as I felt like I wanted to finish off the drink, but at the exact same time too, I also kind of felt like I just did not, as I knew that I had drank 3 so far, and I already felt a bit tipsy as it was. I knew that if I drank any more, than I felt like I would be pushing my self past the line on just what it was that I could handle, as I knew that I did not want to get drunk, as I knew that all of the people that were here right now, did not deserve that from me, as I knew that they had all been through shit too.

I moved the drink back, and I then began to start to relax my self, all at the exact same time too, as I knew that I was done, and I just had to wait for the rest of the people that were in the pub right now. I knew that fairy soon from now, we were going to have to get back on the road, and we were going to have to finish off our day. Luckily we had already gone to the market place and bought some fresh food, so we did not need to worry about food for a while at the very least.

I just wanted to get back on to the road, if I was going to be for real with my self none the less, as I knew that it had nothing to do with the village at all, as it was in fact quite a nice place to live, all at the exact same time too. I felt like, if we won all of this, and when all was said and done, all at the exact same time as well, that this would be a place that I might want to go and live at.

Maybe not this place it particular, but I felt like I just wanted to go move to a bit of a small and secluded area, and get away from all of the cities, as it felt like that would be the best sort of place to live out the rest of my life, if I was going to be completely honest, and I was going to be for real with my self, all at the exact same time as well.

I blinked my eyes, as I then got my focus off of all of that, all at once, due to the fact that I knew that it was besides the point, and that we were not at that point just yet. Also, the other reason that I got my focus off of all of those thoughts, all at the exact same time too, was due to the fact that I knew that Randy was beginning to speak to me. Of course, it was me for real this time, due to the fact that I knew that I was the only other person that was at this table right now, with him.

There was another couple of places that the rebellion had gone to, to get some food, all at the exact same time too, as I knew that Noah was not here, along with Dwayne and Kenton, as they went to go to one of those places. Most of the rebellion had gone here though, as the other places did not have drinks, and that was what a lot of the people had wanted clearly, as it was some thing that I had wanted my self, never the less.

It relaxed my mind, and it didn't make me feel as stressed, and as worn out as I felt like I normally should be right now, as I then blinked my eyes a few times, all at once, as I knew that it was all besides the point right now, and that I needed to get my focus on Randy, as he was the one that was speaking to me right at this very moment in time any ways, none the less.

I breathed in quite a bit of a soft sigh to my self, all at once, as I then all of the sudden turned my head over to him, all at the exact same time too, as I saw that he had quite a bit of a blank look on his face none the less, almost as if he did not have a clue as to just what it was that he was even doing right at this very moment in time any ways. I was not all too sure as to just what it was doing my self, if I was going to be for real with my self, but I let out a much more heavy sigh this time though, as I did in fact nod back to him, to let him know that I was paying attention to him right now.

Just as soon as I did as such a thing, it seemed like he woke him self up a little bit, and he seemed to remember as to just what I was that was even going on right now, and just what it was that he was even going to say to me in the very first place any ways. I blinked my eyes a few times, as I then all of the sudden, saw him nod back to me, as he did not take all too much longer after all of that, to continue where it was that he had left off on trying to speak to me in the very first place any ways, as I then began to start to listen as to what it was that he even had to say to me at the exact same time as well.

"That's all that you are going to drink? I just want to drink til I die right now man, if I am going to be for real with my self... I am scared..." He said to me, as he looked at me with quite a bit of some look of fear on his face, all at the exact same time too, as to just what it was that he had even said to me in the very first place, which I could not blame him for, as I knew that in a few days, weeks, or months, how ever long it took us to get to the capital, it was going to be some scary shit.

The thought of it made me shiver my self, all at the exact same time too, as I then all of the sudden dipped my head a bit low to the ground, all at once, as I really was tempted to keep on drinking, though I knew that it was a terrible idea, as I knew that I should not get my self persuaded to do some thing that was only going to end badly for me in the end.

I could not blame Randy for it though, as he did not know what it was like that I was like when ever it was that I got drunk, as I knew that it was not some thing that he would want out of me if he was to see it. I was not going to lie as well, I was a little bit embarrassed about it, as I felt like I wanted to tell him why it was that I did not want to drink any more, but at the exact same time too, I did not want to look like a pussy, nor did I want to admit as to just what it was that I even was like in the very first place any ways.

I just kept my eyes on the table that was below me for a little bit longer, as I then began to start to think a little bit more on just what it was that he had said to me in the very first place any ways, as to the fact that he just felt like he wanted to keep on drinking, or 'drink til he died' none the less, as to the fact that he knew that we were about to be going to a very scary place all at the exact same time as well.

It felt like it was going to be the place that I had seen in my nightmares, as I did not want to even imagine it just yet. I felt like I was some thing a little bit different than the way it was that Randy seemed to be right now, as I felt like I just wanted to enjoy the last little bit of my life, before things were going to get hectic, or scary, as Randy had said, all at the exact same time too.

It now began to start to make sense to me, as to the fact, as to just why it was that Randy had been so hard to see when we had been setting up the caravans, as I was sure that he either was a bit embarrassed that he was so afraid, and he had kind of been trying to hide his face from every one, or it was due to the fact that he was just trying to hide it from me, due to the fact that he knew that I had just recently lost my wife to these people, and he did not want me to think that he was pussying out.

I really was not worried about all of that though how ever, as I then all of the sudden shook my head a bit to my self, all at the exact same time too, as I felt like I should not be worried about him at all right now, as I knew that I should be more worried about me, as I really did not want to be tempted to drink any more of that drink, as I then all of the sudden looked away from it, and I looked over to Randy, as I saw that he once again had quite a bit of a blank look on his face.

That did not bother me at all how ever, as I let out a bit of a soft sigh to my self, and I then all of the sudden rolled my eyes at him, all at the exact same time as well, as I then all of the sudden began to notice that it had confused him as to the reason that I had rolled my eyes at him, which I did not want to do, as it felt like there was a lot to be confused about right now, and I did not want some thing as simple as that to confuse him any more.

I breathed in quite a bit to my self, all at once, as I then all of the sudden nodded to him, all at the exact same time as well, to let him know that I was about to speak to him, and to let him know that I was going to explain to him, all at the exact same time too, as to just why it was that I did not want to drink any more, as I felt like there was no reason for me to be worried that he would judge me on it, as I knew that this was a judge free zone.

As he stood there for a little bit longer, he did in fact nod back to me, to let me know that he was listening, and that he was paying attention to just what it was that I even had to say to him in the very first place any ways. I blinked my eyes a few times, as I then breathed in quite a bit to my self, as I knew that it was time to start to speak to him, now that I knew that I had his full attention on me, as I began to start to speak in fact, as I knew that he was in fact listening to just what it was that I had to tell him in the very first place any ways.

"No... I'm not going to drink any more... I get mean when I get drunk, and we don't need that right now... I am happy just having a buzz..." I said to him, as I waited for him to start to laugh at me, such as a few of my friends did back in the days, when ever it was that I told them that I did not want to drink. Those were some old friends though, as I had left those friends in the past. I knew that I might not have as many friends now, but I felt like I was happy with the friends that I had.

To no sort of surprise, though it felt like it was a little bit of a surprise to me how ever, Randy did not seem to budge, nor did he crack any sort of smile on his face at all either, as he simply just nodded as a little bit of a response to just what it was that I had even said to him, and I had even told him in the very first place any ways. I let out a bit of a soft and a relieved sigh, as I was glad that it in fact was the case.

Randy then all of the sudden seemed to push his drink back, all at the exact same time too, as it was clear that what it was that I had said to him, made him not want to drink any more, as he then all of the sudden began to look away from me, and he looked away from the drink as well. I could tell that he had a bit of an embarrassed look on his face for some odd reason or another, none the less.

I was not all too sure as to just why it was that it was the case, as I felt like I should be the one that should have the embarrassed look on their face right at this very moment in time, due to the fact that I had been the one that had admitted to him the way that I got when I was drunk. Maybe he was simply just embarrassed as to the fact that he was still drinking how ever, as I was not all too sure as to just how it was that he got when he was drunk.

Either way, I felt like I should not bother saying any more about it, as I then all of the sudden looked over from Randy, all at the exact same time too, and I looked over to the other side of the bar, as I saw that the waitress was walking over to me, as for some reason she seemed to be having a bit of a big smile on her face right now, as I was not all too sure as to just why it was that it would be the case.

If I had to guess, I had to assume that it could be for a couple of different reasons, one of those being due to the fact that she knew that she was going to get a decent amount of tips tonight, with the fact that there was about a hundred people here right now, which I felt like she knew would be nice. Another theory that I had to it, was that it was good for her to see not just one new face, but a hundred new faces around the place, all at the exact same time too. I was sure that the pub was kind of silent a lot of the time, so I was sure that it was good for her to have some company, and a few laughs, none the less.

I blinked my eyes a few times, as I then all of the sudden shook my head, doing my best to shake off all of those thoughts all at once, all at the exact same time as well, as I saw that the young lady was heading over to me right now, all at the exact same time too, and I felt like I was thank her, and I should compliment her for doing such a good job on not just me, but the rest of the people that were in the pub, as I knew that it was not just the fact that the rebellion would not disrespect her at all, as much as it was the fact that she had done a very good job.

I knew that it had been quite a bit rough for her, and it had been quite a bit busy for a while, and I was sure that it was quite a bit hard for her, due to the fact that I knew that some people wanted to talk to her, and tell jokes, whilst she was having to move all over the place, and have to get refills, all at the exact same time as well, as I was sure that it was quite a bit hectic for her, if I had to take my best guess none the less, all at the exact same time as well, as I then all of the sudden dipped my head to her, as I saw that she was heading over my way.

She had a big smile on her face, and I had a big smile on my own as well, as I was glad to see happy faces in this place today, as it made me feel a lot better, as I knew that every thing had been dark, and it had been quite a bit depressing for quite a bit of some time, and it was good to see some light left in the world right now. I was sure that the girl did not know what was even going on here, but that did not matter for her at all how ever.

I blinked my eyes a few times, as I then all of the sudden nodded to the lady, all at once, as I saw her reach her hand in to get the empty plates that were clearly finished on the table right now, as I stopped her at the last moment, all at the exact same time too, before she did in fact do as such a thing, as I then all of the sudden saw her tilt her head at me, as it was clear that what it was that I had done, had clearly confused her quite a bit, all at the exact same time too, as I saw her tilt her head at me, none the less.

She let go of the plates, which was not what it was that I had wanted from her at all, as she then all of the sudden nodded to me, as she was a little bit embarrassed all at the exact same time too, as it was clear that she was apologizing to me. I shook my head at her, all at the exact same time too, which I felt like was only seeming to make things even worse for her.

I did not want to put any sort of stress on her at all, as I simply just wanted to thank her, but it was clear that I was off to a bit of a bad start, as the woman all of the sudden began to start to speak to me, all at the exact same time too, as I knew that it was a little bit of an apology, even though there was nothing for her to apologize for, as I then shook off all of those thoughts any ways, as I began to start to listen as to just what it was that she even had to say to me in the very first place any ways, as well.

"I am sorry sir... I thought you were finished with that... Do you want a refill on your drink?" She said to me, asking me for a refill at the end, as it was clear that she was telling me that the refill was free, due to the fact that she felt like she had made a bit of a mistake, all at the exact same time too. She had not made a mistake though, as if any thing, I was the one who had made the mistake, by confusing her as much as I had.

Though, once again, the idea of a drink did in fact intince me, as it was quite a bit tempting if I was not going to lie to my self either. It was not due to the fact that the drink was any good at all, as the drink was quite a bit nasty if I was going to be for real with my self. It was more due to the fact that I just felt like I needed to wipe, and wash all of the pain away, that it felt like I was in right now.

I shook off all of those thoughts how ever, all at the exact same time as well, as I knew that it was all besides the point, and there was no such sort of reason for me to do as such a thing right now, as I really did not want the lady to think that she had done any thing wrong at all, as the only reason that I had stopped her, was due to a much different reason, all at the exact same time too.

I then began to reach in to my pocket, all at the exact same time too, as I knew that I did not have much money on me, but I felt like I should give the lady a fairly nice tip, for how good of a job that she had done, all at the exact same time too, as I then brought out a few wads, and I then handed it to her, all at the exact same time as well, which I could tell not only surprised her, but it confused her too.

She was confused, due to the fact that she had thought that I might have been upset at her, which was not the case at all how ever, as there was no reason for me to be upset at the lady, when she had done such an amazing job, and I could tell that she was working very hard right at this very moment in time too, as I let out quite a bit of a rough as well as a soft sigh to my self, so that it was one that she could not notice, or she could not hear, as I did not want to think that I was upset at her once again, none the less.

The lady cracked a bit of a smile on her face all of the sudden, all at the exact same time too, as to the fact that I had given her such a generous tip, all at the exact same time too, as it was clear that she was happy for it, and she was grateful for it as well, as she then bowed her head down all of the sudden. It made me crack a bit of a smile, as it was clear that the lady was nervous, due to the fact that she was around so many people right now, which I could not blame her for.

I felt like I should do some thing to try to relax her, and calm her down, as I was fairly certain that for a fact, she was not used to being around this many people, not even at a big party, in a village as small as the one that we were in right now none the less. I blinked my eyes just a few times, as I got my focus off of all of those thoughts how every, all at the exact same time as well, as I then all of the sudden nodded to the lady, to let her know that I was about to speak to her, never the less.

The lady blinked her eyes a few times, as it was clear that she was still a little bit surprised by it, as well as the fact that it was clear that she was not all too sure as to just what it was that was even going on right at this very moment in time, in the very first place any ways, as she then all of the sudden nodded right back over to me once again, to let me know that she was listening to what ever it was that I had to say to her.

I cracked a little bit of a smile on my face, as I felt like it was such a long time to see such a happy look on a face of a person, all at the exact same time as well, that I felt like I could not help but to be happy my self none the less, as I then all of the sudden let out a soft sigh to my self, all at once, as I knew that I needed to get my focus off of those thoughts too, as they were besides the point, never the less.

I blinked my eyes a few times once again, as I then all of the sudden began to start to speak to the lady, as I knew that she had her attention on me, and I knew that she was listening to each and every word that I had to say to her, all at the exact same time as well, none the less.

"You did a great job here today... It's always good to see happy people... Sorry to scare you, you can go on ahead and keep on going, I just thought I should let you know..." I said to her, as I saw that she was looking at me with a bit of a blank look on her face, through most of what it was that I had said, even until the end, after the fact that I was letting her know that I was sorry to bother her, and letting her know that she could get back to her job, taking care of every one that was in her right now.

The lady blinked her eyes just a few times, ad it was clear that she was still a little bit lost at first, which I could not blame her for, as I knew that at first, she had thought that I had been upset at her, which had simply not been the case at all, as I just wanted to let her know that I appreciated how good of a job that she had even done in the very first place any ways, never the less, as I then all of the sudden nodded a little bit to my self, as I saw that the lady cracked a bit of another smile on her face, all at the exact same time too, now that she knew for a fact that every thing was okay.

The lady then all of the sudden nodded over to me, as I saw her put the tip in to her pocket, all at once, and she then all of the sudden went to another table, to take care of the people that were over there right now, as I still had a smile on my face, as I watched her head away from my table, all at the exact same time too, as I was in fact happy, like it was that I had said to her, to see such a happy person right now, in the very first place any ways, never the less, as I then all of the sudden got my focus off of all of those thoughts, all at once, and I got my focus on the thoughts instead, which had to with the fact that I was at a table with my friend Randy.

I looked over to Randy, to see if he had heard, or he had been paying any sort of attention to the interaction that I had with that lady, but as I looked over at him, I saw that he had his head down low to the ground, and it was clear that he was in his own world right now, as it seemed like he had a bit of a dark look on his face, as I was not all too sure as to just what it was that was even going on with him in the very first place any ways, at this very moment in time none the less.

It then hit me, as to just what it was that he had said to me before, as it was quite a bit dark and quite a bit depressing as to just what it is as that he had even said to me in the very first place any ways, as I knew that was after all how it was that he was feeling right now. I did not want to feel that way right now, as I knew that if I was going to die, than I did not want to live out the last moments of my life being scared, and feeling like I had no such sort of hope, all at the exact same time too.

I sighed, as I felt like I should say some thing to Randy, to relax him, or try to calm him, down, but there was not all too much that I could think of that would calm him down, besides the fact that I could tell him that every thing was going to end up fine, and good for us, which I felt like I could not lie to him either, as I was not all too sure if that even was going to be the case in the very first place any ways, if I was going to be for real with my self, and I was going to be completely honest with my self too.

I felt like the best thing for me to do right now, was to just simply keep on being happy, and keep on enjoying all that was around me, and the positive mood that was flowing through the room right now, as I let out a bit of a soft sigh to my self, all at once, and I then all of the sudden looked away from Randy, all at the exact same time as well, as I got my focus on some thing different instead.

It was out the window of the pub, as it seemed like such a pretty place to live at, as I wondered just why it was that I had ever lived in that big city. I suppose that I did not have much of a choice though, as I knew that I had been born, and that I had been raised in that place, all at the exact same time too. If I would have known how peaceful, and how stress free a place like this was, than I would have moved here in a heart beat, even if I did not really have much to get my self started with, all at the exact same time too, I was sure that it would not take me long to find a job at this place.

I just stared out the window, and I smiled, as it felt like it was a lot better for me to think on all of that, rather than to be stuck on the other thoughts that I had in my head before now, all at the exact same time too, as I just stared for what felt like forever, not giving a care in the world about any thing else besides the thoughts of living in a small little village like the one that we were all in right now.

It was cold, and it was not even dark just yet, as I could tell that every one that was around me right now, was thinking the exact same thing as I was right now, as I was sure that a lot of them had regretted not being a coat or a sweater with them to keep them warm through all of this. I kind of wish that I had thought on that, all at the exact same time too, but sadly I had not, and I was going to have to deal with the repercussions.

I blinked my eyes a few times, as I knew that luckily, there was not all too much that I was going to have to deal with, at the very least, due to the fact that I knew that we were back at the caravan right now, but people were still sorting out through their things, so it was kind of hard to get through the crowd, and the mob. Sadly, I was going to be stuck here for a while, as I knew that Noah was at the front of all of it, and that he was looking for where it was that it was safe for us to go for the night.

I breathed in quite a bit to my self, all at the exact same time too, as I saw that a bit of some mist came out of my mouth as I did as such a thing, as it was that cold right now, and I knew that it was only going to get worse for us when the sun was to go down, as I shivered quite a bit once again. I knew that I was going to be holding on to my blanket and my guilt very close tonight, when ever it was that we were going to fall asleep in our tents, never the less.

I blinked my eyes a few times, as I could tell that every one else that was around me right now, were thinking the exact same thing as I was, as I looked over at them, and I saw that many of them had their heads low to the ground, as it was clear that they were doing their best to try to stay strong, and try to fight through all of this right now. I was sure that they all knew the same thing that I did, which was the fact that we had a lot worse than just this coming for us in the near future.

It kind of scared me to even think on that, all at the exact same time as well, as I then all of the sudden shook my head, as I did my best to try to shake off all of those thoughts from my head, all at once, and I got my focus on some thing different than all of this, which just so happened to be the fact that I saw that Noah, finally was heading back up, and he was stepping up to start to speak to every one that was all here in the crowd, right at this very moment in time any ways.

I let out quite a bit of a relieved sigh, all at the exact same time too, as I saw that every one that was all around me right now, went ahead and began to do the same thing as I was, as I saw that they all lifted their heads up, as soon as they heard the voice of their new leader, Noah, as he was speaking to us all. It still felt a little bit strange to me, to call him a leader again, as I knew that he had been the leader of the managers at our work place, not all too much longer ago as well.

Noah still had his mask on, such as he normally did, when ever he was out in public, as it was clear that he did not want to get caught, which I could not blame him for, as I was sure that he too was worried about his own life, all at the exact same time as well. I knew that he had come to our city to start up a rebellion, as he had told us that we were one of the worst ones out of all of them, which was not hard to believe. I shook off all of those thoughts all at once, how ever though, as I then all of the sudden turned my head over to Noah as well, as I heard him in fact begin to speak to us all.

I stared at Noah, right in to his eyes, even though he was not paying me any sort of attention, due to the fact that I was in a large crowd of nearly 300 hundred people right now, and it was quite a bit chaotic right now. I did my best to try to keep my self calm how ever, as I let out quite a bit of a rough and a heavy sigh to my self, all at once, and I just stared at Noah, as he continued to speak to us all, and I did in fact begin to start to listen as to just what it was that he even had to say to us in the very first place any ways.

"Every one go ahead and get in... It's going to be freezing tonight, so you better snuggle up!"