Chapter 2 (Juna)

Chapter 2: Juna

Rudolph Alinsky

March, 2023

10 months after outbreak

Minnesota

Season 2

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"Olivia, what's wrong?" I asked. I sat next to her in the car. I wasn't sure if she was just in shock from what happened or if something else was at play, but either way, she didn't look good. I gently placed my hand on her shoulder, hoping to offer some comfort. Olivia turned to me with tears in her eyes, struggling to find the words to express her emotions.

"I think the baby's coming," she said as worry filled her eyes. My heart raced as I processed Olivia's words. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks—we were not prepared for this.

You've got to be shitting me," Khai chimed in.

"Ethan, pull over," I said as I held Olivia's hand tightly.

"Where?" he asked.

"Anywhere." Ethan pulled into the parking lot of a gas station. Olivia and I were the last to exit the van. Khai and Aiden killed the dead that were in our way. When we got inside, I helped lay Via on the floor. I could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on me as I looked around the dimly lit gas station. Panic began to bubble up inside me, but I knew I had to stay strong for Olivia. As I knelt beside her, my mind raced with thoughts of what we were going to do next.

"Amy, can you get me some blankets?" I said, immediately regretting my choice of words. I forgot she wasn't here anymore. Leah looked at me, but there was no anger on her face. Instead, she left to go find some blankets herself. Leah's absence reminded me of the painful reality that Amy was no longer with us. The weight of grief settled even heavier upon my shoulders, intensifying the sense of responsibility I felt towards Olivia.

"What better place to have a baby than a gas station?" Khai said sarcastically.

"Maybe they'll be really into cars," Edin joked. As we waited for Leah to return with the blankets, the tension in the room seemed to dissipate slightly. The lighthearted banter between Khai and Edin provided a temporary distraction from the heaviness of our emotions.

"Edin, is there any clean water here?" I asked.

"Let me look. You know, my dad worked at a gas station; I bet they'd be good friends," Edin smiled.

"Shut the hell up," Olivia responded, completely done with their bullshit. Olivia's frustration was palpable as she snapped at Edin, tired of her playful remarks. The room fell silent for a moment, the tension resurfacing.

Leah got me some blankets, and Edin found the water. Aiden, Khai, and Ethan stood guard around the inside of the building. Making sure not too many of the dead were outside. Aaron held Olivia's head on his lap and brushed her hair with his fingertips to calm her down. Lucas and Camila were nowhere to be found, and I was kind of glad that was the case. Lucas had always been a source of trouble, and his absence brought a sense of relief to the already tense situation. Camila, on the other hand, had proven herself to be unreliable in the past, so her absence was not surprising either. It was better for everyone's safety that they were not around, especially considering the delicate state Olivia was in.

Edin and I both looked at each other, befuddled. Neither one of us had delivered a baby before; it was a lot of pressure to be in control of two people's lives. We knew we had to stay calm and think quickly, relying on our instincts. The responsibility weighed heavily on us, but we were determined to do everything in our power to ensure a safe delivery for Olivia and her baby.

"How do you feel?" Edin asked Via.

"How do I look?" Edin let out a nervous laugh. Olivia smiled weakly, her eyes filled with exhaustion. "Honestly, I'm terrified," she admitted. "But knowing that you both are here for me gives me some comfort." Edin and I exchanged a reassuring glance, silently promising to support Olivia through this challenging journey. "I was there when my sister gave birth; I know how this works. Thank you both for being here for my baby."

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乇ㄒ卄卂几　山卂尺尺乇几

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I know we stayed in that gas station for a while because it was nighttime now. I had dozed off, but I was awakened by the sounds of Olivia's screams. The baby was coming, but I was more worried about what this loud sound would draw in. The dead would be at our doorstep yet again, and we were in no shape for another fight.

Her screams lasted a good while, but soon I heard her cry. The baby cried, and I smiled. I would go on to help Rudi take care of that kid. I would help him raise her. I would protect her when he couldn't. I knew that despite the dangers lurking outside, this child would bring us hope and a reason to keep fighting. I looked into Olivia's exhausted but radiant eyes from a distance, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of determination to create a safe and loving environment for our new addition.

"It's Juna," Rudi smiled as he put the baby into Olivia's arms. Olivia smiled, but her smile soon turned to tears as she gave the baby back to Rudi.

"What is it?" Edin asked as she got a blanket to wrap around Juna's small body.

"I can't hold her. I don't want to hurt her," Olivia cried. Her voice trembled with fear and uncertainty as she expressed her concerns about holding Juna. Her vulnerability was palpable, and we all exchanged worried glances, unsure of how to ease her worries.

"You won't hurt her," Rudi reassured with a soft smile. He gently placed Juna back into Olivia's arms, guiding her hands to support the baby's head. Olivia took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves, and slowly began to cradle Juna in her arms.

"Yes, I will. Eventually, I will. When we were leaving the apartment, I got bit too. I didn't want to say anything because of what happened with Amy, but I have to now," she said, revealing a perfectly placed bite mark on her shoulder. Olivia's revelation left Rudi speechless for a moment, his eyes widening in concern. He quickly regained his composure and gently touched the bite mark, examining it closely.

"It's not deep; maybe you won't turn," Aaron suggested.

"No, I know how these things work; I can already feel the fever setting in. Rudi, take good care of Juna for me, alright? Make sure she has the heart that you have." Rudi nodded, tears streaming down his face. He understood the weight of her request and silently vowed to protect Juna with all his heart. The room fell into a somber silence, each of us grappling with the impending loss and the responsibility that now rested on Rudi's shoulders.

"We need formula, Khai; can you take a look around? There's got to be some around here," Edin asked with a sad expression.

"Yeah," she said as she left to go look.

"Ethan, I want you to be the one to do it. Make sure I don't come back, please. Make sure I don't hurt anyone." I nodded. I simply had no words left to say. Aiden comforted Rudi as he cried with Juna in his arms. Khai came back with some formula and baby bottles. Khai took her from Rudi because he was in no state to feed her. "I'll take care of her, Rudi," Khai assured him gently, cradling the baby in her arms. "You focus on taking care of yourself right now." Rudi nodded weakly, grateful for Khai's support.

This was one of the worst days of our lives.