Chapter 11 (Extraordinary)

Chapter 11: Extraordinary

Ethan Warren

May, 2023

One year after outbreak

Loveland Nebraska

Season 2

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"So, whaddaya think?" Steve asked as we walked around the town.

"About what?"

"Everything! The walls, the work we've done inside the walls, the people here. Isn't it amazing?"

"I guess so." I could feel him roll his eyes from behind me with that same smug smile spread across his pale face. Something about his whole appearance just annoyed me. He was 6'4 with natural platinum blonde hair that looked like he had cut it too short with safety scissors. He said he was 23, but he looked a lot younger. I guess the point I'm trying to make is that my first impression of him was that he seemed to try too hard but had a hard time succeeding.

"This is the future, Mr. Warren, and I'm so jazzed that you and your family are here to be a part of it." His voice was filled with an odd mix of enthusiasm and artificiality, as if he had rehearsed his words a hundred times in front of a mirror. It was clear that he was trying to impress me, but it only made him come across as insincere.

"Where's the infirmary?"

"You hurt or something?" He asked, looking down at me with concern, but I didn't bother to stop walking and look back.

"No, I should take Juna there."

"Oh, I see. I could take you there if you want. I'm not the best at giving directions."

"Fine, I'll go get her from Rudi. But if you try anything, if you so much as lay a finger on her, I'll make you wish you walked among the dead."

"Okay, man, I get the message," he replied, raising his hands in surrender. "I promise, I won't do anything to harm her. You have my word."

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"It's just up ahead. Our doctor's name is Mr. Paul Anderson. He's the nicest man I've ever met. And he's great with kids. How old is she, by the way?"

"She's only a few months old," I reply, cradling her carefully.

"Is Rudi her dad?" he asked. I could feel him staring right at her as I walked in front of him.

"Yeah, he is." A part of me wanted to accept that Steve hasn't done anything to make me question his integrity. I tried to convince myself that all the bad things I kept thinking about him were just my own insecurities and fears, but maybe it's just been too long for me to be able to trust anyone anymore.

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Rudolph Alinsky

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"Wow, Rudi, I didn't think you'd give up Juna that easily," Khai teased as she sat down on a row of steps with me.

"Shut up. I trust Ethan with her. Besides, she probably needs a doctor."

"I know you do; I'm just messing with you. You should probably see the doctor too. I know you seem fine given what happened, but you should let a professional check out your old gunshot wound."

"Yeah, I was planning to go later; Ethan said we all should."

"That's not a terrible idea. So anyway, what do you think of this place?"

"I'm not sure about it. Something about that woman doesn't feel right." I felt my body tense up from just talking about her. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but there was definitely something off about her. It's like a gut feeling that I can't shake.

"Me neither. I appreciate them letting us keep our guns, but it also worries me about how much control mere citizens have."

"We have to at least try to stay here. We need this. We deserve this, Khai. We've been out there for so long. I'm surprised no one's gotten into a fight over something stupid like a pack of cigarrettes yet."

"Unless you count Lucas. He's got some weird obsession with being better than Ethan; he's a grown man; it's creepy; I don't know why we keep him around. Speaking of cigarettes, do you want one? I stole them from Steve's Ectomobile."

"Sure, and for the record, I don't count Lucas; he's not a part of our family," I responded with slight anger as Khai lit my cancer stick. "I agree," she sighed, "he's got to go."

"I mean, it's not just his obsession with Ethan," I continued, "he's always causing trouble and stirring up drama, and now that Olivia's gone, he keeps bitching to me about how he should be the one to raise Juna. It's exhausting to deal with." Khai nodded in agreement, her eyes reflecting the frustration we both felt.

"How did we get here?" Khai asked, adjusting her cracked brown glasses. I took a deep drag from the cigarette, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "We walked and drove; what do you mean?"

"Very funny. I mean, how did we just forget about everything and start a new life? None of us ever even mourned our parents. I had a brother, and I have no idea where he is. I can't imagine what shit Leah's going through. Everything feels like it's moving too fast."

"We didn't deserve this, Khai."