Chapter 10

“My name is Nick, and I am a lieutenant for the national guard. It has been so long since we have heard from anyone. You said you were Delta 1?”

“Yes, this is DJ, I am a sergeant for the army, and my team is with me. Do you have shelter? Maybe somewhere we can stay the night?”

There was a short pause, and everyone looked at each other. Then the radio crackled and they looked down at it.

“Yes, sir. We do. We have a house just up the way. When you see the gated road to your left, turn there and flash your headlights a few times. Someone will open the gate for you,” stated Nick over the radio.

Nervously, Amanda looked at DJ, and so did everyone else.

“Do you think it’s safe?” she asked, and Megan swallowed hard as she looked at her sergeant in question.

He looked at both of his corporals with care, and he looked at his cousins and Christy.

“I am not sure, but what other options do we have? It is going to be dark soon,” he said, and Amanda only nodded, as she drove forward.

****************

It wasn’t long before they had found the gated off street and Amanda turned the vehicle onto the side road. As instructed, she flashed her headlights and they all watched as the gate opened.

Nervously, Amanda locked the doors and she drove through the newly opened gate. As she drove down the road, she and the others kept their eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary. Suddenly, the radio crackled and Joe looked at it.

“Now follow the road to the second gate and that will open for you when you come up to it,” said Nick.

Cautiously, Amanda drove up to the second gate and this time a few men came out of a tower that was on the side of the gate, and they opened it for them. As they made it inside the gate, another man directed them to where they could park. Surprisingly, there was a row of vehicles that were parked on the grass, and the men had rifles on them, but they never once aimed them at Amanda and the others or her truck.

“At least they are not threatening us with their guns,” stated DJ, as he looked out of the window.

Amanda turned to him and gave him a knowing look. Sheepishly, DJ hung his head and smirked. Amanda parked her truck at the end of the row of vehicles and she put the gear shift in park.

“It’s okay. You guys can get out of the vehicle, we will not hurt you,” Nick said over the radio, and Amanda looked at Joe.

Quickly, he put the strap to his rifle over his head, and then he nodded to her. Slowly, they all opened the doors and slid out of the vehicle.

“Welcome, Welcome. Oh, it is so good to see others that have survived this hell of a world we have become,” said a man with long sandy colored hair, as he approached them, and DJ looked at the man for a moment.

“Nick?” asked DJ, as he stuck out his hand and the man took it.

“Yes, that would be me,” he said, as he let go of DJ’s hand.

“I’m DJ, and these are my two corporals, Amanda and Megan. Josh, Joe, and Christy,” DJ introduced, and Nick smiled at them cheerfully.

“As you know now, I am Nick, and there are many survivors here,” said Nick, as he waved his arm out toward the hidden community.

The place was like a small suburban neighborhood that had been abandoned during the dark days. There were neat little houses placed everywhere, and there was even a school looking building off to the side.

“Now, we have a vacant home that you all may stay in, and we will take you there soon. You folks look like you could use a meal and a hot shower.”

At that moment, Amanda and Megan looked at each other as their eyes lit up with excitement, and then they looked at Nick with wide eyes.

“Excuse me, did you say hot shower?” asked Megan, and Nick nodded, as he chuckled.

“Yes, we have generators that keep our community alive, and we have learned how to use them to our advantage. However, for the hot showers, you must be quick, because the hot water runs out fast,” he explained, and Megan squealed.

“The men’s showers are to the left, and the women’s showers are off to the right,” said Nick, as he pointed to the school looking brick building.

Without a word, Amanda and Megan grabbed a backpack from the truck, and then they turned and looked at the group.

“Now, we have some old uniforms, t-shirts, socks, and extra boots from the base when we left. Please feel free to pick out fresh clothing. We only allow two at a time for the showers, but in this case I will make an exception and let the six of you get washed up this time.”

Amanda, Joe, Megan, DJ, Josh, and Christy all nodded. Amanda locked her truck before they headed off to the shower building. She didn’t know if she should trust these people. All of the supplies and weapons they owned were in that truck, and who knows if these people had alternative motives?

“Perfect. I will have the cooks whip you up something, and we can talk after,” stated Nick, and then he led them to a small wooden building.

Inside, there were stacks and stacks of old uniforms, and the other clothing he spoke about, and rows of black combat boots lined the back wall. Thoughtfully, Amanda looked at Joe and she smirked.

“You know, if you can’t find a shirt in your size, you could always wear a smaller one. It will make you look beefier and more intimidating,” she teased, and he made a face at her, as he picked up a black t-shirt, and looked at the size.

“Nope, I have found my size,” he said, and DJ laughed, as he and the others grabbed their clothes.

After that, Nick led them to the brick building, and then he walked away.

“See you guys soon,” said Megan, and she, Amanda, and Christy walked into the women’s side.

*************************

“So, I have to ask. How did the two of you seem to find the most handsome men in the apocalypse?” asked Christy, as she got out of the shower, and Megan and Amanda looked at her, as they laughed.

“Well, I am sure there are a bunch of men out there that are handsome. DJ, Joe, and Josh are not all that and a bag of chips, but…”

“Oh, yes they are!” Christy interrupted Amanda, and Megan and Amanda laughed harder.

“It runs in the family, I guess,” said Megan, and she raised an eyebrow at Amanda.

“What?” Amanda asked, defensively.

“Have you kissed him yet?” Megan asked, intrigued, as she dried herself off.

“Who?”

“Uh, Joe?”

After a moment, Amanda laughed and she shook her head at her friend. She was so nosey.

“No, I don’t think he likes me like that,” she said, and Megan looked at her thoughtfully.

“Yeah, okay,” she said, as she put her toothbrush in her mouth.

“Really, are you that blind?” Christy asked, and the two girls looked at her.

“Anyone can see that that man is falling in love with you. He is yours. You just have to accept

him,” she said, and Megan nodded, as Amanda sighed heavily.

She then looked up at Megan.

“Have you kissed Josh yet?” Amanda asked Megan, and then she turned to Christy.

“Have you kissed DJ, yet?”

Megan looked at Amanda, as she raised her eyebrows, and then she pulled her t-shirt over her head.

“Maybe,” she said, and Amanda then looked at her in awe.

“And you didn’t tell me?”

Seemingly, Megan grinned, as she picked up her dirty clothes, and Amanda laced up her boots quickly. She knew that Megan was going to try and avoid spilling the details and made a beeline for the door.

“See you, when you get finished,” she said in a singsong voice, and just as Amanda suspected, Megan ran for the door.

“No, you get back here!” Amanda demanded, and Megan waved, as she slipped out of the exit.

As Christy finished getting dressed, Amanda grabbed her things and chased after Megan. Seemingly, Megan ran as fast as she could, but Amanda was faster and at her heels.

“Hey, what!” DJ exclaimed, as the girls ran past him, Joe, and Josh.

“What happened?” Josh asked, and DJ shrugged his shoulders, as they watched the girls chase each other.

“Something about a kiss,” stated Christy, as she walked up to them, and Joe looked at her in question.

“What kiss?” DJ asked, and Christy shrugged her shoulders.

**********************

“How could you leave your best friend in the dark!” exclaimed Amanda, as she and Megan stood on each side of the truck bed, and Megan laughed.

“I was going to tell you.”

“Yeah, when? On your wedding day?” teased Amanda, and Megan looked at her thoughtfully.

“No, before that. Maybe at the rehearsal dinner?” Megan teased back, as she shrugged her shoulders.

Amanda scoffed, as she opened the backseat door, and threw her dirty clothes in a plastic bag, and Megan did the same on the other side of the vehicle. For a moment, they both looked at each other as if they were having an unspoken conversation.

“Truce?” they asked each other in unison, and smiled at each other.

Megan walked around the truck and they both laughed as they hugged each other.

“Well, whatever it was, it looks like it’s over now,” laughed Josh, and DJ nodded, as he sighed and shook his head in disbelief.

“It’s never a dull moment with those two. You both have your hands full,” he said matter-of-factly, and Josh and Joe looked at their cousin in question.

“You forgot, beautiful, funny, and headstrong,” Joe noted, and DJ smiled, as he clapped his cousin on the back.

“They both are, but just remember, I consider them like daughters to me, so I suggest you are sure you know what you want,” DJ said, and Josh and Joe nodded respectfully.

“But, you two are also my family, as well,” he added, and they both nodded.

“Come on. Let's regroup and get some food in us,” said Christy, and the guys nodded, as they headed over to the truck.

*******************

“Are you two done being kids? We’re hungry!” said Josh, as they approached the truck, and Megan turned to him with a smile on her face.

Joe walked up to Amanda, and as he cleared his throat, she looked up at him.

“Hi,” she said, and he smiled at her.

“Hi,” he said deeply, as he ran his hand through his wet, glistening hair.

“So, I was wondering if you had a date for dinner?”

Amanda shook her head, as she pulled an extra hair tie off of her wrist and handed it to him.

“Here, this might help, and no, no one has asked me to dinner,” she said, as he took the hair tie from her and she giggled.

“Thank you, and would you like to be my date?” he asked, as he put his hair up in a bun on the back of his head.

Suspiciously, Amanda eyed him, and then she looked at him thoughtfully, as she twisted her mouth.

“Mm, sure,” she said, and he looked at her, as he turned his head to the side.

“What?” she asked with a grin.

“Nothing. You are just unique and I have never met anyone like you before,” he said, and Amanda grinned at him again, as DJ and Megan laughed.

“You got that right,” chimed DJ, and Christy and Josh laughed.

“What can I say? I am just me. Now, can we please proceed to the food? This girl is hungry,” Amanda asked, as she put her hand on her rumbling tummy.

“Yes. I was just coming out to get you folks. This way please,” said Nick, as he approached, and then he waved for them to follow him.

Megan and Josh took the lead with DJ and Christy, and Amanda and Joe followed them.

“You don’t like me, like me, do you?” Amanda asked, as she looked up at the stunning man walking beside her.

Seemingly, Joe was very stunning under the soft light of the moon, and he seemed to have an extra sparkle to his eyes.

“I like you,” he said, as he looked down at her with a grin, and Amanda scoffed at him.

“What?” he asked in defense.

“You know what I am asking you,” she stated, dryly, and he looked at her, as he chuckled.

“I haven’t figured out that part yet, but I am beginning to like you more and more,” he said honestly, and Amanda nodded, as she relaxed a little.

“That’s better,” she said, as she bumped her shoulder into his arm, and he chuckled again.

*********************

Nick led them into another brick building, but this one was a huge cafeteria. There were metal tables with metal stools attached to them, and there were plates of steaming pot roast on one of the tables.

“Smells amazing!” said Megan, as they took a seat at the table, and they filled their bellies.

“Now, it’s time for all of you to get some rest,” stated Nick, and when they were finished, the man led them to a small white house in the back of the community.

Evidently, the six of them all decided to sleep in the same room and they made a spot in the middle of the living room floor.

*******************

Slowly, Megan opened her eyes and she felt something tied around her mouth. Frantically, she tried to grab at whatever it was, but she found her hands were tied and hanging above her head. She was also on her knees, in a dirty, dimly lit room with blood stains on the walls and floor. Nervously, she looked around as she breathed heavily. She saw Christy, DJ, and Josh were in the same room with her, and she saw that they were tied and gagged, too.

Where were they? What happened? Where were Amanda and Joe? she wondered, and then her anxiety rose, as she began to try to yell at her friends, but her yells were muffled by the dirty gag in her mouth. Suddenly, she saw Josh was beginning to stir and then he frantically began to struggle when he realized he was tied up.

“Mmm!” Megan yelled, as loud as she could, and Josh looked over at her with wide eyes.

At that moment, the metal door of the room opened and Megan looked up. It was a large man wearing suspenders she had never seen before. The man looked at her and then he smiled a half toothy grin at her.

“Oh, good. You are awake. I must tell the boss at once,” he said, and then he quickly left the room.

Quickly, Megan scrambled to her feet and she looked at the way her hands were bound. Surprisingly, her wrists were tied with an old rope and mediocre knots. By the time she realized how easy it would be to free herself, the door to the room flew open, and she hit her knees.

Shockingly, it was Nick who entered the room this time with the large man in suspenders. Megan stared at him with wide eyes as he looked her over and smiled at her. Suddenly, DJ and Christy came to and started to struggle as they saw the man responsible for capturing them.

“Good, all of you are up. Look, I am sorry things had to end up this way, but we can’t have you going back to your friends and telling them about our camp,” he said with a wild smile.

Evidently, DJ, Christy, and Josh began yelling incoherent things at Nick and the large man, but they ignored them. Nick turned to the man and put his hand on his shoulder.

“Soon, we will feed them to the pets,” he said, and the man nodded with a smile.

Seemingly, Nick gave the four of them a wicked smile and then he left the room. Megan, DJ, Josh, and Christy all looked at each other in fear.

**********************

Slowly, Amanda opened her eyes, and she suddenly felt cramped. She noticed that she was against Joe’s muscular body.

What time is it? she wondered, as she pushed up from Joe’s chest and looked around.

Immediately, Amanda hit her head on the roof of the truck, and she grumbled. Seemingly, she and Joe were in her vehicle, and there were blankets up over the windows.

What were they doing in the truck? What happened last night? she wondered, as she rubbed her head.

Suddenly, Joe’s eyes flew open, and he looked up at her with a panicked expression on his face. She looked down at him with concern.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, as he straightened, and Amanda sat in the driver’s seat, as he sat in the passenger’s seat.

“They took my cousins, Christy, and Megan. I think they put something in our food last night. Someone came into the house last night, and I grabbed you and rolled us up in the blanket. I rolled us into the dark corner where they wouldn’t see us,” he whispered, and Amanda looked at him confused.

“Why don’t I remember anything, and how did you stay awake, if they drugged us?” she whispered back, and Joe pulled an epi pen from his cargo pants pocket.

“I use it every time I eat something I am not sure of.”

For a moment, Amanda looked at him thoughtfully, and then she grinned at him.

“That is pure genius!” she chimed quietly, and he smiled at her.

“Thanks,” he said, and she nodded, as he put the epi pen back in his pocket.

“So, where do you think they took them?” she asked, and Joe pulled on the blanket and pointed.

There was a small barn in the way back of the community. It looked like it had been there for centuries and the wood siding was stained with dirt and dried blood.

“Okay, I don’t see anyone guarding the place. Let’s go get our family,” she said, as she tapped the rifle in the back seat, and he looked at her nervously.