Alone

Chapter 11

I couldn't believe it. My best friend from my old life was still alive and here with me. I never wanted to let him go so I held on tightly and felt his hug tighten with mine. Tears streamed down my face as I tried to gather myself back into reality. Nothing else mattered in that moment.

Finally, I had to let him go. I had found him once before at a camp we were forced to stay at. They separated the men and women when we arrived, and I haven't seen him since. Until now. I wiped the snot and tears from my face with the sleeve of my sweater and took a step back.

"Angie, it's really you," he said and touched my cheek, "I heard that they were killing off a lot of the women back at the camp."

"They were..." My thoughts trailed back "The women were becoming sick, and quickly. The soldiers started killing everyone. It didn't matter to them if you were healthy or not."

"Angie, I'm so sorry."

"Don't. I don't need sympathy. All that matters is that I got out. I saw some things and had things done to me that can't be explained right now..." I stopped and looked around, "All that matters is that I got out." I repeated.

"What have you been doing since?" He asked me.

"Mostly drifting, but when that wasn't working, I went out alone for about six months," I filled him in.

"Why would go out alone?" James sounded concerned.

"It was better. Safer," that was all I said and looked at the ground.

"After the camp, I was pretty beat up and about to give up and lie down. These people found me," he gestured towards the other three, "and they took me in and I became one of them a few short weeks later when I regained strength," he then looked straight at me, "That camp, Angie, I'm glad you got away when you did. They couldn't contain us anymore, it was like the great Holocaust, they were gassing and shooting everyone. Soon enough there was enough rioting, and the whole place burned to the ground."

"Please don't go on, I don't need to know anymore," I looked up at him.

I buried my face into his chest as he stroked my hair. I suddenly had the realization that the others were still in the room. I stiffened and looked to them. "Th-thank you," I stumbled over my words."

"Don't thank us, we just picked up two strangers that needed help in a desperate situation," Jack waved off my gratitude.

"James, where's the others?" Luke suddenly spoke up.

"We got swamped down the road. I nearly got away myself," his eyes fell, "I tried to save Max, but I was too late. I'm not sure what became of Macy, she took off out the back door and was also being chased close behind."

"We have to go back and help!" Jack jumped up.

"Woah, slow down," Stacy put her hand on his shoulder.

"We have to at least try, that's our job!" He wasn't calming down.

"Okay, okay." Stacy surrendered and mumbled something under her breath. I knew she was scared, we all were. We were, after all, just a group of kids. What could we possibly do to save someone who is more than likely long gone?

We gatherd our belongings and walked out of the house. I could tell this was going to be a long day.