UNDER EDITING 𝐺𝑅𝐴𝑉𝐸 𝐷𝐴𝑁𝐺𝐸𝑅 | 𝐴𝑃𝑂𝐶𝐴𝐿𝑌𝑃𝑆𝐸 ✔︎

New Allies

(Lexi's POV)

Yes. Those are no doubt motorcycles. I look to Noah to still see him trembling in fear. I wasn't even sure if he had heard the engines, considering the fact that he was still deep in thought about the recent events in this tiny pharmacy.

Maybe, whoever those people are, can help us. The sounds of the bikes got louder and closer. I have a decision to make. We either risk all of our items by approaching these people, or we hide and wait for them to leave. I ponder my thoughts.

"Noah. I know you're scared but.. I think we need to ask someone for help. It's risky but-"

The sounds of engines shutting off cut me off. I look up and out of the window to see three motorcycles stopped by the front of the building. I see three figures walking towards the building. I no longer have time to think. We have to face these people no matter what.

I stand up quickly and wait for the people to enter the building. I grip my axe tightly and I stand in front of Noah's trembling body.

The three people force the automatic doors completely open. My breath hitches as I wait for them to enter and see me. I hoped I looked intimidating. If they saw me scared, they would probably take advantage of that if they weren't good people.

One middle aged woman in a leather jacket enters first. She looks rather.. nice. Good. That's good. Then she notices me. Her eyes widen and holds up a handgun and points it at me.

"Harold! Cooper! Get in here quick!" She says. Two men walk in. Dressed in close to the same attire as the woman who was pointing a weapon at me.

"What is it, Delores?" The elder of the two men said. All three of them were in here now. I really hope I look intimidating.

"H-hello." I stutter out. Crap. Yeah, that's gonna make them scared.

"Who the hell are you?!" The younger male shouted at me. "Calm down, Cooper. We don't know who she is so we can't make any judgements." The man, who I'm assuming was Harold, said.

"I'm Lexi Ashwell" I say plainly. "And this is my brother, Noah." I move out of the way so they can see him. They all go wide eyed, and they must've not known he was there until now due to me covering him and his small, scrawny figure. He is still in a state of shock, and he doesn't even glance at the other people.

"What's up with the kid?" Said Cooper. "Is he infected or something?! If so, we need to finish him off before he tries to take us out!"

"N-no! That's not it at all!" I raise my voice a smidge. "We had an encounter with a.. uhm.. one of the infected people... but it didn't get close enough to touch either of us! I swear! I killed it with this fire axe." I hold up my weapon a bit to show them the blood on it.

"I see. I still don't trust them." growled Cooper. Delores slaps Cooper's arm lightly after lowering her hand gun. "Cooper do you even have a heart?" She chuckled. "Look at them. The boy is having a panic attack and the girl is just trying to keep him safe. Plus, they both look young. I mean that boy is like twelve! He's probably scared shitless!"

"A-actually.. I'm fifteen. Almost sixteen." I heard someone say. I look down to see Noah making eye contact with Delores. He still looked scared but at least he was able to speak.

I help him stand and we go back to conversation with the three bikers.

"Oh. Heh, sorry about that kiddo. You just.. have a young face I guess." Delores says chuckling. She turns to me. "Uhm.. Lexi? You said your name was Lexi, right?" I nod. "How old are you?" "I'm nineteen." I say plainly.

She nods. "You both look rather young. I thought you were sixteen, hah!" She said in a feel good southern accent. How could she be so peppy at a time like this? I don't mind though, it really takes away the shittyness of the situation.

"Anyways, where have y'all been staying? Certainly not here, right?" Harold asked. "We haven't stayed anywhere. We only arrived in this town a bit earlier. We were on a bus going to a so called safety point. We ended up running from the bus though, because a zombie had gotten into the bus and.. you could probably guess the rest." I finish.

"Well you're in luck. We've been staying in a junkyard up north for days now with a handful of people and families."

Cooper steps forward aggressively. "Why the fuck would you tell them that?! Now they're gonna storm our place and steal our shit!"

Cooper didn't have an accent like Harold and Delores. They must not be family.

"Now now Cooper, calm down." Delores said. "Do they look like people who would steal our stuff? They're hardly even a threat. I say we help em' out." Delores is my favorite fucking person right now.

"If y'all want to come stay with us, you're more than welcome. We just ask that you share any supplies that could help in future outcomes." Harold said sweetly.

"Oh! Absolutely. We have medical supplies and a few outdoor supplies here. I hand Harold the bag and he looks through it. "This is great stuff! Alright. We should get going before it gets too dark." Delores and Harold look to each other and to Noah. Delores walks up to me and whispers "Is your brother gonna be fine to ride on a motorcycle?"

I think for a second. He would probably only do it if I forced him to. I may have to force him. It's the only way we'll-

"I c-can ride on a motorcycle." Noah interrupts my thoughts. "Really?" I say. "I just want to ride with Delores, if that's okay?" He said hesitantly. "Oh! Of course dear! Let's go!" Delores said happily.

"You can ride with me, I don't think Cooper would like it to much. Nothing personal though." Harold chuckled.

I giggle. "Yeah, hopefully he'll warm up to us."

We walk outside and load onto the bikes. We pull out of the pharmacy parking lot and make our way to the junkyard.

I'm so grateful for a chance at survival.