For a few days now, we had been only sparing each other glances and half smiles whenever we came across each other. Occasionally, if one of our groups wanted something minimal, we would go across the floor and ask the other if they had any to spare. Neither of us were particularly reluctant to share, and we were especially glad they were up for it when we ran out of toothpaste. But they seemed more than willing to lend us some.
Jace wasn't yet appearing to change on his whole stance on the situation, not really wanting more interaction than necessary with them, but I knew that the more they seemed less and less of a threat, and rather more and more humane and kind, he was beginning to question it. More for Jade's sake than his own, given that the two hadn't yet put an end to their not-so-subtle arguing. It always went along the lines of:
"Get that stick up out of your ass and stop being a dickhead."
Followed by:
"You're gonna be the first one they kill and eat. Just to shut you up more than anything."
And when Nathaniel and I took Brooke outside, partially to get more water we'd collected as well as getting out the way of the ongoing sibling riots, we came across an unexpected predicament on the ground floor hallway.
Firstly, we thought we heard something banging, and then we soon realised it was groaning and grunting. Turning the corner revealed to us that Reid was being cornered by two stray Lurkers that must have found their way inside - given that none of the doors in the surrounding area had been bashed open it was the only viable explanation.
"Hey! Hey!" Nathaniel cried, clambering the bottom of his own pistol against the wall, causing their attention to turn to us, and get Reid out of immediate danger.
There was only two, but he must have been taken by surprise, without time to outrun them.
We took them out, one of them stumbling down to the floor as one of us missed the headshot, but Brooke - taking us all by somewhat surprise - made short work of grabbing the knife we had designated to her, since it was smaller than ours, and blunter, and placing it in. It was a violent act, which seemed all too calm and innocent coming from a child, who seemed so delicate in stabbing them in the head. There was no sign of panic, or violence, more like she was using a pen than a weapon.
"Nice job kiddo," Nathaniel congratulated, unsure if it was her first Lurker kill or not, before turning back to face Reid.
"Jeez, thank you guys."
"It was nothing, but what in God's name are you doing out here without a weapon?" I laughed, scouring the floor for one dropped but concluding he was unarmed.
"I was tryna prove a point to Whitney, that they weren't always necessary, but it seems I proved myself wrong. I mean hell, you've already got a child with a knife. One that saved my ass too."
"Just a precaution. You never know what's gonna happen all out there. It's better she kills than is killed."
After explaining what we were doing down there, and then proceeding to explain our rainwater method too, Reid tagged along with us until we made our way back. Deciding it was best to play it safe until he could be 'escorted' back to his room with armed people, should any more Lurkers be present.
"Oh my God!" Whitney cried, opening the door when everything that went down become apparent, grabbing the two sides of his face before slapping him too, "I told you not to leave unarmed!"
"Yeah, yeah, point proven," he half-laughed.
"Thank you both so much," she said, now turning to us, "And you too sugar," She aimed now at Brooke.
YOU ARE READING
Life After Death
خيال علميIf you told me when I was 14 that the last birthday party I was going to have was at a local pizza hut, I never would have believed you. Looking back, before the infection ripped apart mine and billions of others families, I probably should have ack...
