Mech

Chapter 2: Pipe Dream

I closed the journal and slid the pen into the spiral binding, making sure to clip it onto the rings in order to secure it. The pen's clip was breaking, and I didn't want to lose it. After all, it was the only pen around for miles. There were pencils and things, but they always smudged and broke and equally as hard to find..I couldn't write without a trusty pen in hand. I figured if Anna Lynn got done sewing the boy's jackets and there was some twine left over I could snag a piece and tie it to the note book. My journal was my safe place, my escape from the harsh world I lived in. It helped ease my mind, something about getting my thoughts on paper made it so much easier to keep going. The flow of ink, the feeling pulsing through my hand as I guided the pen across the pages, and idea of century old trees soothed my troubled soul. The pages were actually made of stone, like most things in this place. It kept me sane, if not anything else. Holding the book to my chest, I felt complete, but the fear of losing it always remained lingering in my mind. I loved to write, sometimes I thought I was a reincarnation of Anne Frank, but I didn't believe in such things. Religion didn't matter much anymore, but I kind of liked the comfort brought by the idea that God was watching over me. I didn't really think all that much about God, but in times of trouble that faith was just enough reason to keep living, that and my sister.

Mitzi Hapsbury and I were the last of our family. Mitzi was a 17 year old that always thought of herself more like a 21 year old. She's tall, skinny, and has tan skin, unlike me and my very pale appearance. She snagged some of Uncle Jeb's whiskey sometimes, if he offered it, to "prove" she was "mature". The other adults looked down upon such actions, but it wasn't like there were any laws against it anymore. I was jealous of her bravery, and I knew she was capable of doing so much more than she ever did. A lot of times she hid behind her boyfriend and played the weak and innocent card. I don't know why, she could easily take down a 200 pound man, so why hide that? I guess its some kind of relationship thing, her big strong boyfriend would protect her from anything! Her boyfriend, Jason Conway, along with his brother Ian and their father Joshua were the only Conways left, as far as they knew. They got separated from their grandparents and their mother when the first attack went down. They still think they might be alive. Tough sons-of-bitches those Conways, always up for a fight. They're strong, loyal, badass guys that could eat nails for breakfast if they chose. I guess that's why Mitzi choses to hide behind Jason, he's stronger than her by far. He's almost the tallest in the group, only General Trenton is taller. Ian's not so bad himself, but he's younger. He's only 15, but he's stronger and taller than me. Reckless, trigger happy, always has to be the hero, that's Ian Conway. He's a real hothead thanks to his red hair. Jason's a natural born leader, isn't scared of anything, and is great at coming up with plans. If his father wasn't one of the three leaders I'm sure he would be. Oh, did I mention one more thing about the Conways? Attractive. Really. Really. Attractive. I personally think relationships in times like these are awful ideas, but it can't hurt to look. Sorry, I am a teenage girl after all.

Our group is smaller than other rebel groups. Its just us two Hapsburys, the three Conways, Anna Lynn, Uncle Jeb, Silvia Bryan, Max McGellor, General Phillip Trenton, and Kelly Brown. The 11 of us used to be 12, but Kelly's sister Mallory got jumped by a Cycoff while she went to get water. The big three, Joshua Conway, Uncle Jeb, and General Trenton, are the leaders of our group. What they say goes. They warned us about the Pipe Forest, but Mallory didn't listen. She went out to get water and, well, you know. The Pipe Forest is just too dangerous. I'll get to that in a minute. First, let me describe my group. I told you about me and Mitzi and the Conways. Anna Lynn is Uncle Jeb's wife. We call him Uncle Jeb, but his real name is Jeb Fisher. The old Fisher couple is the eldest of our group. Next is General Trenton, he wrangled us all up in the first attack and got us out of there. He's a veteran, and a tough guy if I do say so myself. He's almost scary. He's the main leader, then Uncle Jeb, then Joshua Conway. Silvia Bryan is 15, just like Ian. She and I are best friends, or were. We had a falling out, she's a sissy and I'm a lone wolf, we just don't mix. She came into the city with my family, she got lost in the crowd and we pulled her in. Her family went in before ours, they were some of the first. The first didn't make it, but because we were some of the last we caught onto what was happening and got to safety. Kelly Brown is General Trenton's niece, losing Mallory took a toll on both of them. She's slightly taller than me, and has short, black hair. Last is Max McGellor. Don't even get me started. He's the same age as me, but acts like a 6 year old. He's always messing things up and has the worst luck imaginable. If something goes wrong its usually his fault. Thing is, he's pretty smart, he knows a lot of survival tricks and a lot about medical things, so its good to have him around. He's the kind of kid that studies Zombie Survival books and all that nonsense, but he sure does get a lot out of it. He's a tad bit shorter than Ian, and his hair is super blonde, like banana colored almost.