Wither With Me

CHAPTER 18 - COOPERATION

[October 2]

We're all in danger.

I should have written this down earlier, just in case anything happened to me, but my head has been somewhere else lately.

Julien and his people are planning something terrible.

I'm too scared to tell anyone about this. I don't know who's with him and who isn't. I'm not sure I can trust anyone anymore. If someone realizes I know the truth, I might be in serious trouble. I have nowhere to run in this building.

I... I talked with Nora. She's the only person I know for sure is also a victim. At first, she tried to act like she didn't know what I was talking about, but she eventually gave in when I told her the things I had overheard.

She broke down in tears while we talked. It's so much worse than I thought.

Her little sister, Lilian... is infected. She's a shambler. But she seems to resist the disease. Julien is planning to use her as a ticket out of the city, thanks to the military; they want her. And he plans to get rid of almost everyone else, in order to guarantee his own rescue instead of someone else's.

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Nora has been under abuse for a long time. There's this guy, his name is Logan... She's been in an abusive relationship with him for several years, and she can't get out of it because of her sister. He's threatening Nora with hurting her little sister if she does anything.

Also, Lilian has some other medical condition that requires her to take medication. They've taken the pills from Nora, and they are using them as a blackmailing tool as well.

Julien and Logan are working together, supporting themselves on all this abuse as a means to control both Nora and Lilian. And since Nora is staying on Liam's side, they've been making her do dirty work for them.

Remember when I told you about some stolen supplies being found on Liam's storage? Well, I suppose you can imagine who the culprit was. She had no choice. And that wasn't the only thing she's had to do, it's horrible.

I'm both terrified and angry. I have to do something. I promised Nora I'd find a way to help her, to help both her and her sister. She doesn't believe there's much to be done, I feel like she's just resigning to her fate. I'm starting to understand her a bit better, I just wish I had noticed her suffering before.

I think I have an idea of what to do. I just need to wait for the right moment...

[October 13]

These people are insane. Everyone has lost their minds.

I think the Army is about to make their move. Julien has assured us that rescue is imminent. Everyone is flocking to him, even Liam. Hostilities have ceased almost entirely; he's capitalizing on the situation to paint himself as some kind of savior. And it's working, I don't get it. Everyone is starting to praise his leadership, and every time I see that smug look on his face, I...

I took the risk and talked to Liam about what I know, about Julien's true intentions. He didn't believe me. He said I must be imagining things because of the pressure, that I should rest and take it easy. Easy my ass!

I'm sorry, Nora. We're probably on our own. But don't worry... I'll make it work.

I promise.

[October 15]

I saw red smoke rising up from the city, a good distance away, at sunset. I think everyone saw it. There was also this insanely loud siren sound, coming from somewhere in that direction.