Just Survive (Complete)

Chapter 9

Later that day, while Ashley worked in the laundry, she overheard the talk amongst the workers about something strange.
"Do you think there'll be another banishment?" one woman whispered to her companion.
"I don't know, I heard from a friend last week that there have been several banishments recently. Some of the families have grown tired of the isolation and want freedom. We can't blame them."

Another woman walked by, and the other two women fell silent. Ashley thought hard. After the outbreak, there were no laws or government; if settlements or outposts were set up, the rules were simple: no stealing, no fighting, no murder, no drugs.  If someone committed a crime, they would be judged by their community and the community would decide how to punish them. However, there was never a law against those who committed crimes outside of settlement boundaries. Crimes related to murder were punished by death. Other crimes like abuse or theft were punished by banishment. Could such a peaceful community have that much crime? She suddenly felt uneasy, as if just thinking was against the rules.

When a break was called, Ashley decided to go for a quick walk. As she passed the school, she watched the kids in the playground. They were chasing each other, playing on the swing set, or playing with balls. But there was something off; like their happiness was forced, fake.

She heard one kid singing. It sounded like a mantra or a propaganda song. Her mind couldn't help but think of blind faith.

Blind faith would bring about a world where everyone believed everything they said, believing everything they did was to protect them.
If everyone were as willing as they seemed, the world would be a better place.
She shook her head. No! What if they're not as bad as they seem? They could have become worse!

"Maybe this is just a faith-heavy community." Ashley thought. She had experienced faith-heavy communities in her travels, but never felt uncomfortable; all of them had helped her with open arms and she always felt safe there. Faith is hard to build and harder to destroy. But maybe that was what religion is for; to build a foundation from which others can start building their own faith.

She had noticed something else too; everyone was white. That struck her as unusual. Many communities often had a mixture of people who had come together after the virus hit. There were mixed marriages, couples living together without marriage, or single mothers who had given birth to young children. But this wasn't an ordinary community, she was starting to notice.

She and Colby sat down for dinner that night.
"Colby, you were right. Something is wrong; no one questions anything, the kids don't smile, and there's no diversity."

"I know! It's eerie! Like we're in Nazi Germany or something."

Ashley shuddered at the thought of a possible safe place harboring something ugly.

"We're not watched very heavily when we're scouting for zombies and raiders. I'll see if I can talk to someone." Colby said, squeezing Ashley's hand.
"Thanks, Colby," Ashley replied, leaning against Colby and feeling safe and loved, as she always did.