Apocalyptic Love - The island

Chapter Twenty-Four - Principium

My eyes were focused on the wooden decking the boat was slowly pulling into, two figures stood hunched at the Dock while shotguns held to their sides. They wore matching army cargos and thin black t-shirts.

"I'm going first, you guys wait here" I had the map wrapped in my grip as Ben threw down the anchor.

"No. You aren't going alone, you can barely walk" Carter was the first to argue, running to my side as I tried to stand up and failed miserabely.

"Fine" I didn't have the option to argue as his hazel eyes burned into mine intensely "But none of your death stares of they won't let us in".

Carters deep laugh vibrated as he wrapped an arm around me, holding up most of my weight as I limped from the boat.

The men were in front of us the moment our feet hit the decking, the first man had a shaved head, a sharp jawline which was covered by a dark beard and green piercing eyes. "Do you have the pass code?" Was the first thing he said, his deep voice straight with no hesitation.

I unfolded the map from my hands, looking at the word sprawled at the bottom of the page. "Principium".

The second man who had a golden tint to his skin, older which was obvious by the dark greyed hair and wrinkles nodded to his friend. "How did you find us?".

Carter stayed silent but his grip on me remained tight.

"I helped an older woman who was bit, she gave me the map and told me this place was safe" The man was glued to each word but made no move to speak "You guys are military, so is my uncle" I pointed to our boat.

"Lets meet him" The younger man said nodding to the boat.

Ben was already waiting at the deck on his way to grab the others, it was a few minutes until he emerged again from the cabins with Matt wrapped under his arm. The sun shining just made his white skin look paler, the same thing the guards noticed as they immediately held their guns up.

"Is he bitten".

My body reacted before my head did when I jumped infront of their aim line "No. Please he's not".

"Katie" Carter shouted angrily before stepping in front of me protectively.

The younger man inched closer with his weapon still drawn "If you are lying I won't hesitate".

Ben pulled Matt forwards keeping his arm underneath his weight as they walked down the pier, when they stopped I leaned over and lifted my uncles shirt showing the obvious infection "We got trapped, he got impaled by glass".

Matt looked up losing his breath quickly "Ryan?".

The green eyed man he was referring to rubbing his eyes with his palms stepping closer to my uncle "Mathew? Ain't no way".

I stepped infront of Matt still wary of the guard, a few seconds ago he had his guns aimed at us. "Katie its fine. I know him".

I didn't like it, not one bit, but what other choices did I have.

Matt stepped forward barely holding his own balance as Sarah ran up to his side, Hayley following slowly behind her and coming to my side. "This is where they sent you. Have you been here since the beginning?" My uncle said as Ryan joined his other side, the other guard watching closely as we slowly walked down the decking.

"Yeah man. They set this place up at the beginning, a few squads were sent out but most of them never made it back without being bitten or killed so they stopped sending people out" Ryan paused turning to our group with a pointed look "Before we go further we need your weapons, its the rules for every newbie".

Carter's eyeline moved to mine quickly knowing I wouldn't like this and he was right, a new place in which we didn't know with no weapons. But instead of arguing I gave him a raised eyebrow but kept my face straight, they didn't need to know about my hidden knives. The group walked up to the guards one by one handing over their weapons, Maddie spoke up the moment she dropped her hatchet to the ground "I want that back asshole".

After all was done Ryan carried on leading us down a gravel pathway surrounded by huge trees blocking the ocean from our sight, and the only thing calming my nerves was Carter and Hayleys hands wrapped around my own "We have working generators, growing food sources, medics. Our people live in tents or huts, but we are making it".

"Medics?" Sarah's smile was bright as she looked to Matt full of hope.

"They can give you antibiotics and sort that wound out for you man" Ryan smiled at my uncle before carrying on ahead.

"And the dead?" I spoke up looking towards the guards "This place is clear of them?".

Ryan nodded but didn't speak, but I couldn't help but think he was hiding something. I guess the uncertainty of someone's words can never be sure, but we had to try.

When we reached the clearing of the woods the first thing we noticed was the row of huge tents, dark green and military style, set up in rows surrounding small campfires. People were wandering around freely between them, some in military uniform and others in basic clothing. Outside the tents were hung up washing, cutlery and small makeshift ovens.

But the thing that stood out to me most was the huge building hidden behind the set up camp. Guards were situated at almost every entrance of the place, with weapons at each of their sides. The building was at least three stories tall with thick glass windows scattered across the brick foundation, each one covered by newspapers blocking our view inside.

"Whats that place" Ben spoke up before I had the chance to.

Ryan suddenly fell quiet, as if he was thinking of what to say "It used to be a Lab, we don't let anyone in incase there are still harmful substances lying around" The older man spoke up next "Lets get them set up with a tent, probably need two or three with the amount of them and we can get Matt to a medic".

The group nodded, all of them finally feeling relief and safety but I didn't feel that. I was curious, wondering how this place survived this long without the harshness of the rest of the world.

People are living in nature when there is a perfectly kept building waiting in the distance, and the fact that the army sent them here just as the world went to chaos.

None of it made sense to me, but I would find out.