Just Survive (Complete)

Chapter 52

Kelly woke up to Jenny crying. She stretched, still getting used to the confines of the cell.
"Shhh, it's okay, baby. Auntie's here.  Everything is fine. It's just a nightmare." She cooed to her niece soothingly, rubbing her back.
Jenny continued to cry for a moment longer, before calming down and drifting back to sleep.
'She seems much better already...' Kelly thought to herself. Looking around, she thought of the other women with children who were held in the building. 'They must be suffering just as much as we are!' She thought guiltily.
"God, I'm so stupid! Why am I not helping them? I'm not some woman who has lost everything and has no idea what she's doing!" she groaned aloud.
"Settle down, sweetheart. You'll get used to it." A soft female voice whispered in the next cell.
Turning to the direction of the voice, Kelly saw an older woman watching her. She looked kind but firm.
"I'm sorry. I've been restless lately." Kelly apologized softly, sitting up and hugging her knees against her chest. The woman shook her head with a smile.
"Nonsense, dear; I understand completely. Don't worry about anything. We look out for each other as best we can."

"How bad does it get around here?" Kelly asked, adjusting the blankets around Jenny.

"Bad....they torture and beat the shit out of anyone who dares speak out against them." The old woman answered. "The men are worked to death usually. Sometimes they use the boys and train them child soldier style to fight for Neegan.  Those children are taken off to slave labor somewhere. Neegan keeps the pretty women and girls for himself....he takes great pleasure in having them. As soon as their usefulness begins to wane he sells them to whoever will pay him the most money for their use. He likes the ones who can fight...who have some fight left in them. Those are the ones he likes...those who can take pain. He also uses women who are willing to cooperate with him."

Kelly wondered what would happen to Ashley as she was locked away in Neegan's harem.
*******
Colby sat with Ryan as they waited for the children prisoners to file past. Ryan was scared but knew the rescue plan depended on him.
"Remember, keep your eyes peeled for Ashley and Kelly! If you can, figure out where they stash the weapons!" Colby instructed.
Ryan nodded nervously.
"Okay! I won't let you down!" Ryan promised, his face lighting up as his confidence grew.
When the prisoners began to filter past the drainpipe, Colby squeezed the boy's shoulder and watched him mix with the other children.
'If something happens to him it will break Shane's heart.' Colby thought sadly.
As the children trickled past the drainpipe, Colby counted the number of guards that he could see from his vantage point, praying that they didn't catch sight of any of them.
******
Zach looked through his binoculars and rifle scope for Kelly, Ashley, Jenny, and Ryan. He looked at where the guards and prisoners were coming and going, mentally noting each building and the layout of the place.
He felt a hand pat him on the shoulder.
"You look like you have it under control," Colby commented, smiling kindly at Zach.
"Thanks, Colby....if the kids get caught we'll both be screwed...just don't mention this to anybody. You know I'll do everything I can to get our family out."

Back at their camp, Shane was taking stock of their weapons.  Not much, but if they could break into the stash at the compound they might have a chance. His mind wandered to Ryan, and he hoped that his son would be okay.
'The kid survived days in the woods with just a dog for protection....he's a smart kid.' Shane thought reassuringly to himself. 'He'll be alright.'
The sound of footsteps approaching brought him from his thoughts.
"Colby..."
"Ryan's in! We'll see if we can meet with him tonight if he can sneak out! " Colby informed as he walked over to the fire and grabbed himself a can of stew.
"That sounds like a good plan, but be careful out there. We don't want them finding out you're sneaking around!" Shane cautioned.
"Don't worry, I won't. Besides, we'll have to stretch this operation out if we're going to do this safely." Colby explained.
********
In his quarters, Neegan lay stretched out on a couch; one slave girl massaging his feet and another girl massaging his shoulders. A knock sounded on his door and he shooed the concubines away, seeing one of his men.
"What's up?" Neegan asked, annoyed at having his pleasure session interrupted.
"The three guys we left with the two prisoners from the group last night? They didn't come back. A group went out to look for them; we found the bodies....well...what the zombies hadn't eaten. The prisoners were gone."
"They ESCAPED?! That can't be right!" Neegan exclaimed standing up suddenly and walking quickly towards the window. "Damnit! How?! They were both injured and couldn't have lasted long without the zombies getting them!"
"They managed to get away somehow and we've lost them, Neegan."
"Fuck me...I thought they were gonna die..." Neegan said quietly, trying to hold himself together.
"Should we send out more men? We can't lose anyone else..."
Neegan was furious with the loss of those young men; it seemed like a personal insult.
"Send some men; we don't need any others. Just get them back alive!!"