"You met Dave? What did he say? Does he know you're helping me?" Derek asks.
"He doesn't know why I was at the hospital," I say.
"And you decided to take in Clarissa? Do you know the kind of war that you just started? He is going to be pounding on our door, because you took that girl in," he says.
"What the hell did you expect me to do? I wasn't going to leave her to die out there," I say.
"You need to bring her back. Tell Dave that you're sorry or else there will be hell to pay."
"I can't take her back. She doesn't want to be in Dave's group," I say.
"You don't understand. Clarissa is his niece. I also...had a little fight with him. We were trading supplies. In the middle of the trade he shoots at us. He is a psychopath. Now he's just looking for any excuse to to wipe out my entire group. If he finds out that you have Clarissa, he's going to attack that summer camp with all he has."
"I will figure something out." I step outside.
Clarissa is sitting on a bench.
"I heard what you two said. Just take me to the woods. I'll leave and I won't come back," she says. That might be for the best.
"Are you absolutely sure?" I ask.
"Yes, I can make it on my own."
We get in a car. I drive out to the forest. She gets out. I see a shack far into the woods. Three people appear out of nowhere. One is a woman. They all have slightly enlarged pupils. They all have their guns aimed at me.
"You must be sent by Dave," I say.
"You are coming with us," the woman says.
"You're going to wish you died with Iris and Jack."
How does she know about them? She has no right to say something like that. I hear gunfire from all directions. I grab Clarissa's arm and get behind a tree. The gunfire stops soon after. I see Elizabeth, Jake, and Alex.
"What are you doing here?" I ask.
"Melissa sent us to find you. She was worried," Elizabeth says.
"It's dangerous for all of you. Head back to the summer camp," I say.
"No, we just got here," she says.
"Did you bring your parents or sisters with you?" I ask.
"No, Jade, you're acting weird," she says.
"There is a group. They are on the brink of war with the group I'm helping. It's not looking good for anyone. I'm only here to make sure that the summer camp isn't going to be attacked because of what I did. Once this is all sorted out, I will go back," I say.
"We can help you," Elizabeth says.
I pull the note I found out of my bag.
"Your parents wanted you to have this," I hand it to Jake and Alex.
"Did you...find them? Alive or dead?" Jake asks.
"I didn't find them at all, but that doesn't mean that they are dead," I say.
"Jade, you need to get back here. Now! Bring Clarissa," Derek says over the radio. Something must be going on.
"Get in the car now!" I say to the others.
"What's going on there?" I ask over the radio.
"Dave's here and he's asking for you," Derek responds.
"What's wrong? Is something happening at that camp?" Elizabeth asks.
"Yeah, something horrible."
When we arrive at the camp, five trucks are parked outside. We sneak into the camp through the back gate. Sarah opens the back gate for us.
"Good, your back. Derek wants you by the front gates," she says.
"Is Sam okay?" I ask.
"She's fine, but Dave is threatening to attack the summer camp," she says.
"I need your help. I need you to protect those two kids over there if things go south, okay?" I say.
"Got it."
I head towards the front gate. Derek hands me a rifle.
"Are you ready? I don't know what Dave is going to do, once I open those gates," he says.
"I'm ready," I say.
Derek, with the help of two others, opens the gates. Dave walks inside. He's holding a pistol.
"Why are you here?" I ask.
"I'm simply here to warn you," he says.
"About?" Derek asks.
"I want you, Jade, to tell your friends at the summer camp to clear out. I'm going to take that place. By force, if I have to. You can try to stop me, but you won't succeed," he says.
"You can't do this. That place is our home and we will fight to protect it," I say.
"In any case you have one week until I attack," he says. "What's that look for? Be grateful...most people don't get a warning."
"What about Clarissa? Don't you want her back?" I ask.
"My niece? That girl made her choice when she left Honestly, I could care less about what happens to her." Dave says.
I start to reach for my pistol. This guy doesn't deserve to live. Derek notices and grabs my hand, stopping me. Dave climbs into his truck. They drive away.
"Why the hell did you stop me?" I ask.
"Even if you actually shot him, you'd be dead seconds later. It wouldn't be worth it. It would just make his whole group attack right now. At least we have time to prepare," Derek says.
He is right. I just got so angry at how Dave was acting. The way he thinks he's going to win no matter what. He reminds me of Jason.
"You are going to help us, right? My group can't defend itself on its own," I say.
"Of course, you've helped me and I will return the favor," he says. I return to the others.
"What happened?" Sarah asks.
"He's going to attack Oakwood. We have to get there before he does. We're going to defend it as best we can," I say.
"What about me?" Clarissa asks.
"You can stay with me for as long as you need," I offer.
"Thanks."
Derek brings a us a van. The others pack up their
stuff. I check on Sam.
"I'll be ready in a few minutes," she says getting out of bed.
"Sam, I want you to stay here. You're already hurt and you'd be safer here," I say.
"No, Oakwood is my home. I want to help defend it," she argues.
"Please, can you just listen? The truth is you won't be much help. You'll just get in the way. If we lose, at least you'll be safe here," I say.
"You can't make me do anything!" she yells.
"But I can tell Derek to keep you here. Don't make this harder then it needs to be," I say. I go to the front door.
"Don't force me to stay! Please," Sam yells.
"I'm only doing this to protect you," I go outside.
"Don't let her leave, unless I tell you to," I say to Derek.
I get in the van. I start driving. Derek told us we have to take the long way. It's going to take about six days to get to Oakwood. That's if we keep driving with absolutely no stops.
YOU ARE READING
The Dead Walk Among Us
Science FictionIt's been ten years since the fall of humanity. I was only ten years old when the zombies took over. The military told us to flee underground, explaining that it was safer. The zombies are smart, too smart. They can learn to hide themselves. Some of...
