Our Life (Sequel to "Remnants")

The Union

-Carl-

We drove once again. 

The journey was much more optimistic now. 

We were able to ignore the blood that still trickled occasionally along the dashboard. We managed to block out the scars of the past - both recent and distant - and finally just... talk. Nothing all soppy and romantic, nor bleak and mournful; just simple conversation.

It was a beautiful moment purely because of how simple it really was. 

Riley did most of the aforementioned talking. It was clear that the expression of my love for him had greatly lifted mood, and reassured him that our relationship really was as loving and beautiful as we made it out to be. 

Eventually, however, this 'simple talking' subsided, as we reached the sign that read "Alexandria. Community for survivors." 

The last time we had bared witness to Alexandria, the 'community of survivors' was bursting with huge plumes of ash and flame, and we were about to find out if this fire had claimed the lives of yet even more friends.

As we drove over the horizon, however, Riley drew the car to a very abrupt halt. Alexandria was only half a kilometer away, now in plain view. The scorched remains of half the town was only the second most shocking revelation as we discovered our home once more.

The true surprise came from the convoy of military vehicles that was parked outside the community's walls.

Three tanks, seven jeeps, and at least three dozen armed soldiers were surrounding Alexandria's perimeter.

Their militarized appearance reminded me too much of the Saviors. I had been foolish enough to trust that band of merciless animals a year ago, blinded by pathetic loneliness and childish confusion, and in the wake of my stupidity, Alexandria had lost its leader and in the days that followed, Carol's life too. In spite of this, however, there was an uneasy - not to mention unexpected - sense of calm regarding this situation, and it certainly didn't matched Carl and I's uncertainly as we approached the gate with caution.

"We mean you people no harm!" a loud voice insisted over the amplification of a loud-speaker, "we come in peace!"

'Peace...' 

That single word was one of today's biggest lies.

Carl clearly had a similar train of thought, placing his hand on the ice-cold barrel of his weapon but not yet removing it from its holster.

"Hey!" he yelled abruptly, startling both me and the soldiers that surrounded the gate.

"Carl, what the hell are you --" I began in confusion, but realized that Carl was the least of my worries as I was stopped mid-sentence, with thirty rifles and several tank cannons now pointing in my direction.

Ah...

"Are you two members of this community?" the man clutching the loud-speaker, apparently an ambassador for the group, inquired sternly.

If we say 'no,' we'll most likely be considered insignificant and then shot. If we say 'yes,' there are two outcomes: they could be telling the truth about coming in peace, and welcome us with open arms, or they could be lying, and we could be captured, shot, tortured or worse...

Tough decision...

"Lower the damned weapons, it's just two boys," the soldier instructed to his people, who obliged promptly, but with a hidden reluctance.

"Sorry about that," he smiled kindly - it seemed sincere enough, but we all knew that looks can be deceptive, "I understand that having about 40 guns pointed at you contradicts our whole 'peace' offering."