Just Survive::AmericaXreader

Chapter Thirteen

"It's fine, Sarge." You muttered to the Australian Shepard as he growled at a passing Roamer. You sat on the roof of the house you've been living in for seven months. The house was incredibly reinforced because of what you've been doing to it. The windows were all boarded up and had blankets draped over them as well as the gate to the fence surrounding the backyard. The fencing was wood, about an entire two feet above your head and the only way to climb over was from the inside, but you still made the fence stronger in case a hoard came through and kept running into the fence. You had weapons and entrances and exits hidden although the house and your food was stored somewhere other than the kitchen in case someone broke in. Your medical supplies were stashed in the bathroom connected to the room you claimed as yours, and you had clothes in the dresser you cleared out in your room. You had everything you needed to survive, plus some extra and things for your animals. Sarge was the first of many, then Ace, then Samantha. After traveling the first month away from the walls, you stashed up in the house with the three dogs, and your little family started to grow. You found two Golden Retriever puppies, Leah and Leo as well as a Husky, Louis, and, the newest members, three Chesapeake Bay puppies; Marvin, Lisa, and Sarah. As far as you could tell, the three youngest were too young to be separated from their mother. A couple weeks before finding the puppies, however, you found several cats scrounging for food in a garbage can in an alleyway; Carrie, Lizzy, Poe, Friday, Garfield, and Chocolate.

Sarge sat back down and looked up at you with his dark, brown eyes. You smiled at him and stroked his back. "It's alright. He can't hear us. Even if he did, he alone wouldn't be able to break in. If more do come, I'll take care of it. You know that." The dog whined, but seemed to agree when he laid down and rested his head in your lap. You leaned back, using one arm for support as you used your other hand to run your fingers through Sarge's soft fur, and stared up at the stars. A long, soft sigh blew through your nose as you closed your eyes. All you could see when you closed your eyes was Alfred. Even though it had been eight months since you've last seen him, his image was as clear as if he was standing in front of you. You could still hear his voice as if he was speaking to you. The one thing that was starting to fade was his warmth, his touch. These were starting to fade, and it scared you. You wanted to remember everything about him, but the memories, the feelings... They were fading.

Another sigh left you, and you patted your dogs head. "Come on, Sarge. Let's get everyone to bed." Sarge stood up and jumped through the window, then you followed him. The window to your room was the only one not boarded. You covered the window with the curtains after shutting and locking it. You made your way downstairs, then down into the basement. The five youngest puppies were climbing all over Ace who lay there, not really caring. Samantha played with Louis and the six cats were already curled up together in their make shift bed. You giggled. "Bed time, guys." You told them, clapping twice. Leah and Leo, almost fully grown but not quite, barked before dashing to their bed and curling up together. Lisa, Sarah and Marvin yapped as they stumbled over themselves to their bed and piled on top of each other on their bed. Ace sat on the mattress and lay down and Samantha curled up beside him. Louis lay on the other end of the mattress, his icy blue eyes on you as you blew out the candles in your makeshift lanterns. Before you blew out the last candles, you opened the door to what used to be a laundry room, then filled up three big bowls of dog food and one big bowl of cat food, then poured water in two larger bowls.

Once you finished, you blew out the last lantern, then went back up the stairs, Sarge following you. He always slept with you in your bed. However, it didn't seem like you were going to get much sleep that night. Gunshots and screams sounded from not too far off. You groaned, then grabbed a pistol and a machete. "C'mon, Sarge!" You called out as you unlocked the front door. After you and Sarge were out, you slammed the door shut behind you, and ran in the direction of the group of people. Once you reached them, you brought your machete sailing down on a couple of rotting heads, creating a path to the group. As you did, you also scoped out an escape route. Sarge helped clear out a path for you.