Where Has It All Gone?

Tripping On Skies, Sipping Waterfalls

No one knew what to say or do for awhile until Corey broke the silence. "So this is what you do when you think I'm asleep? You cheat on me? Really? And after all we've been through, after all we've lost?" He looked more hurt than angry and both AJ and I tried to explain that we just met and there wasn't anything going on between us and I tried explaining the whole situation but he cut me off. "Why are you even out here, if you're not cheating on me?!"

"I was trying to find somewhere we could stay for longer then two days before it was overrun by a herd of roamers!! To show you that I can contribute to our team instead of it just always being you protecting and fending for me!! Ever since all this started and I saved your life that one night, that one time, you've been treating me like a child that needs constant supervision and I'm sick of it!!" I hollered.

"So that's what this is about?? You feel like I'm smothering you just because I'm trying to protect the one thing I have left in this mess of a world? I'm doing that because I love you and don't want you to get hurt!!!" Corey shouted in my face.

"Uhh hey...you two should keep it down..." AJ interjected.
But we kept arguing and getting louder with each flinging insult we threw at each other.

"...You know what, that is so like you to say!-"

Bang!

Then the bang was followed by a dull thud and more snarling.

"RUN!! Quick follow me!!!" AJ shouted running south of where the net lay as the roamers began to close in from the sides. I drew my katana and Corey began picking them off one by one with his machete.

"Where are we going?!" I shouted to AJ. It felt like we had been slashing and gashing our way through roamers for forever.

"TO THE FARM. JUST A LITTLE FURTHER!!" He shouted, yanking a dagger out of a roamers' head. Sure enough, 20 dead zombies later, we came into a field with, what looked like an electric fence and AJ said to hop it so we did. It wasn't live when we touched it but as soon as the first roamer ran into it, it shook with the power of the voltage and it either dropped, burst into flames or kept coming. We ran to the house and just as I got to the porch, suddenly, seven people came out of the house, armed with sharp objects and began killing the roamers pushing on the fence. Several shots were fired over our heads, instinctively, I ducked down on the stairs and Corey covered me with his body. AJ laughed and said "There's no need for that now. Welcome to the farm. Ma and my sister's will get you cleaned up," he looked at me,"I'll take care of Corey and get him some of my clothes. Then come down to the kitchen and we'll fix you a plate of food and y'all two can settle in the upstairs bedroom if that's what your comfortable with. You'll be safe here."

I was picked up off the porch and lead upstairs by a somewhat wrinkled but nonetheless sweet looking woman and two brunette girls who looked identical to each other in face and clothes. "My name is Andrea River," the older woman said handing me a pile of clothes,"these are my elders daughters Olivia and Oleander River. There's three wells on the property and the hot water is plenty so take as long as you'd like sweet-pea. Come downstairs when you're ready, there's no rush honey. AJ and my other two sons will take good care of your husband."

I smiled and blushed,"Oh, no Mrs. River, h-he's just my boyfriend... I'm only 17."

She returned my smile and said something I'll never forget. She said, "Sweet-pea, with the world gone crazy, anyone you can trust, love and survive by this long with might as well be your husband."
The only thing I could think to do was smile and say," Yes, ma'am. I'll remember that."
She put a soft, wrinkled hand on my face, backed out of the bathroom with Olive and Oleander in tow and shut the door. I turned on the water, undressed and stepped into the steaming water and let it wash away three months worth of dirt, sweat, tears and blood. Thinking about what Mrs. Rivers said, the memory of our fight washed over me with a shower of dread. I felt the tears wash down my face and said to myself, "If he still loves me, we might as well be married..."