Beth woke me up early, really early. She and the boys hit a jackpot on their hunt this morning, apparently. She helps me up a quickly as possible trying not to make my ribs ache more than need be. She then lays out my clothes that we washed and put out to dry last night and I slip out of some pajamas I borrowed from her, put my clothes on, and swiftly follow her down the stairs.
When we get outside the house Todd and John hunched over a tarp with various supplies laid upon it. Most of it is weaponry and camping gear, probably taken from a nearby camp or settlement.
"What's all this?" I say with a semi-grin at the sweet find.
"We got it from some strangers on the highway. One man, two teens, and a kid. Pretty easy pickings if you ask me." He says this triumphantly.
My stomach drops and my grin dwindles into a heavy frown. There is a difference between taking things from adults and taking things from kids. Obviously you shouldn't steal from anybody, but especially not from kids. They will likely never be able to remember the world as a semi-nice, alienless place. The least humanity can do is let them keep their stuff, let them lead the easiest life possible in this newly severe and rough world.
"You took this stuff from a kid?" I say with rising anger in my voice
Duane's expression switches from proud to defensive. "Why do you care? I'm doing what I got to do to survive and ensure my children's survival. What's so wrong about that?"
"Hunting involves finding food, not robbing poor, unsuspecting people of their things. You've basically written their death certificates! A kid's death certificate! You've made survival infinitely harder for them."
"You didn't have a problem with it last week." Trying to remain collected.
"Those people didn't have children!"
Then he erupts, Duane has what is apparently the smallest anger threshold ever.
"THEN LEAVE. We don't need you. You've been a burden since you've walked up our driveway. Used up our medical supplies, ate our food, sleeped under our roof, it would be great to have you leave." He gives me a poison stare.
Beth tries to convince him to let me stay but he sends her off to do her morning chores. I honestly wouldn't want to even if she convinced him.
She hesitantly turns away but not before flashing me a sad looking glance. I feel a bit of guilt for what I'm about to say, but she said it herself, she knew I was going to leave in the long run. In the end it still stings a little I guess. She was the closest thing to a friend I've had in a while. It's a shame but there's not much I can do now.
"Fine, but I'm going in the house to get my belongings." I try to say this calmly as possible considering the amount of rage running through my veins.
" You've got five minutes." He yells as I walk away. "If even one thing of my family's is out of place I'm going on a hunt for you!"
I scoff. "I don't think you would!"
With that he walks away to the shed to do god knows what.
I storm of into the house and up the stairs to get my stuff. It takes a couple minutes to find my weapons and the photo of the Masons and that's when I hear it loud and clear.
A gunshot.
I ran to the window. I see Duane, Beth, Todd, and John pressed up to the side of the shed that is visible from the house. Gale (Duane's brother) is one the ground holding his stomach. His hand is covered in blood. There are four other male figures standing around all of them with what I can only guess are knives. I can't see any of the men's faces but from what I can tell they are conversing.
That's what you get for stealing from strangers with kids, I think, still made at the altercation I had with Duane a few minutes prior.
I wait and study the scene for a couple minutes and after a while one of the men and Duane collect Gale from the ground and make their way towards the front door of the house. The other three follow Beth, Todd, and John inside after Gale and Duane. When they are inside I pull out my pistol and ready myself near the door for someone to come up. If they are smart they will check the second floor for any other people.
Apparently they are and I tighten my grip on the gun as the sound of heavy boots proceed up the stairs.
The gun is up by my face, finger over the trigger, as I watch the knob of the door turn out the corner of my eye. In an instant he has both my arms pinned up against the wall with a surprising strength that made my rib cage scream in pain. And with my pistol on the floor it seems that he's got me right where he wants me. Damn.
I have my eyes clenched tight waiting for a punch, when he says
"I'm not here to hurt you but you need to comply with me."
I wait for a second to see if he is serious and when he loosens his grip on my wrists I open my eyes and when I do I find a familiar pair of eyes. Big, beautiful and gray, just like Rebecca's. I've found them or, more accuratly, they have found me.
The Masons have arrived.
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Author's Note: Hey Reader! That was a big chapter. I hope you liked it! Please leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts so far! Thank you so, so much for reading!
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Thanks Again!
Peace and Love,
-Haylee
