Madness (Completed)

Camp

Maddie drives the car down a long highway until we see a strange sight these days. A city lies at the top of a hill with all the buildings still standing. It's strange now that this used to be normal to me, but now, its so strange. After all, mother nature has taken back a lot since the human race is almost extinct. Buildings crumble so easily from the force of a few vines crawling up the edges. Rubble gets buried and forgotten under bushes and trees. So, to see standing buildings without a single scratch from nature, is very strange.
"Do you see that?" I question, turning my head to face Maddie, who looks focused on driving at the moment.
"What?" She answers, I see her eyes trail around the windshield, searching for an answer.
"That town... It looks cleaner than usual ones do. Meaning, it could make a good camp for us tonight." I explain as I continue to stare at the sight ahead of me.
"Okay. I'll head there." Maddie states as she pulls the steering wheel to the left and moves the car towards the town.

When we arrive, it starts to look more normal to me. The streets are empty of any signs of life. The bottoms of the buildings are only starting to crumble at the pressure of plants around them. Vines crawl up the sides, slowly crushing what parts of the building it can. The sidewalks are cracked and small trees sprout between the cracks. Maddie continues to drive slowly down the streets, which look similar to the rugged appearance of the sidewalks. However, this town is still strange to me. After all, something very common is missing. The Eaters are nowhere to be found here. Maddie turns around a corner and then I see why everything here is how it is. A large, wooden wall lies at the end of the street with sniper rifles atop them. A large door is at the bottom and looks to be a one way door. Two buildings on either side of the wall look to hold it in a steadier place.
"What's that?" Maddie questions, slowing the car almost to a halt.
"A civilization." I respond. I've seen enough of them, even tried to make one, to know them when I see one. These people seem to have a pretty well made one, in a place no one would look for it. I hear a gun fire and one of the snipers appear to have shot. It missed us by a long shot. But they weren't trying to hit us, that wouldn't make sense. No, these people shot a warning shot. A way of warning us that they do not want us here, but do I ever listen to messages? Of course not, but I won't put the car at risk. It's too valuable of a resource right now. I open the car door and quickly crawl out of it. I take hold of my crossbow before I look back at Maddie.
"Stay here, this won't take long and I'm not going to die, I can promise that much." I say with a small smirk before closing the door. I begin walking towards the wall and glance down to make sure my crossbow is loaded, and it is. Once I feel that I am close enough for what I want I stop in my tracks.
"Hey!" I yell, facing the guns without any fear. After all, I've never been scared of death as most people are. I know that one day I'll die, but it won't be today. I'll make sure of that. I see a hooded figure pop their head over the wall next to one of the guns.
"What do you want?" They yell down at me in a masculine voice.
"To talk." I state with a shrug of my shoulders to show that I'm genuine. After all, these people might not have seen living people in quite a while.
"What do you want to talk about?" The figure shouts back, I see the gun move slightly, I'm guessing he is getting a better aim at me.
"You won't find out if you shoot me." I state.
"Fine. I'll talk." He responds. I see his figure disappear and the door opens in front of me. I see a man walk out, still wearing the hoodie he was, but the hood is now lying on his back. His face looks kind to me, which is rare these days. He has matted, dark brown hair that goes down to his ears. His eyes are a bright green color, which is enjoyable to look at.
"So, I'm here. What do you wish to speak about?" He questions, still approaching me in a slow pace. I only now realize that he has a very slight. British accent.
"Why did you send a warning bullet?" I ask, trying to stall for time even more than I was.
"We wanted to tell you to go away, and you declined obviously." He answers me.
"Then why didn't you shoot me when I started walking?" I question.
"Well... Uh..." He trails off.
"If you really wanted to kill me, I would be dead. And if I wanted to kill you, well, you know the rest." I say with a small chuckle to ease his tension from meeting me. Obviously this man has not talked to anyone, especially a woman in quite a while, and I can use that to my advantage.
"We don't kill people. Only those... Things." He tells me.
"I wish I could say the same... But it's kinda hard when most of the people I've met have tried to kill me." I respond, laughing slightly, but it soon fades as nothing about it was funny.
"You know that doesn't make me trust you." He chuckles.
"I know, but I still have one more question if you'd grant me that." I say politely.
"Go ahead." He answers, his British thickening only slightly.
"Have you seen any men walking through here? I'm looking for my friends." I explain, hopeful in his answer.
"I haven't. You're the first person we've seen in a very long time. Who are they, if you dont mind me asking." He responds.
"Well, one of them is the future father of my child. Another is his best friend, and another of his friends and... One of my old boyfriends." I explain, avoiding names.
"You have a child?" He questions. I guess my baby bump isn't showing as much as I thought it was.
"I'm pregnant, so I will be having one." I explain.
"Oh, I had no idea. How many months are left?" He asked kindly.
"Five." I answer. I think this is one of the only times I've payed attention to time in this apocalypse.
"We have a trained doctor here and equipment that has lasted. We haven't needed to use it as we haven't had anyone pregnant. We might be able to find the gender and help you. And we have people who can go searching for your friends if you wish." He pauses and coughs. "Oh, and I almost forgot, my name is Shane." He adds. I extend my hand for him to shake.
"I'm Violet and my friend in the car is Maddie." I say. Shane shakes my hand firmly and nods as we let go.
"It's nice to meet you, Violet." Shane says with a sweet smile. He then turns his head and up towards the top of the wall.
"Let them in! And find a place to park their car!" Shane shouts. The door swings open and he casually walls inside.
"I'm gonna get my friend." I say as I back away towards Maddie and the car.
"Alright, I'll keep the doors open for you. And, welcome to our city." Shane says happily. I nod and turn back and start towards Maddie. Once I reach the car, I fling open the door and get inside.
"We have a new home." I say with a smirk.