Together We Survive

First Impressions

I looked out over the clear waves as our small boat sped across the open water. Strand, my mom and Ofelia had stayed on the Abigail whilst the rest of us went back to shore on a supply run. We were running low on supplies so we had little choice but to return to the mainland. My mom had stayed to keep an eye on Strand, reluctantly allowing me to go out with the others.

Nick sat at my side with a crowbar in hand, Daniel had his usual rifle slung across his back, and even Chris had his own gun. I was the only one left without a weapon and that really pissed me off.

'I don't see why I can't have a weapon,' I complained, not missing the triumphant smirk that Nick sent my way. He was clearly amused by how our mother still treated me.

'Don't look at me, it was down to your mother' Travis said, his gaze remaining fixed on the land that was growing steadily closer. Madison had insisted that there wouldn't be any need for me to carry a weapon because at the first sign of trouble we were all to get back in the boat and return without delay. I didn't bother to tell her that wasn't how it worked, if things went badly then I didn't want to be left defenseless.

'Mom made me promise to look out for you,' Nick replied, running his hand down the length of the crowbar as he puffed his chest out with a tilted smile.

I scoffed at that, leaning over to give my brother a playful shove but otherwise remaining silent. One day my mom had to realize that in this new world I couldn't be an innocent child who needed protecting. Things were different now, the apocalypse tended to change people.

I had no more time to dwell on my thoughts when Daniel cut off the engine and we all hopped out of the boat to tug it onto the shore. Travis wiped his hands dry once it was high enough and turned to face us all.

'We want this to be quick, we return here in one hour with as many supplies as you can find.'

We all nodded in agreement, Travis and Chris taking the left side of town, Nick and I the right. Daniel was left to his own devices, he could take care of himself and needed no protection other than his rifle.

Nick and I entered the first house we came across not a few minutes walk from the shore, my brother taking the upstairs whilst I searched downstairs. A rucksack lay abandoned in the hallway and I dusted it off quickly before heading straight to the kitchen to gather as many cans as I could find.

Once the kitchen was cleared I was is eager to move on to the next house and shouted up to see how my brother was faring. 'Nick? You ready?'

For a few moments all that could be heard was the thud of items falling to the floor above my head before he called out in response.

'Almost done!'

What the hell was taking him so long? For something to do to pass time I began to search through the many drawers that were located around the kitchen and dining room, stopping short when I opened one to reveal a handgun.

I glanced up quickly to see that my brother was still not ready, items being dropped carelessly every now and again heard thumping through the ceiling above me.

I returned my gaze to the handgun, slowly picking it up to inspect the weapon. After a few moments a large smile formed on my face, my mom didn't need to know and there was no way I was roaming around the walker infected streets without some way of protecting myself.

The gun felt strange in my grip, never having held one before, and I swiftly tucked it into the waist band of my jeans, ignoring the feeling of unease that had built within me at how unnatural the weapon had felt to hold.

I considered shouting up to Nick again but decided that he could catch up. Leaving the house quietly, I moved further down the street, passing the abandoned houses that all seemed to have been ransacked early on. I faintly heard Nick cursing wildly when he discovered that I had gone ahead without him but I didn't bother to look back, knowing that he would follow.