I scan the perimeter around me and I see something move, out of the corner of my eyes. I turn to face that way and step closer to the fence separating the outside from The Compound. Suddenly a hand appears and I jump back and pull out my .9mm pistol.
"Help me." The young girl pleads. Her lips are partially swollen and dry and her eyes are glazed over. Her skin color is pale tan and her hair is matted and dirty.
"Have you been infected?" I ask, due to it being a habit now to keep the five hundred people in The Compound safe. She shakes her head no, "Alright. Are you able to keep up with a fast pace? Because if not I can send somebody out to get you."
"I should be able to keep up." She begins to ramble, "I heard this was the safest place for any human being to go. I need somewhere safe, I lost my parents to the infection and I don't want to turn out like them. Please help me."
"It's alright sweetheart, you'll be safe here." I try soothing her, "I do need your name and age." She looks at me suspiciously, "It's just a safety precaution." I begin to walk along side of her, along the fence line, making our way to the front entrance.
"My name is Kiley and I'm fourteen." She says, keeping pace with me.
As we turn to corner I look up and yell at the guard to open The Compound door. As the door slowly opens I wait patiently for Kiley to come through. As she steps through I motion for the guard to close the gate again and it slams shut and you can hear the click of the locks.
"Well Kiley, welcome to what everyone calls their Saving Grace. I'm going to have you follow me to my house and fill out that application, just to be on the safe side. While we get you back on your feet, you can stay at my place and I'll have a teacher come to my house to teach you still. Education is very important. At the age of fifteen you can enroll in our army, " I put quotations around army, "and help fight. We do have a set schedule for the kids at school. Your age group has a time, for about an hour a day for the weekdays, where you train for hunting, just in case you do join the army or ever get left outside The Compound. " She takes my hand as we head for my place. Her touch is soft and she's shaking ever so slightly.
"You'll be fine Kiley." I smile down at her, "We won't push anything on you that you don't want to do. You have a choice here and we will work out whatever we can." I squeeze her hand gently, "I promise you'll be safe. You'll be with me and I'll keep you safe." I feel her relax and she calms down.
I begin to point out place to her, "That building over there is where you are going to school when you get better. Over there is the elementary school as well. The high school is two blocks away."
We get to my place and I had her a sheet. She signs it and hands it back to me.
"Thanks." She murmurs.
