When August Ends

Meet The Neighbors

"So you want to get close to the wild and strange?
You want to stand at the edge of the river of change?
No.
You got a hungry soul but a cautious mind,
So you can't quite leave your world behind.
So you come for a visit but you lose your nerve!
Out at the edges of the bell-shaped curve,
But I saw your soul when you dropped your fear!
You came walking in the world of the wild down here.
Down here we always got each other,
Down here and it's how we know,
Down here that we're sister and brother,
Down here in the land below.
Down here we see you looking in,
Down here with your longing stare,
Down here we got a feeling of belonging,
Because we're not up there."

- Down Here, David Wilcox

Mace P.O.V.

I watch as Matt drives the truck with the others back to our own camp. I hope this place works out. It's peaceful. Even though Thomas holds a wild look and obviously has violent tendencies, I know it's peaceful. This place has the potential for rest not because of it's physical circumstances, but because of the people working so hard to make it that way. I can see that Thomas truly only does what he does because he sees the same potential anyone can and he's frustrated by how difficult it is for that goal to be reached. I can't blame him. We've lost a lot of our own on our journey here, I imagine they've lost the same, possibly more. I think he needs understanding right now and no one here knows how to give it. I think I do. Approaching the sliding gates I smile at a young blonde woman and Hannah who stand by it. "How ya feelin' Mace?" Hannah inquires.

"Alive," I smile and she smirks. "Listen can you open the gate for me I'd like to go and speak with Thomas," I say calmly.

"Whoah now, I don't think that's the best idea now," Hannah retorts putting a hand up and creasing her brow.

"I don't want to fight I just want to talk." I reply calmly.

"He doesn't have the same agenda right now," she replies earnestly. "He's in one of his moods and if you go out there he will just see you as a biter."

"You guys call them biter's? That's funny. But don't worry. Just let me speak to him. He's alone and that's not really what he want's." I persist. Hannah purses her lip and the blonde girl looks me up and down.

"Let's let him go," she says suddenly. "I think he can help." she adds and begins to slide the gate open.

"If you say so Christina... Be careful Mace." Hannah adds as I walk out.

It's so silent out here. Infecteds are lying motionless all over the place. The only sound is the hum of bees flitting abut. It's almost peaceful, but I've had to accept that in this new environment, silence isn't a decent thing anymore. It's a burden, and in silence, the worst of things become a possibility. There is a different kind of peace available. The kind where we can close our eyes behind walls where we have faith nothing will reach us in that moment. There is no peace promised in the future, no true hope of it. There is only the moment to moment peace that arrives over the course of many peace-less experiences. Not only people have had to conform in this world. Emotions have too also.

Following the steady trail of the bleeding dead I track Thomas, which isn't difficult. When I finally reach him, he is leaning over, supporting himself by putting his hands on his knees, and is breathing heavily. His arms and chest are drenched in blood, and it's dripping from his curly black hair. He's shivering. As I approach he suddenly tenses and stands straight. He looks at me without recognition. I probably am just another Infected in his mind right now like Hannah warned me. That's what makes people like him in this state so dangerous. He eyes me dangerously and I stand a few feet away from him. "Hi Thomas," I say quietly. He just stares at me. "We haven't met. I'm Mace, came here with Matt I'm one of Troy's guys." I continue and he creases his brow.