Beginning of the End

II

The next morning, I was woken up by light knocking on my door. So, begrudgingly, I got out of bed, walked over to the door, and answered it.

"Hey..." Aysa stood there, with a glass of juice and a plate of eggs and bacon, "You weren't at breakfast." He stepped in as I turned to look at the clock. 9am. Are these things even right? I walked over and sat down at my small dining table. Aysa sat across from me.

"I'm gonna get you, Lamar, Nick, Khalil, and Kayla to go on the run today. Bring back whatever you can. I assume it's gonna take a bit. Maybe until next morning. Be safe. Don't fucking die." I took a sip of my orange juice.

"When do you want us gone?" I sat and pondered his question.

"The sooner the better. I'll teach the rifle class today. You guys grab the weapons you need and take the van." I ate the food as he just sat there. I looked up at him.

"Jade, can we just move past what happened?" I slid my chair back and walked into my room, looking through my drawers for something to wear today. He walked in my room, "Jade, please..." He walked over and grabbed my wrist. I looked at him.

"I'd be careful if I were you..." I yanked my arm out of his grip, "Go round up your group. I want you all outside my house waiting." I shoved him back slightly and closed my accordion door.

After I got dressed in some black jeans that were faded from sun exposure, and a simple grey tank top, I grabbed my sledgehammer. I walked outside and there stood Aysa and his group.

    "Excellent. You can listen," I smirked at him, "Now, today, the main thing is food. If you find a deer, kill it. Bring it back. Travis knows how to deal with that. But food, medicine, anything you think could be useful," I turned to Lamar and Khalil, "I'll be overseeing the rifle lessons today. You've taught them all the basics?"

    "But, you already teach the archery... Are you sure?" Lamar asked.

    "I'll be fine. Just gotta make sure everyone can aim." I smiled.

    "Are we taking horses?" Kayla asked.

    "Not today, I don't want to risk losing any of you or a horse. Take the van. If you guys aren't back but sunrise, we're gonna have a problem," I walked off to the Storage. I notice a small group of people. Tanner, William, Audrey, Stefanie, and a few others. I opened the doors, "Pick the weapon you've been using, If it's gone use another. Sign the inventory list on your way out." I stepped to the side, allowing people to walk in.

    "Supply run?" Stefanie asked me.

    "Yeah, so I'll be looking at you guys today. If anything happens, Jed knows where I'll be. I left a note on my door."

After everyone had their guns, we walked to the back gate. I looked over to see Elyas standing at Shannon's grave. What a sad sight. I unlocked the back gate and everyone walked out. As I closed the gate behind me, I heard a groan. I turned and saw a walker slowly walking towards us. Devin raised his gun at it.

    "Don't," I waved to him. I walked over to it, picked up my sledgehammer, and cracked it on the side of the walker's head, "We don't shoot if we don't have to." I started to walk towards the clearing in the woods we made for our target practice. Everyone lined up like they were supposed to. They were across from stumps, one in front of each of them. I walked over to the edge and raised my arm. Everyone got into their shooting positions. As soon as I lowered my arm, each of them fired two shoots. I raised my arm again, they laid their guns beside them. I walked over and examined each of the stumps. I stopped in front of Audrey's and smiled.

    "What?" She asked.

    "You hit it," I smiled at her. I walked over to the bag that Tanner brought. It was filled with empty bottles, cans, etc. I placed one on each stump," Alright," I walked back over to the sidelines, "One at a time, down the row. Starting with Stefanie. Shoot your target," Stefanie picked up her gun as I raised my arm. She nodded at me and I lowered my arm. In one shot, she hit her bottle, causing it to shatter, "Excellent!" I looked at Tanner who was next and raised my arm. He nodded and I lowered. It took him two shots, but he got it, "You'll be it. I know it." I smiled at him.

Everyone shot their targets with up to two shots. After Devin shot, I told everyone to get ready to leave. We packed up and walked back to the gate, and walked in.

    "You all did great. Go put everything back and make sure you write down your check in on the inventory list." I checked my watch. It was shortly after 2. I walked over to my house, and noticed that Cymon was standing outside my door.

    "Hey, Jade." He said as I walked up.

    "What can I do for you?" I asked as I unlocked my door, taking the note off, and offering him inside.

    "Thanks, uh, I wanted to talk about a possible job, maybe." He stepped in and looked around.

    "Oh yeah? What kind of job?" I asked curiously, as I sat at my dining table. He sat down across from me.

    "Well, I'm a good shot. And I'm getting restless sitting here all day. Maybe I can help do runs with Aysa, Lamar, and Khalil."

    "Honestly, I think that sounds good. Maybe make you and Khalil team leaders one run, and Aysa and Lamar leaders the next run. That way I don't have to do rifle or gun lessons while one team is out. The other one can do it," I walked over to my bookshelf and took out a notebook, and also grabbed a pen, "Looks like you got yourself a job." I smiled as I wrote down his new title next to his name.

    "So, who will my partner be?" He asked, smiling. Obviously proud of himself.

    "Khalil. He's our infantry man. Leader of the 'army'." I used air quotes. He chuckled.

    "Awesome. Send him my way when we comes back from a run." Cymon smiled and walked out. I placed the notebook back where I got it front and sat on my couch.

A few hours passed when I woke up on my couch, I must've passed out. I checked my watch, it's a little past 6. I stood up and stretched. As soon as I opened my door to walk out, there stood Aysa, about to knock.

    "You're back very early." I was annoyed.

    "We got what we needed for a few days, but, I think we found something you'll want to come look at." I followed him as he walked to the front gate. Where, I noticed Lamar had the hand of someone, helping them out of the back of the van. Out stepped my stepmom, Jenni. My heart froze. She then was handed my little sister, Gabbi, by a pair of hands that made my heart stop almost completely.

    "Dad?..." I felt tears forming in my eyes.