Beginning of the End

III

I opened the gate and walked towards the van as my dad stepped out of it.

"Dad..." I ran up to him and hugged him.

"You're okay!" He hugged me back. Jenni joined in and wrapped her arms around him, while still holding Gabbi.

"We were worried about you." Jenni pulled away.

"I thought that group of walkers got you..." I whispered.

"No, we got separated and ended up on the south side of the forest, while you were at the west side," My dad grabbed all their stuff out the trunk and everyone followed me as we walked back in through the gate.

"How did you find them?" I turned to Lamar.

"It was them who found us. Aysa to be specific." Lamar answered, gesturing towards Aysa. I turned to him.

"We were down at the Food Lion near Mount Pleasant and I heard someone say my name. At first I thought I was going insane, but when I turned, I saw your stepmom." Aysa smiled as I hugged him.

"We just followed signs that said Roanoke. I figured we'd find each other eventually." My dad looked around at the new surroundings.

"This is Community," I gestured around, "My town." I smiled.

"Who's in charge?" My dad asked, setting their things down momentarily.

"Do you want us to go ahead and put all this in Storage and take inventory?" Khalil asked as he, Lamar, Nick, and Kayla walked by with baskets and bags of things.

"Yeah. Can you tell Audrey to let everyone know there's gonna be a town meeting in about 15?"

"Will do." They walked off.

"What were you saying?" I asked my dad, after getting distracted.

"You run this place?" He asked, bewildered.

"Yeah. Follow me. I'll show you around and to your house. I kept one open just in case you all showed up." I gestured to everything, showing them my house, the Rec center, cafeteria, the stables and garden. But the gallows is what caught my dad's attention.

"What's this for?" He asked.

"People who don't listen to the rules." I answered. He turned to me, as did Jenni.

"Have to use it yet?" Jenni asked, concerned.

"Yesterday. A newbie tried to rape someone. I don't tolerate that shit," I started walking again. Pointing off telling them where what was and such. Then I approached the empty house, "This is your house. Get settled, then meet over there in a few." I pointed to the CMC.

"Okay." My dad hugged me again.

"I'm glad we found you." I smiled to them. I turned and walked back to my house. When I stepped inside and went to grab my sledgehammer from its regular place, it wasn't there. I looked up and saw Aysa standing in my doorway with it.

"Looking for this?" He asked, offering it to me.

"Why are you in my house? You know you're only allowed in here with my invitation." I grabbed the sledgehammer from him, but he used it to pull me towards him.

"Jade, stop. Please? I'm trying. I'm trying to make things better." He pleaded.

"Why couldn't do you that when it mattered? When the world wasn't ending?" I snapped back at him. He frowned.

"I was fucking stupid, okay? You lived far away. I never got to see you. You always yelled at me." He ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

"I don't have time to talk about this right now. There's a meeting. Let's go." I tossed the sledgehammer onto my shoulder and walked to the CMC with him by my side. When I walked inside, everyone was sitting down. My family sitting next to Jed and Audrey. I stepped up on stage. Everyone fell quiet.

"Evening, everyone. Today is a great day. First, I'd like to congratulate the rifle class today. You guys did fan-fucking-tastic," I stopped for a moment as there was clapping from the group, "I'd like to introduce the three new members of our group," I gestured to my family, who stood and waved around the room, "My father, Nick. My stepmom, Jenni. And my little sister Gabbi."

"Hi, everyone. Thank you for letting us come into your group." Jenni smiled.

"Yeah, what she said." My dad groaned as he sat down.

"There's going to be some job reassignments and new jobs given out. For example. Supply runs are now going to alternate. Lamar and Aysa will be one team. Khalil and Cymon will be leaders of the other. They will alternate turns out the fences. On Sunday, Khalil and Cymon will be heading out with a team. They can hand pick whoever. That way, Lamar and Aysa will be here for anyone who wants gun lessons. Second, Stefanie. You're in charge of inventory now. You account for everything that goes into that building and what goes out. Have people sign for a gun if they take it out. Sign it back in when they're done," I turn to my dad, "You're taking her spot in the kitchen. You'll be the head cook now. Make sure you have meal plans for the ingredients that we have. Enough to feed all of us," I looked around the room, "Anyone got any questions?" Leanne stood up.

"I'll need to give them all physicals and make a medical report for all of them."

"We'll do that tomorrow, okay?" I suggested. She nodded and sat back down. I glanced over the crowd, "Perfect. I'll see you all in the morning." I stepped off the stage, my dad walking up to me.

"What time does everything have to be ready in the morning for breakfast?" He asked.

"Don't worry about tomorrow. Brittany and Travis can take care of breakfast. And usually by 8-9. Not too early. But not too late. We don't do lunch at the cafeteria. People are allowed to go to the inventory and get a snack. But dinner is to be ready by 6-7." I started walked out when my dad stopped me.

"Are you okay?" His question caught me off guard.

"I'm fine." I smiled.

"Alright. Well. I'll talk to you tomorrow. It's gonna feel great sleeping without worrying about dying for once." He hugged me and kissed the top of my head. Jenni hugged me.

"Goodnight," I waved and walked to my house. Once I stepped in, I saw Aysa sitting at my dining table, "Talk." I set my sledgehammer down in it's designated spot. He stood up and walked over to me, pulling me into a hug.

"I don't want to talk." He pulled away and kissed me. I pushed me off.

"Aysa... I can't." I shook my head and sat down on my couch.

"Why not?" He sat next to me, his knee pressing against mine.

"I have a whole town of people to think of. I don't have time for someone who's just lonely." I got up and walked over to my China cabinet and grabbed my bourbon.

"Still facing your problems one drink or five at a time, I see." He scoffs. I set the bottle down.

"Still trying to be the man you'll never be?" I turned to face him. He looked shocked. Like the words had just hit him like a slap in the face.

"Why are we doing this?" He stepped forwards me, "We were always fighting. It's one thing that tore us apart." He picked up my bottle, set it back in the cabinet, and closed it, then turned to me.

"I know..." I sighed. I pushed a stray piece of my hair behind my ear.

"I'll let you be. Sorry." He turned to leave, but i grabbed his arm and pulled him into a hug.

"I don't want to be mad at you anymore." I whispered.

"I know," He rubbed my back, "One day." He broke the hug and walked out. I walked into my room and fell onto my bed.