Chaos

Chapter 3

POV Madison
My father is going to kill me. I was still running from the two guys from earlier. They didn't seem quite old, one was 25 maybe and the other 20... I didn't know for sure, I didn't ask. I grinned at my own thoughts. They were strong and fast, but I was faster. Yhea this is me bragging. I didn't even have to run that hard, these guys were obviously built for sprinting, not long distance running. I listened to the steps behind me, I heard shouting... I looked back and saw more people running. Damn. I called my dad while I was lowering my pace. "Yoo dad, I found 2 guys in the woods, no not infected, yhea that's why I am panting... Of course I'm running you blithering idiot! Yhea almost there, see you in a bit!" I hung up the phone. Within 2 minutes I ran into my dad and the group. I whistled a certain melody for Atlas. "Nice forest, no cranks and lovely people!" I said sarcastically. After another minute or so, the guys bumped into our group. The 2 lads who made me bolt looked at me smugly. I wanted to punch that filthy smug of that face. Thomas held me back. "What is the meaning of this? Why were you chasing my daughter?" my dad asked with a strong voice. Will, our group leader, had walked to the front. "Mike?" he said with a happy smile. "Will!" one of the older looking guys who later joined the run said happily. So apparently they knew each other from their old town. "Are you fucking kidding me..." I whispered. I heard panting and looked down, Atlas lay down at my feet. My brother noticed and grinned. After loads of talking and explaining, the dude Mike said that they never wanted to harm me and it was just a joke. Yhea, halfway through the conversation I was so pissed I left the table. I learned that the 2 guys were his sons. And they were going to join our group. "They were just excited because you are the first girl they have seen since when this all started." He laughed. Everyone laughed. For fuck sake. So in the end the sons said I 'overreacted' and that a 'vulnerable girl like me' shouldn't be running through the woods. And I should be protected because there aren't a lot of women left. The older one sat back in his chair and smiled at me, well, after checking me out again. Everyone believed them. Goddamn. "Once an asshole, always an asshole." I said under my breath when I once again left the table.

And that's how the following months have been going. I ignored all the orders and went for supplies runs anyway, I scouted ahead, saved a few lives because of it and sometimes I had to punch the sons because they came waaaay to close. My brother was training with me to renew and better my fighting techniques. So I got better and better. Also me and Atlas were a perfect team, he wasn't scared of anything, he hadn't turned when he bit one of the infected so that was a big relief. My father was proud of me, but he also said my conceited behavior made me reckless. It was true, but I had to keep my arrogant bitch attitude because I live in a man's world. On the 10th of January I turned sixteen. And all the staring faces got worse and worse. On the 11th of March all hell broke loose. Dozens of cranks attacked our camp, I saw how my brother and father got bitten. When the fight was over, 3 range rovers with heavily armed man started shooting our camp. "Madison, here is you backpack with supplies for the upcoming weeks, a map, a tent and a sleeping bag. We love you honey, but our lives are over. You can still have one. Go Maddie, run." My father said with tears in his eyes. "Run sis, do the only thing that you are really good at." Thomas said with a wink. I weakly laughed because of the insult. We heard gunshots in the distance. "GO!" they yelled. "Atlas, follow me." I ordered him. We ran and ran until the gunshots stopped. And I knew, my life had just gotten a whole lot more dangerous. On the 30th of May I was fully adapted to my new life. Atlas was with me all times, and I was depending on his senses all times. I talked a lot to myself, randomly singing and just having a good time. You never know when its your last day. I raided old stores and I was so happy when I found a chocolate bar. Best day everrr! I was just casually strolling besides the river when I saw a body drifting in the current. "Atlas, crank or human?" I had taught him to come to me if it were cranks and go stay around the person if it was still human. He jumped in the water and started pulling the body out. It was a girl. OHMYGAWD! I jumped into the water and quickly pulled her out. When I was on shore she mumbled something like 'no 5 more minutes' and then she went out again. I laughed. Female contact was something I reaaaaally needed!