Humanity Forsaken

The Innocents

With Lucas and Devin having passed Jade's test we had some time to rest. About another month had passed. However being as eager as I always am to get outside the walls of the community I decide to press Jade about another run. I yet again start my morning earlier than the rest of the community. I slip out of bed making sure not to wake Brittany and grab my personal rifle and sling it over my back. Stepping out I feel the warmth of the sun and it makes me smile. I slip out the front gate and stand in the road just listening to the sounds around me and get absorbed in thought. How are the group doing mentally? Is Jade doing alright running the community? I pace around the community checking the fence and just thinking further before I see more people start to wake up and make their way outside. I approach Khalil and Nick who are outside.

"Morning guys." I say taking my sling off and propping my weapon against their building.

"Morning." they say in unison. Nick rubbing his eyes and stretching. Khalil is lighting a cigarette. 

"Yo, so we don't need supplies exactly but I was wondering if you guys would want to go on a run. I was hoping we could just get out of here for a bit to be honest I'm going a little stir crazy."

"Well, I mean I'm down let's just run it past Jade." Nick says still sounding sleepy.

"Yeah bro sounds good." says Khalil and smile on his face as he begins to walk toward Jade's.

We wait outside having a quiet conversation about what has transpired of the last month since picking up two new people. Although it was slight we did notice how having the extra hands around did spread some of the work out better. We carried on and began talking about old friends.

"So, you think Aaron is doing alright?" I ask my tone getting a little more serious.

"Where ever he is dead or alive. . . this man is playing Smite." Nick says starting to laugh and we both join him.

"He will 1 v 1 Joust a zombie before he gives up that game dude!" I blurt out.

As we finish laughing at the joke we turn to see Jade walking out of her room. 

"Well good morning sunshine!" I yell at her squinting my eyes and smiling.

"Ughhh. . ." she groans in response. She usually did this in response to me being more of a morning person.

"Hey, do that enough and we might think you're a walker." I chuckle. Standing up I stretch and reposition my weapon to my side. "I was wondering if you would let us head out for a bit nothing too crazy." Jade rolls her eyes at still clearly waking up.

"You need to relax, Wisconsin." she says yawning and stretching.

"This is my relaxing Ziggles! I want to at least be able to step out a bit."

"Fine." she groans, "But don't go out too far dammit."

"Yes ma'am." I salute jokingly.

We step off to go get our gear ready. We decide to leave Tyler back for this one. The guys didn't want to wait around another hour for him to wake up and damn sure didn't want to hear his stories. We ready Tyler's truck and throw our backup gear in beside us. Jade stops beside me and calls me over.

"Wisconsin, come here." I step toward her quickly obviously excited to go on another run. "The guys told me about what you did when we got Lucas and Devin." her tone and her look was serious. 

"Oh, well yeah I don't know what I was thinking to be-" she cuts me off placing a hand on my shoulder.

"It's fine that's in the past just don't do that crazy shit again. Okay?" she smiles warmly and I smile back taking her into a hug.

"Okay, Jade." I turn and hop into the backseat of the truck. Khalil is behind the wheel and Nick is in his usual spot in the passenger seat. We make our way toward town excited to see what happens when we make it.

Yet again it is empty. However, the carnage is much more obvious. Stores look as if they are completely stripped bare. A few walkers off in the distance catch my eye and I instruct Khalil to pull over so we don't draw attention with Tyler's loud truck. We all hop out taking our time to move down the street where we picked up the new guys. We opt for a silent and less deadly approach as we see a small group of walkers who have noticed us. We slip by without a hitch. The whole trek seemed fruitless until we came across some spare melee weapons and water. No bodies were nearby but we quickly snatched up what we could and proceeded back to the truck. We toss some knives and water bottles into the backseat. Just then a loud yell was heard back the way we came. Khalil and Nick looked at each other and then at me. We nodded and closed the doors to the truck quickly and took up and wedge formation running toward the screams. I pull up my skull mask covering my half my face as we stop and notice yet again another group of people. This time they were girls and they were running. We held our ground not wanting to risk anything. The girls stop as one of their friends fell over during their panic. I jump up and begin waving for them to run in our direction Khalil drags me back down quickly.

"Dude what the fuck!?" he asks in a hushed yell.

"No, look. . ." I peek up and point my weapon behind the running girls. Three bodies all in dark clothing. They had face masks. It was the same group from before. They were in full sprint after the young girls. Weapons drawn we catch the attention of the men.

"Stop or we will fire on you!" I yell at them my finger placed on the trigger.

"Ha look who it is!" a familiar voice yelled in response. Without another word the men began leveling their weapons at us. The leader pulls the trigger. The shot was horrible. A long way away from hitting any of us but it spooked the girls further. They make it to where we are and turn and run. I stop grabbing cover behind buildings and squeeze off a few rounds in their direction. Khalil and Nick make it to the truck the girls piling into the backseat.

"Fuckin' go!" I yell at them before turning my attention back to the enemy firing another two rounds. This time my bullets are answered with screams. I hit one of the masked men. My mind races having heard the screams. I pop out from behind cover and squeeze off two more rounds at the other lackey hitting him in the chest. He is dead before he hits the floor. The leader removes his face mask raising his hands slowly. 

"Please. . ." he begs softly, "I - I'm sorry." the man drops to his knees weeping over his lost comrades. I have the last man in my sights. The cross-hairs from my Eotech holographic optic square on this man's head. I don't shoot. I leave and make my way in the direction of the truck.

"The walkers will take care of him." I mumble to myself, "He's broken. . ."

I climb in beside the girls who are clearly shaken. I look at them and smile. 

"I'm sorry you guys had to hear all that. . ." I say my gaze glancing down to my boots.

"Uh, Lamar. . . the mask." Nick points at me.

"Oh shit right!" I chuckle as I remove my skull mask , "I'm not crazy I swear." smiling at the girls who are clearly getting more comfortable with us. "I have a friend you would love to meet. She has a community and everything. We can keep you safe I promise. I just need to know your names."

One of the girls who is clearly the older out of the three begins to wipe her tears and straighten herself up. 

"My name is Kayla." she was young but the oldest of the bunch. "And this is Leanne and Lily." she pointed over toward the girls who were calmer now. I instantly went into big brother mode. Seeing them scared made me think of my sisters.

"Well,  you guys are safe now. You have my word I will keep you safe at all costs."