After The End

Alone

It was evening of the fourth day of me living at the Compound. Day Two was rough and Day Three wasn't much better but, Auden managed to persuade Tobias to give me an adjustment period.  A few days to get used to everything, but we couldn't hold off any longer from the meeting. Tobias was getting impatient, anxious even.

Auden spent the entire day looking for ways distract me. My long brown unruly hair was now neatly braided behind my head reaching down my spine. Auden apparently knew how to braid hair, but that wasn't important. It was just distraction to keep myself from what was truly important.

I was nervous about meeting Tobias. Actually scratch that. Terrified.

I didn't know how to survive alone. I'd always had my...

I flinched away from the memory. Breathe, Emerson. Just breathe.

"You okay, Emerson? You look like you're about to piss yourself." Barrett let out a deep chuckle, clearly amused with his joke.

I turned towards him and glared at him.

"Shut the hell up, Barrett. I don't need your commentary." I snapped, clearly irked. I rolled my eyes at him. I could see Barrett try to contain a smile.

I was beginning to become more comfortable with Auden and Barrett. More so with Auden. Auden seemed to understand me while Barrett lived to make fun of me.

"Don't listen to him." Auden breathed in my ear. His warm breathe flicked across my neck sending shivers down my spine.

Auden and Barrett led me to some brick building in what seemed to be the middle of the Compound.

Auden opened the door for me revealing a long hallway. I continued to follow Barrett until he stopped in front of a door. Barrett looked at me reassuringly before knocking three times on the door with a cadence.

"Come in." A deep voice boomed from the inside of the office. Barrett opened the door to reveal an old man in his mid fifties. His face was sprinkled in sun spots and his face sagged from his wrinkles. But his eyes were bright blue just like Auden's, they were ageless and intimidating.

"Hello sir." My voice cracked, I coughed as if to clear my throat.

"Welcome! Take a seat. Emily, right?" Tobias deep throaty voice was scratchy, like he was a smoker.

"Emerson." I corrected him, scrambling to sit down in the chair. Auden and Barrett were standing in the doorway watching intensely at the scene that was unfolding.

"Excuse me, Emerson is a beautiful name. Auden, son, would you two give us some privacy?" Tobias blue eyes sparkled, but hid something dark behind it.

"Yes, father."Auden nodded at his father.

Tobias was their Dad? And Auden didn't tell me!?!

Auden gave me sympathetic smile, but his blue eyes held something more, burning. Barrett rolled his eyes at the theatrics of this situation. Auden shut the door separating me from their protection leaving me to face this all alone.

"Emerson, have you and Auden been getting close?"

"Yes sir, he saved my life."

It was clear Tobias didn't like my answer.

Tobias's once friendly eyes now held something dangerous in them. He murmured something unintelligible.

"I tell them to bring back only the best, strongest and most fit and..." He mumbled looking directly at me, trailing off.

"Emerson, how are you going to benefit and earn your keep here?" Tobias said moving his body to sit directly in front of me.