Living for What?

Chapter 3

TellTale owns The Walking Dead video game...

Chapter 3

We walked into an empty and barren room. White walls were plastered above and next to a small brown desk and two small beds. They were nice, each with one blanket and a fluffy white pillow. I still don't know how they managed to keep this place so hygienic. Our guards had showed us the door, then left. I guess they were helping out at the gate because there seemed to be a lot of commotion. I didn't trust these people, but Mom said "They opened their gates and gave us a room. We should be grateful." I just nodded a response; the one thing I knew was the relief on my mom's face, and I couldn't take that away from her. Even though I didn't trust them doesn't mean I couldn't accept their hospitality. Right? I felt better as soon as I saw the hot shower. Despite our house in Littleton having walls, it's water had been cut just about a day after we arrived. I hadn't taken a proper shower in months.

I showered until my skin pruned. The feeling was amazing. Mom called me out for lunch. We had been allowed to keep only a portion of our meat, but all of our guns and most of our buckets and deer was confiscated. My staff was confiscated as well. I would have to get it back somehow. We had secretly stashed a small bag of strawberries and sugar, a favorite dessert of ours. Anyways, The sandwiches were amazing with mustard, lettuce and deer. Even though I had this exact same lunch yesterday, it felt and tasted completely different.

After we ate our fill, our legs gave way. Our stomachs were bigger and our skin was shinier than it had been in a long time. Mom was the first to relax (the last time we got to was probably a week ago), but I still had one thing nagging in my mind. What was all that ruckus? I knew it wasn't any of my business, but I felt a need to find out anyways.

Mom was already asleep by the time I gently pried open the door and stepped back outside.

The situation hadn't changed, but the argument might have been bigger this time. The leader took another small group of people inside, and was wiping his face furiously. The group was following him with their hands behinds their heads. I saw a kid with a beanie alongside them that looked about my age. I tried to listen more than just look though. There was dialogue, albeit faint.

"Javier. Oh my god. Why... why didn't you-" He was cut off by something, but I couldn't tell what. Shit. The only part of dialogue I hear and it's so little. My curiosity ignited.

"You know what, I can't deal with y'all right now. Go put them in their cells!"

"David you can't be-"

"I am very serious. Alright? Go!" The group of 4 was rushed off to the other corner of a community, inside a large building.

The Next Day

I had decided to explore the little community Mom had already become so accustomed to. Honestly, I couldn't believe my eyes. There was a meat shop, with slabs of pig and chicken and every cut of beef you could find. How did they have access to that stuff?. There was also a barber (kind of funny how everyone thinks they can live a normal life here), but I vowed I wouldn't go. I like my hair, and I wanted to keep it long, but not ugly long (there's a difference, trust me). It wasn't much, but frankly, I was surprised at how much freedom I had. In most other communities, I wouldn't expect people to be given this much leniency. The last time I had a feeling like this was far too long ago. Everything seemed underlyingly managed and organizational, but even so, the amount of relaxation everyone had was even more breathtaking than any of the scenery.

At sometime after lunch, I knew Mom would be expecting me home. (Home, I hadn't use that word in a while. Even the place in Littleton was just a residency. A home was different. Well... it was a home for her. I was still a bit skeptical). The glistening sun and cloudless sky made for a great day. I wanted to spend it outside, but I was late.