Hiding From the Dead

Chapter VI

Hiding From the Dead: Chapter VI

It felt nice being with people I knew. Knowing that they were still alive gave me hope that other people I knew would be alive too.

We all talked about how horrible all of this was while we ate and Jayden and Vale played with some toys Vale had.

"All this spread faster than everyone thought. We all thought they would stay only on California for days." Ricky said, opening a can of corned beef. Yuck.

"Yeah, us too. It's spreading way too fast." I said. Nina was eating a can of tuna, not saying a word. I can't do this.

I looked at Liam and touched his arm. Something had been spinning in my mind since I first saw Nina, and I needed to tell him.

"Can I talk to you for a moment?" He nodded. "Excuse us." I told Nina and Ricky. They both nodded, frowning in curiosity and Liam lighted the way to the other corner of the armory. "Liam, we can't leave them here."

"What do you mean, like, take them to the bunker with us?" He asked in a disagreeing way.

"Yeah, think about it, Liam. The more the merrier. Safety in numbers. They have weapons. Ricky probably knows how to shoot. What do we know? We are just a couple of teenagers. Plus, they have a little girl, Liam." He looked at Vale and then back at me.

"But we don't know them, Bree."

"I know her, Liam. She's my friend. We used to talk for hours while the kids played. Do you really expect me to leave her here? To leave Valentina?" To be honest, I didn't care what Liam said. I wasn't leaving them.

"No, you are right." He sighed. Part of me got relieved hearing him say yes. "Let's tell them." He started walking towards Ricky and Nina but I stopped him by grabbing his arm.

"I never thanked you. You told me about the bunker when you barely know me. You could have just gone alone without telling me anything." I shrugged.

"What do you mean? We do know each other. We studied together. We talked."

"Yeah, but only in one class. You had no reason to take me with you that's why I'm thanking you." He looked away and his lips curved into a smile.

"I did have a reason. Well, I do."

"What is it?" I asked him, frowning in curiosity. He looked at me and shook his head.

"Never mind. Let's go tell Ricky and Nina about the bunker." He walked away and I stood there. Oh, god, how much I hate it when people say never mind. "Bree? You coming?" He asked and I looked at him with a: "Huh." He sat down, looking at me, raising his eyebrows "Ricky... Nina... the safe place..." He said, remembering me but trying to not tell them yet. Oh, yeah, the bunker.

"Oh! Coming." I walked over to Jayden and kissed the top of his head. He looked at me and smiled. "I love you, buddy."

"I love you too, Bree." I smiled and walked over to Liam. I sat down next to him, looking at Ricky and Nina. They seemed really confused, but eager to know what was happening.

"Who's telling them?" Liam asked me and I shrugged.

"You tell them, it's your bunker."

"You tell them, you are the one that knows her." Really...?

"Who's telling us what?" Nina asked, desperate. I looked at her.

"Liam's uncle has a secret underground bunker in New Jersey. It has a concrete fence and solar panels. It's the safest place for the kids. We were heading there but we hit a body and our car broke down. What do you say? Are you coming with us?" I said, and they looked at us with wide eyes. Did I scare them? Should I have talked slower?