Fighters

Chapter Two

Tristan's POV

The drive was almost awkward... the only grace was Eric. He was intent on getting us to play road trip games, and when no one would answer or take their turn, he'd take it for them. I tried to act stoic but his voice and laughter had me fighting to keep a smile at bay. I wanted to make eye contact with him, tell him with my eyes that I appreciated him, but every time I tried I'd meet one of THEIR eyes. I hated them, the sadness and the guilt and the longing present in their eyes made my stomach churn. I did not feel sorry for them, and after all this time I couldn't find any longing for them either. Just anger, burning questions, and an increasing bond to my REAL parents... the parents who saved us. The thought of even giving these three my time of day made me feel as though I was betraying my mom.

My mom, my brave and amazing mom. She built our compound with Clay, my dad, built our army, supervised developments. She wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty and she was ruthless, fiercely loyal and protective of our group... our family. Everyone referred to her as captain, except for Aurora, dad, and I. I took a chance and glanced in the mirror, catching a look at Josie who was thankfully asleep. I studied her, remembering her... I remember her more than even my own biological parents. Sleepovers with her and mom, her laugh, the way she played with me, was so proud of me. But anger came with those memories, mom told me the story of that day. I know Josie loved me... Mom said it wasn't that she lacked love but that she was a coward. She was afraid. Mom always says that this new world, this world where the dead walk the streets, some people thrive but some crack. Josie was one who cracked, while mom... mom said she finally found something she was good at: surviving, protecting us at all costs, and eventually being a leader. I felt pride that she was my mom, but all I could feel was shame for being part of the people in the back seat's "family".

"Trist?" Eric said, leaning forward and resting his arm on the arm rest. "You in there?" he asked, tapping my forehead and I finally let my grin show, looking down at him and making eye contact. He looked towards my dad who was focused on the road and then turned back and mouth "you're so hot" to me, making me bust out laughing and blush. I looked straight forward with a grin, and in my peripherals I could see dad studying me out of the corner of his eye with a smile.

"So when are you going to break the news, you two?" Pops asked, driving with his right arm while the left was propped on the window sill and feeling the air rush by. I could feel all the blood slowly drain from my face and when I looked down I realized Eric had resumed his spot, his back rigid against the seat. Dad chuckled, "why do you look terrified? I haven't seen you two look that way since you had spread dead guts all over your ponchos to get out of that warehouse in town and-" a gasp from the back seat cut him off and we both turned to look.

Sierra, my biological mother, looked horrified while Jackson just glared at my dad. And I couldn't help but poke the beast. "What is it?" I asked. "Do you not leave your little haven at The Helm very often?" Jackson turned his glare to me but I held my ground. But it wasn't either of them that spoke up, it was Josie.

"Tristan you can come back there with us. I'm... really good friends with the governors' daughter and I know they don't normally make an exception but they would for me." She rushed to say, eyes hopeful now. Dad looked ready to speak but I raised a hand to stop him. But before I could even respond, my walkie started to have a message come through. I looked around and realized we were just in range of the compound.

Picking up the walkie I adjusted some settings and clicked to speak. "Soldier 2-5-2-8 responding, proceed with message over" and while the message wasn't clear to know what she was saying I knew it was Aurora's voice. I pressed the button again, "I repeat this is soldier 2-5-2-8 what is your message over", and the next time she tried her message rang clear as day.

"WE ARE UNDER ATTACK. PROCEED TO BASE. OVER."