~Even the truth hurts~

Everything is great

I walk down the abandoned suburban neighborhood, the one I've walked so many times. I knew every nook and cranny, every house just like the back of my hand. 4 houses down,
was where Chloe, my best friend and her daughter, Abigail, were laid to rest. Then a few feet to the left, at the tree line, was the man who shot Abby and raped Chloe causing her to die from vaginal tearing. He isn't  completely buried, instead halfway above the ground rotting.
It took 2 days after the rape for Chloe to die. Being alone wasn't a problem, since that's what I did before the apocalypse, it was being lonely that was the problem.
Taking my usual seat by the grave belonging to the 2 girls, I lean against a rock and take a small sip from a bottle of water. Sitting silently by the mounds of dirt with a few blades of grass, I reach over and set my fragile tanned hand upon the grave.
"Hello?"
I flail to a standing position, seeing 2 men one thick and the other quite small in comparison. Dreads fall down one's back and the other is rocking a man bun. "Thanks for the heart attack, get out."
I storm off in the direction of the less shitty house I stay in. The dreaded man follows me close behind but giving me space not making me feel pressured.
"Me and my friend, Jerry, here, have been watching you for awhile."
"Yeah. Totally, sure."
"How'd they'd die?"
"Who are you and how long have you been watching me exactly?"
"Maybe 2 weeks. At the most 3. I'm king Ezekiel."
"What do you want king Ezekiel?"
"I want you to join my little community, that's about 40 miles that way." Pointing at a direction that's north-ish.
"My tiger Shiva could use another care taker when I'm not around."
"You said community, right? That means... People?"
"Lots of them. Plenty there for new friends. Some as friendly as Jerry."
"If I decline?"
"We'll try to convince you again. But when and if we give up, you'll never hear from us again unless you attempt to reach us." Jerry explains.
I look around and sigh. "I wanna say no but, I don't think I can handle another day alone out here. But please explain the tiger."
"I was a Zoo keeper. Shiva got hurt, I saved her. Been friends ever since. She trusts me, I trust her."
"Very touching. Never seen a tiger before." I admit to King Ezekiel.
"Really?" Jerry asks.
"I was never big on going to the Zoo. Especially since they locked up poor wild animals."
"Can't argue with that." King Ezekiel laughs.
"Let me grab my things."
Shuffling inside, I grab the few photos placed around the house of me, Chloe and Abby, and then the duffle bag of all my other possessions.
"Ready?" Ezekiel asks.
"As I'll ever be."
Jerry offers to take my duffle bag and I slide it off my shoulder, passing it to him. A horse neighs off the road somewhere and I look to Ezekiel who smiles. Jerry whistles differently and 2 horses trot out of the woods.
"Hope you don't mind riding with me." King Ezekiel teases offering me his leather clad hand. He helps lift me onto the horse and pulls himself up in front of me. I wrap my arms around his waist then, Jerry whistles and points to walkers filing out of the woods. The horse rears up and takes off running. Jerry's horse stays ahead and Jerry rides by cracking a walker in the head. Turning my head just slightly, walkers are pouring out if the woods.
The horses keep up their pace for a few miles before slowing to a trot. Jerry's horse whinnies and moves closer to us.
"Okay that was pretty damn cool!" I admit laughing slightly.
Jerry laughs at me and puts the bloody stick in a leather strap on the horse.
"What's your name?" Ezekiel asks.
"Right um, my name? My name is Zada."
"Very beautiful name. Don't recall ever hearing that name." Jerry says.
"Thank you Jerry. I don't think I remember ever knowing a Jerry or Ezekiel either. Speaking of which, KING Ezekiel?"
"People started calling me that, so, why not?"
"Is Jerry your anointed knight?"
"One of them." Jerry says.
"One of them?"
"It takes more then one knight to protect the Kingdom Zada." Ezekiel laughs.
"I'm sure you'll fit right in. People are very nice there. Very welcoming. I'd get ready for a long ride. It takes about a day and a half to get back."
~•°3rd Person°•~
Zada stays awake for a few miles before laying her head on the thickness of the king's hair and dozing off against her better judgement.
"When are you gonna tell her the truth?" Jerry asks looking at Ezekiel.
"I'm not sure Jerry. Just not yet. Not yet. Okay?"
Jerry nods and looks at the small frame of the girl leaning against the man's back.
"She'll leave if she finds out, ya know right?"
"Of course I do Jerry. But the time will come and she'll find out."