Life in an Apocalypse

Chapter 3

     Damien teamed with me to watch over the campsite with the light of the campfire while the woman and Jack searched the purple tent. We had taken out a few of the "reams", as we began to call them, but the growls and low groans never went away. Damien and I decided that he would use his gun as a last resort and help me spot the reams that came too close. I, in turn, would rush over to where Damien pointed and took out as many reams as I could see and rush straight back. 

    "What's taking them so damn long? You've been running 'round for a while now," Damien questioned sharply after I came back towards him. I didn't respond to him, but I did agree that it was a bit strange. They had been at the purple tent for about five minutes now; a long time when a group is faced with a horde this size. Hell, we still didn't know how many reams were lurking about. If you asked me, I didn't want to know; I just wanted it to end. Sharing my frustration, Damien gave a huff and continued to look around. Finally, a few moments later, the two emerged from the tent covered in blood and guts. Damien stood still and blinked at the sight. I just scoffed.

    "Got into a bit of trouble, eh Jack?" I joked as he and the woman came to aid us. The woman stifled a laugh, which I didn't think that was possible.
    "Oh shut up you little runt. How old are you anyway?" Jack retorted. 
    "I'm an eighteen year old runt, grandpa. Thanks for asking," I teased back. Damien turned to look at me, surprised. Jack didn't keep his composure either. Out of the three, the woman held the best poker face. "What? You guys never asked, so I never told," I casually stated. They didn't respond; instead they got back to thinning out the horde that just would NOT shut up. 
    "There's just no end to these things, are there?" Damien grumbled, "We've had to have already had to take down more than thirty of these chumps by now!"
    "Oh quit whining, Damien. It isn't like we got a choice, now is there," Jack returned. I panted heavily, keeping my knives raised in defense. We'd been fighting against this horde for about an hour with no stops, and it seems to have finally taken a toll on me. I tried my best to steady my breath, but my stamina was at its limit. The woman took a glance over to me and noticed my fatigue.
    "Kid, have you been doing this nonstop ever since we got into this mess?" she asked with a concerned tone. I wanted to reply and say that I could still keep up, but I was so out of breath that I could only nod. The woman whistled lowly, catching Damien and Jack's attention. "I'm quite impressed. To think you could rush and kill nonstop for over an hour? Most guys your age would never be as committed. You got some good determination, that's for sure," the woman continued, "But as far as I can see on you, you don't got much juice left. In fact, I can bet that you've been running on empty for quite a while now, am I wrong?" At this point, Jack and Damien started looking me over. Of course, as a girl, I was creeped out, and so I reacted like any other girl would in a situation like mine.

    I slapped them both. Multiple times. Until I was fully satisfied in the amount of pain I inflicted onto them. 
    
    The woman didn't bother to hold back her laughter, keeping her smile as she continued to take out a few more reams that came too close to us. Jack and Damien grumbled towards me, but I was too exhausted to retort. Actually, I didn't realize I was so tired that I collapsed onto the ground due to my fatigue. And blacked out soon after. Next thing I knew I came to inside of the red tent with the woman watching over me. She gave me a smile - another thing I didn't expect from her - and told me that they managed to take out the rest of the horde while I was out and that Jack carried me into the tent. "Thankfully finished up just as you passed out," the woman concluded, "But we have yet to discuss why you were eavesdropping on me and my group... or rather, what's left of it anyway." I guess my confusion was really apparent, because she sighed and informed me that her two guys, Max and Rodney, were turned during the horde. She saw them try to attack me in my unconscious state and did them in. 

    "I just wanted to gauge if your group could hurt mine. I told Jack and Damien to hang back and cover me while I snuck around," I explained myself. The woman nodded; guess she believes me after our horde incident. 
    "Well, kid. I'm glad you didn't want to raid us. We don't have a lot of stuff ourselves, and quite frankly, we couldn't afford to," the woman said, "We got a situation of our own that requires our immediate attention."
    "What could that be, if you don't mind me asking," I was puzzled by this. Thinking back, I recalled her telling Max and Rodney to be quiet so that someone could rest. Seeing as she already knew that I was eavesdropping, I decided to bring up what I already knew.
     "From what I am aware of so far is that you guys have either a sick or injured member of your group. And from what I can tell from what you told me so far, it's fortunate that she hasn't turned either," I decided to say. The woman nodded, confirming my words.
    "Good, you know a decent amount. I had to show your two boys in order for them to understand. You got some understanding guys with you once you show them proof," she replied, "Yes, as you know, we have an injured girl with us. In fact, she's resting on the cot next to you. Sorry you had to get the floor; we don't got much else." Next to me, I questioned. I looked to my left and right, and noticed a white cot set up on my right. I got up from the ground (she really wasn't joking; I apparently rested on just a blanket and my travel pack) and looked over to it. Sure enough, another girl lay there, covered in bloody bandages. She must have had it rough, I noted. She looked as if she was a victim of a brutal attack; not from reams but people. It made my blood boil as I tried to imagine what kind of people would hurt someone this in the situation we all had.. 

    "We found her just a few days ago as we were travelling around," the woman informed me, "We've tried our best to fix her up, but as you can see it's a bit tough to do so due to the critical state she's in. Your two guys - Jack and Damien, I believe - told me that they would be willing to join up with me to help take care of her, but are waiting on your decision." I remained silent, staring at the injured girl before me. She looked relatively tiny, but not so much as to be mistaken for a kid. I watched her chest rise and fall in a steady motion, a good sign to indicate that she was fine for now. She needs help badly, I noted, and she needs it as soon as we can find the right stuff to properly fix her up.
    "I have no problems in teaming up with you. If we can find the right supplies, I can help you tend to some of these wounds," I finally spoke, "I've had my fair share of injuries like these, but unlike her, I've had to suffer them while still conscious. As soon as you are able, I suggest we head out to get to a better place more suited for her recovery." The woman smiled in acknowledgement, and walked out of the tent, most likely to talk to Jack and Damien about my decision. I looked back over to the injured girl.

    I felt determined to help this girl as much as possible, and potentially save her.