Life in an Apocalypse

Chapter 8

     That day apparently had its toll on the group because we didn't speak about it for two whole days. We kind of made it into a temporary taboo topic and focused our minds collectively on other tasks. With Cynthia awake and capable of walking on her own, we looked around the city for any clothes and supplies for her to use. We managed to even find a gun shop with working rifles and ammunition to last us for a good six months if we remain conservative. And for this time and age, six months was a very long time. We finally got her some clothes that were not just blanket robes covering her form. She grabbed a plaid shirt, jeans with a belt, a pair of socks and sneakers and a pair of sunglasses for herself. And since we had a choice for fashion change, I underwent one myself; black khaki shorts with a personal belt to replace my ripped jeans, new socks and sneakers, plus a black bra and white t-shirt so that I wasn't only covered with a newer black sleeveless hoodie vest. I had to use some of my bunny hides as a binding for a while before we got here, so a change was great.
    "Got everything you need, kiddos?" I heard Marge call from the hall in a mall we raided. Cynthia and I were in one of the side shops of an old mall to get our new gear. I came out first with my travel pack in tow, my knife belt upgraded by using the one that came with my new pants. It felt a lot better not having to worry about it slipping off mid-fight. Cynthia came out of the store shortly after with her new outfit, satisfied that she wasn't mostly nude for once. She toted a good old-fashioned gray high school kid's backpack. It wasn't much, but we decided that it could help us hold onto our medical gear and most of our food rations. We also found some good manufactured water bottles. They were metallic, so they could act as heavy weapons in a pinch. 
    
    "I think I'm set," Cynthia called out to Marge as she raced over to where I waited for her. As of now I am the only person Cynthia really can approach. Marge is a good second, but she still needs to get used to Jack and Damien. She puts up a front that she isn't scared of them anymore but I know better. After all, she didn't want to partner up with anyone else for night watch besides me and Marge. 
    "I'm good to go, too. Let's head out of here," I replied to Marge. She nodded in approval, turning to Jack and Damien who scouted the area in front of us: the center of the mall. We made our way towards the center to meet with them. I got a few new supplies from the store for them and handed it over, earning smiles and thanks before walking off towards the exit of the mall. When we went outside, it was already night, forcing us to head back inside to set up camp for the night. Jack, Damien and Marge searched around for ways to board up the exit that we found while Cynthia and I decided to set up camp in one of the corners nearby. I decided to take some of the decoration plants inside the mall to use as firewood while Cynthia set up and organized everyone's packs and sleeping bags in our little resting area. I managed to successfully start a fire using one of the new lighters I grabbed during our initial mall raiding just when Marge and the boys come back from creating a temporary blockade for the night. 

    "...So because Cynthia is more comfortable with Zee and she's still recovering, I suggest that during Zee's shift Cynthia can stay up with her," Damien was saying as we sat by the fire munching on some chips from the mall. Jack nodded and Marge just turned to Cynthia. "You alright with that?" she asked. Cynthia looked over to me, unsure of what to say.
    "I'm fine with it if you are," I told Cynthia. The girl smiled and nodded, earning a smile on Damien's face as well. I looked over to him with eyebrows raised since seeing Damien smile was such a rarity.
    "What's with the smile, you creepy bastard?" Jack poked fun, "Happy to see her?"
    "Oh shut up Jack!" Damien retorted in defense, "Of course I am but NOT in the way you're putting it!"
    We all shared a laugh as Damien tried his best of defend himself while Jack just kept egging him on. It was these happy moments that made me feel happy that I managed to survive for so long. Cynthia apparently thought the same thing, because a few minutes after the laughter died down, she looked solemn and deep in thought. 

    She just stood by a nearby window and looked out into the night before the first watch, Jack, was up. I walked over to her in concern; we were going to be the next watch and I wanted to make sure she was alright. 
    "Cynthia? You okay over there?" I asked quietly, leaning against the wall next to her. She turned her head, seeing me, and smiled a sad smile as she returned her gaze to the window. Something's up, I thought, and it looks to be something rather painful.
    "I'm fine, Zee. Really, I am," was her reply, her tone wavering. She sounded as if she were frightened by something like how we first met not too long ago. 
    "That's a lie and you know it," I said to her, "You're shaking. Care to tell me what's on your mind?" Cynthia looked back at me with a very stoic expression. Pensive, as if she was considering whether or not to even tell me about it in the first place. I understand why she would still feel some reservation even around me, but it didn't hurt to ask. I kind of wanted her to tell me so that she could get it off her chest and feel safe again. She sighed, giving me a solemn smile. "You don't even know me for that long yet you can see right through me," she gave in, "I wonder just how on Earth you can do that..." I shrugged in response. I still can't read Marge that well, and yet I can understand Cynthia despite knowing her for a shorter amount of time than the former. Well, technically, it's the same amount of time, but Cynthia wasn't talking to me back then. 

    "Well, I've just been thinking", Cynthia began, "About how this hell all started."
    "Can't help what time has in store for us," I remarked, "We just gotta deal with it as it goes."
    "That's true," Cynthia agreed, "And... I guess what I'm trying to say is... I was wondering about how I ended up in Marge's care." I turned my head towards her. I knew Cynthia was beaten nearly to death and I shouldn't ask her to remember how she ended up so battered, but a part of me was very curious to find out who exactly did that to her. Let's just say that I would LOVE to give whoever it was a piece of my mind. With my bayonet to their neck, most likely. 
    "I can only remember running away from something," Cynthia started, "Whatever it was, it scared me more than anything I had ever known. This was right after the Reanimation Catastrophe occurred and destroyed Marge and her family. I had been running for a long time and I was nearly out of breath. The pain from my bleeding wounds was taking its toll, but it wasn't as serious as it was at the time Marge found me. I didn't have the large gashes down my chest and right torso. It looked as if someone was trying to... to..." At this point I couldn't bear to hear the rest. From the sound of things, she was already in a state similar to how she was found even before the Catastrophe. Whoever did those things to her must have kept doing do long before reams resurfaced. I clenched my teeth from the sheer anger from knowing this. Someone out there is so messed up that they will willingly torture a girl like this for God knows how long, I thought to myself in frustration. I was angry. I was more than just that; I was a ticking time bomb just waiting to go off and destroy everything that caused Cynthia to be in such a state. But at the same time, looking at Cynthia shaking just to tell me about it, I lost all my anger in an instant. I couldn't help but to pull the poor girl into my arms. 
    "Hey now, it's okay," I whispered soothingly as she continued to shake, "Whatever happened then will not happen to you now. I can promise you that I won't let that happen to you again, so please don't cry?" She didn't answer me nor did her shaking stop. I can only assume that she suffered heavy trauma from whatever gave her those nasty wounds. That in and of itself was more than enough for me. I continued to hold her close, trying to offer some sort of protection as if my body were a shield.

    Cynthia did manage to calm down after awhile, just in time for our shift. As I escorted her back to the sleeping bags to relieve Jack, he appeared to have noticed Cynthia's distressed state. I knew he was going to ask about it; I could only glare at him as he tried to open his mouth to speak. Thankfully, my actions got him to understand, as he bit his tongue and retired to his sleeping bag. 
    "You know, you should go and rest for tonight. I can handle second watch," I said to Cynthia as I sat in front of our little corner. I could hear her giggling at me as she sat down beside me, placing her head on my shoulder. 
    "No, that's not fair to you. You used up precious sleeping hours to listen to me," she replied, "This is my way of thanking you for that."
    "If you say so," I looked over to her and watched her yawn. She's obviously tired, I thought, I guess she means it. I knew that I wasn't going to be able to change her mind. A few minutes into the watch, I feel a heavy weight on my right shoulder where she had sat down next to me. I turned my head slightly to find her using me as a pillow to rest. I sighed with a smile on my face; letting her rest until Marge relieved us from watch. Before Marge could say anything though, I decided to take it upon myself to carry her over to her sleeping bag. 

    I didn't think about it too much at the time, but Marge was looking on like a proud mother watching her child as I carried her away. All I know is that at the time I did this, it just felt right for me to do so.