Acid

Chapter Fourteen: A New Foe

THE NIGHT WAS  dark, not a light could be seen in the city, the only shimmer that was visible was the stars that aligned so perfectly in the dark sky, it's funny how a world can be in such dire circumstances yet be so beautiful, I couldn't help but reminisce about the old days as we made our way to the building that homed our people. 'Our People' never thought I'd ever say something like that about others that weren't previously in my group. I guess I've finally come to terms with just considering that my group would be staying with Lilith and Tatum, permanently. That we'd join something bigger, something safer than a truck out on the road. Regardless of the others I wouldn't go even if they wanted me too, they're like family and I know Rae would agree with me. My face shifts to look at Tatum, who's talking with Liam who sat in the front seat. They were talking about the circumstances of them leaving the group to find Poppy and I, not only that but I had over heard while 'sleeping' that they'd snuck out without saying a word to Lilith or anyone by that matter. 

I've been pretending to sleep but honestly I've just been thinking, to much has been on my mind lately that it feels like I'm being consumed. As my thoughts rumbled in my head like bowling pins I guess Tatum realized I was 'awake', as he had smiled at me briefly putting his head on top of mine as his arm went over my neck, only stopping his conversation for a second before continuing. I wont deny my feelings for him have grown, he makes me feel safe and loved, but in the past couple of hour's I haven't felt safe at all. I thought that this feeling would disappear when we reunited, but it didn't. For the first time in my life I've never truly and utterly been afraid, even when this predicament first happened I was scared but not like I am now. I can't help but feel afraid for my life and others around me. Afraid for my daughter. How can I turn a blind eye to what I've seen, how can I not tell someone about what happened. She gets burned by the storm, infected, then that Acid totally ignores her! Welcomes her with open arms! Like she's apart of their pack, their 'family'! What if I was right and this is all just a middle faze, 'the calming before the storm', what separates the disease from the host before killing them. What am I even saying, what kind of mother would hand in her own child? I'm not going to tell anyone, I can't tell anyone there'd be a panic. If I see any signs that I know happen when infected I'll... I don't want to think about it.

"Turn left here" Liam said to Elliot.

Elliot obeyed and turned left into a parking lot, it was filled with littered items and the cars that remained were damaged, doors missing from some and others were burned, some even had decayed bodies or bones of people who... never made it. There were three main building that used this parking lot. There was a little clinic on the right, it was a dirty white with big sliding doors that were smashed open, as well as an apartment that would've been new 2 years ago on the left, most of the windows were broken on the lower floor but as I was looking upwards I could tell that hands and bodies were being smudged up against the others. Bloody feral's. Last but not least a shorter older building that stood happily away from the rest in the center, it was in pretty good shape compared to the others, it's old red bricks is the only thing that protected it, there could be blood scattered all over it and nobody would know.

 Elliot soon parked the car swiftly in front of the center building. The second the car came to a complete stop everyone hopped out. I got out with Tatum shutting the door behind us as I soon walked to the back of the van opening the door to retrieve Poppy, she looked innocent as she slept all cuddled up to Oscar in the back, yet I couldn't help but quickly put my forearm to her head, checking for a fever. Elliot stood in the opening of the other back door near Oscar. Had he been watching me? What if he saw- He was quick to ignore me and just woke up Oscar with a little shake. Oscar woke with tired and heavy eye's still half asleep as Elliot hurried him out of the car, holding his hand. I couldn't help but feel as if I were caught.