Safe Haven

Trouble in Paradise

Nathan and Griffin enter the survival bunker that their group is held up in. They secure the door shut and make their way to the group. The bunker runs on a large generator, keeping the lights on and the temperature comfortable. They don't have much to worry about when it comes to temperature until winter, but that's not for another couple of months.

"Nathan! Griffin! What's the good word?" Chloe asks. Her bright smile warms their hearts. Nathan hands her his backpack.

"See for yourself," he says. Chloe takes the bag, barely able to lift it up.

"Jesus, did you fill this thing with bricks?" She laughs.

"Only the coolest bricks I could find," he replies. Chloe laughs and brings the bag into their storage room. She lays it down on a table and unzips it. Cans and bags immediately pour out of it.

"Holy shit," she exclaims. "And Griffin, yours is full too?"

"Very, and there's more back at the house we found this shit in," he smiles.

"Thank God. It's nice to hear some good news for a change. Henry and Jillian have been at each other's throats recently, arguing over stupid shit that I honestly couldn't care less about.

"Dammit, that doesn't surprise me. How's dad doing?" Nathan asks.

"Dad's seen better days, but these antibiotics could help him a lot. Thank you guys so much. You risk your lives every day, and I don't think you get nearly enough recognition for your efforts.

"Maybe this haul will make them realize that it's all worth it," Griffin replies.

"Hopefully. Nathan, why don't you go see what Henry and Jillian are arguing about this time. I'll go check on dad. Oh, and Griffin, Kate wanted to talk to you when you got back," Chloe says.

"Alright, thanks Chloe," Griffin says. He walks out of the storage room, heading towards the bedroom.

"Nathan," Chloe says.

"Yeah sis?" He turns back towards her.

"We need to do something about Henry. He's a loose cannon, and it's not good for everyone's morale. Kate, Dad, hell, even I don't like him.

"He's my friend, Chloe."

"I know, I know, but so is Griffin, Kate, and Jillian. Everyone here likes you, Nate, but nobody likes Henry. He's a ticking time bomb. It's only a matter of time before something happens."

"I'll talk to him, sis. Don't you worry about it," Nathan says. He kisses Chloe on her forehead and heads towards the sound of arguing.

"He's sick. He's just a drain on what little supplies we have. If we keep him around, we're just going to get ourselves killed," Henry shouts.

"He's Nate and Chloe's dad! He's a great man, and I'm not letting you kick him out, nobody is going to let that happen," Jillian exclaims.

"What's this all about?" Nathan asks.

"Oh, Nathan, how are y-" Henry is cut off mid sentence.

"You want to get rid of my dad?"

"Look, Nate, it's nothing personal, but he's sick and dying. He's a crutch, and is this world a place that you think he really wants to live in? This is our chance to give him a graceful death. It'll be quick and painless, I promise. I can do it if you don't want to."

"Nobody's going to do it. If you lay a finger on my father, I swear to God, I will feed you to the BCs myself. Are we clear?"

Henry nods.

"Good, now go help Chloe unpack the supplies." Nathan waits while Henry silently walks to the supply room. "Jillian, thanks for defending my dad."

"Of course. I love the guy, but Henry, he's-"

"A loose cannon, I know. I'm going to take him with on a supply run tomorrow, and he won't be coming back."

"Good," Jillian smiles. "Nathan, meet me in the spare room tonight. I've got something for you."

Before Nathan can respond, a chilling scream emits from the supply room.

"Chloe!" Nathan yells, he sprints to the storage room to find Henry attempting to force a knife into her throat. She's struggling to keep it away. Nathan lunges for Henry, and tackles him against the shelves, knocking it over on top of them. Nathan rolls out from underneath Henry and the shelf, and pushes his foot down on top of it, pinning Henry to the ground. "That's be last straw, you mangy cunt." Nathan pulls out his pistol and points it at Henry's head. "Chloe, cover your ears."

The whole group, minus Nathan's father, stand by the door, watching everything unfold.

"Nathan, wait!" Griffin shouts.

"He tried to kill my sister! He tried to kill one of us!"

"I know, Nathan, but this isn't who we are, we don't kill our own. We kick them out," Griffin replies.

"You think I'm going to let this scum-fuck walk free? No way. Who's with me on this?"

Chloe, and Jillian raise their hands.

"And you, Kate? You want me to let him walk?" Nathan asks.

"I do," Kate says. "He's a piece of shit, but killing him is barbaric."

"Well it's three against two. Cover your ears," Nathan says as he turns off the safety of his gun.

"Three to three, actually," says a grizzled man from the hallway.

"Dad? You want me to spare him? The guy that was planning to kill you just a few minutes ago?" Nathan asks in disbelief. His father enters to storage room.

"I don't want him to live, but Kate and Griffin are right. This isn't how we do things around here. We'll lock him out of the shelter, and that's that. What happens to him out there isn't our problem," James replies.

"Fine," Nathan says, putting his gun away. He takes his foot off the shelf and lifts it up. "Get up motherfucker." He grabs Henry by the shoulders and brings him to his feet. Henry throws a punch at Nathan, who immediately blocks it with his forearms, and punches him back. Griffin fires a shot into Henry's leg, causing him to cry in pain and fall back to the ground.

"Alright buddy, that's enough of that," Griffin says. "Nathan, help me get this idiot out of here."

Nathan and Griffin lift Henry by his arms and legs, while Jillian unlocks the bunker door. They toss him out, and Nathan gives him a solid kick in the ribs for good measure. They lock the door, and day turns to night.

Henry rises back to his feet and turns towards the bunker door.

"Guys?" He asks. He attempts to open the door. "Guys! GUYS!" Henry pounds on the door over and over. "Please let me back in! I'm sorry! Please let me in!" Henry pauses, thinking he heard something in the distance. "Is someone there? Hello?"

A pale figure hops down from a tree. Henry reaches for his knife, but it's gone.

"Stay away from me you freak!" Henry says as he sprints deeper into the forest. The BC jumps from tree to tree with ease, and pounces on Henry before he can escape. It grabs his head with one hand on top, the other on his chin, and slowly tears it off with tremendous strength. It tosses his head against a tree and begins to chow down on its tasty snack.