Beyond What We Know [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 7 - Tailored to your Needs

I decided to leave Erica to her pots and pans and made my way up the stairs and toward the small room that was once my uncle's office, but changed into a sewing station for my aunt when her husband retired. It's small and used to be really cramped – a huge desk took up about half the space and the rest was filled with folders and random documents. I remember helping to clean it up when I was a kid: aunt Marie would give me the folders and papers and I would happily hop down the stairs to place them on the couch in the living room; then, they removed the desk and replaced it with her sewing machine. She was so happy... But she was also old and weak and died shortly after. Uncle Tom would clean it up every three months and take very good care of it – of the whole room, really. Everything in that tiny part of the house reminded him of her and he refused to let it fall apart. When I arrived with CK, Locke and Lee, and stepped foot inside the house, the sewing room was the first room I entered. It looked as clean as ever, and the machine looked brand new. So, I took it upon myself to keep giving it the attention it deserves, just like my uncle used to do. However, I would soon see myself passing it down to a new owner, who would use it properly. And she was sitting in front of it, with the door directly to her left, distractedly working. I leaned against the door frame and waited for her to notice my presence; it only took her a few moments to do so.

"Oh hey, Ella! 'Sup?"

Kayla Cho. A skilled tailor who used to have her own shop until the outbreak hit. Will be able to fix any piece of clothing or make a new one for whoever asks. Has a liking to personal touched and client-chosen details to make each piece special. Clever and quick-witted, but a great listener and an overall chill girl.

"Nothing new, really. Just checking up on everybody."

"Bored, huh?"

"In a way, yeah, I guess..."

Kayla would always notice when someone's not telling the whole truth. A sixth sense of sorts, I suppose.

"What are you working on?" I approached her.

"A vest for Sam that Lee asked for. Once I'm done he'll be able to help around like the good boy he is", Kayla chuckled and continued adding things to the vest.

Kayla joined us about two years after the first four members settled down in Eaglecreek. Diego, Locke, Erica and I had set out in the morning and we were heading for the city CK and I once lived in. It had also been over two years since the outbreak, so we figured it would be quiet. I could feel a weird tension between us in the truck, but I chose not to pay much attention to it; it was probably because of where we were going. We followed a road that ended up connecting to the main one in the outskirts of the city. Everything was empty, gloomy and drowned in silence. Well, in exception, that is, to the random madmen we of course had to run into; just when you think they're gone for good, they make sure to remind you that you're wrong.

"Do you think we'll find anything?" Diego walked by my side as we strolled around the city. "Or rather, are you hoping to find something here?"

His question lodged itself in the back of my mind, and ate at it. I'm not blaming Diego for asking me that, I would never; I know he doesn't mean any harm. However, my own mind had become a far worse foe than any madman. No, I didn't think we'd find anything. No, I wasn't hoping to find anything. Every landscape was littered only with destruction, empty shells of what were once people, and shadows of their lives. It was our reality, and we had all come to accept it. But sometimes... sometimes you miss something so much it becomes unbearable. You see it everywhere and, when you don't, you start searching for it. Even in places you know better than anyone you won't find jack. And when, if, you do find something, whatever it may be, whosever form it may take on, you take refuge in it. And, sometimes, it works. It works and it eases your restlessness, until you don't find yourself thinking about it anymore.

I took my time to think and in-between a deep breath and a sigh, I finally answered my friend with a raw and simple, "No." He didn't ask me anything else.

I think he understood. We all offer people silence when we see them in pain, or when a certain topic or situation is clearly overwhelming for them. We learn to let people cope and just be there in case they need a shoulder, or a hand, or a pair of ears. And Diego knew that.

We were walking around, often loosely checking buildings to see if they're worth looting, when Erica suddenly screamed. It wasn't loud, but it definitely startled us. When the three of us turned around, a black-haired girl had a pump shotgun just like Locke's pointed at us, with both arms and the gun around Erica's neck so she couldn't move.

"Drop any meds that you have, any food, ammo, everything! Now!"

"Are you sure you alone can carry everything the four of us have?" Erica provoked her.

"You shut up!" The girl shook Erica; she looked so nervous yet so steady.

"I'm sorry, but we can't just give you everything we have", I began as the boys pointed each of their guns at her. "We can share some with you, but you have to let go of our chef and put the gun down. Nobody needs to die here today."

"Chef...?" Her gaze became unfocused as she realised who she was holding. "Erica?" A simple nod and a sound of confirmation freed Erica from her grip and she turned around to face her. Everyone holstered their weapons. "I can't believe I didn't recognize you! I-I'm so sorry! I thought I'd never see you again", she pulled the ginger into a tight hug. "When the outbreak hit, I... I thought... I thought I lost you!" She pulled away and started explaining her story, "When that client turned on me in my own shop, I ran out the back door. I tried looking for you, but it was all in vain. I couldn't find you. I couldn't find you anywhere, so I... I assumed the worst... And to see that you're still alive and well... Erica, I missed you so much!"

"Hey, what's wrong? You were never the emotional type, Kayla", Erica chuckled.

"Are we ever gonna stop bringing people home?" Diego smiled at me.

"Hey, at least nobody got shot. Plus, who couldever separate such a cute pair?", I smiled back.