The Ruins Part 2 (Sequel to The Ruins)

Chapter 29

Mal scuffed the heel of her boot impatiently against the wood of Mayor Gregory's front porch as she waited for her turn to be interviewed by Fairview's mayor. The kids, Lugh, Lalon had already come and gone, and Vix, being first, had explained what would happen. Gregory would record them, ask them questions about their lives, how they'd gotten here, the things they'd done. Ridiculously, Mal felt like when Charlie interviewed her. She knew he and the place is trouble, and she will never make that mistake again.

After Vix had come out and given her approval, they'd been asked to hand over their weapons. "Just within the walls, we have an armory. They'll be kept there, you'll be more than welcome to them whenever you go beyond the wall." Sam promised. Mal felt like a damn child, clinging tightly to the colts handle as the others unloaded their guns and knives onto a cart to be taken away to the armory. She noticed Max doing the same with his gun, discomfort swimming in his eyes.

"You will get them back," Tom reassured.

Mal placed the gun reverently atop the pile, giving up her gun with an uneasy look in her eyes.

-:-:-:-:-

"You're Melody, right?" A tall probably ten or so in senior years stood in the open doorway as Max stepped out of the house and walked down the porch steps. "It's Mal."

"Oh sorry, Mel. I'm Gregory. Come on in." She scoffs at the man. She could tell he's a man disrespecting women.

The inside of Gregory's house was jarringly picturesque. To Mal, it looked like a house in a magazine, even with the papers and books strewn across counters and coffee tables. Coffee tables. A kitchen with a refrigerator, a stove. Lamps and clean sofas, bookshelves filled with thick tomes. The house, much like everything inside the walls, looked utterly untouched by the chaos of the outside world. It made her wonder how untouched the people living inside were.

"Impressive" Mal muttered, "I guess living this nice place again must feel like the Black Night ever started."

"If it helps, neither was I," Gregory said from across the room. He was watching her as she took everything in, and when she turned to face him, he gestured toward an armchair. She shrugged and dumped herself into it, letting herself enjoy the simple wonders of comfortable seating while inspecting the man cautiously. Man, this was the most luxurious thing she'd come across in. It'd probably not be the most comfortable thing to sleep on than Neg- shut up, Mal. Don't you ever mention his goddamn name.

"Can't believe this place. It's like I'm looking through an image right now, you know that? Can't tell you the last time I've seen this- you've been living like this the whole time?"

"Yes. We were evacuated here by the military, at the beginning. We were told it was a safe zone, that people would be coming back for us when the crisis had been taken care of. Naturally, that never happened. It was until-"

"Charlie Marion or Charlie Pink-eye made these walls. There was a shopping mall that was under construction nearby. All these huge sheets of metal, just going to waste. He and his brother and a few Bounty Hunters were the architects, built it with the help of the community."

Gregory nodded, surprised to hear it from a young girl. "We did a lot many, but we try to regroup more, especially the Bounty Hunters helping us."

These people haven't been out there for awhile.

"Well, it's a hell of a nice place, I'll give you that. And you just invite people right in? Send out a couple guys to scout and then take in a whole pack of strangers? You don't think that could backfire on you somehow? Seems like you're opening yourselves up to attack."

"Are you and your group planning on attacking us?" His voice indicated that he didn't think that was a valid concern.

"No. Not unless this place is suspected in a crime of the KillGames."