Surviving

Chapter 20

It turned out that everybody stayed on the first floor, as well as food and supplies. The second level was unsafe, so nobody occupied it. And, surprisingly, as long as new comers weren't threatening, everybody was open to them.

"I think you should meet someone," Roland said. He led me over to a small group of girls playing a card game. "Melody, come here for a sec."

A girl with frizzy brown French braids popped up from her sitting position. She smiled with perfectly straight teeth, her bright green eyes seeming to smile as well.

"What's up?" she asked.

"I want you to meet somebody who might be joining us. Melody, this is Adira," he said, gesturing towards me. "Adira, this is my twin sister, Melody."

"Nice to meet you, Adira. I hope you do join our group, it would be nice to get to know somebody new." She smiled.

"Thanks. It's nice to meet you, too." I returned the smile. I kept feeling better and better about these people.

We kept going, but once the "tour" was complete I realized there were no adults. Despite this, everything seemed to be running smoothly.

"Where are all of the adults?" I asked, perplexed.

"There aren't any. Everybody in this group came together when their parents died seeking safety. Ever since we have figured out how to survive on our own." I looked at him, but his eyes seemed distant, as if his mind were somewhere else.

"There is something I should probably tell you." I took a deep breath, hoping he wouldn't act badly to what I was about to say. "I have a little brother. He's only four, but is pretty smart."

After a moment of thinking, Roland replied, "Why didn't you tell me before?"

"I wasn't sure if I could trust you. You were just some guy following me in the woods. I wasn't about to put my little brother at risk. He's all I have."

"I guess that's understandable. I wouldn't want to tell some stranger about my sister." He smiled reassuringly. "And when can I meet this little brother? I assume that since you told me about him you trust me now."

"As soon as we become a part of this group. And when can that happen?" As soon as you're ready. I don't think there will be any objections to that. When will you be ready?" He raised an eyebrow.

"I'm ready now. The sooner we become a part of this group the safer we'll be."

"Well, I can help you two move today." His smile grew just the faintest amount.

After speaking with a few other people, it was agreed that Roland would help Billy and I "move" here. Nobody seemed to mind the fact that I had a younger brother, and some of the little kids were excited about making a new friend.

Roland and I silently made the long trek back to the cabin. Gladly, we didn't run into any zombies- or corpses, as they called them- on the way there.

We arrived at the cabin, and I went up to the door to know. Three hard and slow, two soft and quick, and a final three hard and slow. I opened the door slowly, half expecting to see Billy come running at me with a gun in hand. Surprisingly, he wasn't in the living room or kitchen waiting for me.

"Hey Billy?" I called, looking around. I heard footsteps coming from upstairs and saw him at the top of the stairs, holding a toy truck.

"Staying here without you is boring." He frowned. "I think you leaving is stupid."

"Well, excuse me. I didn't know you'd become such an expert at sass." I raised my eyebrows playfully. "Would you like it if you got to hang out with some other kids more?"

"Yes."

"Then you should come meet somebody. He's gonna help us pack our stuff up so we can go hang out with some other kids."

Roland joined me at the bottom of the stairs and smiled at Billy.

"Hi, what's your name? I'm Roland," he said.

"I'm Billy." He smiled right back.

"Let's get to work." I went upstairs with Roland at my heels.

I packed all of my stuff and supplies while Roland helped Billy get his stuff together. I ended up taking the gun back from Billy, sticking it in my back pocket since there was nowhere else to put it.

Once everything was packed we left the small cabin, along with all other reminders of my dad except for his hat and my knife. It felt like a small burden being lifted off my chest.

We made our way back to the warehouse, Roland and I carrying bags of stuff and Billy a backpack with his trucks in it. This was going to turn out pretty well. At least, for awhile.