WHEN THE DEAD COME KNOCKING

Morning Patrol.

Hushed voices and rustling sounds wake me out of my dreamless slumber. Rolling over in my sleeping bag I spot Michael and Jane trying to sneak out of the room. 

"Do you guys make this much noise on purpose or just to screw with me?" I grumble at them. 

"Sorry Tric, I got caught on my sleeping bag." Michael responds impishly, giving me a half smile. 

I sit up and rub my face, looking around our bare room like a dazed deer in headlights. Jane finds it amusing as ever. "How is it possible to be this much of a non morning person?" she laughs "Come on, lets get breakfast together before you are off on your patrol." 

I look Jane up and down with mild disgust, even though this woman has grown to be like family to me over the last couple of years. Mousy blond hair that she always wears in a messy bun atop her head, scar going over her lip and ends just beneath her left eye, which contorts her face when she smiles, but it doesn't take away from her beautiful face and ridiculously straight teeth.

"Quite easily." I respond and get up stretching out my sore muscles.

"Tric your stomach." Jane says covering her mouth. 

I look down at my stomach that is showing beneath the t shirt and see a nasty bruise that is going purple. Must have been when Mark kicked me there yesterday during sparing session. 

No wonder I feel sore. 

"It looks much worse than it is." I shrug off Jane's worry, "Go ahead, I'll catch up in a sec." I wave them off. 

When they finally leave I make my way into a communal bathroom and to my delight it is empty. Probably because everyone is eating breakfast and if you don't hurry up there will nothing left. My inner voice reminds me, but today I can not bring myself to hurry. My body is tired and my mind is full of yesterday's memories. I wash my face with some cold water and look at my drenched face in the mirror. I know that the person looking back at me is in fact me, but at the same time i have no idea who this girl is. My messy brown curls are all over my face. Putting my hair in a pony tail, I take my face in, I've never considered myself to be anything but rather average...freckled face, green eyes and messy curls, doesn't help that now I also have a scar that goes across my eyebrow thanks to some metal fence and frantic attempt to get through it. Feeling thoroughly fed up with myself and my insistence on being miserable today, I head to the communal dinning room to see if there are any scraps left. 

Walking through the doors of what used to a school lunch room, I see that line for food is now down to just two people. So my chances of a meal are non existent. My thought is punctuated by my stomach rumbling. 

"Tric, over here." I hear Jane calling me over. I can see a spare bowl of porridge next to her. 

"How did you manage to get my portion?" I ask bemused by food in front of me. 

"Matt is on the dishing out duty today and I told him that you were running late for your patrol." Jane says with a kind smile. 

Looking back at the kitchen, I spot my brother Matt working the line. He meets my eyes and sends me a quick smile, I nod at him in appreciation and dig into my food before it becomes even colder. 

How I would love to have a hot bacon sandwich about now and a decent cup of coffee instead of this gruel. Is all I can think as cold porridge hits the back of my throat. 

"Ooh someone is a great mood today. What's up partner?" Jeremy my patrol partner asks sitting down next to me. 

"Can a girl eat her breakfast punishment in peace?" I answer with a mouthful. 

"She is all bruised and sour after yesterday." Jane says shamelessly as if I'm not there. I just roll my eyes and finish up my food. 

"Tric, you know it wasn't your fault. There is absolutely nothing we could have done to help that family and it would have done no good to get ourselves killed in the process. We have people here who rely on us for protection and sustenance. If we go gallivanting and rescuing every person who gives us a puppy-eyed look, then soon enough we will have nothing left to fight for." Jeremy says, his voice full of conviction.

"Yeah I've heard all this before. Doesn't get easier to let people die though." I get up and carry my bowl and cup to be washed. 

Leaving the dinning hall, I head back up to my room, that I share with Jane. Thankfully status of a hunter allows for some perks, like sharing room with only one other person and not dozens of us crammed into a classroom with only some makeshift curtains for privacy. Jane being our settlements' doctor is accorded equal perks as me and in all fairness there is no one else I'd rather share a room with. Gathering some of my gear, I quickly get dressed and make sure that my armour is in place and wont come off unless I want it too, especially my arm, leg and chest guards. 

Once I am done, I make my way in to the courtyard to meet Jeremy and head out for our morning patrol of the area, which means we are bait for any stray breathers and it is up to us to make sure, that their population isn't too big around the settlement. In addition to that, we are scouts and hunters, constantly on search for useful materials, food sources and animal hunting for everyone's dinner. 

I find Jeremy in the armoury, sorting his bat out and fixing his bow over his back. 

"Thought you fell back asleep." He teases, I just shove him a little and collect my make shift swards, bow and hunting knife.  Smithy is a man in his 50's called Jason. As men go, he is one of those friendly giants, but damn good at what he does and we are lucky to have him. Jeremy and I saved Jason and his daughter Emily about a year ago now and they both have become irreplaceable part of our little community. 

"Got all you need Tric?" Jason walks over and checks straps on my gear. 

"Yeah everything seems in order." I try to give him a weak smile despite how I feel and of course he smiles right back. 

"You be careful out there, seen earlier patrol comeback worse for wear." He looks at me knowingly. 

"Any bitten?" I ask just in case. 

"Not that I saw." Jason pats me on a shoulder and walks away to inspect someone elses equipment.

"Ready?" I ask Jeremy and head for the gates. Soon he catches up to me and matches my stride and together we make our way out of the safety of our walls and sentries posted on them.
Somehow air feels lighter beyond the walls of our community, yet I am no fool to start pondering that notion, we have a job to do and I need to keep my wits about me.

15 minutes of a light run and we come up on first cluster of breathers.

"After you." Jeremy says with a mock bow.

"What a gentleman." I reply, pulling my swords out.

Didn't stay clean for long. Is all i think, before my concentration is taken up by a breather on the end of my weapon.