The Arising: Our Community

Chapter 8

GABRIELLA

Hunter and I was about to walk off again when Paul quickly said "Wait! Let me come with you! Please there's nothing out here for me. I've got no one. You guys look pretty clean. Do you have a community or something?"

Hunter and I looked at each other.

"Pack up your stuff and follow us. We are searching the area for someone. If you help us we will consider you joining us, but first we will have to see if you aren't just another prick" I said.

"Yes I understand" Paul said stuffing all of his stuff into his small bag.

He put the bag on and started following us as we searched around. We searched through houses finding only mouldy food and junk. Paul looked confused. He looked like he wanted to say something but he wasn't saying anything.

"Is there something on your mind" I said.

"Yeah. Who exactly are we looking for?" Paul asked.

It went silent. Paul looked at both of us waiting for a response. I was about to say something but then Hunter started talking.

"We are looking for my husband. He was left out here to die by a jealous, dick head. He's our leader as well. He's been lost for at least four days or so" Hunter said.

"I'm sorry to hear that. But can I ask a personal question?" Paul said.

Hunter nodded slowly.

"How old are you?" Paul asked.

"I'm sixteen, and yes I'm married, and pregnant. My husband is a fifteen year old" Hunter said.

"Damn. You guys are young. He must be a great leader. I mean he's fifteen and he's kept you alive this long?" Paul said.

"He has. He's the strongest guy I know, both physically and emotionally. He never gives up. No matter what. He never gives up on us either" Hunter said.

I nodded.

"He sounds like a good man. You are lucky to have him" Paul said.

"Thank you" Hunter said quietly.

Hunter's stomach was becoming much larger. Soon she's going to have to stay behind. I don't even know how she keeps going now. Her baby will be coming soon and so will Ana's.

We continued searching through houses finding no trace of Sam. Every Kilometre we moved I marked on the map. Most of the side of our map was finished. I wonder how the others are going. Hunter started to look more and more desperate to find Sam.

"If we don't find him. He will make his way back. I know he will" I said trying to reassure Hunter that everything will be alright.

She didn't answer. She continued to look all around her endlessly, she never stopped turning her head to look at something. I took out our map and marked where we have looked.

"I think we should head north a little and head out more" I said.

We all walked to the next road heading north and turned off. As we walked down the road I saw a burnt down house. Hunter and Paul both looked at it as well. We all walked up to it and looked at the house.

"This was the work of The New Order" Paul said.

"Why did they do this" Hunter said.

"Because they think other survivors are all a threat to them. So when ever they find a community they would burn it down to kill everyone inside of it. Then they would mark there symbol on the house so then everyone knows who they are" Paul said.

We all looked at it for a while then Hunter turned around and started to walk down the road again. I followed behind her and so did Paul. I looked at the burnt down community again but saw something laying on the ground. It was a little girl. Burnt down to crisp.

"Oh my god" I said covering my mouth.

I stopped in my tracks and looked at the little girls body completely black. A tear ran down my face. Paul and Hunter walked over to me to see what I was looking at. Hunter looked shocked but Paul didn't so much.

"See. That's who they are. They don't care about anyone, but themselves. No matter what they would kill them" Paul said.

I took off my jumper and walked over to the body. I got on my knees. The little girl's eyes opened and she slowly tried to reach for me. The Walker was tired and looked like it hasn't eaten flesh in a while. It's moans were quite and timid. The little girl grabbed my arm but was to weak to do anything. I put my jacket over her and took out my knife. I slowly put the knife through her brain. I then stood up and walked back to Hunter and Paul.

"I think we should head back now. I'm sure the others found something" I said.

"We have to keep looking" Hunter said.

"Hunter. We need to get you home. Sam is a fighter he would be out here. I know he's still alive. So either he will find us or we will find him tomorrow. We need to get home" I said.

Hunter looked sad and then slowly looked at me.

"Fine" Hunter said turning around to head back home.

I quickly followed behind her and so did Paul. It was another long walk back. But once we made it Cooper opened the gate for us. Paul looked very surprised as we walked inside. Everyone came running up to us to see if we found him. But we didn't. Megan ran up to Hunter and hugged her while crying. I kept walking. I walked up to the cells and put my hands on the bars of Jeremy's cell.

"You tell me where he is right fucking now!" I yelled.

Jeremy didn't say anything, he just stared at me and laughed. I took the cell door keys out of my pocket and opened it. I ran in and grabbed Jeremy. I grabbed his hand and pushed him against the wall.

"How would you feel? If you had a pregnant wife and a kid not knowing where you were!? How would you feel!?" I yelled.

"I've already felt it. I already know what it feels like. But I don't care. I've changed. I know the right way now. So I don't care if they don't know where he is" Jeremy said spitting on my shoes.

I kicked him in the stomach. I kicked him again and again, and again, and again, until his voice was crackly. He breathed in and out in pain. I then kicked him in the face and walked out. I closed the cell door and locked it. I was about to walk away when I heard a bang on Lauren's cell door.

"Hey! I would like to help! I want to help look for Sam. He saved my life, I want to save his again" Lauren said holding the cell bars.

"You will never get out of that cell" I said walking away.

I saw Hunter running over to me.

"Gabriella! There not back yet. Audrey, Tyler and Luke aren't back yet!" Hunter said.