The Aftermath

Chapter Two: She's Not Ready

I zip up her puffer coat, brushing dry dirt off of the padded shoulders. I try to read her expression, but she wasn't giving much away. She turns her head away from me every time we make eye contact, and she hasn't uttered a single word since she woke up this morning.

"Everything's going to be okay, we won't let you get hurt"

I tell her softly, knowing that all I can do now is protect her. She looks at me for the first time this morning. It was clear that she had been crying, her eyes are red and puffy. I pull her body towards my chest, wrapping my arms tightly around her.

"Why are you taking me with you all of a sudden?"

Her voice croaks. I rummage around in my backpack for my water bottle for her to drink. She accepts it gratefully, even though it's almost empty, and drinks every last drop.

"You know Ezra's the one who decided this, Carley. He didn't ask me or anyone else what we thought was best"

I tell her, matter of factly. I didn't want to get into the discussion of it, since I didn't really know how or why Ezra had decided this.

"Does he want to get rid of me?"

She whispers, tears building in her eyes. I open my mouth to answer, but I'm cut off by someone else entering the room.

"No, Carley, I want the opposite actually"

Ezra walks towards us. I stand up beside Carley, taking her hand in mine. Ezra's dressed in his full hunting gear, bearing a stained carving knife in one of his hands.

"Why can't I just stay here and read the rest of my book?"

Carley pleads, tears beginning to roll down her face. Ezra doesn't even look at her, he keeps his eyes fixed straight ahead of him.

"Because reading, alone, isn't going to help you survive"

He tells her sternly, walking past us and towards the window. I scowl at him, wondering how he could he be so heartless. Carley hasn't had any proper training she definitely wasn't ready to go on a mission.

"Reading doesn't help you survive at all"

Marc scoffs, standing in the corner of the room, chewing on an apple. He spits out a seed without breaking eye contact, and grins at us menacingly. I roll my eyes, standing intentionally between him and Carley.

"You ready?"

I ask her cheerfully, zipping up my own jacket. It wasn't as padded or as warm as hers, but it was black and soft and had very little blood stains, which is always a bonus for clothes these days.

"I don't think I'll ever be ready"

I take her hand once again and lead her straight past Ezra and out of the door. We walk along the dimly lit hallway and towards the bases weaponry, where the other few were getting ready. Carley shudders as we enter, overwhelmed by all of the weapons displayed along the walls. I stroke her hand gently to let her know that it was okay, and that there was nothing to be afraid of.

"Hey there little one, what are you doing in here?"

I'd recognise that thick Australian accent anywhere. I turn around to see Felix, running his hand through his long, blond hair, smiling warmly at Carley. He has on a very tight fitted t-shirt, which is typical Felix fashion, and a pair of grimy shorts that are covered in everything imaginable. I wince at the stench, but manage to ignore it. Felix was the fourth person to join our group, and since meeting him has always felt like the older brother I never had. He's constantly taking risks that we urge him not to, yet they always work out in his favour. Saying he's an asset to our group is an understatement, because without Felix we definitely wouldn't have gotten this far.

"Carleys joining us on the hunt today"

I tell him, trying to sound excited so that maybe she would be too. She nods half heartedly, keeping her head held down.

"Ah, don't worry girlie, we'll all protect you! Right Sebby?"

He nudges Sebastian roughly in the ribcage and lets out a booming laugh. Sebastian cowers away from him, cradling his side. Sebastians wardrobe tends to be a bit more complicated. He's always in a white shirt and v-neck jumper, as if the apocalypse had a high school dress code. He also never leaves anywhere without a tie, either around his neck or stuffed into his trouser pocket, which I always thought was strange. He keeps himself to himself most of the time, and only joins in on discussions when thoroughly prompted. He's really timid, and pretty much does whatever he's asked to. He's helpful of course, but I'd kind of like to know more about him and who he was before all of this. One day, maybe.

"Good old Sebby here is as useful as they get, he'll make sure no harm comes to you little one"

Sebastian grunts in response, focused more on the lose thread on his burgundy jumper than on what Felix was saying about him.

"What weapon is she taking?"

Claudia asks blatantly, stood tall behind the desk. She's wearing her usual outfit; a patterned top, khaki shorts and a matching khaki jacket, and the tattered brown boots that have walked her all over the world. That's the only thing you'll catch Claudia wearing, unless you get to see her in her sleep wear. She has her thick, curly hair down today, held out of her face by a headband. Claudia is one of the oldest people in our group, but she's tougher than anyone else I've ever met. She's who I most want to be like when I grow up- if I grow up.

"Give her... an axe, a small one... if you have it"

I say hesitantly, observing the mere size of her feeble hands and boney arms.

"I can't carry an axe!"

She argues, and she's right, but there are no other weapons she can use. Knives are too sharp and dangerous, bats are too heavy, and Carley can't shoot a gun.

"It's the same bloody size of her! Let her have a hand gun like her cool uncle Felix"

Felix smiles, showing off his own gun by spinning it on his index finger.

"Felix... she can't shoot"

I murmur to him quietly, trying to prevent everyone else from hearing, but they all hear. The room shifts into an uncomfortable silence. Carley notices the change in tone.

"I... I told Ezra she... she wasn't ready"

I continue, trying to explain myself to everyone else. Carley begins to tremble in my hands. I hear her whimper softly, covering her face with her coat sleeves. She's afraid, no she's more than afraid, she's terrified.

"She is ready!"

Ezra shouts into the room, stomping his foot down, like a toddler having a tantrum. Carley cries louder, squeezing my hands tighter. I try to keep her quiet by telling her that everything is okay, but she doesn't listen to me.

"Ezra, mate-"

Felix tries, but is cut off by Ezra's angry glare. He backs away with his hands held comedically in the air beside his head.

"Am I going to die?"

Carley cries aloud, tears staining her red puffy cheeks. I look around for help, but everyone has their eyes fixated somewhere else in the room. I grab Claudia's attention, and silently beg her for help.

"No sweetness, we're going to make sure you're okay"

Claudia comforts her, managing to lift her out of my grip. She holds her in her large arms and hushes her until she begins to settle. I let out a quiet sign of relief and give Claudia a beyond grateful smile.

"Let's move out"

Ezra says finally, walking straight out of the door without another word.

We all give each other the same look before following after him.