Arrow

Chapter Fifteen: Brothers

"My name is Shaun" He announced as he took a step towards Arden, both his hands out in surrender "We do not want your weapons, we are simply passing through"

Arden remained in place "From where?"

"From the woods in Listhen" He answered "We needed meat. It has the best quality"

I remembered Coby speaking about it, about his father hunting there. There was truth to Shaun's words.

Arden hesitated for a moment, and then, he dropped his weapon to his side. We were suddenly unsure if we were to remain in place. My finger was aching.

"I'm Arden"

Shaun walked towards him, steady but cautiously with an out held hand.

We waited, unsure if this were the beginning of a trick, a callous well-planned diversion.

Arden took a moment, but shook the man's hand, tight and macho. He then turned to us and nodded, lifting his hand before placing it down. That was the sign. Slowly, we released our weapons and took a sigh of relief.

"May I ask to where you are headed?" Shaun dove

"Survival camp, Canada" Arden answered

"It's a fair distance away" Shaun raised an eyebrow as some of us stood, stretching our tense muscles back out.

I myself, kept my eyes firmly on Shaun, firmly on the vehicles in waiting. It wasn't safe, not just yet.

"We have a camp not too far from here, if you and your men and women are interested, you may join us, we have food, water, a place for sleep" Shaun offered, his voice sincere

Arden turned his head slightly, his eyes meeting mine and only mine "Arrow?"

I froze, staring back at him. He was leaving the choice to me, either as punishment for my call-out on him, or as an 'okay, I finally trust you now' acknowledgement.

I nodded, that was all I could respond with.

"We would appreciate it" Arden turned back to Shaun with a shallow smile

-

Once Arden and Shaun had agreed on being allies we had all packed into their pick-ups and driven towards his camp.

Now, to say that Shaun had a camp would be an understatement. There were about a hundred and something people in his camp, women, children, men, all strong, all survivors. Shaun had cordoned off an abandoned prison, about half an hour from where we had been picked up. A town that had once been called Marlon, population: 6,123, now: 134, according to Shaun. He was army, as suspected; he and a few of his other men had been in charge of the others since the outbreak. He was hesitant on revealing too much of his past, which was understandable, but gave us as much information as we wished to know of. Marlon Prison had been barricaded tightly shut; all entries and exits were monitored. Guards stood at the entrance, weapons in hand as they pressed a button and allowed us entry, a strong metal gate sliding open.
We were now imprisoned.

It seemed as though we had fallen into the right hands, and I was incredibly proud of the outcome I had ultimately made.

We were all ushered through halls and gates into the main prison unit, two stories of cages. It was a large open space, a space that was crawling with people. Tables sat at the back of the room, food of all sorts prepared and waiting. A large drink dispenser sat beside it, full to the top of fresh water.

The air was crisp, fine and I could finally feel myself relax.

"This is where most of the citizens spend their time" Shaun informed us as he stood in front of the group, almost giving us a tour "This is where most of you will spend your time, each family has a cell, or, a room, this is where you will sleep. I know it isn't exactly comfortable or ideal, but it is safe, it is guarded" He told us. I took careful notice of how he had said 'most' of us would be sleeping here, why was it not all?