Koalas (Kyle O'Shea)

Chapter 9

Several months passed and the three companions became a solid part of the group. They had each other's backs and got along with everyone.

Melody was still in the classroom as Sharon taught her lesson in the morning and did different duties together with Lily, Ruth, or someone else.

Kyle and Ian joined more raids and she got used to it. She was still scared for them but everyone, who went on the raid knew what to do and how to stay safe. Jared was a great leader and everyone listened to him.

This day was like any other. Melody joined Sharon earlier when she taught Jamie to look after the other two children in the cave. The fiery woman seemed to be in a good mood, what Jamie greatly appreciated. Even the food was a bit better today. The bread was still a bit warm and edible, not hard like stone.

The conversations were light and positive, like no one had to worry about anything. Everything was calm until Kyle came into the kitchen.

"There is something! It looks like a human and seems to be alone."

There was a slight uproar. Another human! Jeb silenced everyone with a loud shut up. Once everyone was quiet and listened to him he continued.

"Then we go and find the human. God knows how long they were walking around under the hot sun. Kyle, Trudy, Ian, and Lily, let's greet the human."

"Not so fast, Jebediah. I'm coming with you."

"Magnolia.." he sighed as his little sister looked at him with a determined scowl.

"Anyone else?", Jeb asked annoyed and two hands raised, Aaron and Heath.

"Ok, come on, let's not waste more time, and the rest of you work! I'm not running a wellness resort."

Everyone started to get going and left the kitchen. Melody waited a bit to quickly kiss Kyle before joining Wes in making themselves seem busy. Wes was a young man with dark skin, brown eyes and curly hair. He was younger than her. She guessed he was around twenty-three now. Everyone around him was in a good mood. He just had the ability to make everyone feel good and welcome, which was the reason Melody wondered why he didn't choose to go greet the new person coming to the caves.

The two ended up helping a few others making soap. They all got along with each other and Melody was happy to be part of this group.

Kyle couldn't believe his eyes. A damn body-snatcher this close to the cave! What if there were more? Were they even safe?

"Aunt Maggy! How are you here? Is Sharon.." the worm in the back of the woman's head said but was interrupted by the slap Maggy gave her. The alien fell down into the hot sand.

"Come on, Maggy" Jeb tried but to no avail.

"Don't Maggy me. It could lead a whole battalion of them to us!"

Everyone, or most of them, agreed with Maggy. They had to get rid of it one way or another before she told anyone about their location. None of them were found of violence or killing but they did what they had to do to ensure their own survival.

"Who even is that?" Aaron asked, disgusted.

"This used to be our niece Melanie." Maggy told them.

All of them felt bad immediately, even Kyle, as they thought about poor little Jamie, who missed his sister more than anything or Jared, who was heartbroken over the loss of Melanie.

"Not anymore, Jeb."

Kyle held up a machete he found on one of the last raids and claimed as his. He was about to swing it until he heard the click of Jeb's shotgun. The humans looked at Jeb shocked.