The Survivors

Left, Right, or Middle

You have chosen: Group 2

I took one last look at the three different groups I decided to go with the pessimist and optimist men. They seemed like the only group I could deal with.

The first group, well, the woman seemed a tad bit out of it. She was loud and, though I would never say it aloud, annoying as shit. The third group gave me some weird ass vibes, and the veteran man scared me half too hell. He- and his daughter- looked like they could and would kill me the first chance they got. On second thought, maybe I shouldn't have left Beth and Jeremy to Abby and Grandpa Killer's mercy. (She didn't tell me his name.) (Maybe his name is Killer, but that's also his group?)

I made my way back over to Charlie and Paul, tripping over a few rocks that I swear weren't there beforehand, and caught Paul snickering at something while Charlie looked mildly concerned. I doubt that their reactions had anything to do with me tripping over rocks that weren't there five seconds earlier.

"So, I'm told that I can travel with you two?" I said, failing at my attempt to seem cool and keep confusion out of my tone.

Paul immediately wiped the smirk off his face, and replaced it with a look of true horror. I understand that he wouldn't want me in his group after seeing that little display, but he could at least hide it. Charlie seemed to be thinking that exact thing, since he hit his rude companion over the back of the head- which was more than a little funny. Paul even hissed like a cat!

"We'd be pleased to have you with us! Um, what did you say your, you know, role was again?" Charlie asked, casually wrapping his arms around Paul, presumably holding him back from jumping at me. Or they're gay and in a relationship. Either one makes sense.

"Ma'am?"

"Oh right. I'm an adventurer. Been camping since I was a little kid, you know?" I attempted to say casually, after my little episode of zoning out. Paul actually seemed a bit surprized by that. He probably thought that I'd kill myself camping. Or maybe he thought I had a heart attack and dies in front of his eyes, and he was waiting for me to keel over.

"Well, let's be on our way now. Since you're ever so skilled with the outdoors, how about you lead us to our deaths?" I don't think Paul was happy I was with them. Was he ever happy? I've only been around them for a few minutes, but I already felt his pessimism eating away at my mood.

Turning around to make sure  I wouldn't trip over any new rocks that somehow, magically, appeared next to my feet, I made eye contact with that woman from before. She looked terrified, glancing back at the grandfather and granddaughter, then back to be with betrayal in her eyes. I felt bad for her, feeling that maybe I should have gone with her and her child instead. She looked so scared of the other two.

But when I looked in the direction of the grandfather and grandchild, I didn't see hate in their eyes towards the mother and son, I saw what looked like disappointment in their eyes, like they knew that nobody would voluntarily go with them. Maybe I should have gone with them, leaving the mother and child, with the two men. But what if Paul found her so loud, so annoying, that he'd go as far as to kil her? Paul seemed like the type to do that.

Sending what I thought to be an apologetic look to both of their directions, I finally turned around and walked out of the building and towards the gates that haven't yet been barricaded off.

Charlie hopped up, like his life depended on it, while Paul used Charlie's arm to drag himself to his feet. With the two in tow, I lead the way on the peaceful, yet saddening, journey to the gates. The houses were left open and unbarred, gardens slowly turning brown, while the smell of people nearly disappeared altogether, leaving the scent of wallflowers for all those lucky enough to be there. Even Paul seemed remotely at peace during our walk.