Whatever It Takes: Mutations

Chapter Twenty-Four

Prepare for the Worst

October 4th, 5:13 pm

Current Location: Memphis, TN

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Amelia held the note in her hand as she was packing up her bag as Bryan suggested. She knew that she made it look like her parents were bad, but the truth of the matter was that they loved her with all of their hearts. They weren't rich, but they still got her most of the things they bought. They were both busy, but they still made time for her. Was it a mistake that they left her? Amelia had yet to find out. She met four absolutely amazing people, one of them she fell in love with, and he was definitely the person described in her father's letter. 

Still, Amelia missed them. She hoped that they were safe somewhere in Canada, as much as she was still angry with them. Amelia folded up the note and placed it in the bottom of her bag. The only thing she was thinking at the moment was how much she prayed that Bryan was wrong about all of this. If the camp were to be attacked very soon, she had zero confidence in her fighting, even after all the crap she went through before she got here. Sure, she could take down maybe a couple of jerks, but an entire Raider invasion? It seemed impossible to her.

Her door knocked, making the girl jump. Amelia quickly walked to the door and opened it, and Bryan and Evelyn stood at her door.

"Hey, we're finished packing," Bryan said with that small blush that she always found adorable. "How are things holding up here?"

Bryan looked as adorable as he ever would in times like this. She would never admit this, but Amelia wanted to feel those soft lips again. Every time she thought about the kiss, it made her feel lightheaded. But it also made her pretty worried, because that was also when Bryan really began to break down due to his anxiety. Amelia hoped that he was still taking the medicine he got.

"I'm doing fine," she answered. "I was almost done packing the food I had laid out."

"Cool," said Evelyn. "Need any help with it?"

She shrugged. "I don't really care. If you want, all I need is a couple of the water bottles from the fridge and a snack from the pantry."

Evelyn smiled and did as Amelia suggested. Bryan helped her make sure she had everything that Amelia would need without making the duffel bag too heavy. Soon enough, Amelia had her things ready to go in less than ten minutes.

The trio sat on the couch in silence, not really knowing what to do now. Amelia could tell that Bryan was deep in thought about something, so she brought it up.

"What's on your mind?"

He glanced at her with a nervous expression. "If it really goes down tonight, I want you guys to keep in mind that we may or may not make it through this. We all know that Raiders are killing machines, and-"

"Bryan, stop," Evelyn interrupted, causing him to look at her with a confused expression. "I know where you're getting at, but have a little optimism in this, okay? Like you said at lunch, if they arrive before Jeremy does, then we're fighting back until he does, right?"

Bryan hesitated, but before he could say anything, Amelia cut in. "She's right. We're with you until the end, alright? I don't care what the circumstances are."

"Guys, I said that I was going to fight back," he said, giving the two girls a bewildered face. "I didn't say anything about you two doing this."

"I don't care," said Amelia without any hesitation. "I want to be by your side, no matter what."

Bryan went quiet after that, and Amelia grabbed his hand and held with both of hers. "Listen, this is our safe place, remember? I say that we should get all of the people here to fight back."