The Sky Beneath Us (on hold)

FOURTEEN

Day 13. 15:35.

____________

Becca had stayed by Avery's bedside for a few hours. She told him how 'The Settlement' people had found their group a day after he, Chad and Wesley went missing, and brought them to safety. She explained how Mark was doing fine, and was even proud of his 'battle scars'. Pam and Sid had joined the security force of The Settlement, Sadie the makeshift 'hospital' and Becca herself the supply running group. From what Avery heard, The Settlement sounded like a working society. Before she left him, Becca informed him that she would give him a tour tomorrow, on the way to meet the village's Council. Avery slept then, the best damn sleep he'd had in what felt like an age.

Now he was awake, and ready to leave his room and see The Settlement for himself. He slowly pulled himself out of bed, sore and tender all over. He had gone through a crucible, and come out the better of it. He took back all of his previous thoughts of hopelessness and death. He was alive, and he was thankful. Not everyone got a second chance. Putting on a pair of boots he found sitting by the door, he went out into the unknown.

The first thing he saw was Sadie's hospital, a large 'building' beside him marked with a painted red cross. Chad and Wesley were both in there, being treated for their injuries. The place didn't smell half bad, and was a large open area with adjoining tunnels attached. Bright lights had been hung from the high ceiling above, casting The Settlement in a warm glow. Across from him, there was what appeared to be housing - patchy shacks both big and small. There was at least twenty, easily. A group of three people filed past carrying food and water - from the supermarket basement, no doubt. Avery wondered if his rescuers cleared the bodies away first.

Eve wasn't far away from him, dressed the same as she was the previous night and carrying a double barrel shotgun in her small, scarred hands. She was deep in conversation with Becca, whose face lit up when she saw Avery. Eve spoke first.

"Finally, you're awake. Your girlfriend here was missing you", she winked. Becca went red.

"I'm not his...Avery, ready to go?"

"Uh, yeah. Sure" he replied, smirking at Eve's snide remark as he passed.

They moved out of the housing area, to the left was the security office and a thick steel wall with only one entrance. A Hispanic man with cropped black hair sat on a footstool outside it, a lit cigarette perched in his mouth. He nodded at Avery, who returned the courtesy.

"That's Diego, one of the guys that rescued you", Becca informed him, "he's alright, I guess. You can thank him later".

"And the other guy? Rich?"

"Rich? Oh, Richard. Yeah, he's the head of security. You'll meet him soon".

They continued walking, past staring adult faces and four playing children. They entered a large open area that was laid out in a circle with a rough wooden podium in the centre.

"The meeting area" Becca told him, noticing his curious look, then pointing to the left "over there is the pantry".

"Got much food?" Avery asked, and his stomach gurgled as he did so. He had food last night, but he felt empty. He was essentially malnourished.

"A lot, but the food won't last forever. We're looking everywhere for some UV lights, y'know, grow our own. We have the seeds ready, but that wouldn't work down here, so we haven't even bothered trying".

They stopped outside a tunnel entrance that had been almost-perfectly converted into a shelter. A canvas entrance lay unsealed.

"Ok, last stop, the Council. They're gonna brief you about the Settlement, assign you a role. Ask a few questions, you know...about the last couple of days".