THE RUINS

Chapter 5: The Celebration

Sarah stood at the bar sipping her vodka, Joseph had never been a fan of booze yet she didn't object to a drink for special occasions. She hadn't seen much of Joseph since he left for the fight but when she did see him he was...different. Almost as if something had broken in him. It had been a day since the fight and the entire compound was lit up with celebration. There were lights, music, drinks, it almost seemed like Albert never existed. Sarah was reminded of the way life used to be, she smiled as she finished her drink and got up to look for her husband. "'Joey!" She cried, "Joey honey I wanna dance where are you?"

"You're not gonna find him girl" said Rebecca, she and her husband mark had always been good friends of Joseph and Sarah even before the war. So Sarah sat with her friend. "You missing your man too? Whatever shall we do!" She said sarcastically as they both laughed heartily. "So when's the baby due?" Sarah asked, "Only another 3 months to go, Marky and I have been counting down the days! Anyway nevermind that, apparently there's another Rebecca in town now, I got some competition." She chuckled. "'What do you mean?" Sarah replied, " Well, yesterday, Mark told me that he overheard that Harry boy talking to a young girl, said her name was Becks, said he'd never seen her before."

"Rebecca that's ridiculous she can't be new, it's hell out there with the remnants and ghouls wandering around, how could someone just walk in?" Sarah seemed intrigued. "Why don't you go ask her yourself sar' she's standing over there." Rebecca gestured to a pretty brunette girl with bright green eyes standing alone in the corner. Sarah fixed her hair and began to walk over to her.

"Hi honey, I'm Sarah Hollowfield, I run electricity here, I don't believe we've met before." The girl lifted her head up to face Sarah, she was crying.
"Sorry I don't mean to be this way I'm just thinking of someone.. my name's Rebecca or Becks as my friends called me." Sarah placed herself next to the girl, "well it's lovely to meet you Becks, if you don't mind me asking, are you new here I swear I've never seen you round here before."
"I guess you could say I'm new.. I got here a week ago, I out ran a horde of remnants.." Sarah then asked something she wish she didn't, "where's your family?"

The girl began sobbing.

"They're why I escaped the horde...I'm alone now."
Sarah immediately embraced the girl, thinking of Harry, who had also lost his family. "I'm so sorry dear, well all are welcome In this country, welcome to the new world." She managed to get a smile out of the child.

"'Sarah! Come here please." It was Joseph...but something was off...he was drunk. "Joey I've been looking all over for you, where have you been?"
"I uhh... I was taking a walk trying to clear my head yano? Say, who was that you were talking to?" He asked.
"This new girl, Becks, poor thing she's all alone..why?" Joseph stumbled before regaining his posture and replying with "No reason, just wondering.." 
Something was off with him, Sarah could often tell when something was vexing him. So she sat him down and asked him "Joey, what's up? You haven't been yourself, you should be happy, we've won."

"I know honey, I am happy but...I can't stop thinking of the kid, he was so brave, so loyal, so young. Yet he died in agony covered in his own blood...it just doesn't seem right. Then there's the crooked guy, who the hell is he? I haven't seen him at all today have you?" He sighed and got up " I'm gonna go head home, check on the kids. I'll see you when you get home, I love you." He gave Sarah a gentle kiss and went on his way.

"Love you too.. " she said as she watched him leave.

A few hours went by as Sarah and her friends made merry, when she realised the time however she rushed to get home. On her way out she noticed Robert sitting at a small table outside, he was crying.

Roberts wife, Audrey was the woman who had taken Harry in when he had no one, when she died Robert found it difficult to get through that rough patch but it was Harry that saved him, with both of them now dead he was alone. Sarah started to move over towards him. "Don't" he said quietly. "Just...just fucking don't." Sarah stopped in her tracks and without saying a word, began to walk home.

Passing the town hall, she noticed Monty sitting outside with the group that he had brought in, they were having a few drinks and laughing, yet no sign of the crooked man. Monty had a large bruise covering his left eye, and his arm was in a sling. No doubt injuries suffered during the battle. Sarah walked over to say hi to the boys. "Hey fellas, partying away from everyone else I see?" They laughed and nodded. "Say.." she continued, "where's your boss? Shouldn't he be celebrating he basically runs this place now." Their laughter quickly faded.

"Victors uhh...never been one for parties. He's in his office."

Victor..that was the crooked man's name..huh. He didn't much look like a Victor, more an Andy or a Zach Sarah thought, but at least now she knew his name. She congratulated the men and thanked them for their service yesterday before continuing her long walk.

As she walked along the bridge looking over the water she took a moment to think. She thought of the way life was, of how it was unheard of to celebrate and party. The citizens never had a reason to celebrate. Sarah missed it. She missed her life. She missed listening to music, going to the cinema to watch the latest horror movie, she could hear her favourite song repeating in her head as she dreamt. Sarah had always been a bit of a rock n roll fan ever since her youth so as she walked she sang in her head "I'm on my way, just set me free...home sweet home." A smile crept along her face, she was happier than she had been for over a decade.

She finally made it to her front door, however as she reached out to grab the handle a sharp pain surged through her skull, so powerful that she fell to the ground, in her confusion she made out a voice...very soft...whispering "don't let him fool you..." Sarah blacked out. When she awoke she was in her bed with Joseph looking over her. "Oh thank the Lord you're alright, I was so worried I sent Christopher to get Isaac he said he couldn't figure out what happened but you don't need to-"

"No Joey I'm fine just a bad migraine that's all, think I've had a little too much to drink. I just need to rest, tell Isaac to leave, last thing I need is a doctor." She gave a faint smile and gently stroked her husband's cheek.
"Well alright, I'll tell him, You get some rest honeybear, I love you."
"I love you too babe but please don't call me that we aren't 12 anymore." They both chuckled at her snarky remark. Sarah decided it was best to forget about the voice that she had heard, she was probably just confused and Joey didn't need anymore stress. Joseph turned to leave.

In the kitchen Joseph sat pouring himself a glass of water. He had just  sat down at the table when he also felt a pain rocket through his brain. However it was followed by a bright blinding white light. He heard a deep, intimidating voice utter the words "not...human..." over and over again, getting fainter each time "not...human...not...human...not-"

Silence fell upon the room.

The light vanished.

Joseph just sat there... in shock.
"I think I need to get some rest too..." he said, exiting the kitchen. The minds a funny thing, it can play tricks when least expected, Joseph thought that's all it was. A simple illusion of the mind. Nothing more.