TWDG\\II-South State

TWENTY-SEVEN

Gabe
The woman noticeably walked slowly, as if she was taking enough time to analyse us from a distance. She seemed to be mid 40s, her black hair unneatly settled on her shoulders, wisps of grey accompanied it. Her clothes were surprisingly new, plaid shirt covered with a grey pask jacket. She carried a long axe as she did. Violet stopped, and I did too, as the woman walked closer towards us with a big grin on her face. It unsettled me.
"Who are you?" Violet  asked. She said it with thick attitude, snapping a little. The woman tilted her head to the side a little.
"Why, that's not very polite." She spoke. "Since this is practically my property; who are you?"
Violet and I shared a glance, before I turned my head back to her.
"What do you mean this is your property?" I asked, curious to hear that a misbundled woman owns a fucking highway.
"That's not for me to tell you strangers; now again, who are you people?" The woman asked, impatient. As I scanned her clothing more, I noticed a familiar walkie talkies strapped to a holester around her hip. All that clicked in my mind was; Somebody has the other one.
"I'm Violet." Clementine introduced. "And this is Gabe."
"Violet and Gabe." The woman repeated, and her smile returned across her face. She was some electric weirdo, that's for sure. "Now, how can I help you?"
"You could help us by telling us where the closest community or reserve is." I said, getting straight to the point. I was too nervous to chit chat. "Please."
"Why sure," She spoke. She leaned behind us, and we turned to see our own truck in the very distance, with Louis, Clementine and AJ watching our interaction with the stranger intently. "I would love to help you and your friends."
"Thank you." Violet  spoke slowly, raising an eyebrow at the statement. "Ms...?"
"Harriet." She spoke, and held out a hand, which consisted of bony fingers and even a faded gold ring. Violet took it, and snatched her hand back. It was quiet for a moment, before 'Harriet' unhooked the radio from her belt, and dialled across stations, ignoring random static until the air was clear. "Ryland? Yes ... Yes, I investigated it ... well, it seems like they have a few more people ... No they don't seem harmless ... will do, see you in a bit."
The other line was quiet, familiar to a land line. Harriet placed the object back to where it belonged.
"I would like you people to drop your weapons on the ground, and—" Harriet began speaking, but I felt Violet stiffen at my side.
"Is it okay if we actually hold onto our weapons for now?" Violet asked. "We'll do anything you ask...except for that."
Harriet raised an eyebrow, before scowling.
"Fine. Go and get those people of yours, and drive up." Harriet said. "The placement is only a little further up."
...
Third person
The children followed the strange eccentric woman down the highway, carrying the short amount of supplies in their hands.
Violet hesitantly stepped behind the woman, the weight of her own knife in her pocket, urging Vi to consider it in use if she needed to. She carried the pack of cans on her back, and her eyes bored into 'Harriet's' back. She didn't trust her, that's for sure. And this time, she wouldn't care to listen what the others thought. We all know how that ended last time..
Louis carried Clementine easily in his arms, her amputated leg swinging out a little.
"So, you're an amputee." Harriet stated. Clementine was uncomfortable as she said this. She always felt like she was a liability on the group because of her injury. Just like how she was helpless and useless as a kid.
"Yeah." Clementine spoke. She saw Harriet open her mouth to speak, but then closed it again. I guess there's not much to say.
AJ, on the other hand, was more scared than decided. He kept  behind Louis, the pair trudging in the snow and leaving shared footprints. Gabe walked at the back, nervously questioning this situation.
"Don't be shy, kids." Harriet spoke, as the pair walked in the weak snow sun. "It's only up ahead near this intersection; its hidden from that awful South State miles away."
The words 'South State' made the rest of the group sick. Certain practical scars often reminded the children. Louis's serious wounds were covered with plaster, the rest of his face just red and splotchy from the harsh hits. AJ had now accustomed small bandage slips keeping his cut wound together.
The words particularly made Violet sick; it seemed like it was about nineteen hours ago that she held Ethan's cold hand, as he laid to die.
Stop it. Violet thought. At least...at least his death was more peaceful then Tenn's...
Violet had to pinch her palm hard to make her wash the thoughts out.
The trees began to coat easily across the group as Harriet waited in front of a bush.
"Do we...do we just walk in there?" Gabe asked, as the group stopped. Harriet nodded.
"I take it you guys can handle yourselves against the zombies?" She asked. Clem nodded, and the others gave small signs of recognition to her question. "Sweet. It's a short walk to the camp from here. Off you go."
Louis unwilling walked into the bush, which was knee high, followed by AJ and Clementine. As Gabe stepped in to trench on, Violet gave a small, stern look at Harriet, before walking after the others. Harriet only sighed quietly, before taking her own gun out in front of her, following the others.
The trees dropped snow on the kids as they wandered through, causing both AJ and Louis to shiver, since their own garments weren't suitable for the snow. Clementine only wiped the freezing melted liquid off her face, and as Louis walked on, she began wondering what kind of place this strange woman was talking about. Maybe it was bad, like the last one; maybe they were in competition with South State, like Harriet had mentioned. Or maybe...just maybe...It wasn't a bad place.
The gravel trail began to thin, and between two large trees of paradise, stood an upright wall.
Nothing on the inside could obviously compare to the wall, since nothing else poked up above the iron. The only thing that was distant was a cloud of grey smoke arising from somewhere. The kids stopped short, hopeful, but not decided. Violet only crossed her arms.
Of course she would have a bad feeling about this; this was...well, this was new. This wasn't to be trusted.
"What is this?" Violet asked, keeping her curious despite to herself.
"It's a discrete camp; people from cities and countries nearby have locked into here." Harriet said, and she pushed past us, walking to the gate. "It's safe; and has been for seven years."
AJ was the first to move up hesitantly to Harriet's side, the others walking up behind him.
Harriet took out her walkie talkie again, and began speaking into it.
"We're here ... No, there's no issues, they seem to oblige...hesitantly ... No, but I'll put them into quarantine first ... okay." Harriet spoke. The words 'quarantine' rang in Clementine's head.
"Quarantine?" Clementine spoke as the group stood there.
"We have to check you guys for bites; why you understand, don't you?" Harriet turned to look at them.
"Well, yeah." Violet said, and shifted awkwardly on her feet. Violet opened her mouth to say some witty, smart comment, but restrained herself. That left a strange silence hanging in the air.
"Good." Harriet praised, and as she did, the doors began to open.
AJ nervously stood there, wondering what kind o peril they would be faced with. He kept reminding himself that these people were here to help him.  Maybe.
The gates were drawn back to reveal familiar melting snow, as well as a man standing there. He seemed older than anticipated, the beard that reached his neck made him look like a fossil as he walked forward. In the distance, AJ saw more people; people that gave AJ slight social anxiety. The boy leaned towards Clem, and slipped his hand into hers.
A relived and dazed smile played across Clementine's lips.
"Adrix!" Harriet smiled, embracing the man, before turning toward the estranged group. "This were the children occupying the vehicle we saw."
Adrix gave a warm smile, and looked surprise as he addressed his issue to Harriet.
"Woah, I uh, I thought you were going to check them out, not...you know, bring them back.." Adrix uncomfortable shoved his hands in his dirty pant pockets, as he pulled an awkward smile.
Hearing him say those words, AJ's heart dropped. They had been searching for so long, and it seemed like no one showed any sympathy for their situation. They were safer at the school...
"Oh, Adrix." Harriet rolled her eyes. "Don't be like that!"
Gabe gave a quiet sigh, and Violet echoed that. People just weren't welcoming these days. This late into the apocalypse, especially. Everyone was plenty smart when dealing with newcomers.
"Did you at least check them for weapons?" Adrix asked, cocking his head in Harriet's direction. Harriet gave a deathly glare at him, indicating her annoyance at his hesitation to help the kids. Adrix became startled at this harsh behaviour, and stammered as he spoke. "So, uh, we can't...It's very cold out here. W-why don't you kids come inside and, we'll get well acquainted with you."