Aftermath

3

I glanced at Em to see that she was now awake and cowering in the recliner. "Please, we don't mean any harm..."

"We?" the man asked cutting me off.

I thought carefully before continuing. "I wasn't aware that this area was taken and will gladly move on if you will show mercy and let us leave." As I finished I felt small arms wrap around my leg. I quickly glanced down and saw Em clinging to me. The moment the man saw her I could see a flash of pity cross his face before his stern expression returned. I slowly leaned down to grab my bag. Quickly he raised his knife thinking I was reaching for a weapon.

"Don't move." He demanded.

"I'm just grabbing my bag. I have no weapon inside only a change of clothes and a blanket." I assured him even though I did have a small knife I would never be a match for him. I waited for a second to make sure he wouldn't cut my head off before I continued reaching for my bag and slung it over my shoulder. "If you just let us pass no one has to get hurt and you can forget you ever saw us." I picked Em up and she hid her face in the crook of my neck . I slowly took a step towards the door and watched as the man matched my steps but only to move out of the way. As soon as I got to the stairs I turned my back to him and made my way up the stairs. As soon as my hand touched the handle the man call out reluctantly.

"Wait." Turning slowly I looked the man in the eye worried he had changed his mind about letting us leave in peace. "Where will you go?" He asked.

"South." I shrugged.

"Do you not have a destination?"

"No. Winter is quickly approaching and if we are to survive through it we must continue south where the weather is warmer in the winter. That's the only destination right now."

"You are going to travel through the night with that little girl while the Changed and vicious survivors roam around?"

"Im not sure what else we would do. We either keep moving or die. And dying is not an option." I barked at him. He thought I was stupid I could tell, but I wasn't. I just had to think fast and not linger on the what ifs.

"I can't let you leave. Not this close to nightfall. It's too dangerous."

"Says the man who stands there ready to kill me."

"No one travels down in these tunnels. I thought you might have been a changed that found its way in and I was ready to dispatch you quickly before you did the same to me." He explained. "You would have done the same too. In the world we live in you can't risk being taken by surprise."

"I probably would have, but that doesn't make me feel any safer in your presence." I told him holding Em tighter against me when he strode towards me and stopped at the base of the stairs. I was shocked at his sudden bold move and gasped in surprise thinking I had angered him.

"I'm sorry that I scared you, but let's face it. You aren't going to get far with the tired child in your arms." He spoke the truth. I knew he did, but I couldn't trust him. "If you won't stay to keep yourself safe, then stay to keep her safe. You have my word no harm will come to you by my hand." He said looking me in the eye. His hazel eyes poured into mine and we both knew he found my weakness. He knew that I would do anything to keep Em safe.

"How do I know that you won't slit our throats while we sleep?"

"I guess you will have to trust me." He said making me look up at him skeptically.

"I don't. Trust needs to be earned."

"Then let me earn yours."