The Bad, The Ugly, And Us

A New Beginning

I wake up in a nice bed, experiencing deja Vu I check to see if my hands are tied up. Once I realize I'm all set I sit at the edge of the bed and look over to see Julia sleeping peacefully at the other side of the room. I very quietly leave the room hoping to get a chance to check out more of the mansion. We didn't get to meet anyone besides Derrick last night as everyone was already sleeping. As I walk out the room I'm astonished at how big this house is. I walk downstairs to see a female sitting on the couch. Her hair is on the shorter side and is brown, she is very pale with freckles. "Hey you must be one of the new people."
"Yeah, me and my sister stayed the night here last night, seems like a nice enough place."
"Well welcome to our dysfunctional little family, me and my boyfriend Eric go into town whenever we are running out of supplies to make runs, Andrew focus's on defense of the place and Derrick keeps everyone's spirits held high. Derrick and Andrew are brothers, this was their family's house before everything started. Me and Eric arrived here about 3-4 months ago in desparate need of help, they took us in and helped us."
"That's remarkable, they seem like good people."
"Of course, they've had their fair share of loss, their family died shortly before we arrived, they had to put them down and bury them." I silently think back to when this all started, what Andre said about his parents, how I never got to figure out what happened to my family. "What about you guys, what's your story."
"We traveled a long way, lost people close to us. Last few months we've just been on the road, searching for a place to stay that we can call home."
"Maybe you guys can stay here, we've been looking for more people to help keep the place secure, maybe help me and Eric on runs."
"Yeah we'll see." Just then I hear a door open from upstairs, Derrick walks down to where me and Max are sitting. "Dylan I see you've woken up, can I borrow you for a minute."
"Sure Derrick." I get up and follow Derrick outside of the house. "I'm sure Max gave you the rundown of what's happened here and who everyone is already."
"Yeah she told me a few things, I'm sorry for-" he cuts me off, "it's okay, we all have to do things we aren't proud of or that we don't want to. Plain and simple after our parents died and our baby sister we were lost. For months me and Andrew stayed closed off, by ourselves in our little house not answering the door for anybody or anything. One day Max and Eric saved us from a few dead ones in our front yard, that was the moment we knew."
"Knew what?"
"This new world, it's a cold harsh place but through all that harshness its people that will band together and bring everything back. What I've learned having Max and Eric around is that people are the best resource and if you and Julia are planning on staying that would help us out a great deal. Although I'm sure after hearing a little of what you were saying last night, you aren't too keen on staying anywhere, which is fair enough."
"Listen I'd have to talk it over with Julia, she's got a lot of past trauma when it comes to being with people."
"I understand, people can be harsh out there and things can be bad, we just wanted to offer you a safe place to stay for at least a little while."
"Yo Derrick," I heard a voice call out, "where's my rifle."
"Oh shit, here ya go Andrew, been meaning to give this back to you."
"Thanks, kinda need it to keep watch."
"Hey you the new guy, Andrew nice to meet you." Andrew extends his hand, and I extend mine in return, "nice to meet you too." Andrew is a tall man, very muscular and has short black hair. Almost a complete contrast to his skinny and shorter brother Derrick. Derrick and Andrew walk towards a ladder that leads to the roof of the mansion I walk back inside. I see Max and Eric speaking to Julia. Eric is a bit bigger than Derrick, he's got scruffy dirty blond hair and peach fuzz all around his face. "I see you're finally awake little sis."
"Yes I am, Max and Eric were just talking to me about a little supply trip later, I'm not gonna be going."
"How about you Dylan, will you go with us?" Max asks me. I look over at Julia and then at Max. I think long and hard about my answer, I haven't left Julia alone for a while but this could be my chance to pull my weight and get to know Eric and Max a little better, see if they're trustworthy and safe to keep around Julia.
"Yes I'm in."