In the Willows

Chapter Eleven: Fraccions

You run through a building shooting when an arrow pierces through your shoulder. You only feel a heavy force slam into you with no pain.

You bust through a door and shoot another man in the corner holding a kid. The kid is about as old as you.

"D-dad?"

You walk over and aim at the kid.

He holds up his hands, "Please......."

One week later

You shoot awake in a cold sweat, a dream forgotten instantaneously. You rub your eyes and swing your legs to the side of the bed and sit up. You let out a yawn and stretch your arms out.

"Nice to see you sleep in a little more."

You throw a knife at the direction of the voice.

Kyan grabs the knife sticking out from the wall, "Didn't recognize me?"

"You know how I am when I just wake up."

Kyan chuckles, "I thought being here would help with that."

"Nowhere is safe."

Kyan keeps silent and crosses his arms.

"How is everyone doing learning how to ride the bikes?" you ask changing the subject.

"Louis still has some trouble balancing. Clementine and Violet are getting the hang of it. So much we can do inside the walls."

You nod.

"What about AJ?"

"I'm planning on taking him out to hunt sometime, get him to used a rifle some more."you stand up and put on a shirt, "You heading out?"

"Was waiting on you, AJ and the rest are outside."

You put on your hiking boots and grab two rifles. You sling the Mossberg MVP Patrol onto your shoulder and carry your M27 by the handguard. You head outside with Kyan and see the group in the distance. Clementine waives at you and you return it. Louis and Violet turn away from you.

"They think I'm a freak still Kyan."

"Don't worry about them, they'll come around."

You shake your head, "Sure."

You see AJ walk over with something in his hands.

"What'cha got there?" you ask.

"Food, for us." he said handing you a paper bag.

You take it, "C'mon, we have a lot to go over today."

You both head over to a small pond and sit in the shade under a large oak tree. You place the M27 down against the tree and unsling the Mossberg. You take out the magazine and pull back the bolt and look inside.

"What am I doing?"

"Clearing the weapon."

"Why?"

"You......"

"You know it. You always-"

"Treat a weapon as if it was loaded."

You smile weakly, "Correct."

You hold the rifle towards him and he looks into the rifle as well.

"Clear?" you ask.

"It's clear."

You close the bolt and hand him the rifle, "This is a 5.56 rifle, so you might have a little trouble with the recoil."