Alone

Chapter 6

I was still oblivious as to where we were actually going. I felt the blisters that had formed on my feet begin to burst. Every step that I took was more painful than the last, and I winced as my feet hit the ground. I had to guess that we had been walking for nearly four hours. I couldn't be anymore done if you stuck me in an oven for a day.

No one talked. The only noise you could hear was the steady footfalls of our endless march to wherever we were going. I was bored and hurting and I felt awkward walking in this silence with three strangers.

"There," Stacy suddenly speaks.

I couldn't believe what I saw. It was a settlement. I saw people walking around, at least twenty of them. My eyes widened at the sight of them all. They were walking around as if they weren't living in a post-apocalyptic world where sick people killed healthy people. I looked over to Jack, and he was smiling down at me.

"This is where we call home," Luke informed me, "we're the scouts, we keep this place and the areas around it safe, which would explain why we were so far from home yesterday."

I couldn't say anything, my mouth couldn't form words. I was so used to living out alone and always being alert and on edge everyday. And then I stumble upon this place, where there seems to be so much structure and stability. I suddenly longed to be inside those walls where it looked safe and secure. Why had I chosen a life of being alone for so long? I asked myself. I had no idea places like this existed anymore.

My heart fluttered in my chest as we waited for the gates to open to this new world that was almost too good to be true. Suddenly, alarm arose within me...too good to be true. Memories of the house and my previous exposure to "organized settlements" that seemed too good to be true, invaded my mind. My breathing quickened and my heart raced, and I hoped the others hadn't noticed my sudden panick attack.

"I-I don't know..." I stammered.

"What don't you know?" Stacy asked.

I couldn't find the words to explain my unease about this place. I shook my head and gave the three of them a weary smile to attempt to reassure them that I wanted this. I hoped that they believed me. I think they accepted that sad excuse for a smile, and we went inside.

There was something about this place. It seemed unharmed from the ravages of this world with the exception of a couple charred buildings. I was thoroughly impressed. The unease in the back of my mind was somewhat alleviated when a girl with a friendly face and smile greeted us.

"Hi!" She exclaims happily, "my name is Delia, welcome to our little slice of heaven." So cliché, but I guess that's what one could call this place if you knew what was happening in the world today.

"Angie," I replied stiffly, and threw my hand out for a handshake. She shook it cheerfully. Okay, her over-excitement and happiness was really beginning to tick me off.

I then realized how exhausted I actually was. My shoulders slumped, and I thought about nothing but laying down on an actual bed and sleeping forever.

"So, Angie, would you like to stay with us?" Delia turns to me after hellos were said to the others.

I hesitated a moment, "Why not?"

"Awesome!" Her enthusiasm was killing me. How could someone be this happy?

"Yes, I suppose so..." I was still skeptical about the atmosphere here.

Stacy elbowed me as Delia was showing us (more like me) around, "You can stay with us and the rest of the guard if you'd like for a couple nights," she then crinkled her nose, "and then you can clean yourself up, you're pretty rank!"

"Thanks for letting me know, I thought maybe I could be America's Next Top Model," I replied sarcastically.

At our sudden burst of laughter, Luke turned to look at us. I saw a smirk cross his lips and I knew he had been listening to our conversation. "She's not wrong, you know. You do need a bit of a cleanup." Thank you, captain obvious!

Luke had this demeanor about him that made me a little tick, I could tell he was the type of person who could get under someone's skin and then be satisfied with himself afterwards. I just glared at him and he immaturely stuck his tongue out at me. He then winked at me knowing he had won our silent mind battle.

I sort of missed having contact with other people. Silence was making my brain turn into mush. I was smirking at my own thoughts as we were led to the guards' tower, at least that's what they called it. It was nothing but a little two story building. If this is what they called home, then I wasn't going to question it.

"C'mon," Jack finally spoke.