Together We Survive

Family Matters

ELYZA'S POV

I bandaged Alicia's arm and left her in peace to rest. It lifted my spirits to think of her response when she learnt that her family were here to find her. We had waited a long time for this resolution and it felt right to finally fulfil my promise. 

My friends were now happy that the horde had moved on by an acceptable distance and that the prison gang were successfully disbanded in their haste to escape the precarious situation. Talk had now turned to what would happen next and where our destination lay. These discussions held little meaning to me, lost in the whirlwind of possibilities that were yet to be revealed. 

Until Alicia woke up I had no idea where I stood. Her family had already stated their intent to return to the ship and reunite with the remainder of their group. It struck me as an option that they might want to join forces with our larger community. We had good food stocks, a decent command system and the promise of relative safety. There were worse groups to be involved with. 

There was too much to consider without first consulting Alicia and I sighed at the uncertainty of it all. Furthermore, I was currently undecided on how to approach her mother after the unfortunate revelation of our relationship. It didn't take a genius to join the dots after the emotional interaction that she had witnessed. 

All I could do was be prepared to leave, whether it would be with my friends or Alicia's family was yet to be seen. 

I retreated to my semi-private corner and began to collect my weapons to be returned to the car. They would be vital wherever the next few days would take me. It was as I balanced my rucksack on a table and checked the safety on my gun when Madison appeared in my peripheral view. 

I glanced curiously towards her, pausing momentarily to hold her gaze before returning to my task. "How's Alicia? If you're looking for the antibiotics I left them with her water."

"Still sleeping," she confirmed, her eyes following my movements as I carefully placed the handgun into the bag. "I wanted to thank you actually."

I wasn't quite sure how to respond to that and finally abandoned my distraction to turn and face her directly. I couldn't avoid her forever. 

"Strand tells me that you've helped each through these difficult times," she continued, smoothing down the sides of her patterned shirt as if not quite sure what to do with her hands. "I'm glad that she had someone looking out for her. Someone to watch her back."

I swallowed thickly and nodded, emotion rising unprompted in my chest at the reminder of all we had been through together. Rather than expose my reaction, I chuckled lightly instead to hide the effect. "We look out for each other. She's gotten us out of more scrapes that I could count."

It probably wasn't the most reassuring response but it was out there now and if anything Madison smiled softly to herself, ducking her head at the thought of her headstrong daughter. "She's always been strong, even as a child."

She fell silent for a moment, lost in thought before her eyes drifted over the items on the table beside me. "Packing already?"

"You can never be too prepared," I offered, following her gaze to the jumble of items that were ready to be packed into the appropriate bag, either mine or Alicia's. It had been a productive way of utilising my time during this interlude and it would make both our lives easier. 

"Is that Alicia's bag?" she inquired, taking a step towards it when I invited her to sate her curiosity. 

There was nothing of note to identify as she sifted through spare clothes and random food supplies, but my breath caught when her hand drifted towards the bound leather journal. I bit my lip as she flicked open the front page, a light frown furrowing her brow when she hastily acted to prevent the unattached note inside from spiralling down to the ground.