The Apocalypse Brides Promise

Chapter 14

We've gained two more members to our party.

"Let me meet them!" 13 cheered. I excitedly pulled her outside and then signaled for the guys in the plane. The two walked out, the older brother, Phelix Brown, was a bit more graceful than his brother, James.

I smiled awkwardly at the two and then looked back at 13. "Yep... There's the survivors..." 

"Two teenage boys? Welcome to the crew. Now, what are your roles going to be?" 

James smiled, walking over. "I volunteer to travel with 12 when she gathers." He spoke, a soft smile remaining on his lips. 

"12 explained that she has a melting pot and lead... I can work with that..." Phelix muttered. "What about the molds for the bullets though, I need them for casting-..." 

"They're in the red duffel bag," I explained, chuckling. With a glance back at 13, I smiled softly. "Well, we got us a couple of good members of our team!" 

"And now you can't go alone because you have a gathering partne-..." 

It's a bad habit, but I began to zone out of what 13 was saying due to me seeing movement in the background. Once I realized what it was, I took off in a high-speed bolt towards the alleyway it ran into. I slid to the side a bit, then evened out as I made my way into the space. Before me, a black and white pit bull stood. I slowly approached him, reaching a hand out. 

It hesitated at first but soon pressed its snout to my hand. "Hello, Apoco..." I whispered. I lead him out from the alleyway, waving at 13. She clutched her chest and sighed in relief. 

"How is it, no matter what you do, you give me a heart attack!" She shouted from across the street. I shrugged, walking over. 

"Make that 3 new members. This is Apoco..." I explained, patting the dog's head. "So, I was scoping the area earlier, and I saw various daycare(s) barricaded. I wanted to investigate, but if there were people inside, I couldn't get them into my plane... So, I'm planning on going back on foot to see if anyone remains." 

"I already get to go on my first mission with Survivor 12!!" James cheered. I raised a brow and glanced at him. 

"You act like you're a fan..." 

"Okay, so we originally weren't going to tell you this... but, when we lived in California a couple of years back, we had just seen a plane take off in the middle of nowhere. So we checked it out. When we walked inside, we discovered a journal. Inside that journal, there was no other than the name 'Survivor 12'. We thought it was a joke until we read it." Phelix explained. He rummaged in his stuff, pulling out my journal. It had sticky notes and a majority of the things I originally left in it. 

"So... You kept it?" I questioned. The boys nodded, and then I chuckled. "See 13! People did take me seriously!" 

"I never doubted you, dear..." 13 whispered, arms crossed. She smiled, playfully rolling her eyes. 

"Oh, and 13! We're a huge fan!" James cheered. 

"James, listen. 13 is going to be coming with me to investigate. I need you and Phelix to stay here and guard the place. Can you do that?" I questioned. The boys nodded. "Oh, and Apoco is here to help you two out!" 

James whistled for Apoco who ran right over to him and sat at his feet. 

I grabbed 13's hand and pulled her along with me. Just before we left though, she shouted to the boys, "don't touch anything! Do not go upstairs into the apartment! And please do not touch the yellow suits!" I smiled at her and the boys shouted back, 'okay! We won't!' 

As we walked away, I gave her the Thompson, and I resorted to using my Casull. "So, there's a daycare here, around 2-3 blocks away," I explained. "That's another reason why I came back early. I knew I'd be needing your help." 

"Of course. Wives together strong." 13 chuckled. I glanced at her, humming softly. 

"You do know how to use that gun, right?" 

"Yes..." 

"Just making sure." 

...

After walking for nearly an hour, the daycare finally came into view. I nodded towards it and began a quicker paced walk. We got to the parking lot and I saw a few zombies attempting to break in, so I quickly shot them away. They began to drop like flies around the building, so I made my way over and peeked inside. I busted open a glass window with my elbow and took another glance around. "Is anyone inside?" 

I heard what sounded like movement and I froze up. "13. Watch my back..." I looked back momentarily before I walked inside. 

"On it..." 

I made my way around the inside, looking for materials that may help in the future. I went around, kicking doors in, looking for someone who may have survived. As I got to the back rooms, I heard what sounded like whimpering. "13! I think we have something."

13 came rushing back towards me as I kicked open the final door. I scanned the floor and then the room, making sure it wasn't a mimic. In the corner of the room, I saw a young girl, curled into a ball and crying. I looked at 13, almost shocked. 

"I think this is a kid..." I whispered. 13 walked in and looked in the direction I was. 

"Hello, little one... Are you okay?" She asked, kneeling slightly. 

The girl didn't respond she only clutched her knees closer to her chest. 

"Kid, look. We don't have much time." I spoke, growing impatient and anxious. The kid finally looked and I pulled 13 back. "She's turning." 

"You can't just kill her- she's still a living child-... 12!" 

"Just don't look, 13..." I pulled the hammer back on my pistol, clicked the safety off, and put the sights between the kid's eyes. "I'm sorry..." I pulled the trigger, and I walked over to where the kid laid. I examined her. "Bite mark on the arm. She was just about to fully change..." The decomposition was already clear. Her face, her arms... It was there. 

"... We should go..." 13 whispered. 

"I agree..." We began to walk back out and I paused, looking at the items around. I handed 13 a duffel bag I brought along. "We should collect any item that might serve us use in the future. I'll guard as you collect. Once we get this stuff back... We should put it through heavy sanitation..." 

13 had opened her mouth to speak, but instead, we heard a little, "hello..." from one of the rooms. The voice was not exactly scared, and it was extremely child-like. But was it a kid? 

My head shot to the side and I watched as a figure of a child stepped into the hall. "13..."