Until My Last Breath

Chapter 4: Trust

Bright light pooled into Leona's closed eyelids, causing her to clench them shut to block out the invasive whiteness. She slowly opened her eyes, coming face-to-face with a flashlight as her pupils shrank. Her short dirty-blonde hair was covered in dry blood and dirt that invaded her once clean body, as the memories from not too long ago arose. Tears pooled at her eyes as she looked down, allowing stay hairs to stick to her face. She sobbed as she realized that she was now sitting in a chair as roped burned and itched at her once gentle skin. Fear, anger, and disbelief clouded her mind as she screamed at her captors, the ones who killed her only friend. "You killed him, You bastards killed him!" She screamed, as tears fell down her face, anger radiating in her chocolate eyes as she glared. Taking in the surroundings about her she scanned the area. It appeared she was in a shed, tied up, with two people before her, standing in the shadows just out of view. "Was she bitten?" A female voice muttered to the other, "Not that we seen. It was just that boy." A man said in a sorrowful tone. "Who are you..." Leona asked lowly, sobs still shaking her small body. Coming into the light, the two stared at her with pitiful expressions, "Can we afford to take in another survivor? We dont have a lot of room left.." The man grumbled, trying to think. "It doesn't matter. We aren't taking this girl to the others. What if she uses our information against us?" The woman crossed her arms, glaring hatefully at the blonde. Taking in their features, Leona seemed to notice that the man was the kinder of the two. The woman had dark, chocolate colored skin with long black hair, decorating in braids that were tied behind her head. Her eyes shone with a cautious, yet malicious, emerald color. The man, on the other hand, had creamy ivory skin with brown, curly hair, that was held in a bun atop his head. His eyes were a similar green to the woman's, yet darker. Adorning his face was a slight bit of facial hair, beginning to grow a beard. "I-" Leona began before noticing that she didn't have her gun, "Where is my weapons?" She asked. "We-" The man tried to say before the woman shook her head, "Oh, No. No way. We are most definitely not giving a punk like you the opportunity to shoot us." 

"Now, Raelyn... She's a child." The man addressed the woman, 'Raelyn'. "So? We said that 'bout the last little girl that came through here and now Josie is dead." The woman glared, as Leona sighed exasperatedly, looking at the man with pleading eyes, "Please. Just give me my gun, and I'll be on my way. You dont-" "What is taking so long out here? All you were supposed to do is-" A third voice chimed in, sounding like a young girl. A little brown skinned girl, with chocolate brown eyes, and curly brown hair stared at Leona. She didn't look to be much older than thirteen as she sighed, pushing a strand of brown hair back from her face. "Raelyn, Kota. Uri told me to come and get you, and that girl as well. Uri doesn't want to leave her out here unsupervised with a herd coming in." She said before walking out of the shed. Kota nodded in the girl's direction, "You heard what she said. Time to get this girl inside." Raelyn hesitated before helping Kota get Leona up. "Look, I dont trust you girl.." She sneered, "But if Uri says you do something, you do it." Raelyn seemed to be giving advise, rather than a threat. "I understand.." Leona muttered, still trying to collect her thoughts. Everything was going so fast, She lost Jonah, Her dad was unknown about, she was practically kidnapped and now being forced around like a ragdoll, it was Chaotic. 

As they entered the little cabin that Leona noticed was in the clearing of the woods nearby her hometown, She was forced onto another chair, hissing in pain as the ropes that bound her tore at her skin. Before her sat a older woman, roughly thirty, staring at her in curiosity, but looking gentle. The woman's short brown hair was cut into a choppy pixie, and her dull blue eyes bore holes into Leona's confidence. The woman, who Leona assumed was Uri, had a very authoritative presence about her, 'I can see why Raelyn said Uri is not to be trifled with.' Leona thought. The room around them looked rather clean, like a typical house, but there wasn't very much bright lighting, instead, splayed around were a few small candles, giving just enough light to see around. "So, mind telling me why we found you just hanging out with a Zombie?" Uri sat her hand on her chin, propping her elbow on her knee. "I... He was my friend. He, He was bitten by one of those things because of me. He wasn't a Zombie until you all showed up! He was just fine.." Leona growled, feeling the need to put some blame on everyone else around her. Deep down she knew it all to well, 'Jonah died because of me...' Uri sighed, "So, you just so happened to be in an unfortunate circumstance while we were doing a run." She pieced together. "Look, What's your name, Kid?" She asked. Leona looked around, seeing Raelyn, Kota, Uri, The girl from before, and two other men staring at her expectantly. "Leona Williams." She answered, Uri nodded her head as one of the men walked up and undid the ropes binding Leona, "Look, Leona. The world isn't like it was a couple months ago. Things have changed. If you want any kind of chance at survival, you'll stick with us and do as we say. Clear? What do you say?" Uri said strictly, as if stating an oath.

Leona looked around at the faces before her, many emotions displayed on each. The girl's eyebrows furrowed in thought, contemplating the decision as she looked at her wrists that were rubbed raw, 'What are the chances that I survive if I leave? I have no weapons, and even Jonah and I together couldn't handle Zombies...' Sighing, she looked up at Uri, "Fine... I accept. I'll go by your rules and stay with your group." Uri smiled, "Wise Choice."