“I’m not. Cole gave Wyatt some valuable information about why I’m like this. If anyone can outlast the Hybrid invasion, it’s me. I want to stay. Maybe, if anything, I can help you guys get a head start.”
I shake my head, because this guy, this skinny, sick, Asian kid we found dying in an evacuation center closet is probably the bravest of all of us. No wonder Alex loves him so much. I offer him my hand. “Good luck. Come find us if you can.”
He shakes my hand with his superior strength, nearly cracking my fingers. “I will. Thank you for teaching me so much.”
I wait while the others say their goodbyes. Parker wipes her nose and Davis murmurs something in his ear. I’ve done this before; leaving people behind during a war. Sometimes it’s nothing more than getting assigned different missions. Paul has his and we have ours; in the end, it’s all we can do.
We walk up to the horses we took from the Hybrids the day before. It’s a smart method of travel and they’ll help us get to our first destination quickly. Even so, I eye the large, brown animal warily. I remind myself that it’s a new world and to survive, I have to adapt.
“Wait,” Parker says, eyeing me suspiciously. She’s already in the saddle. “You’re afraid of horses.”
“I’m not afraid.” I scowl at her. At the horse. “It’s just, you know, different.”
“You so are,” Jude joins in, stroking the mane of his new friend before giving the animal a kiss on the snout. All the good feelings I had moments ago have evaporated.
Paul laughs and waves to the guards to open the gate. The metal rattles and I steady myself on the giant beast. The others pass me, laughing and smiling wide. Paul slaps the butt of my horse and offers me a final thumbs up, as my horse starts to trot faster than I’m comfortable with.
More laughter echoes though the breaking daylight.
With a grimace, I follow my team. At least I can provide them with a small dose of humor, because God knows what else I’m leading them into.
*Alexandra*
Catlettsburg, Kentucky
Late Winter
White blankets the streets and rooftops, giving everything a fresh, clean feel. It makes the silence sharper—forcing even the usually chatty winter birds inside. I stare out my bedroom window at the snow-heavy branches and the little town of Catlettsburg just down the block from my house. The overnight snow pushed even the most active members of the community inside.
The room I’ve been given once belonged to a girl. Her name was Veronica—she carved it into the bed post and someone, probably her mother, painted it in bold, pink, block letters on the wall. The rest of her belongings were removed before I got here but these little reminders keep me off balance. It’s hard to get settled in a dead girl’s bed.
Even so, I’ve managed to make this my home. For the first time in months and months, I rest. It’s nice to sleep on a mattress with a bedframe. It’s even better because I feel safe enough to take my shoes off. It helps my weary mind to have a place to hang my clothes and a room to call my own. But even from my spot by the window I can see my backpack by the door. It’s packed and ready.
Catlettsburg pre-crisis was home to less than two thousand people. Now it’s closer to a thousand. Avi picked the little town where he grew up (and left seeking big city academia) to save, working hard with the local government to protect it since the early days of the Crisis. Barricades and fencing went up on the three sides of town not protected by the river. A preemptive quarantine was set up just outside the gates. The first barricades were simple but quickly turned to sturdy fencing. Now it’s all reinforced with sheet metal walls used along highways. Due to Avi’s diligence, the well-prepared area protected the citizens and allowed in productive neighbors. The town monitored and distributed supplies carefully.
Once she developed the first successful vaccine, Jane sent it up to Avi via Fighters. He inoculated the town and set firm rules about bringing in new people. Once the vaccines were given, no new members were invited into the community. This made our arrival even more jarring. These people hadn’t seen an outsider in nearly a year when we showed up, exhausted and bloody after the fight with Butch and the Winchesters. Walker, Jackson, Green, and I were only given a pass because Jane was an exception.
Our presence was a culture shock. The citizens were wary and I didn’t blame them. Jackson had to be carried in by three men—all looking terrified of the unconscious man. Avi warned us that they didn’t know about the severity of the Eaters or the war down south. It became clear quickly that they certainly didn’t know about the Hybrids, including Avi.
When the Crisis happened to the citizens of Catlettsburg, life just got smaller. A little colder and harder.
I haven’t decided how I feel about their ignorance, even after all this time. Uneasy is the first word that comes to mind. Jealous is the next.
I head down the stairs, passing the faded, floral-wallpapered walls, stopping just out of view of the kitchen where I hear Jane and Avi in conversation. I’m not eager to interrupt them. Unfortunately, my foot creaks on the hundred-year-old staircase, giving me away.
“Alex?”
I sigh and step into the kitchen, plastering a smile on my face. “Hey guys.”
“Good morning.” Avi’s smile is sincere and it’s hard not to like him. “Hope you were warm enough last night. It got pretty cold.”
“I was fine, thank you.”
I mean, here’s the thing, I do like Avi. He’s smart. He built this amazing community. He is very forward thinking and has provided the people of this town with a safe, stable place to live. He’s the answer to a million prayers.
But there’s a problem. Jane told him the truth about everything that happened down South and his reaction was less than comforting. He’s stubborn as hell and refuses to believe what may come banging down our door one day. And my sister is willing to let him and everyone else that lives here exist in that fantasy.
I can’t forget the things I’ve seen and I refuse to let my guard down. Jane says I’m paranoid. Walker says realistic. I sort of just think I’m going stir crazy.