The Beginning of The End
Chapter 11

The walk to the village was less stressful than I would have originally thought, Miya

and I keeping the conversation light and fun. I was grateful to her for keeping my mind away from more upsetting things, and even though I continued to scan our surroundings every step of the way, I felt more relaxed, I had always been on edge alone; waiting for the next attack. But with her by my side, things seemed easier, everything that scared me and sent me into a panic seemed so far away, as though it couldn't touch me when I was with her.

I just hoped that if we found other survivors they would be like her, that they would understand that I wasn't the enemy and I wouldn't hurt them. I wasn't evil, I didn't want to harm any living thing, but when you are alone in the world of blood and pain, you realise pretty quickly that only the strong and distrusting survive. So, that is what I became.

The town was eerie silent, though Miya seemed to know exactly where she was going and which turns to take, she was acting as though she had been here a thousand times. The questions and suspicion bubbling within my mind.

"You've been here before." I stated accusingly, crossing my arms as I came to a stop in the centre of one of the streets.

She looked back at me with wide eyes, barley hiding her shock, she clearly hadn't expected me to realise what she was doing. Yet, what is her plan? Is she leading me into a trap? Did she work for the creatures who destroyed this world? Or worse, was she helping the humans that lost their humanity?

Idiot.

Stupid.

You shouldn't have trusted her!

Rule number two; keep your head down, don't mix with other survivors. I had broken my own rules and now I was being lead into a trap!

"Elora, let me explain." She stuttered, her heart spiking as she glanced around in panic, clearly hoping that the others would jump out and save her. "I didn't know how to tell you that it wasn't just me and dad, that their was others." Her shoulders dropped. "I didn't know if I could trust you at first, so I lied. Me and dad were the scouts, we go so far and check that the road is clear before coming back to inform the group." Her tone hardened, showing a strength I knew she had below the surface. "I had to make sure vou.were safe that, you'd help us We aren't bad people Flora, just scared.We have children in our group."

"You lied to me, you used me!" I bellowed, I wasn't entirely angry anymore, but more than a little hurt. I thought she trusted me as I did her.

Clearly I was mistaken.

"I had to, we've ran into people before and it didn't end well, they took our food, hurt the people we travel with." Tears formed in her eyes and I could see the regret she felt, almost taste it. "Elora I didn't want to deceive you, but I had to think of them first."

My shoulders dropped, my tone softening slightly as I realised that I would do the same to protect people that I cared about. "How many are in this group? How long have you been with them?"

She shrugged a small smile playing on her lips as she recalled them with a fondness I hadn't known since my father was alive; her voice soft and far away. "Since it began I guess, but their was more of us back then, now including me, we number at thirty four."

"That's a lot of mouths to feed Miya." I sigh, shaking my head.

Even with the amount of food at the farm, we would need to scavenge in a little over two month to make sure the supply of food remained enough to feed that many people. It would be stressful and a lot of work looking out for that many others, but if they had taken care of themselves and Miya for that long. How could I say no? How could I deny her the family she had built for herself in the midst of the darkness that covered this world? It was simple, I couldn't.

"Where are they?" I asked, taking her hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. "We'll bring them back and figure the rest out as we go. But no more lies of secrets ok?"

She nodded, a bright smile lighting up her face as she squeezed my hand. "Agreed! They are at an old factory just around the corner."

"Then let's go get them."