Chapter Fifteen
The snow have melted. So, we were all busy turning the backyard into a farm. I volunteered at cutting the tall grasses even though my body protested at the first real work I had. It was a welcome exercise for me because I felt like my body was older than my age and I had to remind it that I just turned eighteen.
Due to my turtle pace, Zoi had shook his head at me and started to help me. I stuck my tongue out at him and he gave me a laugh that never cease to make me beg for more. Thankfully, I had more pride that than. With his help, we managed to get rid of the grasses and weeds that was growing.
I slumped down on the bench and he landed me a bottle of water which I drank in one gulped. I realized that I have to exercise my body for a few more weeks before it would get use to the new routine. Carly told me not to push it since I was still healing and my body was still getting use to actually being use and not just lying in a bed.
I stretched my body and I heard my bone snapped. I groaned at myself. It was like I have a forty year-old for a body and not eighteen’s. I slapped myself on both cheeks to stop myself from dwelling into something I cannot change.
I saw Tasha and James cuddling at the wooden swing on my right and I smiled at them. Their love for each other was so obvious in their eyes that I found myself vowing I would do my best at keeping them safe so that their love would continue to grow. Because so many bad things have happened in the world that a good thing like love should be protected.
And speaking of love, I noticed that Griffin and Lily had spent an awfully lot of time together. Whether it be scouting the place to make sure no strangers were near to washing the dishes. I smelt something fishy around those two but when I talked about it with Coleen, she told me that everyone had noticed it but since the two hadn’t spoken yet, we cannot jumped into conclusion.
“Penny for your thought?” Steven’s voice sounded behind me.
I turned to face him as he sat beside me on the bench. Despite the cold air that remained, he was sweating and his shirt was wet. “Done with the roof?” I asked. He was assigned to fixing the new hole in the roof.
“Yeah. So, what were you thinking before I disturbed you?”
I shrugged, “Things. How even after we face death more than a couple of times, here were are. Together and getting stronger by the day,” then I laugh, “Well, I’m more of in the healing stage,”
He laughed, “True that. But none of us would be here if not for you.”
“Shucks, don’t say that,”
He laughed at my uncomforted reaction. “It was true. If you didn’t act that first day we wouldn’t be here. And during the year, we have relied on you for too many things that I’m sure was so much for a seventeen-“
“Eighteen now,” I cut him off.
He smiled and nodded, “Eighteen year old to handle. I tried to take some of that responsibility but honestly? Every time I did, I would always find myself looking for your decisions and guidance.”
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I tossed and turned for the hundredth time but I still couldn’t sleep. I stood up quietly as to not wake Annie and Tash, who I shared a room with. I didn’t bothered with my shoes since I was just going to get a drink downstairs.
On my way, I passed by the other rooms since ours were the last one. Each of the rooms were quiet. As expected since everyone would be asleep. We have set up an old-school traps around the house. Since people in this year and century, who rely too much on technologies, wouldn’t be able to easily notice those traps.
We have set a string of line meters around the house with empty cans. If anything or anyone happen to even bumped into it, the cans would create a rattling noise loud enough for us to hear. And if they happen to pass by the cans without triggering it, a lot of traps awaits them even before they could see the door.
I navigated my way from the second floor to the kitchen carefully since it was lights out. No lights shall be opened when the clock struck eight in the evening to avoid anyone noticing the lights at dark. Thankfully, the light from the moon illuminated some parts so we don’t really need the light.
I entered the kitchen and pour myself a glass of water then I leaned on the counter as I drink. I was facing the kitchen window that faced our backyard. From here, I could see the full moon that ruled tonight. The place was quiet. So quiet that I could hear the grasses dance with the wind. Then, a shadow caught my eyes.
I carefully put my glass on the counter before I quietly moved towards the window, carefully as to not show myself to whoever it was outside. I leaned on the wall beside the window and peaked outside. I wasn’t mistaken. There was a shadow outside. Just a yard away from the first trap.
The shadow was swaying and moving so slow. I gasped at myself. It can’t be a zombie, right?
Something moved behind me, I jumped and turned around only to collide with Zoi. He stared at me with his brow raised and when he was about to speak I hushed him. He looked at me in confusion and gestured towards the window.
He caught up and slowly made his way to peak out the window. It didn’t took him long to notice the swaying shadow. We sat down below the window and faced each other.
“What should we do?” I whispered.
“Should we pretend no one’s home?”
“Sooner or later, he’ll reach the first trap. And whether we come out or not, he’ll know someone’s home.”
And even before Zoi could answer me, the clattering of the empty cans sounded, echoed by the emptiness of the place. I could hear the other rushing down the stairs and I called them towards our spot. They crawled towards me and Zoi and I filled them in on what was outside.
“It’s just one,” Drew said, “If he’s enemy we easily outnumbered him,”
“Yeah, but we don’t know if he’s got back-up around,” Coleen contradicted.
Votes were thrown around our circle but we couldn’t come into a conclusion. Every time a decision was made, someone would point out the cons. We couldn’t help but be double careful about every decision we made because we clearly have learned from our first mistake back when we didn’t covered our tracks it led three army truck towards us.
The shadow outside haven’t reached the second trap. Either he was really slow or he was slowing down to scout the place. We needed to come to a decision before it was too late to either help or run.
“Please!” a voice croaked outside. But it sounded like a female. We stared at each other wide-eyed. “I’m injured,”
Lily groaned, “We’ll regret it if we didn’t even tried to help.”
“But what if it’s a set-up?” Rose asked.
“If it is a set-up, we can fight or run. But if she really needed help and we didn’t give any, our conscience would surely kill us,” Jake reasoned.
I nodded at him, “Zoi and Carly would you do the honor of seeing her first?”
They both nodded at me, then Zoi stood up in front of the window and told her to stop where she is and he’ll come out. While they did, they rest of us readied ourselves in case we needed to fight.
I actually chose Zoi and Carly for two things. If it ended up a set-up, Zoi can easily protect himself and Carly from a crossfire. And if the shadow is really hurt and needed help, I chose Carly to assess the patients wounds and if she’ll be deemed safe to enter the house. Because we can’t afford to get sick again.
Sure we had a semi-okay clinic but it still lack lot of medical equipment and medicines and no one wanted to step foot in any town any time soon.
The door opened and I saw Carly entered first then she opened the door fully for Zoi to enter who was supporting a woman to walk. She was dirty and bloodied. Her long blond hair was dirty and dried. Her blue eyes looked tired and scared. It was hard to tell her age but she was smaller than Zoi, so maybe 5’3. If her height fits her age, I’d say she’s between thirteen and eighteen.
“Sao?” Steven gasped as the woman lifted her head to face him.
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