Staying Alive: New Addition

by Edwards, John;

  “Are they always like this?” Evan asks Nika. I’m trying to ignore his presence. I’m practically fighting with my inner demon. Demons. Their too persistent.

  “Every blasted day! It’s even better than T.V, I can give you that”. She’s holding her stomach, bending over the seat. Her laughs muffled.

  “Anyways...where are we?” I scanned the barren parking lot. Save for a few cars in the distance.

  “Uh, we are at a survivor’s refuge...apparently”. Elise gripped the wheel. A survivor’s refuge? Since when has there been one and why haven’t we heard it on the radio? “Really?”

  “Yeah, while you were asleep Evan told us about this refuge that he and a couple other people created a little ways out of town. At first I wasn’t sure if I should trust him, but both him and Sam assured me that he wasn’t tricking us”. She cleared her throat. I turned back to Evan, I didn’t realize he moved even closer when the tips of our noses brushed against each other. I flinched back, bumping into the dashboard with my elbow.

  “Careful...wouldn’t want you to break another finger”. He chuckled.

  “Oh yeah, we definitely wouldn’t want that. Also, there’s this little thing called ‘personal space’ you might’ve heard of it?” A grin broke out on his face, and I suppressed the urge to punch it right off.

  “Take it easy Jade”. Nika chirped. She laid her head against the window and looked at me through narrowed eyes.

  “Yeah, yeah”. I shook my head. “So, what are we waiting for? Let’s get to this refugee camp thing already. It’s getting stuffy in here”.

  “We have to wait for Danny”. A small voice spoke out. I didn’t notice Sam nestled between Nika and Evan in the back. She had her head on her knees, arms wrapped around her legs. A curtain of light brown hair covered her face.

  “Danny?” I asked.

  “Her brother, he’s supposed to meet us outside once we returned”. Evan answered for her.

  “How would he know you guys got back?”

  “We planned to go out yesterday, and told him that we would be back around ten”. He looked at the silver watch on his left wrist. Oh, I didn’t notice that before.

  “We’re a little early. But in the meantime let’s hang in here until then”. He sat back in his seat, dragging a hand through his hair. The muscles in his arms stretched the white shirt, the scene did weird fluttery things to my stomach. Elise coughed bringing me out of my stupor.

  I shook my head.

  “How long have you guys been in this refuge?” Elise asked them.

  “Hm, it actually started off as a small group. Me, Sam, Danny, Tony and a couple others just scavenging the nearby towns for supplies. Then we came across this area. We decided to settle down here, make it our base. The amount of skin eaters wasn’t too much, we were able to clear the place of em’. Then more people joined our group and boom, it turned into a refuge”.

  That’s impressive.

  How did people find you guys? Did they just walk around this area and end up with you or did you broadcast you’re location?” Elise asked. She turned in her seat and was facing me, her head laid against the driver’s side window.

  “This area’s a little remote compared to the city, so we got a few survivors checking the place out. We tried to broadcast ourselves on the radio but, the frequencies shot, can’t hear nothing but static”. I hate how relaxed Evan is. Honestly, he’s got one hot bod that should have been featured in a World’s Hottest Man magazine. But, does her trust us this much? To lead us to a refuge and he just met us? Suspicious. Or maybe I’m too paranoid formy own good.

  “How many people are in your group?” Nika asked him. I could tell Evan was having an effect on her too. Did he notice the gleam of interest in her eyes? And the fact that she was checking him out...and not very discreetly. Elise may be the only one immune to his charms. I applaud her internally.

  “About thirty of us, mostly men than woman”. He looked at me and smirked. “Word of advice, you might want to be weary around them. Everyone’s a little jumpy nowadays and you three are packin’ a lot of heat; especially you jade”. He gestured to the two katanas by my feet.

  “I don’t need your advice. I know how to look after myself. So do Elise and Nika. Like I said before, we won’t cause any trouble unless you give us a reason to”. I crossed my arms and glared at him. His smile grew, showing perfectly straight teeth. His storm gray eyes bore into mine and lowered. I smiled back in mockery, but that too lowered when I realized where his eyes were roaming. I forget that most of the time crossing my arms, was a terrible idea and that I should never ever do it around guys or anyone for that matter.

  Ever since that time so long ago, I decided to grow a pair and wear a deep V-neck t-shirt to school. I never wear V-necks. They reveal too much. And in this moment, a white tank reveals way more than a stupid V-neck. My arms gave more lift to my bosom than the ridiculously expensive bra would ever give. I’m well aware that I have a big chest. It’s become a bit of a complex over the years, people tell me that they’re jealous of my huge knockers and that I should be grateful for them. Well, I’m not grateful because, they get in the way of everything.

  “Yes, You’ve told me this when we first met. But, I’m just warning you to be careful”. He took a while to admire the view and looked back up at me. Blasted, I wanna wipe that smile right off his face so badly!

  “Are you done?” I asked him, and gave him a stern look. “What do you mean?” he asked back. I paused and took a deep breath. You are calm, you are relaxed, and you will not stab this son of a biatch in the gut.

  “Nothing”. I muttered under my breath. I wasn’t about the get into with him. I don’t need more people to argue with about things. The list is getting long.

  “Oh, look!” Nika was up against the window, pointing at the building in front of us. I squinted my eyes towards it. I was only able to pick out two silhouettes. They began walking to us, I tensed for a moment thinking they were Bodies, when they got closer my grip on the katana loosened. I sighed out in relief. The two men were tall, they strode with a sureness that made me a little on edge. I hate people like that sometimes, they appear arrogant and arrogance sometimes meets the ends of my fists. The truck shakes bellow me, the sound of a door slamming shut, Sam is sprinting half way to them and attacks the man to the left. They embrace for a while, the man pats her head with comfort.

  “Break the truck door why don’cha”. I grumbled. Evan snickered behind me and eased open the door, he took care to shut it as slowly as possible. When the thing clicked shut I groaned loudly and placed my head in my hands.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Elise asked. There was a blandness in her tone that I didn’t like very much.

  “Nothing’s wrong!” I snarled.

  “I beg to differ”. Nika giggled back. My head throbbed at the temples as I massaged them. Any more of this and my fever’s gonna rise.

  “I haven’t seen you act like that ever since your teen boy band phase”. Ooh, Elise was enjoying every minute of my pain, wasn’t she? Like every other crazed hormonal girl in her early teens, I went through a boy band phase. Yes, I was one of those people that liked to stick up posters of boy bands all over their walls and fantasize about them. Ew, the very memory makes me want to puke my guts out.

  “That was then, and this is now”. I said back. She shot me a confused glance and shrugged.

  “I gotta admit, I was surprised we ran into them. And even more surprised with Evan. I was weating all over the entire time. I thought I was gonna faint”. She then proceeded to fan herself with her hand.

  “You and me both E. I wasn’t sure I was gonna make it out alive”. I chocked on a laugh when she snorted.

  “Oh! And you Jade, It was like you both were battling each other mentally. I was waiting for one of you to give in and have at it”. I stared at her mortified.

  “And what do you mean by ‘have at it’?” She wasn’t suggesting... “You guys practically had sex with your eyes,
it was both funny and unpleasant to watch”. Nika responded for her. My eyes widened and Elise collapsed onto the armrest. I was momentarily paralyzed.

  “Oh god look at your face! C’mon jade, don’t tell me you didn’t just realize it?” She shook as she tried to calm herself down enough to wait for my answer. I shook my head slowly.

  “What? Oh—but...what do you mean by—what?” I babbled. Pretty sure my face was as red as a tomato by now.

  “Good god, you’re freakin adorable!” Elise wiped her eyes and sat up. “Each time you looked at him you had this face that said, ‘I just met you but I wanna take you down and do indecent things together right here...right now’, it took all of me not to laugh in your face!”

  “I so did not!” I screamed back.

  “You totally did dude. You weren’t the only one though, I was looking at him and he had his own face that said, ‘I only met you just now but I wanna ravish you day and night, anywhere, everywhere, anytime’, I never thought I’d live to see that kind of expression... like ever”. Nika was laughing along with Elise. I had no words, I didn’t know what to say or think.

  Since when? And how does having sex with your eyes even look like?

  “No! Both of you just shut up!” I stomped the trucks floor. “Don’t deny it Jade”. Elise droned out.

  She pat my knee and continued laughing. I swear one day, when she gets herself a guy I’m gonna ruin every chance they get with each other. I curse thee!

  “Hey guys...” Nika stopped and poked us both, she pointed out her finger to the window and we both leaned towards it. Evan, Sam and I guess Danny and another man stood waiting by a wired gate. I pressed the button to roll down the window and was immediately hit by a dry heat wave. I could feel my hair frizzing up already, fantastic!

  Evan waved at me, signaling us to get out and follow them. I just wanted to forget about meeting him and drive off but...

  “I think it’s time to go”. Elise said to me. I looked at her and nodded. But I don’t wanna!

  “I’m excited”. Nika was the first to go, she opened the door and hopped out.

  “At least someone seems to be having fun”. I groaned and opened the door. Once my boots hit the ground I wanted to dash back inside. The truck was cooler since the air conditioner was left on, and the sudden transition into the heat made me sway forward a little. I managed to right myself by leaning against the door.

  “You alright?” Elise rounded the Hummer and stood beside me, hands still in front of me in case I fell forward.

  “Yeah, just a little light headed. Let’s get this over with”. She raised an eyebrow at me and waited. I reached into the truck and took out both katanas. I told Elise to pop the trunk so I can get the back straps for them. Once that was done, I secured the leather straps across my chest and waist. Elise helped place the two swords in the back and tied them down. The weight of them both made me tilt back an inch, but before Elise could notice I shook out of it.

  We didn’t have to worry about the truck getting stolen because, from what she told me, Evan told her to park in the back. We were surrounded by red bricked walls and thick wired fences. They must have gotten out and unlocked the first gate to get inside. was too out of it to care.

  “Got everything?” Nika skipped back to us. Knitting picks hung loosely around her waist. She also had a metal bat behind her back. Elise was decked out too, ready to go.

  “Ready Freddy”. Elise sang. Shut. Up.

  She started forward with Nika at her tail. My body refused to follow...so did my mind. With what took determination and skill I placed one foot in front of the other.

  “This is gonna suck so much”. And not one person could say otherwise.

  Chapter 16

  While we trailed behind, I took the time to look at my surroundings. Inside the wired fence two red bricked buildings stood tall and ominous, casting shadows in every corner. The dry wind howled against them. I hate old buildings like this, they make me anxious. And anxious a Jade is not good for anyone. The area might’ve been an old factory. Better to find out then wait I suppose.

  “This place gives me the creeps”. Elise was shivering slightly next to me. She had one arm wrapped around mine and the other pressed against her chest. Oh yeah, she’s not good with eerie stuff like this...

  “You okay there?” I asked, trying to hide my smile.

  “S-sure...” Her large green eyes darting left and right. Perhaps checking to make sure the shadows weren’t following after us.

  “If you say so...Oh my god what’s that?!” We both jumped at the same time, hers more exaggerated. She shrieked and spun in all directions, trying to find the cause of what spooked us. I doubled over laughing, my hand trying to suppress the snort that exploded from my nose.

  “What?” She stood there, staring at me in shock.

  “Blasted! That was funny”. I looked up at her and raised a brow. “And what were you planning to accomplish by using the bat like that?” She looked at me and down. She was holding of the bat, with the end of it sticking up. I’m not sure that’s how you’re supposed to hold it either. I slapped my hands together and she flinched backwards. My brow went even higher.

  “That wasn’t funny! What if those things heard me? What then?” She flipped the bat right side up and tucked it back behind her. It never lasts...

  “Then...we would end the rotten mongrels before they’d even get within two feet of us”. She shook her head and huffed.

  “Whatever”. She turned and caught up with the rest of the group. Meanwhile, I tried to shake off whatever residue of laughter I had left in me. I needed to stay focused once inside. No time for fooling around. If they had a leader to their refuge then I would have to question them or Elise would.

  I was walking next to Nika when we finally made it inside the com- pound. Cool air greeted us at the front, and I looked up. Large fans swung clockwise above us. They still have electricity.

  “This is the center area of the building”. Evan told us. The room was as big as the cafeteria room at our old school. I’d say about a half of a regular football field. Tall windows stretched high against the walls. Some patched up with tape and cardboard.

  “What was this building before everything happened?” Nika asked. “When we first found it, there were huge machines in the back. I found cartridges of ink scattered on the flooring next to them. I’d guess it was an ink printing facility. Couldn’t be sure”.

  Random tables were pushed against the walls. Paper maps lie on them haphazardly. Chairs scattered all over the room. A few white boards here and there, with black marker written all over it. They’ve been busy.

  “What’s this you got here, Evan?” A gruff voice echoed from the other side of the room. Nika tensed beside me, both of her hands tucked into her pockets. Elise looked over her shoulder at me, she shrugged and stepped back over to my other side. We stood there side by side. I tried to appear casual, by relaxing my shoulders and crossing my arms. Putting more weight on my left leg so that I’d lean a little. Nice and easy.

  I’m not sure what surprised me more but, this man...he was practically towering over Evan. He might’ve been at least six foot five and then some. And it terrified the heck out of me!

  Not only was his height a great big woo-ha to me, his posture was disciplined, trained, cruel. For all it was worth, I have to admit this man who appears to be in his late forties and could possibly stand as my father...he looked good. “Men who age well, are good men” what mom wouldn’t give to see this giant in person? Perhaps he was in the military, a retired veteran.

  Long powerful arms were placed on his hips. He was oddly fascinating to look at. His decent physic due to constant exercise and heavy lifting. His age showing from the deep lines on his narrow face. He had a generous cloud of short dark hair with streaks of silver at his temples. His skin was a shade darker than mine. But of course, I was a bit pale for my tastes. I was what they call “Caramel” skinned. And if that’s light, this guy was my op
posite. I don’t wanna be that dark, I’ll look...strange. Thanks to my African American and Filipino heritage I was a bit different than the normal mix. My mom’s told me I also have a bit of European Spanish in my blood. ’You’re great- great grandmother was from Spain...you have a little bit of everything’. Yep, a little bit of freakin everything. Why don’t we add Native American, from my father’s side to the mix as well? I’m like a freaky multi-mixed hybrid.

  During my time alone—talking to myself—the room grew quiet. Like, a silence too blasted quiet, that it made me shiver slightly. I slapped myself mentally, and looked to my right. Elise had the funniest expression on her face. Bright emerald orbs blinked back at me. I quirked an eyebrow at her in amusement. She hissed out a breath and punched me in the ribs.

  “Ow! Jesus, what’s your problem?” I snarled back at her, clutching my ribcage. That’s gonna turn into a big beautiful bruise.

  “D’ you really think it’s okay to zone out at a time like this?” For a minute there I swear I could have seen flames puffing out of her nose. You’re a Dragon Elise.

  “I zoned out?” I asked her, my voice caught at the end. My ribs were still aching. She huffed out a long breath and clicked her tongue. “No, it’s perfectly natural to stand there with your eyes unblinking for at least five minutes, mouth slightly open, and not answering when someone is talking to you—shouting—at you to reply”.

  She leaned back to glare at me.

  “I’m not sure if any of that was sarcasm...or you were being serious”. I asked nonchalantly.

  “Oh for the love of- Yes! Jade. You zoned out... again. What have I been telling you for the past couple years? You need to fix that real quick, I hate it when you do that. It’s both concerning and annoying”. Her voice pierced the wide room. The echo bouncing off the stone walls.

  “Would it hurt you to pay attention for at least a couple minutes?” she asked.

  I shrugged and gave her an innocent look.

  “Can’t help it, sorry”. She stared at me silently for a minute, then she whipped out the metal bat and posed as if she were going to attack me with it. Green eyes burning with fury.