She redid the twists in her hair to the best of her abilities which were better than the knotted ropes they'd become. She had been eating as properly as one could in these days, a lot of fruits and vegetables that helped with her energy. Finally, she had gotten an adequate amount of sleep without the worries about something or someone killing her.
This life was flawed but good.
Quinta wiped her dirtied hands on her torn jeans and with a sigh left the gate from the gardens and turned for home. The skin along the back of her neck, cheeks, and shoulders tingled with a warmed sensation that showed just how much time she spent outdoors. Her long hair swayed down and smacked against her lower back. With her arms crossed beneath her chest, her thoughts lingered mostly on what was to come the next day, what she was to expect, and if she'd be lucky enough to survive.
Fiddling with her keys in the palm of her hand, Quinta's thoughts clouded over to what she would make for dinner that night. Even she had to admit there were only so many ways that one could stew vegetables before growing tired of it. Honestly, she couldn't wait until they'd go out for the prospect of finding new seasonings to make meals a bit better to stomach. Hell, she'd even settle for herbs on the side of the road that could be picked. Anything would help.
Having finished a job on an extension on a building in Quinta's vicinity, Dane had the thought of a visit in his mind. The only problem was that it was beginning to grow late, curfew was about to commence, and Addie would worry if he didn't make it home that night. Waving off one of the guys who spoke to him that day, his mood was dampened as he made the decision to go home, and skip out to see her yet again. The sun had begun to sink lower in the sky which cast shadows of the protective wall over him. Out of the corner of his eye, Dane caught sight of an ever so familiar figure. His head turned in a snapped reaction only to see that Quinta was there, heading the opposite way across the street. Stopping in his tracks, Dane pivoted and rushed across the street to catch up with her.
The only thing he could say was her name when he was close enough for her to hear, “Quinta...” He whispered out.
Quinta was in the middle of rubbing the back of her neck when she heard the call of a subtly familiar voice. Stopping now, she turned her head and quickly connected with the friendly giant she had learned to call family. An instant smile smacked on her features as she stood there and waited for him to approach before she spoke; minutely surprised.
Dane was panting by the time she stopped, “Quinta. It's about time I found you. How are you doing?” He questioned.
The moment he spoke to her, he felt as though they had picked up from the last conversation that had been cut short. How natural and easy for him to treat her like an old friend spoke volumes on her character in his opinion. His gait towered over her, casually crooked, and slanted on his hip.
“Me nah know dat yuh was lookin' for me. I'm good, 'ow dey been treatin yuh an Addie? Me been missin’ da two of yuh.” She answered him.
Rubbing the side of his neck, he was well away of how hectic life there was compared to what they expected.
With a gentle smirk on his face, Dane chuckled, “You didn't think we were letting you go that easy, did you?” He retorted swiftly.
With a light laugh, Quinta shook her head while she shrugged her shoulders, “Me nah tink yuh was lettin’ me go. Dun worry. Now tell me 'ow Addie is.” She said.
He was very open to the full brunt of her attention with the way she stared with a sense of delight in her eyes. He now remembered why he missed them so much.
“She doesn't see a point in doing their learning curriculum. She wants to start working with me but until she's of age they won't let her. I really can't say that I'm not relieved. I want to keep her in here for as long as I possibly can. Though I should say that she won't stop going on and on about attempting to visit you. In fact, she keeps coming up with these little plans and ways to execute them.” He said with a reminiscing smile.
“A plan? Yuh can't be serious. 'ow many 'ave yuh gone through?” Quinta asked; the grin on her face apparent.
“Currently she's working on Plan F right now. She'll probably bombard me when I get back home.” He said.
“Ah, dat's just like Addie wantin’ to do what she wants an comin’ up with different ways to do dem. Personally, me nah see da point to learnin' when we all got to survive.” Quinta replied.
Dane didn't exactly agree about Addie's learning, he was half and half because he'd seen one too many idiots that were totally clueless. They didn't know how to survive, how to be resourceful, and couldn’t even read a simple map. The people that relied on technology died out relatively quick. Regardless of this, he kept his opinion to himself because it didn't matter. The legislation demanded that minors were enrolled until the age of eighteen.
Wetting his lips, Dane cleared his throat while he stared down at her features after a moment of silence, “Do you have somewhere to be right now?” He asked.
Pushing her hair behind her shoulder with a smile, Quinta stared right back at him, “Me just gettin’ off. Me was goin’ to go 'ome and get ready for tomorrow. Dey puttin’ me out on me first mission.” She replied.
As much as he wished she said that she had nothing to do, he was intrigued about her reason. His head tilted in curiosity as he held her visage in a stern gaze behind those auburn bangs.
“First mission tomorrow, huh? It wouldn't happen to be scavenging at the Western gate at dawn tomorrow, would it?” He questioned though he already felt as though he knew the answer.
Quinta narrowed her eyes at him as she reached around and tucked her hands in her back pockets, “Let me guess, yuh been assigned dat too? 'ow funny dey break us apart and den put us back together.” She responded with a scoff.
Nodding at her question, he added on to her sentence, “Break us apart? That's one way to look at it. If you ask me though, I think they have bad spacing for the homes around here. But I know we can survive together so I'm glad they're putting us on the same team.” He answered.
“Me tink yuh right bout da spacin’. Yuh would tink dey would put us together when we got 'ere, but me nah complainin’. Me 'appy with me own space for now. Me agree we are a pretty good team. At least me know one person got me back.”
She stared at him with a shrug of her shoulders while her hands gripped her arms. Her narrowed look amused him while he caught on and tickled at the idea of them working as a team again. Falling silent yet still having a smile, it wasn't until that one alarm perched on the highest point in town blared through the sky. The sound of sporadic gunshots rang above them. This signified that the guards sniped off the walkers that were alerted by the noise; this being a ritual at night.
Quinta looked between the tower and Dane before she blew out and cleared her throat, “We only got an 'our left before curfew. Yuh should be getting’ 'ome to Addie. Tell 'er me said 'ello?
Dane was caught up in a smirk that morphed into a smile as they stared at one another for a prolonged moment. Seeing her felt completely satisfying. He was about to suggest going to her house for a mini tour when the alarm knocked him to his senses and ruined all hopes for that.
He sighed out almost in unison with Quinta, “I do have to get back. I was hoping that you'd show me around your place but it looks like this is goodnight.” He muttered.
“Mmmm...looks like it.” Quinta replied.
She rubbed down her arms and glanced away from him momentarily. After being apart for so long, the air between them was a bit awkward. Just when they were getting back into the swing of things, time snatched away; again. Still she was thankful to know that he and Addie were fine.
With a slight tilt of his head to the side, his overgrown bangs fell into those bright, blue eyes. His large shadow cast over her in the setting sun. Catching her attention once he stepped into her light, she turned her head up to look at him and her arms dropped as his came around her waist. Standing straight, she slid up his body which was to be expected since she was so
short in comparison. Her arms hooked upwards and her palms were pressed against the muscles on his back. For a long moment, she listened to his heartbeat thump against her ear while she watched a few people go about their way. Quinta's lips were lightly parted before her eyes simply fell shut and she held him a bit tighter. The feeling of another one's warmth and contact stirred her deep in her core. He felt his entire body go numb from the rush of embracing her for so long.
His deep voice rumbled through his chest and against her ear, “I'll tell her. Make sure you're ready or tomorrow.” He whispered.
“Yuh.” She whispered back to him in response.
Savoring the feeling of her in his arms after their lack of contact, he released her. He gave her a long look of approval with his deep blue eyes full of warmth, “I'm looking forward to it.” He finished as he gave a familiar nod.
His shoulders suddenly felt heavy again as he was filled with concern. He wanted to ensure that they survived the next day and for that Quinta needed to be at her best. Dragging his glance from her, Dane turned to leave before he gave another last look over his broad shoulder back at her as he began his long walk home, “Goodnight Quinta.” He said towards her before he continued his way.
Before she knew what happened, he had pulled away and the chilled air of night rushed to take his warmth away. Quinta turned her body to face him as he walked away, giving him a polite smile and a simple wave when he looked back.
“Gudnite...” She responded back before she lowered her hand and turned to get home.
She didn't want to forget his hold and hoped that the next day worked out for the best.
The next morning, Dane was ready to leave the apartment for the important event earlier than what was expected of him. He hardly slept with thoughts of what was to come, leaving Addie, and what would happen out there after so long. Checking his pockets, Dane gripped his identification, entrance pass, and keys for the hundredth time. With his bag in hand and bat slung in the makeshift straps beneath it, the time had come to go and face the music.
Addie stayed up all night worried that her brother wouldn't be back. Instead, she decided to busy herself with studies. The curriculum assigned to the youth in the sanctuary was weird at best. It was a slipshod attempt to educate them properly on this new world, the dangers, geography, and pieced together relevant information from old text books found.
This was better than nothing to keep her mind off the thought that this would be the first time she and Dane had been separated in over a year. She sat crossed-legged on her bed and tapped her pencil against the edge of the book. Addie's head shot up at her brother the moment she heard the click of her door. Crossing her bedroom, Dane had to dip down far to kiss the corner of her head before he affectionately shoved her over onto her side.
“I'm heading out now. Hold down the fort until I get back. Oh and no boys.” He teased the last point but Addie knew he absolutely meant what he said.
The short “rules of the house” caused Addie to release a weakened laugh at his attempt of a joke.
Blowing out, she rubbed her hands across her thighs, “Make sure you come back. To...help me open my shop I mean. I do need a body guard.” She whispered with a half-smile.
Though it hurt to see his sister unhinged in a way, her comment was still a good aversion to the real challenge at hand. Though they both knew the risks of him scavenging, Dane thought it would be better to treat this situation as though he were going off to run an errand. Though that changed just for a moment as he went to leave and still had his hand on her doorknob.
Pausing in the space between the door and the frame, he glanced back at her, “I love you, Addition.” He whispered to her.
Addie's smile fell as she watched him walk away. Licking her lips, her eyes began to sting as she quickly nodded her head to hide the fact from him.
“I love you too.” She responded.
Leaving and shutting the door, Dane huffed out a sigh through his nose before he left the apartment to meet at the designated gate with his assigned group. He couldn't help but wonder how experienced the people Quinta and he would work with would be. Unfortunately, he didn't know what to expect from this program but he was sure to find out, for better and worse.
Addie listened to the sound of his footsteps while they faded further away from her door, “Be safe.” she whispered to herself at the sound of the front door.
For the first time in a long time Addie was alone and she hated it.
Quinta stared at herself in the bathroom mirror early the next morning. She had showered up, ate breakfast, and watched the sunrise like clockwork. Sighing out, she cleared her throat while she took a few twists, pulled the rest into a high ponytail, and clipped them in place to hold. Although she had read the summoning papers repeatedly, she couldn't help but feel nervous, worried, and of course scared. These last two weeks were so mundane and somewhat relaxed that she'd almost forgotten that she'd be used outside of the wall.
Almost.
Smoothing the dark brown tank top with her hands along the flat of her stomach, Quinta took one last look at herself. She could see the tiny cuts that had healed into scars along her arms and chest. The dark circles under her eyes were there to stay it seemed. Lastly, she stared at the hollow, emptiness which hid behind those soft, brown eyes. Shaking her head, she flicked the switch to the bathroom and grabbed her bag and left the home she had come to know.
She kept her head down and her pace quick to the main building of the government near the clinic. The streets were quiet and empty other than some soft murmurs from above her head. There was boisterous talking from a couple of vendors further down the way. The two men were setting up their shop across from each other and ready to start the day to make their living. They paid no mind to Quinta which was fine with her.
Approaching the building about ten minutes later, she glanced upwards to watch the flags sway valiantly in the wind, before she shook her head and continued on. Entering the building the first thing she saw was Leon, standing there proud as can be although he too looked a bit sluggish underneath it all. There were a few people lined up, packed, and ready to go. This group looked as though they had their run-ins with the dead, and done quite a few runs of their own. Quinta's gaze bounced around in hopes to catch sight of Dane, the only familiar face and person she felt comfortable to speak around. She was nervous and that was beyond obvious.
Noticing that a few people were congregated at a nearby white board, Quinta followed the group and stood in line to wait her turn. By the time she made it to the front, she read Patterson, West, and three other names of people she didn't know.
“West gate...” She whispered to herself.
Leon looked over the hardened, scared, and naively optimistic faces that dotted the crowd of about twenty-eight of the expected thirty to arrive. The blonde wet his lips and sighed out of his nose as he designated a leader for each squad on the notice board based on their experience and success. His slate colored eyes narrowed while he had himself poised with pride and satisfaction despite the deep concern he felt for those lives below him. The responsibility on how to shape the groups, where they went, and overall survival rested on his shoulders. Through his deep speculation, Leon noticed a short, brown figure with dreaded hair make her way to the board. A light smirk rested on his lips because he had knowingly assigned her with someone she was sure to work well with. The others, though, he wasn't sure.
Noticing Leon on his way in, Dane had waved at him in a feeble attempt to say hello but Leon seemed too far off to notice. Weaving through the people towards the group board, Dane's blue eyes scanned over the names and eased when he saw hers. They could handle themselves out there alone and he was more than confident of their chances in a group. His broad shoulders visibly relaxed before he glanced down to see the devil herself just a few people away from him. Her back was faced towards him as she too read the board. He wedged himself between the crowd and set his hands on her shoulders in silence and gri
pped.
Quinta felt her entire back tense up at the feeling of another person's hands on her body. Dane could feel the way she went solid under his hands alike to someone who had been caught red-handed. Quinta slowly tilted her head up and back only to see Dane before she finally relaxed and that desire to kick his ass vanished. His speculation was only confirmed with the way she looked up at him. Her dreaded ponytail brushed against his chest while recognition swept her features. Despite this, she still seemed on edge reasonably so.
Dane gave her an eased and confident smile as he directed his head towards the side, “We're over there.” He said.
Quinta's gaze followed his hint to meet with the visage of the other three as they chatted among themselves. Arching an eyebrow, she cleared her throat and followed him over with the others. The group they were teamed with had a woman, no older than nineteen, who looked bright-eyed, bushy tailed, and nervous at the same time. Obviously one who hadn't been out in the field yet. The man in the middle had a cocky aura that permeated between the three of them. He was restless and it was quite apparent he wanted to get the ball rolling. The last man seemed miserable and as though he didn't want to be there. He was the oldest of the three, the prior male in his late twenties, and this one around forty. He held the raw and absolute honest emotion on his hardened features. Though, from the moment he laid eyes on them, Dane could tell the real challenge would not be the undead out there.
The overly confident one strode up to them with a smirk on his face as he held out his hand in a bolstered gesture, “Welcome to my crew.” He greeted them.
This man made himself sound like the self-proclaimed leader which caused Dane to look down at him steadily. After a moment of hesitation, he gripped his hand tight, shook it once, and dropped it. Quinta's eyebrow arched slightly while this idiot decided to greet them in such a gross manner. She could already feel deep in her stomach that this wasn't going to go as easy as she'd hoped. He reminded her instantly of the people who had taken Queenie from her and she wasn't keen to clean up another mess. The girl gave them a simple smile while the older gentleman leant them one as well. The older man turned his head to pay attention to the others which caused her to follow suit.
The World We Once Knew Page 11