Free Surviving The Zombie Apocalypse (Book 2): Conflict by Joshua Jared Scott Page B

general
broadcast, saying some folk here needed help.”
    “It was
pretty damn incomplete,” added Lizzy.
    “True.
We didn’t know what was happening, so a few of us drove in to see for
ourselves. Found the place wrecked and everyone dead. There weren’t any
survivors.”
    “Then
how do you know about the twins?” asked Marcus.
    “Took a
log book we found upstairs,” I explained. “It gave a good accounting of all
that had happened up to that point. Plenty was mentioned about those two,
including details on how they helped set up the initial safe spots, saving
people that first morning.”
    There
was a long pause. “What do you know of those who attacked?”
    “Plenty,”
said Mary. She hopped up beside me. Lizzy remained standing. “They attacked us
too, twice.”
    I
allowed her to relate the story of Steph’s run in when three of the bastards
attempted to rape her, followed by the entire band finding our settlement a few
days later and the end result where supposedly, hopefully, all of them fell to
either our guns or the zombies. Marcus seemed satisfied with that piece of
news. He also showed some sympathy about hearing of our own almost total loss,
particularly regarding the children. I took this as an excellent sign.
    “Come on
out,” he called, after he finished with the questions and had a firm grasp of
what Mary shared.
    Several
more drifted into view, all armed. I noticed Lizzy stiffen, but she was demonstrating
excellent restraint. The twins were the last to appear. The siblings were
silent, faces expressionless. Their eyes were sharp though, not darting about
frantically, but steadily scanning the area. While everything I read about them
was positive, I found the two disturbing. They simply didn’t look right.
    “You all
are still living here then?” I asked.
    Marcus
nodded. “Elsewhere in town, hidden away. Like you, we didn’t want to be moving
with winter setting in, and we were supplied here. No sense in leaving it all
behind.”
    “Plan on
staying, or would you rather come back with us?”
    That
shook him. It was fun throwing people off their game.
    “You’re
inviting us to join your group without even knowing us?”
    “We saw
what you built here.” I gestured at the compound. “Saw the playgrounds, the
school rooms. And, like I said, we read your log book. While I don’t agree with
all your organizational stuff, it was solid.”
    “Jacob
never agrees with anyone completely,” said Mary, “except maybe with Briana, but
she’s his girlfriend so he kind of has to. That or be puked on.”
    “Puked
on?” inquired a scrawny, sickly looking woman. This was Sofie, someone we would
soon grow close to.
    “Morning
sickness,” I explained. “And that only happened the one time.”
    “Still a
funny story,” countered Mary.
    “I’ll
tell you what,” said Marcus. “Why don’t you follow us back to our place, and we’ll
talk about it over dinner. We keep the area clear, but I don’t like being so
exposed, and this might just be one long conversation.”
     
    *
* *
     
    We spent
the night with the group, staying up late as we swapped stories and discussed
all the excellent reasons why they should relocate to the Nebraska National
Forest. I realize I was rushing things, trying to get us united so quickly, but
there was a perfectly good reason behind this, several actually. First of all,
we needed more people. There weren’t enough of us at the castle, not to defend
in case of attack, not even enough to keep a proper watch.
    Additionally,
these people, from what we read about them, were good folk. That was the key
factor. I wasn’t inclined to invite just anyone in. If we came across a lone
stranger like Kenneth, we’d accept him provisionally. In case of a larger
group, I might force them to live somewhere else until we got to know one
another better.
    Also,
for those who don’t remember, the twins and their companions had been tasked
with defending the settlement. They were