Riley's POV
I pretended to be asleep as I watched the roads go by, I kept my breathing steady and slow. Trying to watch for for land marks was getting harder as the sun was going down and I was in a hunched over position. I tried not to think of all the things that could happen to us once we arrived at their camp. Asking questions just didn't seem worth it since he would probably lie anyways, I wanted to see this so called camp for myself. Jacob and I had not seen anyone besides the few men we had encountered when we were living on top of the liquor store and that had not ended well for me or for them. After that I steered clear of any people, now I was going to go into a camp full of them it gave me a chill just thinking about it. I wasn't sure what to think about Levi, in truth it could have been worse already. He said he wouldn't let anyone there mess with us and I was hopeful he'd keep his word, he had seemed sincere. I hadn't been bombarded with questions either which was nice, we had ridden in comfortable silence until I pretended to be asleep. My Thoughts came to a abrupt halt as Levi sat up straighter and the truck slowed down and came to a halt. I sat up so quickly Levi jumped a little and gave me a questioning look, I just gave him a small smile and started to look around. It looked like we were parked beside another truck, it was a deep green color with a black metal top cover over the back. I couldn't see anyone. Where's your camp? I asked. He gave me a small smile in return. All the cars and trucks park in a big circle, this is a scavenging truck so it on the outside of the circle. That's my truck he said pointing to the truck we were parked beside. I jumped along with Jacob when Aiden knocked on the window. Come on all of you were gonna miss the food. We followed Levi out and around the truck. The sight stopped me in my tracks. There had to be at least twenty vehicle, cars, trucks and even a few campers. They were all parked in a circle with maybe a thirty feet diameter. There was a small fire going in the middle of it all, with the sun fading the fire shone bright in the circle. The fire illuminated all the people, I didn't think I'd ever see so many people again especially in one place.
Levi noticed I had stopped walking at the edge of the circle. Are you okay? He asked. How many people live here I asked him in return. We have forty one people, usually five to ten people are out on runs. There's always people out on patrol to, it's safe here.. The fire is going to be put out soon to as soon as everyone gets food. I realized he was rambling a little probably because I was standing here with my mouth hanging open staring at the people in this camp. A older woman was sitting at the fire pit filling and handing out bowls to a few people. Two men and one woman walked back to a RV and two more men came up. It continued like that around the camp. Riley, Riley! My eyes snapped back to Levi's face, he still had dried blood around his nose and mouth from where I'd head butted him. When he saw I was looking at him he said again, it's safe here. He took my arm and guided us to the side of his truck facing the fire. He pulled a key from above the tire, opened the door and took out a few fold up chairs. Jacob sat on my lap as we took in the camp. Something was missing from this camp, I couldn't put my finger on it thankfully Jake was more perceptive than me. I don't see any kids Jacob said, after a closer look I saw he was right and it helped me put my finger on what was bothering me. There wasn't any noise, all I could hear was the fire crackling and feet shuffling as Levi moved around his truck. A camp with so many people would usually have people talking and children running and playing. Here it was silent, people came and went from the fire men and some women but no children that I could see. It was easy to understand the more noise you made the more of the dead could here you, they must have learned to be silent to survive in such a large group.
Levi came and sat down in a chair beside us, he handed me a water bottle, we will go get food when it's our turn. We go one car after another and then the fire goes out for the night. Are there any other children here I asked. No, he said with no explanation not that I needed one. I watched as people came and went from the fire until Aiden showed back up with another man. The man was a little shorter than Levi and Aiden but just as muscular,he had dark skin and long dreadlocks. He was wearing a bright Tye dye shirt, i was busy staring at it when Levi started to Introduce us. Riley, Jacob this is Gerard he runs this camp and keeps us all in line Levi said with a smile. I smiled and nodded my head. Gerard didn't smile, hope you both like stew he said before focusing on Levi. Run debrief in five. Got it Levi said. Aiden and Gerard left. When it was our turn we followed Levi up to the fire. The Woman handing out the stew looked fit and strong even though all her hair was grey and white, you could clearly see the many wrinkles on her face and arms in the the firelight. Sarah this is Riley and her son they are staying with me now. Sarah handed us all our bowls and spoons. She smiled at Jacob when she gave him his, then she looked at me and said " You did good." The sincerity in her voice almost made me cry on the spot. She was the first women I had spoken to since the end and I knew she could understand the worry and doubt I'd been feeling and it felt good for someone to tell me i had done well. There is a wash bin and one to drop the bowls in after she said pointing to a row of bins sitting a few feet away from the fire.
We walked back to Levi's truck and ate our stew it tasted amazing, when I mentioned it to Levi he told me that was Sarah's contribution to the camp. Sarah cooked all the meals and cleaned the bowls and plates to. Levi scarfed his delicious stew down in record time. He took me to the back of his truck and opened it up, it looked so cozy inside. They back was covered so it was dark inside I could see crates along one side and a few sleeping bags laid out in a big pallet taking up the rest of the room. Aiden and I both sleep here in shifts, there is a bed in the backseat of the cab to it's not to comfortable though. I knew I needed to talk to him but it took a lot to say anything. Levi? He looked at me, he'd cleaned his face off thankfully so I didn't have to constantly think about me trying to bash his nose in. Yea? He asked. What to you plan on doing with us? I wasn't ready for his reaction at all my pulse went crazy, he moved so quick just like he did when we fought I barely saw him move. He'd pushed me back against the truck and blocked any escape with his arms. His smile was a little different this time though it was filled with mischief, he kisses my neck and then my collarbone. I didn't move I barely breathed as he brought his head back up to meet my eyes he was only a inch from my face. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with you yet but your Mine, do you understand that? I nodded, Say it he asked me roughly. Yes I get it, I understand I looked him in the eye so he'd know that I meant it. He backed off me and his mischievous smile was back. Good, I have to go meet with Gerard depending on how long it takes I may have to go on watch duty you guys can sleep here or in the cab whatever you want. He left and I went back to sit with Jake.
Are we staying here mom? Yea Jake for now we are, you ok with it? The foods good, is he going to hurt you? I looked at Jacob but he wouldn't look at me he stared into his food as he slowly at it. I went over and kneeled in front of him. Look at me Jake, when he did I told him what he needed to hear. If he wanted to hurt me he could have killed me at the house but he didn't he never even hit me. He Seems ok to me and this place seems ok for now, like you said the foods good. For now we are waiting and watching. Plus he's probably gone for night and the back of that truck looks really comfy. I got a little smile in return, he got up and went with me to wash out our bowls. There was a woman in front of us washing a few bowls. Her blonde hair was extremely long and flowing down her back and around her thin frame. When she finished she turned and saw us standing there, she smiled and walked up to me. I'm yohanna she said holding out her hand. I smiled and shook her hand, I'm Riley and this is my son Jacob. I saw you getting food she said are you staying with Levi and Aiden? Yes with Levi I answered. She was still smiling but I saw it change like she was forcing it to stay put. A word of advice be carful the brothers are changlings.
I had no idea what she was talking about but I wouldn't ask here that would only worry Jake if the answer was bad. So I said Thank you instead. She looked like she wanted to say more but she didn't, just waved as she walked away see you in the morning yohanna said softly before she turned away from us. We washed our bowls and headed back to the truck, we both climbed in and passed out for real this time.