Riley's POV
It felt like we had been traveling forever, I wasn't used to being in a car this long anymore. It seemed like we did nothing all day but I was always exhausted at the end of the night. This is my favorite part of the day, when the sun starts going down. It's means we will be stopping soon. Admittedly it was nice to be in such a small group at night. No one around but the eight of us. Every night we had a meeting to see if anyone had noticed anything worth talking about and how everyone was doing and then Danny would hand out rations. One the second night we had a small fire and we played cards by the firelight. Most nights though we just ate and then crashed in the back of the trucks.
Tonight was the third night and I was on patrol with Danny. I like Danny he doesn't talk much. He was always watching and listening, I could tell it bothered him when it wasn't quite enough for him to hear what was going on in the forest. I tried to listen to at first but I couldn't tell you what most noises I heard were and I didn't know if a twig was breaking from a deer or a walker, it was frightening to think about ferals now as well.
Danny and I usually shared patrol and on our first one I jumped at every sound from the forest. So on the second patrol whenever he would hear a noise he'd whisper to me what it was. At the end I wasn't jumping anymore I anticipated that he would tell me, it helped me not fear the noises. Plus side I could also tell between different owls hoots and I could track noises.
Tonight seemed quieter than the past nights. Is it strange how quite it is I whispered to Danny. He didn't look at me just continued to watch the darkness but he did answer. This area was a industrial area before everything went to shit. They were really overrun in the first weeks. So there weren't many animals to start with and then most left in first weeks for safety. We had a scout team here two weeks ago they map out places worth scavenging. They mentioned how this place was almost deserted now. Perfect place for us to make camp. We still need to be cautious there may be stragglers hanging around here and they'll be hungry, animals and the dead. My heart raced as I stared out into the dark. I counted slowly in my head to calm myself. There was something about the dark that made walkers ten times more terrifying.
As we got back to the camp we could see that Levi, Jaimie and Trevor were all already awake and waiting for us. I'm going to crash for a bit said Danny as he walked towards the truck. I headed for the chairs they had out beside the second truck. When I got there Jaimie was the first to speak. You guys have any trouble out there? he asked. No, all was quiet. It's really quiet here in a freaky way. I like it that way, Trevor said as he stood up to leave. Jaimie followed him. I went to take Jamie's chair but Levi motioned me over to him with his hand. I walked over and stood in front on him. He put his arms around my waist and pulled me into him. I laughed as my body collapsed into him. He caught me and pulled me into his lap. Learn anything new? He asked. Not new I tell him but I'm definitely a lot better at figuring out where sounds are coming from and what they are. That's good he whispered as he pulled me in closer. I leaned into him and rested my head on his chest.
We sat in silence for a while, it was a comfortable silence though. It seemed that now that there was reason to always be silent that is was less awkward. At least for me it was. Levi? Mmmm was his reply. He had his eyes closed and was playing with my hair. Do you think we're making good time? I ask. Yes we are, should be able to scavenge plenty on the first day or two. Why what's up? He asked in return. Nothing I told him, I was just curious. The real answer was that I wanted to know how much time I had before I had to make good on my promise. Levi didn't seem to care right now when I made good on it, he was just leaning into my chest and rubbing my back. I slid my hands into his hair and massaged his scalp slowly.
We sat like that for quite a while, sometimes he would bite or growl at me. He liked to tickle me, not enough to make me yell just enough to be mildly annoying. I slid off his lap and stood up. I'm going to check on Jake, see you in a bit. Libby was asleep but I could tell he was really awake. I ruffled his hair as I laid down beside him. No trouble I whispered, how about here? Everything was quiet here he whispered back. Will we be there tomorrow? he asked. No, we will get there the day after tomorrow. Probably early in the morning. Are you tired of riding in trucks? I asked smiling. He huffed at me and turned over. I wrapped my arm around him and we lay in silence listening to the Night.
Almost a hour later he had finally fallen to sleep. I quietly got out of the truck and walked back towards the chairs. Danny was sitting with Levi, he was smoking a rolled joint. He'd found some weed in an abandoned house, this was why I already decided I was staying up tonight. Danny said he didn't Mind sharing, as I sat down by them Danny handed me his joint. I took a hit and breathed in deeply. That feels so nice I said with my eyes closed. Levi chuckled at me, I smiled back and offered him the joint. He shook his head so I handed it back to Danny. I found cigarettes to, Danny said. I'm ok on that I don't smoke, I quit a few years ago I tell him. Hey no problem more for me. When we finished up the joint Danny leaned back and put his feet up on the small cooler we were using as a table. I'll take first watch he said.
Levi stood up and offered me his hand. I took it and he pulled me to my feet. Walk with me a bit? Sure I say and I follow as he leads me away from the trucks. We don't go to far, we parked the trucks off the rode in a small clearing next to some woods. Levi led me to the edge of the woods and walked along it. I walked beside him. The other day when he had freaked out on my was still in the front of my mind, he'd never answered who told him I wanted to stay there. It had to have been Johanna or Caleb they had been bothering me for days dropping hints about staying there. I was relieved when we drove away from camp.
We found a large fallen tree At the edge of the woods. Levi climbed up and then helped me up. He laid back and I laid in the crook of his arm, my head resting on his shoulder. The stars are so bright here, I said. The sky and stars will get even brighter now that human pollution isn't blocking the view. In all the sadness there was some beauty in watching nature reclaim the earth.
I smiled, I was always a serious climate activist so this actually makes me really happy, I tell him. He turns sideways to look at me. You probably wouldn't have liked me much, he told me. Why not? It was a minute before he answered. Well I didn't care much about anything, I was a hired gun for my dad. Aiden and I both were. All I cared about was training and reading gun magazines. I laughed a little at that just because I could so easily picture that. Was Aiden like that to? No he always had a sunnier disposition and he was interested in everything, it always bothered my dad when Aiden would get these wild ideas that had nothing to do with our life.
I smiled to myself. Well It did serve you well when the world ended I guess and you have saved me so it works out for me to. He finally cracked a smile. Yea I guess so, he said. Levi pushed himself up on one arm and looked over me. So you think I saved you, he asked.
Don't go getting a big head Levi, I'm not going to thank you for kidnapping me. I'm just saying life could be worse, much worse. Mmmm..I'm just going to take that as yes I did save you. I smirked at him. He leaned down and sweetly placed his lips on mine, when I kissed him back I could feel the change in him. Levi was intense without really trying to be. He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me up against him. I wrapped my arms around him, when I opened my eyes for a second I could see his eyes were glowing even though they were almost closed. I closed my eyes and gave into him, he kissed my neck my shoulders. Breathing normally was starting to become an issue, I could feel my body heating up and my some parts of me getting wet. Levi growled at me. Suddenly he stopped and sat up. Now my heart was beating for a different reason.
What is it? We aren't alone he whispers the dead are close, very close. I sit up and look around after a minute or so I start to see shadows in the woods. Slow moving shadows moving towards us. I look around, they are coming from all directions. Jacob is my first thought, I jump down off the tree and start moving towards camp. Levi grabs my arm, we are safer here until I kill these we are surrounded. I understand what he is saying but he does not understand that it's not a option for me. I look him in the eye, Levi let me go, Right Now. He sighs but let me go, I take off for the truck where my son is sleeping.