The four others lead us into the woods.
"So what brought you into the mess of Atlanta?" One guy asked.
"Multiple reasons," I say, "the place we used to live is full of Walkers now. Not many safe places or other people."
"Walkers?" asked the guy with the accent.
"The things walking around that try to kill us," I explain.
"We call them other names like mindless corpses, freaks, geeks. You're the first person we've heard call them walkers," says the first guy.
"We should be getting close to the camp now," the guy with the accent looked over at me.
"Where are you from? I noticed your accent," I question.
"Russia, me and my sister both," he answered.
"Here we are. My name is Archer," the first man says as he took us to a space with a camp fire and some logs to sit on.
"Oh, do you shoot a bow?" Noah joked.
Archer laughed, "First time I've heard that one. Actually, I used to shoot a bow, but I never had the chance after this all started."
"We're back!" the Russian man announced.
Many faces walked into view from tents and from the trees, but one was a face I never thought I would see again. His brown wavy hair has grown out since the last time I saw him. His brown eyes still have the same glint when he smiled.
"Liam!" I exclaim, "I can't believe you're here." I walked over to him and we hugged.
"I missed you, Nico. I thought you were dead. Thea and Wyatt, they're here too. I'll go get them for you," my old friend walked into the trees and I turn to see Noah talking to a younger girl who looks a lot like him.
His sister, I thought.
Adira looked at me with a smile on her face. Her eyes said, I said you'd find them.
I smile back. I feel a pair of arms wrap around my stomach. I look down and see Wyatt, my ten year old son. Thea came into view, followed by Liam.
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That night after we were all introduced, we sat by the campfire. I sat between Thea and Wyatt. Thea to my left, Wyatt on my right.
Some of the campers were discussing what would happen tomorrow.
"Adrian and Coby have been gone for a while," Archer says, "Robert too. We can send two people into town for Adrian and Coby, then two more into the woods to look for Robert."
Katrina sat in silence. Robert is her husband, and he's been gone hunting for about four days. People are gone for three days at the most. Same with Adrian and Coby, but they went into the city for supplies.
"I can go into the city," I suggest.
"Slow down there Cowboy," says Liam, "you just got here and you already want to leave? Did we offend you or something?" The last part was a joke.
"I think I could help find them."
"If Nico is going then I am too," Noah glanced over at me.
"If you go then you'll need someone who's been in the city to go with you," Liam sighed, "Archer, you want to make a trip into the city?"
"I guess so," Archer shrugs.
"Okay then who's going to search for Robert?" Jackson questioned.
"If Robert isn't back by tomorrow, then I'll be one to go and look for him," Damien, the Russian guy, volunteered.
"I'll go with Damien," Lucina looked up at us.
"Okay, so we know who all is going in the morning," Liam stood, "We will prepare what you'll need in the morning, but as for now you need to sleep.
People stood and left for their tent. They already up a tent for Noah.
The tents were gathered around in a main area, close enough that we could hear if someone needed help.
I held Thea and Wyatt's hands as they took me to their tent. Inside we talked and caught up from the time we were apart. Thea and I sat on a cot across from Wyatt, who sat on a small cot.
My son leaned over and picked up something off he ground. What he held up was a brown cowboy hat with black leather bands. He handed it over to me, "I grabbed it in case you didn't come back and I never saw you again, but you should take it back."
I took that hat in my hands, "Thank you. I'll let you borrow it from time to time."
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The next morning the three of us who are going into town packed up. I said goodbye to Thea, Wyatt, and the rest of the camp before we got in the cop car I brought.
Archer is behind the wheel because he knows his way around town, "I have an idea of where they are. There's a store that the two go two. That's where they usually get supplies. I'm gonna take us there. It's not too far into the city, but we'll still have to keep a look out."
Most of the ride into the city was quiet. I looked out the window and at the city. Some of the buildings were collapsing or had already collapsed, but the majority are still standing.
Archer pulled us into the parking lot of a small but decent sized store.
We walk in, weapons ready, and look around for them.
"Coby? Adrian!" shouted Archer.
No answer.
"Is there anywhere else they go to?" Noah asked as he looked down the aisles.
"When they stay nights here they stay in a building near here. We can go check there," Archer called one last time for the two, but there was still no answer, "I'm being serious, if you're here then come out so we can go. I'm talking to you, Adrian!" When there was no answer he just shook his head and said, "Let's just go check the other building."
We walked out of the store and I started to walk back to the car when Archer looked back at me and said, "we could just walk there, it's not too far."
He lead us to a two story, black, brick building that was a couple of houses down from the store.
The inside of the building Archer called for them as I looked around with Noah.
A noise that sounded like someone shuffling around came from the other side of the door I was standing by.
I turn to Noah and he drew an arrow. I open the door, keeping myself out of the way, and Noah let the arrow fly once he saw the walker.
"Was that...." I didn't finish my sentence.
Archer examined the body of the walker and shook his head, "But if there's one then that could mean there's more, and that they could still be walkers."
"We're the windows always broken?" I question.
"No. I was with them the last trip they made and they weren't. It happened this trip," he stood.
I was starting to hear a noise in the distance. It sounded like a car alarm? It was getting closer.
"What's that?" Noah looked to Archer.
"I don't know. It's new, I can tell you that."
I look out one of the broken windows and saw a black mustang speeding down the road in front of us. The driver has black curls like mine but way messier. I can't see him too well, but I can see a pair of sunglasses on his face.
"Who is that?" I asked.
"That would be Adrian," Archer sighed in relief, "but Coby isn't with him."
"Is he trying to attract walkers to us?" I asked.
"Who knows with Adrian? He's a bit unstable." Archer starts going for the door.
When we were out of the building, we heard gunshots and shouting. Archer tried to get Adrian's attention and he did. He rolled the window and said, "Coby is on the way and our stuff is in there!" Adrian pointed to a garage and sped back off.
We rushed into the garage and grabbed the bags and the few boxes there were.
Noah lifted the garage door a little so he could see when Coby pulled up in a truck.
He lifted up the garage door and we put the stuff in the back of the truck then jumped in. Coby has gotten out but then saw us there and gave us a gun. He then jumped back behind the wheel and drove us off.
"Are you a good shot, cowboy?" Archer hands the gun to me.
I remembered I'm wearing my hat and laughed a little, "Yeah I can shoot, but I have my own gun." Archer nodded and took the gun for himself.
"Are you not gonna ask me if I'm a good shot?" joked Noah.
"Oh did you want the gun?" Archer genuinely asked.
"No I'm good. I was just joking around with you."
If any walker got too close to us, Archer and I shot them between the eyes.
The trip back was as good as it could get.
I could hear Adrian's car alarm going off in the distance.
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Once we arrived I got out and started carrying some of the supplies. I could hear yelling up ahead.
"Turn that car alarm off, Adrian! You're going to attract every walker in Atlanta to our camp!" Liam yelled over the sound.
"I'm gonna, calm down," Adrian responded.
"Hurry up!"
"I'm trying!"
The alarm finally went silent and Liam said, "It took you long enough."
"Who are the new people?" Adrian looked back to me and Noah. He took his sunglasses off.
Liam introduced us to each other.
By now Adira was back, "Who set off a car alarm?"
"Who's this chick?" Adrian asked.
"My name is Adira Johanson"
"Well, I'm Adrian Lister."