"So, as far as I can tell, it looks like we have civilizations at all major points. All Churches have some group of people within them, the Catholics and the Christians. They're small groups, but I've traded canned food with them for other resources for the past half a year when we first got that truck," Trevor said to Dad while trudging through trees in the back path to the school.
As we came across it, I remembered that time Jack Waters tackled me down this hill. It really was crazy looking back and remembering that Jack was a member of Vincent's group... and if his goal was to kill me, he would've.
It echoed in my child-like mind that I shouldn't always be unsuspecting, as it could've gotten me killed. I couldn't stop thinking about that, how just a moment of distraction was enough to kill me.
Trevor walked close to Dad with Dustin behind him the entire time, and Mom walked with her gun out, pointed down at the floor while walking to the side of the both of them. Uncle Brandon had his cool gun slung over the front of his body on the strap, waiting to be used by his eager finger over the grip of the gun, and resting on the guard to the trigger.
"Do you propose that we create a safe community for Catholics and Christians alike? We could get them to follow so long as they can bring their faith with them," Dad told Trevor.
"It's their lives on the line, I don't understand why they wouldn't follow us to safety, right?" Trevor asked Dad. He was very expressive with his hands, throwing them all around while talking about this new group of people.
"It's not our place to force them out of their comfort. If their faith is telling them to go to a place of worship for the end times, then that's that, I won't intrude, but it doesn't hurt to ask. If we avoid places like that for the time being until we have the manpower and resources to build churches, what else do we have on the western front of the school? Grocery stores, outposts, anything at all?" Dad asked him next.
We cleared the fence to end up back home and I was the last one in, closing it and securely locking it in case of anything going wrong. My guard was still up, and I carefully watched around everywhere.
One second of distraction... I couldn't rid myself of the thought.
"A Meijer might be a good place, right? It's large enough to have everything you could ever want. We'll check there first. On the way, we'll stop at every store we can," Dad said to everybody. We were getting pretty far into the soccer field when Ernesto and Grace waved to us from the building.
"Guys! Somebody is here to see you!" Grace yelled out. She waved her hands back and forth with a tiny bounce, and from behind the two of them stood a group of three people... one of them looking very familiar.
"Charlie Weiss, right? My son said you were Leon's father," We got closer and as I watched the new man greet my dad, my eyes turned toward my old friend group's leader, Khalil Denver.
"You're... alive..." Cody said before I could even open my mouth. It wasn't common for our friend group to hug each other, but I couldn't help but join in the group hug that came up as soon as it clicked in my mind that Khalil had lived through everything.
"Any friend of my sons is a friend of mine. My wife and I would love to join what you have here... and, Mister Ernesto here already gave me the run down, don't worry," Khalil's Dad laughed earnestly. He had a hearty chuckle from the pits of his stomach that I almost joined him in, laughing as well.
"I'm glad to hear we have new allies to join us as well. We have a council here that makes the decisions around here, I'd love for both of you to join. It's nice to formally meet you guys, I'm sure you know my name, but it's Charlie Weiss," Dad shook both Khalil's parent's hands and then looked back into the school.
"Most recently, we've been dealing with the threat that is Vincent across the way at the High School, and an important step in this process is getting more communities together to push him out of his tyrannical ways," Dad explained. He opened the door for everybody, and again, I was the last one in right before him.
"You've had run-ins with this Vincent guy? Do we know for sure that he's tyrannical? Not that I don't trust you, it's just that I'd like to know what we're dealing with," Khalil's Dad asked mine.
We caught him up with everything going on, specifically outlining that we'd been attacked by one of Vincent's scouts beforehand and that we recruited Trevor and Dustin from a new mission we just finished up. Khalil's Dad was excited to be a part of our new cause, as he seemed to have a strong sense of direction.
"Got it, you have my support. These are good people, right Khalil?" His Dad asked him. Khalil's Dad pat him on the back, reminiscent of how my dad did to me.
"I'm glad you guys joined up with us, it's going to mean a lot when we start to open the world up. We'll start with trade and exploration, I hope you're good with people," Dad said. He walked further into the school, and I closely followed behind.