We arrived to the street as I see the apartment looks the same.
"It's that one right there …" I said as we were parked in front now.I see Bill look through the window as he quickly goes to call the others, the all ran downstairs to be at the front door.I got out with the help of Randel.Only me Randel, Anton and another man stepped out as the driver stayed in the car and the two other men who couldn't catch me.
"Hey there you guys are-" said Sue as he quickly saw us and went to take cover as Bill and Jordan joined them.
"Oh shit, Let him go scum bags ! " he yelled out as They aimed their guns, it was such a goofy- chaotic Mexican standoff.Only Randel and the other guy aimed as Anton said nonchalantly
"Put your guns down boys…." I quickly added on
"Sue it's okay , Christ I'm okay; they're friendly ! Now let us in !" Sue gave it a moment as he asked
"How do I know they ain't making you say that- and where the hell is Scarlett ?!?!…"
We all stood there in silence for a moment as Anton asked
"Who the hell is Scarlett …."
I quickly yelled back
"She's dead- she's dead Sue …..look I'd rather explain all this inside so for Christ sakes put down your weapons and let us in !" I said with s hit of anger as all three of them stopped taking cover and Sue approached to open the door.He opened it as Randel held the door for us, we entered as Sue asked
"Your friends in the car wanna come in ?" Anton walked in with me as he said
"Na they can wait there, we hopefully won't be long …"
We all entered the apartment complex as it looked a bit more different, more barricaded.
"Damn, place looks like a miniature version of our town, hehe…." Said Randel as Anton was smiling.
Sue and them felt shocked at what they've heard as he asked
"Did you say town, as in there's more of you out there ?"
They laughed as Anton replied
"That's right, now where can we have Bruce here lay down and rest ?"
Sue escorted us upstairs as Sue and Anton helped me up,
"So uhh, it's none of my business but uhh- who's Scarlett ? " asked Anton as I felt a bit embarrassed and replied
"I kind of feel it being a more personal conversation with my friend here if you don't mind …."
Anton felt a bit embarrassed as he backed off the topic and said
"Oh yea, I understand- I apologize …"
"It's alright …." I said as they got us back into our old apartment.They laid me in my room as I looked around and see all sorts sentimental items that belonged to her, I'm holding back tears.I laid on the bed as Anton read the room and let himself out, Sue slowly stood there and was building up the courage to ask
"Hey kid, what happened out there ?"
I sobbed a bit as I was curled up in a ball, Sue got closer as he tried to comfort me.
"It's alright my boy, let it all out, go ahead- it's okay, it's okay …." He held me close as I cried into his arms.I sobbed as I let out some words,
" I could've saved, I could've done something Sue ….ahhhh "
I just couldn't contain my emotions any longer as Sue kept comforting me, I wined like a pig.
"Hey hey, let it all out son, just tell me please, I want to know, what happened ?…."
I sobbed a bit as I cleared my throat and fixed my tone,
"Ahh, uh- I don't know how to say this, it was some men…..they attacked us, they beat me unconscious and when I awoke all I see her lifeless body, striped and beaten-" I stopped myself as I tried to stop myself from throwing up, I continued to cry more.Sue felt disgusted as he comforted me once again,
"It's okay, it's alright my boy….Christ ….."
Shortly after I slept in as Sue left in a discomfort, I slept for hours through the day.I awoke as I hear men in the home, I can only assume the worse.I walked out slowly as I looked in closet to get out a Browning Hi-Power I stashed.I slowly ran out and aimed the gun around as I saw Randel, Anton and his other friends hanging around the kitchen as they're all eating cereal, my damn cereal.
"Whoa !" Yelled put Anton as two of his men quickly aimed back, they were ready.
"Oh Christ….I'm sorry man- I'm sorry …."
I replied as I slowly put the pistol away, his men did as well.
"It's alright kid, we should've asked first huh …." Said Anton as he was referring to the cereal, I felt ashamed.I walked into the kitchen as it felt like a casual night in a normal household. Two men talking about old baseball games, Randel and another man were talking about girls that probably don't even exist anymore.Anton was eyeing me as I got myself a wattle bottle out of the run down fridge.
"Hey- listen man, we're leaving tomorrow and your boys are willing to come along only- only if you agree to it …."
I scoffed and replied
"The hell they need my approval, I ain't their dad …."
Anton laughed a bit and snidely remarked
"No you're their little brother, the one they always look after now a days …."
I felt a bit offended but shrugged it off as he continued to talk in front of his men.
"Well look, I didn't wanna say this out in the public but whoever your girl was- but ehhh….I promise you; whatever happened to her….shall have justice ….."
it was silent in the room as I looked around to see the men's reaction to what's being said.Some looked stunned and others looked determined with what Anton just promised.
I took a moment ad I exhaled and said
"Alright, we leave tomorrow …"
Anton had the biggest smile on his face as he replied
"Alright ….now if you don't mind, what rooms do we get huh ?"
Sue and Bill escorted Anton and his men to three different rooms that we had cleaned for a while now.
"Alright, Room 13, 14 and 15 ….y'all decide…."
Said Bill as the men acted like children on a field trip. Anton stayed behind for moment to talk with Bill and Sue,
"Aye listen…..this Scarlett, what more did you know about her ?"
Bill walked away in grief as Sue cleared his throat and replied
"Well…uhh for months now, we've been through a lot ….we're our own little survivors ….."
he said as Anton took every bit of information curiously.
"Yea and that girl, when this apocalypse started, they were still in high school you know and-and I can't lie to you ….they were very vibrant- a very odd but silly couple ….."
Sue had some tears starting as Anton said
"I'm sorry, Goodnight now; I'll let you go-"
Sue stopped as he said
"Hey, I'm sorry too man, it's just- that kid doesn't deserve this….no one does ….."
Anton turned as he lastly said
"Yea…..yea I know …."