In the class room president's group had grown larger over the past two months, since they had rescued more survivors from the town. Theyhad established a base there, and they were preparing for a major operation to clear the area of zombies. They had also trained themselves to be ready for any danger that might come their way. This was done thanks for the military who have joined force, the captain of the 4 soldiers seems to like the classroom president's leading, that's why he decided to make her the leader.
And she did a good job leading the group, it had become larger since then, with her kind heart, quick thinking and good decision making skills, she didn't disappoint the captain. The civilians joined them as they had the military with them.
To out side, as planned to head to another town tomorrow, hoping to find more resources. We packed our bags and loaded our vehicle, we used the pickup truck only. leaving Jenny and Andy behind to take care of the animals. We drove along the highway, which was relatively clear of obstacles, unlike the one that passed through our town. We headed northwest, following the map we drew that we downloaded before the internet went offline.
The drive was smooth, and we only encountered a few minor problems, such as crashed cars or roadblocks. We avoided them as much as possible, and we didn't encounter any zombies or hostile humans. We decided to camp for the night, as it was getting dark and we didn't want to risk driving in the dark.
We set up our tents and started a fire, using some woods we had brought with us. We cooked some canned food and ate together, sharing stories and jokes. We felt a sense of camaraderie and hope, despite the bleak situation we were in.
Lily, the youngest of our group, was especially excited about the trip. She was curious and adventurous, and she loved to explore new places. She asked Nana, her twin, "Isn't this fun, Nana? It's like an adventure!"
Nana, who was more cautious and reserved, nodded and replied, "Yeah, it's quite an adventure. But we have to be careful, too. There might be dangers ahead."
I smiled, listening to their conversation. They were both good kids, thou they are already teens, we still treat them like a kid. I felt protective of them, like their father😢, I am the leader of this group, and I felt responsible for their lives. I had to make sure we were prepared for anything.
I offered to take the first watch that night, as I wanted to make sure everyone was safe and sound. I said, "I'll keep an eye on the surroundings tonight."
Steff, she become the the second-in-command of our group, gave me a reassuring pat on the shoulder and said, "Alright, Souta. Don't worry, we'll take turns. You should get some rest too."
Amy, who was the most cheerful and energetic of our group, exclaimed with infectious enthusiasm, "Yay! We'll sleep in Souta's lap!"
I raised an eyebrow, surprised by her request. I asked, "Why?"
Amy replied, bouncing on her toes, "Because it's fun! And warm! And comfy!"
Steff intervened, not wanting any unnecessary tension. She said, "Hey now, Amy, don't bother Souta. He needs some space too."
Amy teased, pushing Steff's buttons, "Oh, really? So, you don't want to sleep on Souta's lap too?"
Steff blushed, her frustration apparent. She said, "What? Who wants to sleep on his lap anyway? Stoo being a child Amy" she said hiding her face.
I chuckled, amused by their antics. I said, "Alright, alright, you two can sleep on my lap. Let's not fight. There's enough room for both of you."
Amy cheered, and Steff just nodded in agreement. The two girls snuggled up to me, using my lap as a makeshift pillow. I let out a small sigh, watching them with a mix of exasperation and fondness. We slept on the back of the pick up truck, we set the tent there, we're cautious that a zombie might suddenly bite us when we're not on guard after all. Using the back of the pickup truck will let us detect them as they would first climb.
I wondered, "What's so fun about sleeping on my lap anyway? Well, I guess if I get to see these cute faces, it's fine."
I wrapped my arms around them, feeling their warmth and softness ;) I felt my heart melt, despite myself. I thought, "Maybe this is what family feels like." As I look at the clear sky, stars are everywhere, the world really changed huh… as the brightness of the moon light us.
I looked up at the sky, admiring the moon. It was bright and beautiful, shining in the darkness. I felt a sense of awe and gratitude, and I murmured, "I really love the moon."
Steff, who was lying on my lap, heard me and asked, "Why do you love the moon, Souta?"
I smiled and explained, "Well, it's the moon. It gives us light in this darkness, even though it's just the reflection of the sun. But without the moon, the reflection wouldn't shine, right? That's why I love the moon. It's like a symbol of hope and harmony and gives us light in the darkness"
Amy, who was on my other side lap, chimed in, "I also love the moon, if Souta loves it. Then I would also love it."
Steff nodded and said, "Me too. I would also love the moon, if Souta loves it."
I chuckled and said, "This makes us moon lovers, then."
They both giggled and cuddled closer to me. I felt their warmth and affection, and I hugged them back. I said, "You two should sleep now. We have to wake up early tomorrow."
They nodded and said in unison, "Okay, then. Good night, Souta. I love you."
They both kissed me on the cheek, and I kissed them back on the forehead. I said, "Good night, both of you. I love you two more."
We had a hearty breakfast in the morning, before resuming our journey toward the other town. We hoped to find more useful items and maybe some other survivors there. We drove for a few hours, following the signs and the map. By lunchtime, we had reached the outskirts of the town, and we parked our vehicles near a gas station. We ate some sandwiches and chips, and discussed our plan of exploration.
We decided to scout the area first, to see how many zombies were there and where they were located. We needed a high vantage point, so we looked for a house with a roof access. We found one nearby. Steff volunteered to go, as she was the most agile from us. She took a pair of binoculars and scanned the town.
She reported back using the walkie-talkie, "The zombies seem concentrated near the police station, probably because of the sirens and the guns. There aren't that many zombies around, maybe a few dozens. The town looks pretty deserted, though. I don't see any signs of life."
"Alright, thanks, Steff. Come down, then. Let's go check the houses," I said.
Steff jumped down. She got back into our vehicles and we drove slowly toward the town's entrance. We split into three groups, to cover more ground. I would go solo, while Amy and Steff formed a team. Lily and Nana would stay behind and keep an eye on the vehicles and the surroundings.
We agreed to communicate through our walkie-talkies, and to meet back at the gas station before nightfall. We also agreed to loot only the houses that were unlocked or had broken windows, to avoid making too much noise. We armed ourselves with our guns and melee weapons, and we started our search.