"Kid, you want to live right?" I asked
"I already know that I'll die… but if I have a chance of living, even if it's just a small chance. I'll do it!" He said, determined, but can't hide he's scared face.
I was going to cut off the boy's foot, and hope that it would stop the infection from spreading. It was a risky and painful procedure, but it was the only chance he had. I had saw some cases where people had survived after amputating their infected limbs, but I did not know if they were true or not since it's just in the movies. I was willing to try, though, after all if this could work, that just means that we could cut the bite before it infected us.
I wrapped a cloth around the boy's foot, just above the bite mark. I tied it tightly, and lifted his foot up. I was trying to reduce the blood flow, and prevent the virus from reaching his brain.
Amy and Steff arrived, carrying some supplies and weapons. They saw what I was about to do, and they gasped. They looked horrified and disgusted,
"What happened?" Amy asked, her voice trembling.
"He got bitten by a zombie. We have to cut his foot off." I explained, briefly.
"That's fcked up" Shana said while looking at us on the wall, I asked her to stay on guard as they might still have some companions with them.
"Hold him down, and prepare the medicines." I said, as I put on some gloves that I have in my first aid kit on my belt.
"Here, I have the medicines." Andy said, as he came back with a bag. He had gone to get some antiseptic, gauze, bandages, and painkillers. He had also brought a cloth, which we stuffed into the boy's mouth. We did not want him to scream, and attract any zombies or raiders.
I counted to three "Good, In my count of 3, 3, 2" without even going to 1, I immediately cut his foot with my katana. I swung my katana. I sliced through the boy's foot, with one swift and clean cut. He jerked and writhed, but Christopher held him down. He muffled his screams, but I could still hear them. They were loud and agonizing, and they made me feel sick.
I quickly applied some antiseptic to the wound, and wrapped it with gauze and bandages. I gave him some painkillers, and hoped they would work. I did not know if he would survive, or if he would turn. I did not know if I had done the right thing, or if I had made a mistake.
I looked at him, and saw that he was unconscious. He was pale and sweaty, and his breathing was shallow. He looked like he was dying, and I felt sorry for him.
I looked at Christopher, and saw that he was worried. He was holding the boy's hand, and whispering something to him. He looked like he cared for him, and I felt sorry for him too.
I looked at the woman, and the baby, and saw that she were shocked and scared. They were watching us, and wondering what we would do to them. They looked like they were innocent and helpless, and I felt sorry for them as well.
I looked at Amy, Steff, and Andy, and saw that they were worried and sad. They were standing by my side, and supporting me.
I looked at myself, and saw that I was tired and confused. I was holding my katana, and feeling its weight. I looked like I was a leader and a survivor, and I felt proud of myself.
But I also felt something else. Something that I did not like. Something that I did not want to admit.
I felt a doubt. A doubt about myself, and my decisions. A doubt about our future, and our fate. A doubt about our humanity, and our morality.
I wondered if I had done the right thing, or if I had made a mistake. To do an experiment on a kid, is this how I've become?
"You really exceed my expectations" Shana said to herself as she smoke her cigarette and continue to look around with the hunting rifle.
I decided to take the newcomers to the living room, where we could talk and get to know each other better. I wanted to find out more about them, and see if they were trustworthy or not. I also wanted to give them a chance to explain themselves.
Glancing at Amy, who is carrying the boy in a stretcher with Jenny. "Keep an eye on the kid, give me a shout if anything changes," I instructed, not wanting to show my doubt about his chances.
Amy then put him in a room near the living room, with the door opened. And she holding her pistol. She already made the resolve to kill him if he turned.
I hoped he would be okay, but I was not optimistic. I had a feeling that he would not make it, or that he would turn into a zombie. It's been 2 hours since he got bitten after all.
told Steff and Andy to come with me, and watch the newcomers. I asked them to be alert and ready, in case they tried anything funny. I did not trust them, and I was not going to let them out of my sight.
Steff and Andy trailed behind me as we settled in. led the newcomers to the living room, where we had a couch, a TV, and a fireplace. It was a cozy and comfortable place, where we usually relaxed and enjoyed ourselves.
I told them to sit on the couch, and I sat on a chair across from them. Steff and Andy stood behind me, holding their guns. We looked at them, and they looked at us. There was a tense and awkward silence, which I broke.
The room felt both welcoming and guarded, a mix of comfort and caution, I cut through the tension. "So, who are you, and what are you doing here?" I asked them, in a calm and stern voice.
They looked at each other, and then at me. They seemed nervous and scared, but they also seemed sincere and remorseful. They started to talk, and tell me their story.
The woman then started. "I'm Isabella, used to be a teacher. Chris here was a mechanic. We're just two wanderers trying not to get eaten or killed."
Christopher picked up, "Lost our families, found a village but got separated by a damn horde. Starved, froze, and got sick more times than I can count. Found this place by chance, I saw the sign, and hoped there were people here."
Isabella chimed in, "We lied because we were scared that you guys might be bad people. We're not bad people— just desperate ones."
They spilled their guts about their struggles, their hopes, and their lies. Isabella looked at me with earnest eyes, "We just want a safe place for our baby, Noah…" she said with a sad expression and sincere.
I leaned back, studying their faces. They told me all these things, and they looked at me with hopeful and pleading eyes. They asked me to believe them, and to forgive them. They asked me to trust them, and to accept them. They asked me to help them, and to let them stay.
I listened to them, and I looked at them. I saw their faces, and I heard their voices. I saw their expressions, and I felt their emotions. I saw their fear, and their pain. I saw their hope, and their gratitude. I saw their sincerity, and their remorse.
I looked at them, and I felt something. Something that I did not expect. Something that I did not want.
I felt a sympathy. A sympathy for them, and their situation. A sympathy for their losses, and their struggles. A sympathy for their dreams, and their wishes.
I felt a sympathy, and I wondered what to do. I wondered if I should believe them, and forgive them. I wondered if I should trust them, and accept them. I wondered if I should help them, and let them stay.
I wondered what to do, and I looked at Amy, Jenny, Steff, and Andy. I looked at my friends and family, and I waited for their opinions. I waited for their advice, and their support. I waited for their answers, and their votes. Amy and Jenny who is staying on the other room nearby nodded while Andy and Steff stayed still. Making me the final decision.
"So, you want us to believe you, trust you, and let you stay?"
They nodded, and I caught the mix of fear and hope in their eyes.
"Well, here's the deal," I said, letting the weight hang in the air. "You got skills, and we could use some extra hands. But trust ain't built on lies. If we let you stay, honesty is your ticket in. We'll give you a shot, but one wrong move, and you're out. Got it?"
They nodded again, relief washing over their faces. It was a gamble, but maybe, this could be a good thing for us. The air hung thick with the weight of unspoken agreements and newfound alliances.