"Hi there." A stranger came up to me as I was feeding myself jello, about to do a full mouth. Swallowing it, I stared at her. With silky blond hair, the girl possessed a bright smile and a courteous manner.
"I'm Eva... Eva Johnson. My dad is a mechanic. He knows how to repair stuff." She stated.
Sitting next to me was my brother who was busy assembling a rifle after he did a proper cleaning routine. She was heading for my brother.
"Then could you disassemble some of the usable parts in those wreck vehicles?" He said as he pointed in the direction of the broken-down vehicle. She turned to look at where he was pointing.
Her eyes seem to be comprised of excitement and desperation to find some work to do since there's nothing for a girl like her to do anything that is physically demanding. She looked jacked-up, especially her muscled thigh but unfortunately, she's a little shorter than me.
Without further ado, she jerked up and went to her designated work immediately.
With her away, I tapped my brother on his shoulder.
"I'm going to go on an expedition," I told my brother but he was caught astonished at my sudden response.
"Hold on!" he immediately butted in, "Who's going to defend this place?"
"Who knows," I responded, "You got a whole bunch of ammunition and weapons from the previous battle so maybe you and your people defend it."
"But not many of us are experienced." He retorted.
"Doesn't mean you couldn't kill one or two." I replied, "It is merely all on strategic planning whenever you're involved in the battle. If you want people to trust you more, you have to be an amazing leader."
"But..." I raised my hand to halt him from saying anything any further.
"That's that." I continued, "You should become less reliant on someone like me. This is for your people." I mentioned the word 'people'. "You wanted to become a capable leader, don't you? You wanted to protect yourself and your family."
"But you're my only family left." It looks like he's quite anxious about the fact that I'm preparing to leave him alone once again.
"You don't have just me. You have her." I said as I pointed a finger towards the girl behind him, standing while holding onto the pole but when she noticed me looking at her, she immediately evaded by ducking back to avoid eye contact.
"Oh." As if a sudden realization came to him,
"Yes, I know, don't forget about who is incapable of protecting themselves," I mentioned,
"You have to protect someone precious to you first because they couldn't protect themselves."
"Then where are you going?" He asked.
"Somewhere to look for supplies. I'm going on a scavenge." I answered him.
"Then I guess see you later then." He looked down as if trying to fight against his struggle with trying to keep his sister from leaving him.
"I'll get go then." I stood up and strolled away, waving back just to send him a 'goodbye' before I depart.
....
Walking into the room holding the captured raiders, I knocked on the door and it was immediately opened. Walking in, I noticed the lighting of the room is rather dim, in front of me were two of the prisoners we captured.
Pulling a chair in front of the two and sitting down.
"Where is your camp?" I inquired.
"We'll take you there. I'm not familiar with the layout of this area." He answered immediately after I asked him.
"How can I trust you?"
"I'm in no position to lie right now. There is nowhere for me to return to so this is my only choice or I will either a meaningless death." His response is quite believable but whether it is believable or not, it is when the actual evidence is shown.
"Sure, I'll play your game. Show me the way." As I stood up and grabbed the collar of his shirt, looking straight into his eyes, "If you lied to me and there is nothing there, I'll carve your skin off and feed it to the walkers near that place." He smirked at what I just said and responded, "Sure but you're probably the one that will chew it first before the other zombies can since you will turn into one." raising my eyebrows and stared at the man's confident self. "Oh?" With a half-smirk plastered on my face, strikes a fist into his stomach, making him groan in pain.
"Didn't expect that did you?" I can see his contorted face, looking at me with anger brewing inside him.
"I'll return that." He said while squirming to stand straight on his feet because I was putting his neck on a hold underneath my armpit.
"Oh yeah?" I squeezed his neck harder to suffocate him. His face now bloomed with redness and he appeared to be trying to catch a breath.
"MmMM..sto....p..stoooo.." I heard a sound from his throat, telling me to stop. I released my hold and he fell on the ground, catching his breath.
"Be sure not to be so confident, it wouldn't help you well." I smiled before I walked out of the room and let the two be escorted.
I walked by my brother when he waved his palm towards me but was caught in surprise when he noticed the two behind me handcuffed and escorted towards the vehicle in front.
"I gotta go now." waving at him. "Be sure to keep this place safe." encouraging him.
By the time I was about to reach the vehicle, I halted my steps and turned around. Out of nowhere, I kicked the muscled guy's comrade and told, "You! No need to follow. I only need him." I held up a condescending smile. The man stared with a smirk as if he expected me to do this.
The escorter tossed the guy into the vehicle and closed the door. I hopped in and turned on the engine, waving for the last time before stepping on the gas pedal and driving off.
....