CHAPTER 9: Preparations and a meeting.
I woke up and checked the clock placed on a table near me.
"Holy shit! It's 3 in the afternoon!"
I scratched my head in frustration as I missed my daily activities due to oversleeping. Then, the curtain that conceals my room opened, and Judy emerged.
"Oh, good, you're awake. Get up, you got some visitors."
She then went out as quickly as she emerged.
"Visitors?" I said, confused as no one informed me they're coming. Shaking my head, I got up from bed and started changing my clothes. I already showered last night to clean the lingering smell of blood.
I went out of my room, and I froze in shock to who the visitors were.
"Wha-what are you guys doing here?" I asked Lucas and the others. Lucas and the rest made a confused face, and Lucas stepped forward and spoke.
"Did you not get the message?"
"Message?" I asked my head tilted like that of a dig as if tilting your head would make you understand what it is.
"Sigh*.... so you didn't, judging from your reaction." Said Lucas he then turned to Jane and the rest.
"So, who wanna explain this to him?" Said Lucas and the rest shook their head. And Lucas just sighed in resignation.
"Right, well, help you in getting Hope back. But, remember our deal. She'll visit us every holiday."
I stretched, and bones popped in a pleasant way, causing me to groan in pleasure. "Sure, might as well spend our holidays over there. Like when I used to visit my grandparents, "
"Are you calling us old?" Mike said his with a hint of anger and annoyance.
"Your words, not mine." I said while raising both my hands.
Mike frowned and gritted his teeth. "You F- Oof!" Mike rubber the spot where he is punch.
"I told you be nice," Jane sternly said.
I smiled and said to Mike "Yeah Mike, why don't you listen to Bis sis Jan-El." I then silently snickered along with Lucas and the others.
"You! I told you don't call me that! Only Hope can call me by that name!" Jane said, pointing at me, her face filled with irritation, though you can see some amusement in her eyes.
"Right, enough joking." Said Max who has been quiet throughout this while ordeal. "We need to make a plan if we want to get Hope back." She added.
"Can't we just talk to Aimee?" said Mike, opting for a more passive approach.
"No, what do you think will Aimee think if we just suddenly appear in front of her sacred abode?" Lucas retorted.
"I agree with Lucas, Aimee might think negatively, and she might even try and escape from the preserve if she made an emergency escape room or something." I said. I then quickly added "Right what if we did this...."
A Few Sessions Later..
"Right, this is our final plan." I said as I looked at the drawing board that was filled with a probably full proof plan. Then, I looked at Lucas's group for their final confirmation.
"Right."
"Yup."
"No one objections here."
"Agreed."
The four friends answered. And that left Judy, who is eating on a can of b
Peach pie.
"What?"
"Sigh*, Are you even listening, Judy?"
I ask a little irritated as I expected everyone to listen and join in on the plan.
Judy then let out a small chuckle. "Excuse me? I didn't know I'm gonna be a part of this mission. And to further prove my point, I don't have anything to add to this point. I'm useless in the front line! I don't have any fighting abilities or any of that shit. And the only thing I can do is be slightly good at science and making wine and tea! So, no! I don't need to listen to this whole bona-fide plan of yours!" Judy said as she was heaving, out of breath, and the cause of it was her rant.
I stepped back a little, not expecting Judy to suddenly go angrily rant in front of us. The Strange gang is looking at each other, uncomfortable and unsure of what to do.
"Ok... sure, you can stay here. And when we come back, we'll make sure Hope is with us safe and sound. Then you'll get to meet her. Does that sound good?" I said calmly said to quell her rising anxiety and anger.
Judy nodded repeatedly. "Yeah... yeah.... that sounds good." Her body visibly relaxing.
"Good,now how about you get some sleep? You must be tired from being awake early without caffeine." I coaxed her and requested for her to rest and well deal with the rest.
"Hmmm, that sounds good..." Judy replied hazily before getting up and going to Hope's room to get some sleep.
"Phew." The Strange gang simultaneously let out a breath they didn't know they were holding.
"Man, that woman's scary." Said Lucas. With Mike agreeing "Yeah she's much more scarier than Max and Jan-" Mike stopped as he heard the words that came out of his running mouth then he looked at Jane and Max and the only thing he can see is his inevitable death.
"Good luck, man x2." Lucas and I said to Mike before heading out to visit the town that I meticulously took care of when Hope and I used to stay here before we went with The Strange gang.
When we arrived at the town it was... well nostalgic... I didn't get a good look before as I'm focused on finding Judy, but now that we came here to see it's condition I can't help but appreciate its unique beauty. It is a kind of beauty where you can see nature taking its course once again and seeing the structures that once stood like a mountain collapse and dissappear over time.
Lucas and I shared stories while strolling through town while admiring its beauty.
"What have you been up to in these past months?" Asked Lucas.
I put my hand on my chin and posed in a thinking position. "Hmmm, well, I met a hybrid named Gus, and he's the first hybrid to be born. I also discovered how the virus came to be. Although, it's lacking in some area." I then looked at Lucas, whose face was in the five stages of grief, and returned his question. "What about you?"
Lucas shook his head and smiled. "Ah man, I don't know here to start... oh yeah, let's start from there...." Lucas then cleared his throat and spoke. "Well... I'm still curing Max's blindness so there's that, and Mike and I have been renovating 'The fort', adding some traps and defenses and thicker walls....."
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The sun shines dimly as the stars become radiant, and the moons light slowly replaces the ever dimming light of the sun.
"Guys? Over." Said ???
"Hm?" I hummed and glanced at the Walkie on Lucas' back pocket. Lucas took it and said.
"What is it? Over." Asked Lucas through the Walkie.
"It's Max, and we have a big problem. Over." Max' voice came through the talkie, her tone visibly troubled.
Lucas and I frowned, and then Lucas replied, "we'll return, then tell us there what this problem is. Over and out."
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Lucas and I returned to the cabin, and their faces are solemn, Max spoke first. "We can't get Hope back."
I frowned. "What? Why? Tell me." I said. My face shows concern and worry and confusion.
"It's the Last Men... they took over the preserve." Said Max, her eyes filled with tears that are threatening to come out. "And according to some sources, Aimee escaped."
"We need a new plan." This time, Lucas spoke.
"Yes, we do, and we need it fast." Then Mike with Jane beside him face contorted to irritation.
"Ugh! If I just have my powers..." Jane said.
"Right. Well, discuss this tomorrow. We need to rest our minds." I said to make them at ease, though, for a moment.
They all collectively agreed, and the Strange gang said that they'll rest in their RV. Jess eyes widened, though not so much, as he recalled a sad event.
I sat down my bed and thought of a plan. 'I can't let them go... it's too dangerous... and Aimee, I bet she's drawing up some plan too to save her 'kids'... I need to find her... Looking back to our meeting, Max talked about her background, and she's some sort of a therapist... so she could be there as it's close to the preserve...'
With that, I packed a duffel bag and opened a false floor beneath my bed, and took out an M107 and 3 boxes full of .50 BMG cartridges and placed them in the duffel bag. I then proceeded to take a blanket for me to lay on and some basic necessities such as water and some can of pork beans. And also a walkie. After I packed everything, I left a note saying I'm going to find Aimee and for them not to follow me. 'Which I hope they'll follow.'
I left at 2 in the morning, grabbing my motorbike and walking far enough so they won't hear the roar of my bikes engine.
It took 6 hours to arrive at Essex, and I decided to stay at one of the tall buildings near the preserve to get a proper scope of the surroundings.
I set up my M107 and placed the cartridges near for a quick and easy reload. Then, I heard several vehicles approaching the preserve.
I took a look at my scope and saw Abbot riding in one of them. I had an urge to pull the trigger, but I stopped myself. Then I looked at the next vehicle and found…
"Dad?" I said almost in disbelief as I saw him then felt a strong feeling of Incandescence as I realized that he's alive and he didn't even bother to find us."If he's alive then… where's mom?" I said, my voice almost shaking at the thought of her dying and him still alive.
I retreated from my rifle and stood up. I then went down to take a breather.
"Inhale…. Exhale…" I muttered to myself, feeling overwhelmed about everything that is currently happening.
I then heard another vehicle, though this one is farther. I quickly returned to my spot and took a look through the scope.
"Ah… there you are, Aimee." I said, smiling ever so little as I watched her stop at a building.
"Finally, I'll meet my sisters foster mother." Then I quickly packed everything up and headed towards where Aimee is. I grabbed my walkie and found the channel where Aimee' walkie is… Well, I hope it's hers.
"Aimee Eden?" I said then I waited for a reply but nothing came so I continued to speak.
"This is Hope's brother. I want to speak with you… I'm heading to your direction now. Don't shoot."
TO BE CONTINUED!
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Back to school is nearing so I might stop uploading for awhile as I'll be focusing on school.