Chris finished unloading the last of the supplies from the truck and cast a glance toward the office building. Kate was still upstairs. He leaned against the truck, his arms crossed, and sighed. He knew this was going to be rough. Kate wasn't just revealing a secret; she was cracking open the fragile trust that kept the group together after Morrison's betrayal. He only hoped it wouldn't shatter completely.
Kate hesitated just outside the door, her hand resting on the handle. Her heart raced as she replayed the words she'd practiced in her head. Just tell the truth, Kate. Let it out. Face the fallout.
Finally, she steeled herself, pushed open the door, and stepped inside. Marcus sat at his desk, leaning back in his chair, his sharp gaze immediately locking onto her. Daniels stood to his left, her arms crossed, while Amelia leaned casually against the wall, her eyes narrowing as they landed on Kate.
"Kate," Marcus said, his tone neutral. "You are back early, i thought you went for a couple days?".
She closed the door behind her and walked to the center of the room." yeah the market have everything we need and still have tons of supply there, we should sent more people there."
Amelia look at Kate with a big smile " that's good news, i just thought to ask Marcus let me bring some people to start looking for more supply"
Kate look around and feel their eyes bore into her. She took a deep breath. "We need to talk."
Marcus straightened, his expression hardening. "This sounds serious."
"It is," Kate replied, trying to keep her voice steady. "And it's long overdue."
Daniels exchanged a glance with Amelia, and both women tensed. Marcus gestured for her to continue.
Kate hesitated for only a second before diving in. "I've been keeping something from all of you. Something that could change everything."
The silence that followed was suffocating. Marcus's jaw tightened, his fingers drumming lightly against the desk. Daniels unfolded her arms, her brow furrowing in suspicion.
"We're listening," Marcus said, his voice calm but edged with tension.
Kate shifted her weight, her fingers fidgeting at her sides. "There's a school. It's a place I've been working to protect—a refuge, a safe haven. we are scouting for more people.That's why Chris and I here. i can't just bring anyone we meet back, I've kept it hidden because I wasn't sure how the group would react."
Marcus's fingers stopped drumming. His gaze sharpened, and Daniels took a step forward, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. "You've been lying to us this whole time? Running side missions for some secret group without telling anyone?"
Kate turned to Daniels, her jaw tightening. "It wasn't about lying. It was about keeping them safe. You've seen what people do when they know about a resource like this. They take. They destroy. I couldn't let that happen."
"And you didn't trust us enough to share this?" Daniels snapped. "You're supposed to be one of us, Kate!"
Amelia, who had been silent until now, spoke up, her voice icy. "After Morrison, do you have any idea what it feels like to hear this? Another secret? Another lie?"
"This isn't like Morrison!" Kate shot back, her voice rising. "I wasn't doing this for myself. I wasn't selling anyone out. I was trying to protect people—people who can't fight for themselves."
"Enough," Marcus said, his voice cutting through the argument like a knife. The room fell silent as all eyes turned to him. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk, his expression unreadable. "so this is what you hiding ,You should've told us sooner."
Kate's stomach dropped " You notice that huh" and she nodded. "I know. And I'm sorry. But I was scared. After Morrison, I thought—"
Marcus raised a hand, silencing her. "Morrison betrayed us for selfish reasons. You kept this secret for what you thought were the right reasons. But trust is trust, Kate, and right now, this group is hanging on by a thread."
Daniels shook her head, pacing the room. "So what now? We just let this slide? Pretend it didn't happen?"
"No," Marcus said firmly. He turned his attention back to Kate. "We can't decide this alone. This affects everyone. They deserve to know. We'll call a meeting and put it to a vote."
Kate's eyes widened slightly. "A vote? Marcus, if this goes wrong—"
"Then it goes wrong," Marcus interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You said you want to be honest. Well, they are part of it. Let them decide."
Daniels sighed, her hands on her hips. "You're putting a lot of faith in a group that's already teetering on the edge."
Marcus stood, his gaze hard. "If we don't have faith in each other, we've already lost."
Chris was leaning against the truck, his arms crossed, his face a mask of concern as Kate emerged from the office building. She looked pale but determined, her shoulders squared despite the turmoil clearly etched into her features.
Chris straightened immediately, stepping forward. "Well?" he asked, his voice steady but laced with worry.
Kate let out a shaky breath, running a hand through her hair. "They're calling a meeting," she said. "Putting it to a vote."
Chris's brow furrowed. "A vote? For what?"
"For the school," she replied, her voice quieter now. "Whether the group will follow me back there or not."
Chris's concern deepened, but he held her gaze. "You told them everything?"
Kate nodded. "Everything. The school, the lies, why I kept it hidden... everything. Marcus thinks it's the only way forward—to let them decide for themselves."
Chris hesitated, then placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "And what if they don't follow? What then?"
Kate swallowed hard, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. "Then we go back alone. I made a promise to the people there, Chris. I can't break it, no matter what."
Chris's hand tightened slightly on her shoulder. "You won't have to go alone. Whatever happens, I'm with you."
Her lips curved into a small, grateful smile, but the weight of the situation didn't leave her. "Thank you," she murmured. "But we'll see where everyone else stands."
The meeting was held in the main hall of the building, a space large enough to accommodate everyone but still intimate enough to make the tension feel suffocating. The air was thick with unease, and the quiet murmur of conversations died the moment Marcus stepped forward to address the group.
"Alright, listen up," Marcus said, his tone calm but commanding. His gaze swept across the room, lingering on each face. "Kate has something to say. I need all of you to hear her out before we make any decisions."
Kate stepped forward, her hands trembling slightly. She clasped them in front of her, forcing herself to appear steady even though her heart was racing.
"Most of you know me as someone who's tried to do what's best for this group," she began, her voice echoing slightly in the quiet room. "But I haven't been entirely honest. For weeks, I've been protecting something—someone—outside of this group. A school. A safe haven for survivors. A place where people are rebuilding, planting crops, teaching kids. A future."
A murmur rippled through the crowd, confusion and skepticism evident in the faces staring back at her.
"Why didn't you tell us before?" Carla interrupted, her arms crossed, her tone sharp.
Kate met her gaze. "Because I was afraid. Afraid of what would happen if people knew. Afraid of what it would mean for the school—and for us. We've all seen what happens when people find a place of safety. It doesn't stay safe for long."
"And now you want us to follow you there?" Amelia asked, her tone heavy with doubt.
"I'm not asking you to follow me blindly," Kate replied, her voice firmer now. "I'm asking you to trust me. To consider the possibilities. Yes, we've made this place work for now. But how long will it last? How long before the next ruffian group finds us, or supplies run out, or something worse happens? The school isn't perfect, but it's a chance to start again—with resources, structure, and people who believe in rebuilding."
The room fell silent as her words hung in the air. Then Victor spoke up, his tone skeptical. "And what happens if we go there and it's not what you say it is? What if it's a trap, or a dead end?"
Kate's eyes softened. "It's not a trap, Victor. I'm from there, me and my friends work hard to make it safer and feels like home but we need more people to make it batter. And I'm not asking you to make this decision lightly. That's why Marcus and I agreed to put it to a vote. Stay here and keep doing what we're doing—or come with me and try for something better."
The room erupted into voices as everyone began talking at once, some arguing in favor of staying, others curious about the school, and a few outright angry at Kate for keeping it a secret.
Daniels stood, her voice cutting through the noise. "Let's get real here. We don't know anything about this school except what Kate says. And after Morrison's betrayal, how do we know we can trust her?"
Chris, who had been silent until now, stepped forward, his expression hard. "Don't compare Kate to Morrison. She's risked her life for this group more times than I can count. Everything she's done has been for the others, not for herself."
"Then why keep it a secret?" Amelia challenged. "If it's so great, why not tell us sooner?"
"Because she was trying to protect it," Chris snapped, his voice rising. "You think it's easy carrying the weight of a secret like that? She didn't tell you because she didn't trust you. She didn't tell you because she didn't want to lose it."
"That's enough," Marcus said, his voice booming. The room fell quiet again as he stepped forward. "We're not here to tear each other apart. We're here to decide. We've survived this long by working together, and that's what we'll do now."
One by one, the group voted. Some were hesitant, their voices tinged with doubt. Others were resolute, either in their belief in Kate or their fear of the unknown.
When the last vote was cast, Marcus stepped forward, his expression unreadable as he looked at Kate. "alright," he said, his voice low. "The majority is willing to follow you to the school."
Kate's breath caught in her throat, relief and anxiety flooding her simultaneously. She nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you."
Marcus's gaze softened slightly. "You've got a lot to prove, Kate. But for now, we're with you."
As the group began to disperse, Kate felt Chris's hand on her shoulder. She turned to him, and he offered her a small smile. "See? I told you they'd follow you."
Kate let out a shaky laugh, the weight of the decision finally settling on her shoulders. "I just hope I don't let them down."
"You won't," Chris said firmly. "You've got this."
Kate nodded, her determination renewed. They had a plan, a direction. Now, all that was left was to move forward. Together.