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Chapter 13
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Clara
“Team three.” A woman called from the main floor and the guys stood from their seats, still immersed in conversation. I walked along side Bubble as we followed the woman to a meeting room I hadn't been in yet.
“Weapons check first.” Bubble told me as the guys started handing over their guns to an older guy, maybe fifty.
I passed him my pistol, the one I had fired and watched as he ejected the clip and checked the ammo then placed it to one side. “You fire any of the others?”
“No.”
“Okay then.” He uttered and moved on to Bubble while I sat at the table next to Wheeler who was talking to a greying man I assumed was the chief.
“Target was empty, completely, and no one in the surrounding area either. It might be worth sending another team out there tomorrow to scout the area, check for cleans and any supplies.”
The chief nodded.
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Jake.I watched as her eyes closed for a few seconds before she forced them open again. “I should go.” She uttered without any will power and I spoke before I thought it over.“Stay a while.” She looked at me for a minute, assessing my expression the way I had been with her all night then she nodded and relaxed back on my bed.It had shocked the hell out of me when she admitted that she had slept with a guy. Then stunned me when she admitted to having sex. She seemed so pure, innocent. Maybe it was the blonde hair or the young look about her, I wasn't sure, but I know I definitely hadn't expected her to drink to that. The problem now was that I found myself curious and that was dangerous.She was a pretty girl, there was no denying that, I had always just thought of her as a girl, a kid. But the last week had proven she was anything but. She could fight as well as any man, shoot like a s
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ClaraI squinted my eyes scanning building, old houses that had long ago been abandoned. “There's a cottage just ahead of us that should do. Its fairly intact, one broken window, no signs of movement and should be easily defensible. Slow to a craw, check the area for movement. If its clear we'll stop here.” Wheelers voice called out again and I scanned all the houses, side alleys gardens and abandoned cars as we slowed to a snails pace.“All clear here.” Porter spoke up.“Clear ahead.” Rig added.“Clear.”“Clear here and behind.” I stated after one last glance around.The trucks pulled to a stop outside a cottage that had seen better days but wasn't quite as bad as the others we had passed.“Grab your bags, you can wrap up inside.” Jake directed me as I slid from the truck, my hand ready at my side should I need my gun.
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Clara.I grabbed up a selection of sharp knives and wrapped them in a bag and grabbed the bottles off the counter before heading back into the living room to the unusually silent guys.I focused on Wheeler knowing that I would give myself away if I looked at Jake, the longing for him that I felt was so damn strong at the minute I was sure it was written on my face.“Thought you got lost. What else you got?” He asked and I placed the bottles on the floor careful not to bang them and watched as the guys eyes lit up.“Hey she's learning, important things first.” Bubble stated with a chuckle. As I placed the bag of knives down beside the bottles. “Hell yeah, weapons and booze, girl after my own heart.” He stated.I saw Jake flinch from the corner of my eye but ignored it as I faced Wheeler again. “Any of this you want to keep?” I asked.“Sure, take
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ClaraI just didn't know what to think. Shooting the infected the other day had been one thing. We hadn't stuck around long enough for me to see his dead body, But this one, hell I had heard it, felt it, seen it. I let out a deep breath and squeezed my eyes shut for a second before shaking my head. “I'll be fine.” I stated as confidently as I could.“Clara...” Jake stated, his voice trailing off as he thought. “If you need time say so. Trust me we would all rather have you hang back for a couple of days than have you hesitate.” He stated his voice gentle as he drove through the streets.“No I'm okay.” I stated knowing that it was true. I just needed to keep telling myself that it wasn't human. I would get over it. Right now I needed a distraction.I pulled the packaged food out of my pocket and started chewing while I scanned the area. Focusing on something else w
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Clara“Say something please.” He asked and I turned my attention to him in the mirror for a moment before scanning outside again, I couldn't say this if I was looking at him. I wasn't that brave.I closed my eyes and pretended I was talking to Matt.“I was fourteen when I first figured out what the army really did. I don't know if that makes me innocent or sheltered but its true. I figured then that this was what I wanted to do. Nothing else had seemed even remotely appealing and I liked the idea of protecting people, of making a difference, of maybe helping us get back to a life worth living.”“I knew my parents would never approve so I started talking to anyone in the army I could find, asking them as many questions as I could think of. After a month or so I think quite a few people actively avoided me but I didn't care. Every answer I got was what I wanted to hear. I knew there
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Clara.We searched the house in teams of two, checking each of the rooms for danger and drawing the blinds and curtains as we went. Once the house was cleared and semi secure we huddled in the sitting room.“How we doing this Wheeler?” Bubble asked his eyes flicking to me for a second and I worried that they were going to change their usual habits because I was female.“Don't worry about me.” I stated firmly.“You sure, we usually all bunk together.” Wheeler stated.“Yeah that's fine” I said, feeling too tired to care at the minute.“Okay then. I'll go grab a couple mattresses. Rigs wanna give me a hand?” Porter asked while Bubble set a chair down in front of the front window and perched himself on it.“These are yours.” Jake informed setting three bags down by the wall where I was standing, “Sleep with them next
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Clara. The rest of our shift guarding D block had been exhausting, emotionally more than physically as we spent hour after hour answering the same questions but not really having an answer to give. The team refrained from idle chit chat, barely speaking at all unless it was to try and calm the fears of one resident or another but Jakes silent presence by my side was more reassuring than any words could have been, he was my rock, my shoulder to lean on and that fact had a small smile building inside me, even given the circumstances.I had resigned myself to the fact that this would never happen, that we would never share comforting looks or the slight brush of a hand on my back, that I would never get to see him relaxed and carefree but the reality of our relationship was better than anything I had imagined.We had escorted the kitchen staff to their work posts after change over in D block and left for our six hours o
