Making Friends
"You've got a daughter?!"
I shouted, pointing a finger at the bespectacled girl who was shyly waving at me. Carlos sighed at my words, rubbing his head as he did so.
"Don't shout."
Kara giggled at our interaction as we walked out of the house. She held my hand as we followed behind Carlos and his daughter. I was carrying a bag full of medicines, and Kara was carrying a revolver and her knife.
Carlos was carrying a bag larger than mine filled with food, and I could easily tell he wasn't the athletic type if his panted breaths were anything to go by. The girl, whose name I don't know, stared at me in curiosity. She was older than me. If not, then I'm jealous of her height. She is almost a head taller than me!
Am I just short? Or is it because girls are usually taller than guys as kids?
Looking at my pouting face, Kara giggled again.
Kara:- "Don't be too shocked, Jace. Mr. Medicine here doesn't like people getting too close to his daughter. He is very protective of her."
Carlos shook his head, an amused smile on his face.
Carlos:- "That is not it. I didn't wish for Sarah to see your injured state, that's why I didn't let you both meet. She has a very fragile heart."
Sarah:- "What's that supposed to mean?"
Sarah looked at her father, offended.
Both I and Kara chuckled as Carlos tried to justify himself. It must be tough being a father.
Kara:- "Putting that matter aside, how about you tell us where we are going, Carlos? I remember you saying that you know of a community some distance away from us. Are you sure they're friendly?"
Carlos:- "I'm not, but that's the best bet we have. Their presumable leader lent me some medical supplies when I was out scavenging. It was due to him I was able to treat Jace."
Jace:- "He sounds like a nice guy."
Sarah:- "Yeah."
Kara shook her head.
Kara:- "I guess. But we need to make sure."
Kara stared ahead of us, and the hold of her hand around mine tightened. She must be worried. Maybe it's her paranoia setting? I don't know...
Carlos:- "Stop for a moment. I see something ahead of us."
We all stopped, only to see a dozen monsters ahead of us as they munched on what I can only assume is a human body.
I felt like puking, but I held it in.
Kara quickly took cover behind a tree, forcing me to follow her. Carlos soon followed as he held Sarah close to his chest. They took cover behind another tree, and Carlos gave Kara a worried look.
He probably didn't expect to see so many of them in one place.
Sarah:- "Dad-"
Carlos:- "Keep Quiet, Sarah."
Carlos whispered harshly, making Sarah go quiet. I wanted to shout at them both to keep their traps shut, but seeing as I have got a thing called a brain, I didn't.
"Arghh, urghhhhh."
The monsters, who I'd like to call Hollows, made some weird noises out of their mouths. They kept on chewing and chewing, having the time of their life.
What do we do now?
Kara:- "We need to sneak past them."
Kara said, her eyes staring at the Hollows.
Kara:- "But how?"
Carlos thought for a moment, and so did I. In a matter of seconds, I realized something.
Why haven't they noticed us? We're pretty much visible. Even the previous ones we saw in our way practically ignored us. The only ones who attacked us were those who were too close or the ones that heard us talking.
Heard... us talking?
That's it!
Gulping the lump of saliva down my throat, I grab a nearby rock. Kara looked at me with widened eyes, as if she wanted to scold me. She held her breath, however, as she notice me throwing that rock a few distance away from us.
*Thud*
"Garkh?! Arghhh!!"
My plan worked as well as failed at the same time. Only one of the 12 Hollows went toward the place the rock landed. The others simply looked up before focusing back on their food.
This sucks. There are no more stones near me.
Carlos sighed.
???:- "Oh, come now Nick. You know how Carver is. Scavenging is the only way for us to survive."
???:- "Survive? Don't make me laugh. That bastard wants you dead, Luke. Dead! Why does he keep sending you to scavenge the food?"
???:- "Because I'm awesome?"
???:- "No. It's because he wishes you would die out here. He even tried to force some work upon me in the hopes of sending you alone!"
The sound of two voices, both male, made me turn my gaze toward two men walking toward the Hollows. They both looked to be in their mid-twenties and judging by the smile on one's face and the annoyance on another, I could tell they were great friends.
Kara:- "People?"
Carlos's eyes widened.
Carlos:- "They are from that group I told you about. I met these guys the last time I went there."
Our talks were put to a halt, as the Hollows' attention was shifted towards them both. But unlike us, they had much more ground to walk on. Carlos and Kara could've taken care of these Hollows, at least I think they could if it weren't for me and Sarah holding them back.
Anyways, I think those two can handle it.
My point was proven true as I saw the two young men engage in a hit-and-run tactic against the Hollows. It didn't look easy, and I could tell if we weren't quiet and somehow distracted them, they'd have died then and there.
After about 15 minutes of struggle, they finally killed the last Hollow.
???:- "Man, that was tough."
The guy with the machete said, plopping down to the ground.
???:- "Shut up, man. Stop messing with Carver, would you? We'd die at this rate!"
Carlos:- "I'm glad you both survived."
Carlos got out from behind his hiding spot, his hands raised. Kara sighed and decided to follow his lead as she stood up and showed herself. But unlike Carlos, she didn't raise her hands.
Me and Sarah kept on hiding.
???:- "Wait, I remember you. You're that guy who came looking for supplies in our store. That doctor, right?"
???:- "Why didn't you help us?!"
Carlos:- "I was-"
Kara:- "And risk getting killed? No chance. Our top priority is not saving strangers."
I slapped my head, an amused smile on my face. She is so gonna get us killed someday.
Sarah giggled.
Carlos:- "Don't mind her. She doesn't mean that."
Carlos glared at her, making Kara huff and turn away.
I think she is purposely trolling him at this point.
???:- "You've got a gun?"
The man with the machete asked, staring at the gun in Kara's holster.
Kara:- "Yeah."
???:- "And you still didn't help us, why?"
Kara:- "Too noisy. Couldn't risk bringing in more of them."
???:- "Is that all you care for? Saving yourself even if it means letting someone else die?"
???:- "Calm down, Nick. They've got kids."
Sarah got out of her hiding spot, making me look like a fool for hiding. Why the heck did she come out?!
Looking at my aghast expression, she bashfully looked down.
Sarah:- "I saw a worm."
And I see an idiot!
Carlos and Kara sighed as I got out of my hiding spot as well. Forget Kara, I think Sarah will be the death of us!
The man with the machete smiled at us, approaching us as he did so.
???:- "I'm Luke, and the dude with a stick up his ass is my best friend, Nick."
Nick rolled his eyes, still glaring at Kara.
Carlos:- "Carlos. And this is my daughter Sarah."
Sarah:- "Hello."
Luke smiled at Sarah, before looking at me and Kara. I looked up at her as if asking for permission to introduce myself.
Sighing, Kara nods her head.
Jace:- "Jace. And this is my mother, Kara."
I introduced us with a smile, getting bewildered looks from all my previous acquaintances. Kara was the one who looked the most shocked, but it was soon replaced by sounds of laughter escaping her lips.
Kara:- "Yup. As my son said, I'm Kara."
She once again laughed, making Luke and Nick exchange confused glances.
Luke:- "Are we missing out on a joke? Why is she laughing?"
Nick stared at Kara, a weirded-out expression on his face
Carlos sighed.
Carlos:- "Just ignore them. They're both a bit weird."
Sarah nodded.