Jackie's First Journey

The night passes uneventfully as morning creeps over the horizon, stirring me from my slumber. I slept as well as any man could in a strange bed during the end of the world, but it was pointless to seek better. After all, today will determine my future with this new faction.

I follow the plan we laid out yesterday and head down to the lobby, where I'm supposed to meet Jackie.

"Good morning, decent night?" Mike motions to a pot of coffee positioned in the middle of the room as he hands me a plate of eggs. The old man seems to be trying his best to mend our strained relationship.

"I suppose… Where's Jackie?" I thought the young leader was going to be accompanying me and expected her to be present in the morning.

"She'll make it. I heard her in her apartment earlier… I don't know what you did, but that young lady rarely gets up this early," He points out as he shifts a pan of eggs over a makeshift camp stove.

An awkward silence overtakes the scene as I slowly eat the meal prepared for me. I use the time to organize the information I've gathered within my mind. I never know what will be useful, so I attempt to hold onto it all. 'Of the three, he still seems the most understanding.'

There is only so much goodwill that you can purchase with meals and a tour. If they want to make up for the situation earlier, it's going to take something more. Though, I'm unsure of what that may be.

"You ready?!" A sweet voice resounds from a breathtaking beauty smiling across the room. She was wearing another ill-fitting camouflage blouse and pants that seemed to be sliding all over her voluptuous figure, completely inappropriate for combat, and a large backpack.

"You're going out in that?! Wouldn't you prefer something that won't cause you to trip and die?" I tilt my head as I question her choice.

"Are you, by chance, just trying to get me in something scandalous? You do remember that I'm the leader, right?" She puts her hands on her waist and pouts at my questioning her in front of everyone, "Plus, Bruce said this would make it harder to see me."

'Harder for who? And why does it seem like she might step right out of those pants…' a hint of realization sparked in my eyes as I asked, "Did he by chance, give you those?"

Jackie sighs and agrees that they don't fit the best before retreating to her room once more. Time passes as I joke around with Mike and the other men as they begin to wake up for the day.

"There, let's go!" Jackie appears from behind me, grasps my hand, and pulls me toward the barricade. "Mike, let us out!"

Her swift actions don't allow for any objections from the group as the other men begin to gather closer to see us off. 'Everything is fine, so why do I feel this chill?'

My jaw drops as I glance at what she is wearing. My vision is obstructed by her backpack, but I swear I spot a tight, form-fitting, collared blouse on the other side, while her long legs, extending out of a short pleated skirt, lack imperfections.

'Is that… a school uniform?'

"Don't forget the fuel. We don't want to be trapped in here!" Mike shouts from the forklift as the last vending machine is removed and we head through the opening.

Immediately after stepping outside, the sound of the forklift can be heard slamming the doors closed yet again. With Garret watching the street, we won't have to worry about getting back inside when the time comes.

'I don't want to use my volume perk while working with someone, so we are at a disadvantage…' I pull my hand free from her grasp before taking my first step toward the street.

"Wait, you needed a new knife, didn't you?" Her voice causes me to turn toward Jackie before I freeze in place.

"Are… are you a kid?" I can't contain the question after seeing the seemingly tailored school uniform on her with a local high school emblem placed on her chest.

The pristine white shirt, the dark pleated skirt, the long black stockings… Everything she is wearing sets off alarm bells in my mind. 'I knew she was younger, but, seriously… There's no way…'

A rough slap lands on my face as a stinging sensation makes it to my mind as the now blushing Jackie reassures me, "I'm eighteen, okay? I was supposed to graduate this year and move back with my parents…"

The atmosphere turns heavy as she allows the sentence to hang. It isn't fair to ask about her parents as she likely doesn't know the answer.

Before I can break the silence, she drops her backpack and removes a sleek black knife with a corded handle as well as a small pistol that she grips tightly with one hand. "Here, this is from Bruce."

I quickly shove the knife in my waistband and glance at the teenager, or rather, woman, one last time. Her eyes swiftly dart away when I meet them, "Stay close. We don't know what we are going to find."

Today's excursion wouldn't be leading us too far away from the fortress and, hopefully, would remain relatively safe. There is a small convenience store on the other side of the apartment building that houses the supplies we need.

We just had to pass through an alley.

Thankfully, our trip isn't interrupted by any creatures before the tall sign of the former store comes into view. The sun rising in the sky will allow us to see thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows of the small establishment, and we can steal a shopping cart to transport the supplies.

…

Quickly scouting the shop to ensure our safety, we don't find any disturbances. The goods are scattered all over the floor and will take time to sift through them, but, as long as we are diligent, we will succeed.

"It's nice to finally be away from those ancient cowards." The lovely Jackie is the first to break the silence as we perform our task.

"We'd be dead any time now if it wasn't for you," she adds as she tosses a pack of ramen noodles into the cart we placed at the front of the establishment.

"God, the only reason they put me in charge and are so nice is that the creeps want me to fall in love with them or something." Once she started her rant, she let it all out. It had been a long time since she was with someone her age that she could talk to.

"Cowards? I knew you thought they were idiots, but they don't seem like cowards to me… Aren't they protecting everyone at the apartments?" I manage to salvage a pack of water bottles and add them to our findings.

"Plus, they are so much older, I bet they see you like a daughter," I don't know if my words will help or hurt, but I attempt to console the now serious young woman.

Jackie lets out a cough as my words reach her. It seems that I struck a nerve because she drops the box that she's holding and doesn't move. A slight tremor in her hand doesn't escape my sight before she turns toward me.

I can tell she's trying her hardest to keep a stern expression, but I see a tear begin to form in her eye.

"Hah! Well, I shouldn't keep lying to you…" Jackie sighs as she urges me over and kneels on the ground.

Even surrounded by the debris and destruction of the grocery store, she appears adorable.

"Let me tell you the truth of the apartments on 47th street."