Episode 13

"Well, ya see, that's sort of our thing, kid. When we see a better camp, especially one as secure as this one, we take over," said the man, and Bella scoffed, looking at Jordan.

"Hear that, babe? He thinks he can just take our camp," she said, and Jordan glared at the group of men.

"Nah, baby girl. He ain't taking shit," he growled with glowing green eyes, and two jaguars snarled.

The beasts that slipped into the forest jumped out of the woods and pounced on the men. The group shot at the decaying monsters, but the bullets had no effect, and then the men were torn to shreds. The man with the salt and pepper beard and a few others ran, and the tigers chased them through the forest.

Bella laughed, looking at Jordan, and he sighed, shaking his head.

"Bella? Jordan?" asked Jimmy as he and Mya walked toward them with a beast, and Bella and Jordan looked at them as their stripes disappeared.

"Would you call your babysitter off?" asked Mya, and Bella chuckled, nodding.

She looked at the creature, and it purred quickly before running off.

"Don't worry. She isn't that bad," she said, and Mya gawked at her.

"That thing was a she?"

Bella chuckled and nodded.

"Bandits gone."

She and Jordan looked at each other, and Bella blew a breath.

"Bella? Jordan?" called Abraham, running to the gate with Charlie, Andy, and Mike.

"Dad? Charlie? Are you guys okay? What happened?" asked Bella, running to the gate, and her father shook his head.

"They showed up out of nowhere and started shooting at us. We hoped ya'll be back soon since you forgot to take a radio."

Bella shook her head and gave her father a smart look.

"Actually, we did take radios, but I dropped mine," she said, and Abraham lifted an eyebrow.

"Don't be so hard on her. We took care of them," said Jordan, and a tiger pressed its head against Bella's back.

"Where'd they come from?" asked Charlie, looking at the massive beast.

"They come when we need them, kid," said his sister.

"Well, just like the farm, we don't have room for them," he said with authority, and Bella gave her brother a clever look.

"There's plenty of space in your room," she teased, and Abraham laughed.

Bella giggled, and Charlie stuck out his tongue.

"I think we should clean this up and see what those adoring men brought us. Shall we?" asked Mya, gesturing to trucks, and Abraham and Andy agreed.

*************************************

The tigers and jaguars moved the dead bodies, buried them in the field, and corralled the men who turned with the remaining undead. Jimmy, Mya, and Andy drove Liam's truck and the white and beige box trucks inside the gate, and Charlie closed the gate behind them.

"Let's see what behind door number one," said Jordan, opening the back of one of the vehicles, and he, Jimmy, and Mya stared at the man and boy tied and gagged in the corner.

"Oh, my," Mya gasped, climbing inside the cargo area and stumbling toward them.

A tall, muscular, handsome man with dark hair and dark eyes stared at her as she pulled the gag off, and tears ran down her cheeks.

"Mya," asked the man hoarsely, and she nodded, smiling.

Jordan climbed into the back of the truck, knelt before the kid, and untied him.

"Jordan! You're alive!" breathed the sixteen-year-old, and Jordan smirked.

"And you thought otherwise, Scott," he teased, and the kid laughed.

Scott had dark hair and dark eyes like his father next to him, tan skin, and an arm tattoo.

"Scott. Derek. How did you end up back here?" asked Mya as they got out of the vehicle.

"Jimmy!" exclaimed Scott, and Jimmy hugged the boy.

"You know these guys?" asked Abraham, and Jordan nodded.

"This is Derek and his son Scott. They were a part of our camp and been there since day one," he said, and Abraham only nodded.

"What happened?" Jordan asked, and Derek sighed, running his hand through his hair.

"When the Bandits stormed camp and killed Marcy. Scott and I ran like hell. They caught us about a week ago and were moving us. Said there were zombified cats or some shit in Baker County, and they had to leave," he explained.

Bella gave Jordan a knowing look and handed Scott and Derek a bottle of water. Derek's fingertips brushed against Bella's, and a spark of energy shot through them. Bella searched his eyes, feeling a strange connection to the man, and she smiled nervously. He looked at her momentarily and shook his head. Impossible.

Jordan looked at them oddly and cleared his throat. Bella snorted, pulling her hand away, and Derek grinned, turning toward his old friend.

"Thanks. I'm just so glad to see a familiar face. It's been so long," said Derek, and Jimmy, Mya, and Jordan nodded.

"Who are you?" asked Scott, staring at Bella with wide eyes, and Bella snorted.

Derek popped his son's shoulder, and Charlie laughed, walking toward them.

"That's my sister, Bella. Hi. I'm Charlie."

Scott nodded to Charlie and smiled.

"Hey, man. Name's Scott."

"Come on. I'll show you around," said Charlie, and Scott looked at his father in question.

"Yeah, go ahead. I'll be in soon," said Derek.

Scott grinned, and he and Charlie headed for the warehouse.

"Dude, I can't believe that's your sister."

Jordan gave Bella a clever look, and she laughed wholeheartedly.

"You're funny, Jordan Baker."

He snickered and pulled her close.

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Jordan, Jimmy, and Mya took Derek inside, and Edmond, Andy, and Mike unloaded the box trucks.

"So, what do you think?" Bella asked, and Abraham nodded.

"Finding extra food, blankets, and weapons is always a good thing. We can put everything away in the morning. For now, the guys are just putting the stuff inside. I say we get a good night's rest because I'm sure the Bandits will be coming around looking for their stuff," he said, and his daughter agreed.

"What are you gonna do with your furry friends?" he asked, pointing toward the beasts.

Bella sighed and looked at the undead tigers and jaguars.

"They've decided to stick around," she said, and her father nodded.

Mike grabbed the last crate, and Bella closed the sliding door. Abraham looked at the vehicles and gave his daughter a knowing look.

"I think we should move the Bandit's vehicles in the back. They won't be able to see them from the road."

She grinned and agreed.

"Good idea."

*************************************

"So, you have a girlfriend?" asked Derek, and Jordan laughed, nodding.

"You sound like it hard to believe or something," laughed Jimmy, and Derek chuckled.

Derek picked a room for him and Scott, and Mya brought him clothes, blankets, and pillows. Derek looked through the clothes and put the ones he was keeping in the dressers.

"It's just a little strange, that's all. You know, after what happened to Rachel and the girls," Derek said sadly.

"Yeah, I didn't expect to run into a girl like Bella, either. She stole my heart the moment we met," said Jordan, and Derek looked at Jimmy and Mya.

"Did he just talk about his feelings?" he asked, pointing to Jordan, and Mya laughed, nodding.

"He did."

Derek and Jimmy laughed, and Jordan shrugged, chuckling.

"Wait till you see him around her," laughed Jimmy, and Jordan threw his hands in the air.

"Come on, guys. It not that big a deal," he said, and Mya giggled.

"Love smacked him in the face, and he still doesn't know what to do about it," she said, and Jimmy agreed.

Jordan shook his head, and Derek chuckled.

"I'm glad, man. I'm happy, you're happy," he said, and Jordan smiled.

"Thanks, man."