Chapter 3 (Leader Without Motive)

Chapter 3: Leader Without Motive

Arwen Swanter

July 2022

About two months after outbreak

Ohio

Season 1

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We were all together in the beginning. I still remember the sounds of the banging on the doors and the gunshots. No one told us what was really happening. We thought it was a terrorist attack; we thought they were going to kill us. Sometimes it's hard not to wish that they would have. I would do anything not to have seen what I saw that day, and for every day that followed.

Aspen, Nickolas, Abby, Skylar, and Valentine had always been like family to me, and when the family that raised me died in front of me, they were the only ones who stuck around.

Valentine left us when we got out of school. He didn't say what was wrong, and I still don't know why I didn't go after him. A few weeks later, the next two people we ran into were Cole Ericson and Maverick Hundall. I hated them, but I couldn't turn them away as much as I openly expressed that I wanted to. Valentine would have never forgiven me if he came back and found out I kicked Cole out; that's the only reason I didn't. I was tempted so many times, but for some damn reason, I still couldn't bring myself to.

My girlfriend, Skylar Leander, was caught by the dead. I saved her, and for some reason, that made the others look up to me. I would have helped her no matter what; I didn't do it for the recognition. I cared about her. I cared about all of them.

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"Our parents aren't alive; they died trying to get to us."

"Our parents didn't give a shit about us, Abby; you know that. We're all a disease to them. Hell, we're the fucking theater club." I tossed a rock aggressively into the puddle beside me. Abby jumped slightly at the sudden outburst. Skylar looked at me with tears in her eyes, understanding the weight of our situation. "But we have each other now," she whispered, her voice filled with both sadness and determination. "We're a family, and that's all that matters."

"Arwen, are we all going to die?" Aspen asked with a trembling voice, his fear palpable. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself before answering. "I don't know, Aspen," I replied honestly.

"I think what Aspen means is that we don't have a plan; it's going to get us killed." I nodded, acknowledging Aspen's and Nic's concern.

"You're right, I admitted. "We don't have a plan because there's no need for one. Making one would be stupid when everything is so unpredictable, but if you have suggestions, I suggest sharing with the group."

Aspen crossed his arms, frustration evident on his face. "I understand that things are unpredictable, but we can't just go through this blindly. We need something." I sighed, and they continued, "We can't keep living like this, Arwen."