Chapter 7 (The Best You'll Probably Get)

Chapter 7: The Best You'll Probably Get

Rudolph Alinsky

Estimated, May 2025

About 36 months after outbreak

Oregon

Season 1

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"Welcome! It's been a while since we've had visitors. My name is Jayce Mou, you've already met Aubrey, she's great. You're welcome to stay here, get comfortable, meet some of the others. If you want, I'd be happy to take the kid to Juan."

"No, I got it."

"Then let me walk you in."

I've never been so hesitant to follow someone in my life. Timothy broke my trust in people that easily. I wanted to back out, probably while I still could, but Airianna shaking uncomfortably in my arms reminded me that I couldn't.

"We've lived here from the start," Jayce went on, "well at least most of us have. Juan and his daughter only got here a few months ago. Thank God they did, it was hard enough delivering a baby without a doctor, Aubrey's lucky enough to be alive, just imagine if something worse happened."

"Jayce, please don't talk like that."

"You're right, Aubrey. I'm sorry. Anyways, I've been rude. I never asked for your names, Visitors."

"Rudolph, and these are my daughters, Airianna and Juna."

"Lovely to meet you and your girls are beautiful. Sorry, I don't mean to pry but do they have a mother, or perhaps another father?"

"No it's just me."

"I respect that."

I could tell Jayce wanted to say more but he was caught off guard by a child who ran at him with full speed, wrapping their small and frail arms around his legs. He laughed and spoke something to the child in Korean as he scooped him into his arms.

"This isn't exactly the first person I wanted to introduce to you but this is my son, Milo."

"Hi!" The child yelled a little too loud. I didn't greet him back. I gave the child a small nod and Jayce seemed to understand my discomfort. He set Milo back on the ground and kissed his forehead before he ran off.

"Let's get to Juan."

I was becoming restless with Airianna still in agonizing pain in my arms. I wanted to cry, it took almost everything to stop myself.

Inhale

Exhale

"Juan! You got a patient!" Jayce yelled as we got to some brightly lit room. It looked threatening. Surgical tools laid out on every table, it wasn't what I had expected but unfortunately, I didn't have any other options.