Chapter 17

We are all in the sheriff's office. " So I see that I have caught your guy's attention," says Brendan. He smiles. " I want to offer you all a place among our community. It is safe and we are self-sufficient. Normally the rule is that you should hand over any weapons of sorts but I will make an exception with you guys. We share resources so also normally you would have to hand over your car but you can keep it. You are also welcome to leave at any time. We have a curfew that you have to remain indoors by 6 pm. Is that fine with you all?" " I like what you are selling," says Spencer. " I do too," says Lily. " Same. You said that you have available information for us" I say. Brendan nods. " One of the townsfolks is a military officer. We was high ranked. He has told us very valuable information. It was a risky move what he did. You are not allowed to tell any secrets from the government. I am about to tell you what he told us. It was around ten days before the apocalypse happened. The president arranged a meeting to discuss the issue of the people affected with rashes. The discussion involved a possible cure being developed and to isolate the affected to stop possible outbreaks. They speculated that the cure could take years. Nobody liked hearing that. They were told that they would meet in five days time again. In the next meeting, it was said that they are not going to do anything about the rash outbreak and to let problems solve themselves. A cure was cancelled. That's when Ned, the military officer fled and came here. He was clearly upset" says Brendan. " How is that fair? We are on our own now" I say. Brendan smiles. " I always avoided politicians. I guess it is up to us to save the world" I say. " If you want to be part of our community, you have to contribute. I will let you adjust. For three days, you may relax and enjoy the town but after that you have to contribute. What are your skills so I can give you a job you like" asks Brendan. We all say security. "I will assign you to patrol. I assume you guys want to work together. Lily, Spencer, and I nod in agreement. " Let me get you all a house to share." Brendan gives us a house to stay in. It is a two story house. The place is amazing. There is a big lounge with a flat screen tv. A kitchen with a decent amount of electronics such as microwaves and even a donut maker. There is two bathrooms which Lily insisted that she has one to herself since she is a girl. There are three bedrooms with a bed and cabinet and a table in each one. Lily picks the room with purple paint. Spencer picked the room with red paint and that left me with orange. I don't mind orange. " Well enjoy and I will see you soon. Also please be gentle with water and electricity consumption. We try to limit usage" says Brendan. He leaves. Once I know that it is safe, I start talking. " Let's watch a movie." Spencer and Lily laugh. I take out my chocolates and we eat while watching the dawn of light movie. I decide to go to my room and read the journal. 7th and 8th of March. " I missed yesterdays entry. I have been so busy. Nothing much to report yesterday expect that my mom and dad have decided to go on holiday to Austria. It is still in the early stages of planning for them. Finley Is talking about having a child in five years time. I want to have one as well. 8th of March. Something happened. There was another incident of the cursed rash. There was an update about the first guy who had been infected. He has become sort of violent. I am scared. Does this virus make people aggressive? I hope not. I will have to wait for more people to get infected to find out more. That sounded wrong. I mean I hope no one gets infected. You know what I mean. Will write tomorrow." I close the journal. I decide to go to sleep. I wake up extremely early. Even Spencer is sleeping and he is a morning person. I am almost tempted to check if he is even in his room since he ditched us the last time. I enter the lounge and watch the dawn of time again. It's a good movie. I keep the volume low so as not to wake up Spencer and Lily. After watching another movie, Spencer and Lily enter the room. " Hey guys," says Lily. " Hey," Spencer and I say. " Let's tour the town tomorrow or even today to get a sense of the area since this is going to be our new home," says Lily. Spencer considers the question. " Maybe. If Andrew is going, then so am I" says Spencer. Spencer wants to go only if I want to. Since when does a bully want to go with me? " I am planning on relaxing today. Maybe tomorrow. We can discuss plans today and stuff although it will look bad if we don't exit the house. Let's see after breakfast" I say. I decide to ask a question that I don't want Brendan to hear. " Do you think that this could be home? Should we still aim to go to the Forest of Hooper" I ask. Spencer and Lily look at each other. " I have mixed feelings, Andrew. I sort of like it here but I enjoy the forest more. I am just scared of the journey. We still have a long way to go" says Lily. " I am only staying for a month, maybe a week. My goal is still the forest. And I am taking Andrew with me" says Spencer. I am shocked. Since when does Spencer have control to say what I can do and go? I decide to just ignore what he says. " Fine. We will go together" says Lily. She sighs. " I just want us to be safe. I will follow you guys into danger" says Lily.