The Outsider
*The Encounter*
Novalee grasped the small children's hands within her own tightly as they neared the mall entrance.
'Stop there,' a boy with a helmet and face paint ordered, pointing a sharply pointed stick, a spear, at the small group.
Novalee quickly placed the girls behind her. 'Put it down please. You're scaring them.'
'No. Why are you dressed like that?'
She glanced down at her tank top and cutoff jean shorts, finally stopping at her sneakers. 'Cuz I don't feel like walking around without clothes on. Now put it down.'
The boy shook his head.
*Meanwhile*
'Bray, Lex.' KC yelled running into the mall.
'What's wrong?' Bray asked, placing a calming hand on KC's shoulder.
'There are three of them.' KC said, panting for air.
'Three of who little man?' Lex asked.
'Outsiders. Devil Dogs stopped them.'
'Show us.' Bray stated, Lex nodding in agreement.
KC led then outside but didn't have to point the outsiders out. They were easily seen; it was a older girl, perhaps Brays and Lexs age, and two small female children. The trio was dressed in the ways of the old world. Before the virus hit. The boys watched as the eldest of the girls removed a pack from her back and moved into a fighting stance.
'Wait.' Bray demanded, causing the guard to look up while the girl remained focused, ready to fight if necessary. 'Let her in.'
Novalee started to make her way through to the entrance, but the guard stopped the children, placing the staff in their faces.
Bray opened his mouth to protest but before he could speak a word, the guard was on his back, his own spear being held at his jugular by the eldest girl.
'Ooohh, she's got spirit.' Lex said chuckling.
'Shut up Lex.' Bray hissed. 'Please,' Bray called to the girl, 'Let him go. You and the children are free to enter.'
Slowly she moved away from the guard, practically growling. 'Stay away from the children. I won't stop again…understand?'
The guard nodded and Novalee quickly turned around, picking both children up into her arms.
As they entered the mall several people met them. Slowly Novalee set the children on the ground. All of a sudden questions were being fired at them from all around.
'Where are you from?'
'Why are you dressed like that?'
'Are the children yours?'
'How old are they?'
'Where were you this whole time?'
'Where'd ya learn to fight?'
'Everyone needs to calm down.' A girl with pitch-black hair interrupted. 'They do not need to be overwhelmed. I'm sure they need some rest. Leave them be.'
'But Tai-San.' A small boy protested.
'Dal, you know she's right.' Bray spoke up.
'Come this way, I'll show you where you can rest.' Tai-San said.
'Yeah and we'll take care of the children.' another voice spoke up and reached for the children only to be stopped by a hand gripping their own.
'No.' Novalee stated, 'No one touches them.'
'Okay…sorry.' the voice apologized.
'This way.' Tai-San said, leading the way up the stairs.
'Go on.' Novalee whispered to the children, slowly walking behind them.
*The Encounter*
Novalee grasped the small children's hands within her own tightly as they neared the mall entrance.
'Stop there,' a boy with a helmet and face paint ordered, pointing a sharply pointed stick, a spear, at the small group.
Novalee quickly placed the girls behind her. 'Put it down please. You're scaring them.'
'No. Why are you dressed like that?'
She glanced down at her tank top and cutoff jean shorts, finally stopping at her sneakers. 'Cuz I don't feel like walking around without clothes on. Now put it down.'
The boy shook his head.
*Meanwhile*
'Bray, Lex.' KC yelled running into the mall.
'What's wrong?' Bray asked, placing a calming hand on KC's shoulder.
'There are three of them.' KC said, panting for air.
'Three of who little man?' Lex asked.
'Outsiders. Devil Dogs stopped them.'
'Show us.' Bray stated, Lex nodding in agreement.
KC led then outside but didn't have to point the outsiders out. They were easily seen; it was a older girl, perhaps Brays and Lexs age, and two small female children. The trio was dressed in the ways of the old world. Before the virus hit. The boys watched as the eldest of the girls removed a pack from her back and moved into a fighting stance.
'Wait.' Bray demanded, causing the guard to look up while the girl remained focused, ready to fight if necessary. 'Let her in.'
Novalee started to make her way through to the entrance, but the guard stopped the children, placing the staff in their faces.
Bray opened his mouth to protest but before he could speak a word, the guard was on his back, his own spear being held at his jugular by the eldest girl.
'Ooohh, she's got spirit.' Lex said chuckling.
'Shut up Lex.' Bray hissed. 'Please,' Bray called to the girl, 'Let him go. You and the children are free to enter.'
Slowly she moved away from the guard, practically growling. 'Stay away from the children. I won't stop again…understand?'
The guard nodded and Novalee quickly turned around, picking both children up into her arms.
As they entered the mall several people met them. Slowly Novalee set the children on the ground. All of a sudden questions were being fired at them from all around.
'Where are you from?'
'Why are you dressed like that?'
'Are the children yours?'
'How old are they?'
'Where were you this whole time?'
'Where'd ya learn to fight?'
'Everyone needs to calm down.' A girl with pitch-black hair interrupted. 'They do not need to be overwhelmed. I'm sure they need some rest. Leave them be.'
'But Tai-San.' A small boy protested.
'Dal, you know she's right.' Bray spoke up.
'Come this way, I'll show you where you can rest.' Tai-San said.
'Yeah and we'll take care of the children.' another voice spoke up and reached for the children only to be stopped by a hand gripping their own.
'No.' Novalee stated, 'No one touches them.'
'Okay…sorry.' the voice apologized.
'This way.' Tai-San said, leading the way up the stairs.
'Go on.' Novalee whispered to the children, slowly walking behind them.