What do you do when your in trouble Johnny?" My sister Mary asked.
"You run." I respond. Run was the only thing I could do. I couldn't fight, so I ran.
""And what do you do when you find a good hiding spot?" She asked again.
"You stay put until you find me." I said with a smile. My sister had created a system for me for when things got bad I could make it.
"And what if I'm not there?"
"I run and scavenge for supplies. Trust nobody." I quickly reply knowing the drill. My sister would ask me these questions everyday so I wouldn't forget.
"Good." She says ruffling my hair.
I quickly get a grasp of reality with the presence of the two people in front of me.
"Bud, what's your name?" The Asian person asks me.
I stay frozen. I was caught in a situation. These people looked pretty trust worthy, but I remember what Mary said. "Trust nobody." I made up mind and decide to make a run for the treeline.
"Wha...wait! Kid!" The Asian says as runs after me trailed by the woman behind him.
I was clearly not fast enough to get away from the man as he caught me before I was about 200 yards out from the treeline.
"We're not here to hurt you. We just want to help you."
I give him a worried look showing him I was convinced yet.
"M...Mary says to trust nobody." I slip out.
"Who's Mary." The woman responds.
"M...Mary is m...my sister."
"Umm...Do you know where she is? We can help you find her." The Asian man says in effort to comfort me.
"Mary is...gone." I quietly sniffle and let a tear shed down my dirty cheek.
"Do you have a group we can take you back to?" The woman asks.
I shake my head and look down kicking the dirt at my feet.
The Asian man starts to rub my shoulder and gives the woman a look quietly saying," We can't just leave him here, he's just a kid."
The woman nods in agreement with the man. She slowly starts to walk over to where I am standing and says," How would you like to come to my farm. We have food, water, and we can catch up your leg there.
I quickly look down at my right leg noticing deep rich red streaming down to my sock; the sock was now stained red. I hadn't realized I had a deep cut in my leg till now. I made my choice. I looked at the Asian man and hugged him. This was the most comfort I had felt in weeks. I could finally stop running.
"Well if you are going to come with us you have to at least tells us your name." The man says. It has been so long since I have had actually said or heard my name I almost forgot.
" Umm...I think it's...John...um yeah John." I say after a deep thought.
The Asian man gives the woman a worried look. They probably thought I was a stupid or something.
"My name is Glenn and that's Maggie." They both give me warm smiles making me even more comfortable. I finally found people who actually might care for me.
"Alrighty then, let's get you to the farm." Glenn says.
"Who do you want to ride with?" Maggie asks. Ride? They came in two cars?
"Ride what?"
"Horses, we came here by horse." She replies.
"Umm...I've never rode a horse before."
"Don't worry, your going to sit behind me or Glenn."
"I think I'll ride with Glenn." Glenn was the first one I meet so I chose him.
"Right choice John, I'm the cool kid." Glenn says excitingly. Maggie then rolls her eyes. I decided to take a nap because who know the last time I have been actually able to sleep in peace.
"John." Someone was gently pushing my shoulder. I open my eyes to avail Glenn. He picks me up from the horse and places me onto the ground.
"I suppose I introduce you the group now."
"Ok..."
"Uh...Guys so when me and Maggie were looking for supplies we found someone. Understand he's a bit shy, just I thought I'd introduce him to everyone."
"Another person? Damnit Glenn we've got enough people as it is."
"He's just a kid."
"Dosen't matter, it's still another mouth to feed." The bald man goes off and walks away.
"That was Shane, kinda a meanie."
"That's Dale." Glenn says as he points to the top of a RV.
"Dale this is John." I give a shy wave.
"Nice to meet you John." He yells from the top of the RV.
I was then introduced to a woman who seemed really stressed.
"Lori this is John, John this Lori."
"Um...hi." I quietly say.
"Hello John." For some reason Glenn looked really nervous.
"We should probably take you to Herschel and get your knee fixed." Glenn says worryingly trying to get me moving.
"John, Herschel should be right inside, me and Maggie have to talk."
I was a bit confused and worried at the moment. The group looked like a hot mess from what I could see. I walked up the steps and walked into the house. I looked around the house and looked for anyone that looked like a Herschel. I did find someone who was a girl though.
"Are you lost." The girl says.
"No, Glenn Sayed to find Herschel."
"Oh, he is right over there." She says pointing at a room.
"I'm Beth by the way."
"I'm John."
"How come I've never seen you before?" Beth asks.
"Uh...I'm new here."
"Oh, well nice meeting you any ways John." Beth says as she exits the house.
I walk over to the room where she said Herschel was.
"Herschel?"
"Yes? And you are?"
"I'm John, I'm new here, Glenn told me to come and see you."
Herschel sighs. "Well, nice to meet you John, what brings you to me?"
"My leg." I lift up my leg to where it was horizontal to the ground showing the blood.
"Now that is a bit a of a problem. I'll be right back." Herschel walks over to the kitchen and comes back with some supplies. He hands me a towel.
"Bite down on it, this is not going to be painless."
I follow his orders and bite down on the towel. Herschel wipes down the blood with a wet rag and then takes a different rag, but with alcohol and wipes my leg down with it. I'm not going to lie; it hurt, but it was over before I knew it.
"Well, there you go John, all patched up, your good to go."
"Thank you Herschel."
I get up from the chair and walk to where I last saw Glenn. Except he wasn't there. I panicked. I didn't know what to do. Glenn was my guide and he was now just gone. I started to run around and yell for Glenn while sobbing. I was then grabbed by the wrist by the second most familiar face. Maggie. I immediately latched onto Maggie.
"Where's Glenn?" I sobbed.
"Right over here hun."
I was then handed over to Glenn.
"Hey, you alright bud?"
"Where were you?"
"I thou...I'm sorry." He said as he hugged me.
"You two look like you could use some sleep. I'll leave you two alone." Maggie said as she walked away.
"I made you a spot in my tent for you." Glenn told me.
I crawled into the tent and wrapped myself in the blankets that were there.
"Goodnight Glenn."
"Goodnight John."