So now y'all know! If you read the old version then you'll notice I swapped round the Daphne and Marianna ones (just thought it would be appropriate all things considered!) I really, really appreciate Reviews so don't be shy to give me yours! Hope you like it! ❤️ [Thanks to the guest who pointed out the name mix up!]

Yawning I rub my eyes drearily as I force myself out of the warm bed and into the cold morning breeze that sweeps through the boys' dormitory. As per usual I am the first up taking the opportunity to freeze as I walk over the grass to the other block's shower house and freshen up for the day. Cleaned and feeling more awake I take the chance to look in the mirror. My face has a large yellowing bruise across the right cheek with a laceration giving me a more burly appearance. Great. I then remember Connor and hurry back to the other block. Dumping my makeshift wash kit that I've added to over my scavenging time, I head for quarantine. Connor is there sitting on the floor. Giving him a skeptical look I hesitate.

"Um," his eyes flicker open "You ready to go?" Throwing me a puzzled look I elaborate. "Callie said I have to take you with me, remember?" Getting up I take it as a yes. "You hungry?"

"Starving." After a nervous opening of the cell I relax when Connor doesn't try to kill me. We grab some tinned spam from the food pile in a disused classroom then set out. Forgetting to blindfold Connor, I only remember when it's too late. I figure Connor has no reason to want to leave or betray us so don't get to worked up about it. Like before the journey is one of little words. Or at least it is until Connor asks the inevitable. "So why are you all so, you know, about letting me join you guys?" I can't not tell him. I guess I owe him that.

"It's a long story." I compromise.

"We've got time." He negotiates as we cross over an old thorn wood bridge hovering over a stead trickling stream. Fair enough.

"We all have trust issues, I guess."

"Go on."

"Well after the whole Z-Day thing went down it was just me and Callie. One day we met this guy Liam and he seemed pretty cool, so we tagged along with him. Sometimes he was a prick, especially to Callie, but we were safer with him than without." Passing an old farm house I scan for any Rotters. There are none so I proceed. "Well one day we get cornered by this huge horde and we think it's over. By some Miracle we run into these people. They were adults which Liam was not cool with. Steph, Lena, Mike and Ana. Mike got bit saving us and it was pretty, er, emotional." Anyway they take us back to the complex which they cleared out of any Rotters. That's where we meet everyone else: Taylor, Jesus, Brandon, Daria, Marianna, Emma, Wyatt and at the time Hayley and Daphne." In the distance a new uncharted town loomed into sight. "Well Liam, um, got with Hayley. Or at least he tried to but she shot him down. He got angry and he, well, he killed her."

"Jesus." Connor breathed as he followed Jude over the hilly terrain.

"Yeah well, apparently Ana found out so he killed her too. At the time we had no idea because he told us they got bit. Anyway after a while, he got bored I guess, he started looking for trouble. He brought up the fact Steph and Lena were together."

"What like together together?" Connor asked curiously.

"Yeah, anyway, he said they were being selfish and that we, as the survivors of the human race, needed to do our bit to repopulate and stuff. He then, er, well, he raped Steph. Lena found out and there was this massive fight between them. Both died. They were dark days. Soon Steph recovered and found out about Lena, she couldn't take losing her so she volunteered to go out on a supply hunt but was actually looking for a Rotter."

"What you mean she purposefully got bit?" Approaching the outskirts of the town now I nod at Connor. "Hey you said Daphne and Hayley, if Hayley was killed by Liam, what happened to Daphne?" Jude was somewhat surprised at how closely Connor had been listening.

"Daphne was a really close friend to Callie. About four months after the whole Liam thing we met this guy Blake. Callie had taken charge and had said he could stay. Anyway, Daphne wakes me up and tells me that Blake's making a run for it with our supplies and she's going to try and convince him to stay. Rather than staying there and telling the others if she doesn't come back, like she told me, I follow them."

"Smooth." Connor winks at me. They've now reached a store and are scoping it out.

"She confronts him outside the complex about a mile away. They get angry and start yelling. Then a load of Rotters show up and they are both bitten. After the Rotters had moved on I watched as Daphne turned. I then…I killed her." Tears prick the corners of his eyes. Connor just chortles. Jude can't believe him. He looks up in fury from the set of boxes he'd been scrounging through. "What is your problem?"

"You're so sentimental." Was he being serious? "I mean I killed me Dad whilst he was still technically human." Psychopath. Great. "Don't worry he deserved it. He used to hit me and my Mom all the time." Jude felt a sense of pity well up inside. "Anyway we were out driving after Z-Day and my Dad gets a hankering for some beer. Mom and I say it's a bad idea but he wouldn't listen. Mom ends up getting bit then karma kicks in and she ends up biting my Dad. Like whatever right." Jude can tell Connor's not okay with it. "So I use the last bullet in his Glock-17 to blow his brains out." The two finish looking for supplies and start to head back.

"That sounds tough." Jude empathises.

"Meh, whatever right, we all have stuff we have to deal with. You just gotta look out for yourself."

"That sounds lonely." Jude states innocently.

"I guess." Connor concurs.

They finally arrive back at base. As they walk out of the first block and towards the second they see everyone scattered across the grass. Their little talking session gave Jude the confidence he needed to trust Connor. The guy could be an ass but he wasn't a bad person. Clasping a hand round Connor's broad shoulder he leads him in the direction of everyone. Introductions done Jude leaves Connor with Taylor as he goes to give Callie the supplies and update her on his opinion of Connor.

"Hey, so you're Connor?"

"The one and only." Winking at her he leans in "Considering I've met everyone Jude's mentioned except Taylor, I'm guessing that's you?" Smiling Taylor gives a thumbs up to him.

"You know you're very pretty and so am I." Gawking at Connor's frankly embarrassing attempt at flirting Taylor cracks up.

"Wow there stallion, I'm already matched." Bemused by the term Connor asks her what it means. "Well, I'm guessing you know the whole Liam thing by now?" Connor affirms. "We hate to admit it but something good did come of that. The whole highlighting our duty to repopulate and stuff thing. To make sure everyone's doing their part we have all be paired up." Raising an eyebrow Connor clearly doesn't quite understand. "So, like, I'm matched with Jude. Jesus with Emma. Callie with Brandon, Wyatt with Marianna and I guess if you stay you'd be with Daria…It's kind of messed up but it means that we can all…you know, when we're ready."

"Er, okay, I dig it." Being as open minded as possible Connor can just about comprehend the logic. "What if they're not you know…interested…"

"Tough. We live in an age where survival is the key. You can't afford to be selfish or we'll kick your ass." Although joking Connor could tell there was a hint of seriousness. Soon the heavy conversation dies down into light small talk which disbands once Jude comes to take Connor back to his quarantine cell. When he gets back Taylor is waiting.

"So he's nice." Taylor notes aloud.

"Really?" Jude pushes.

"Yeah, why don't you like him?" He shrugs.

"I don't mind him. He can be obnoxious sometimes."

"So can you." Winking at him she leans in for a kiss but he retreats.

"Hey I'm real tiered I'm going to go to sleep, you coming?" Blushing slightly she holds out her hand. Pulling her up from her feet they head to the dormitory, out of the deadly quiet twilight.