Hey guys I'm back. Sorry for the delay on this update, I've just been having some writer's block lately but I think I've finally gotten back into and updates should be more regular. Anyway enough of that. Enjoy.

Chapter 4

Blood splattered onto the floor as I stabbed a soldier in our way.

"Let's go," Joel said and we promptly moved onwards not even waiting for a response.

"There is life. And death. Two sides of one coin. Fighting causes death, which leads to pain. So why is there fighting in this world," Jake pondered while running with Joel to make it back to the quarantine zone "Why? Are we humans so stupid as to not understand this simple concept," Jake continued questioning in his head images flashes of his dead parents and sister then flashes in his head and then of Joel, Tess and Jessica. "Yes, I will protect them this time."

The sun had just set Joel and Jake had returned hours ago from their Job and were awaiting the return of Tess and Jessica. Jake sat on the couch reading to pass the time, there were few books for him to read but whenever he did find something during on of his smuggling trip he would take it with him, it wasn't as if anyone else would read it. Jessica and Tess then walked into the darkened house almost silently.

"Hey guys," Jake said though not looking up from his book but it was then snatched away by Jessica. "I was reading that you know," Jake complained.

"You're so boring, how can you find reading fun at all?" Jessica asked and Jake shrugged "I got something that will actually be fun. Get your stuff and come with me," Jessica said and started walking towards the exit of the house.

"Don't be long Jess, and be careful," Tess called out.

"Yes Aunt Tess."

"Where are we going?" Jake questioned now with all of his gear.

"Patience kid," Jessica replied simply and ruffles Jake's hair which he gave a slightly annoyed look to "Let's go shortstuff," she said and the two proceeded to leave the house.

The two teens snuck around the quarantine zone avoiding the military since it was curfew time now. The two then entered a building where many of the civilians in the QZ reside.

"Why are we here?" Jake asked in confusion.

"We're meeting a friend of mine."

"Friend?" Jake thought, he was suspicious as to if this person was actually a "friend" or not. People you could trust were now far and few between and Jake wasn't willing to let his guard down. Jessica then knocked on a, seemingly to Jake random, door. After a minute a woman in her late thirties opened the door.

"Hey Michelle," Jess greeted the woman.

"Oh it's just you Jess. Come on in," the woman said in delicate, welcoming tone.

"I brought a friend if you don't mind," Jess said and stepped out of the way so that Jake was more visible.

"If he's alright with you he's fine with me. What's your name kid?"

"Uh My name's Jake, good evening to you ma'am," Jake replied as politely as he could not really sure how to introduce himself to this woman he just met.

"My aren't you polite. Can't say I've had a lot of politeness since the infected hit, but you can just call me Michelle," the older woman said and Jake nodded in response "Well let's go inside it's cold out here," Michelle said and lead the two teens outside. It was dark inside it was clear that not much power, if any, made it to this part of the zone. Most of the power was taken by the military anyway but in most houses there was some heating if limited but this house felt like the artic by comparison. The three then entered a living room which was a illuminated by a set of candles spread across the room."Make yourselves at home." Jake then looked at Michelle's features with the light now helping his vision. She was in her thirties had shoulder length blonde hair, light green eyes and wore a denim Jacket, despite it being spring though the temperature of the room would require it, and pair of old jeans, though one thing stuck out to Jake and that was a small bump in her stomach.

"Excuse me, but are you pregnant?" Jake asked timidly not knowing how to pose the question.

"No kid I'm just really fat," Michelle replied with a giggle.

"Oh I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to be rude," Jake said and the two of them began laughing which left Jake confused.

"I was kidding about being fat, yes I am pregnant," Michelle said after composing herself.

"Oh um congratulations."

"Thank you. You're very well mannered, you've been raised well," Michelle said.

"Thank you," I said quietly with my head to the floor, remembering Mum, Dad and Mary.

"Oh soft spot, I'm sorry," Michelle apologised and I looked up at her in confusion "Kid you're not the only one, we all have a few wounds from the past we try to hide."

"I guess she's right, it makes sense. I've never really thought about what might've happened in other people's life," Jake thought.

"Honestly though I can't believe anyone could be fat in this world," Jessica remarked.

"You're forgetting about Bill Jess," Michelle replied and the three of them chuckled at the comment.

"I guess you're right."

"So you two up for some cards?" Michelle asked.

"Sure why not?"

"Uh I don't know how to play any card games," Jake said embarrassingly.

"Don't sweat it kid we can teach you how," Michelle responded and the three then sat around a table with a candle in the middle where Michelle brought out a pack of cards and began explaining the rules for poker.

The three of them had played three games and were now nearing the end of their fourth. "Looks like I win," Jake said as the game had ended in his favour.

"Damn it," Jessica said in frustration "How are you already so good at this game, it took me forever to get this good."
"He's very sharp," Michelle commented "It's no wonder he was able to pick the game up so quickly," Michelle added and the door to the house opened distracted everyone from the conversation.

"I'm back," called an man from the doorway.

"We're in the living room," Michelle called back and the voice then entered revealing himself. The man, like Michelle, was in his thirties, he had close cropped ginger hair, blue eyes and wore an old leather jacket and a pair of faded jeans.

"They don't share any features, so I guess he's the father," Jake thought.

"Hey Paul," Jessica said to the man that had just entered.

"Evening Jess. How you doing?" the man asked.

"I'm good. What about you?"

"You know the usual. Getting by is getting harder," he replied as he made his way over to the table "I see you brought a friend."
"Oh yeah. This is Jake, he stays with me and the others. Don't worry he's fine."

"If you say so," Paul dismissed and sat down next to Michelle "So I take he's a smuggler too?"
"Yup and a pretty good considering his inexperience and age."
"What is good exactly about killing other people?" Jake asked in a quiet tone and everyone looked towards him.

"It's the world we live in kid, we have to kill to get by," Paul said in a sombre tone.

"I get that but I see no point in acknowledging it as a merit."
"I guess you have a point kid."

"Anyway I'm not that good, Jess is just exaggerating."
"Oh come on, do you always have to be so modest and humble," Jessica complained.

"But it is the truth. I lack experience and I always tag along with someone else. If I was good I would do smuggles by myself."
"Well I'll be able to determine for myself whether you're any good or not," Paul said and that got a confused look from Jake "I'm into the smuggling biz as well. I'm sure we'll be paired up eventually. I look forward to it kid," Paul explained and Jake nodded in response. "Now then deal me in, I'll play a few games before I hit the hay."
It was now getting to what Tess considered late, approaching midnight specifically, so Jake and Jessica and decided to depart after indulging in a few more rounds of poker.

"There is life, and there is death," Jake thought "Fighting causes death which leads pain. However conflict starts in order to protect something close to oneself. Yes perhaps this is why humans fight, in order to protect something dear. And what about me? What is close to me what do I hold dear?" Jake contemplated and images of all his friends appeared in his mind "There is life. Bonds are formed and friendships made. And there is death," Jake then thought of his family in relation to death "But new bonds are formed and life moves on."

So I know this was more of a filler-ish chapter but honestly this whole story is kinda like that and the next chapter will be the same but probably shorter, however after that it should be something more important. Anyway thanks for reading and review.