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Chapter 21

Sookie POV

Every time I looked at that stupid cap on the table, my bad mood returned. Why? No idea, but it was like that.

Pam and Felicia were still asleep, and Eric insisted on inspecting the area in case something had happened the night before. I was waiting for him, anxious and worried, and still staring out the window. I could see him from the cabin, but I couldn't help nerves were eating me alive. I did not like him to go out alone, even though he knew how to take care of himself, but it was still dangerous.

And that damn cap.

Why did I have a bad feeling about it? It was just an accessory, that's all. However, every time I looked in that direction, I couldn't help the shiver running down my spine.

I grabbed it.

I took it into my hands, waiting for…what? Some kind of vision? Something that would give me a hint? But about what?

While I was lost in my own thoughts I startled when I felt Eric's lips on my neck. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." I answered quickly, trying to get my heart under control. "I haven't heard you come in." Eric nodded. "Have you found anything? Is there any trace of zombies out there?"

"No, at least I didn't see." He put the gun in the drawer, and we sat down on the couch. "Sookie, I know you don't want to talk about it, but are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, my fever's gone, and I feel much better."

"I didn't mean about that, baby." He kissed my forehead, and for a moment I was unable to say anything. "Sookie, you are acting weird for some time. Like something is worrying you, and you don't want to tell me. You know you can talk to me about anything, right?"

"I know, Eric." I muttered.

"So…"

"I'm fine. Really." I shrugged not knowing what else to do, and Eric let it go. For now. "Well, I guess my instinct was wrong this time. No zombies, no danger, right?"

"There is no danger."

I breathed in relief, but only for a second. I hated feeling so scared all the time, but I couldn't help it. Something inside me was yelling at me, warning me that not all was fine. Why? Why couldn't I ignore that stupid voice inside me telling me that things would twist?

Why?

"I should prepare some breakfast. Girls will wake up at any minute." I got up and without looking at him went into the kitchen. I knew he was still looking at me, but he said nothing. "I think since Pam and Felicia appeared I've become more paranoid, if that's possible." I said, without turning around. "I care very much for them, and for both of us. We're like a family now, and we must look after each other."

"And we will, my angel. I have no doubt about it."

I nodded silently, and discreetly wiped a lone tear with the back of my hand. I didn't want to cry, and I wouldn't, but I was feeling sad this morning. Very sad, and I didn't know why.

"I will protect them, no matter what I have to do." I said suddenly. "And I know you'd do the same."

"Of course, Sookie."

As predicted, Pam appeared in the kitchen fully dressed, while Felicia was still wearing her cute yellow pajamas with a bunny drawn on the shirt. It is adorable…

"Good morning, girls. How did you sleep?" They both answered okay, and Pam helped me preparing breakfast.

Felicia sat on Eric's lap and hugged him. When I thought I couldn't see a more beautiful scene…I was wrong.

"What's up, baby girl?" Eric asked her, but Felicia just buried her face in his chest, saying nothing.

I was spellbound watching them, and it was Pam who warned me so we kept making breakfast. Both of us are a team, and we like to do a lot of things together.

"What's wrong with your sister?" Pam looked at Felicia and shrugged. "Guess she still behaves like a baby. At home, in the mornings she always hugged dad, and she didn't let him go until mom told her that it was time to get dressed for school."

I wish I hadn't asked.

"She'll get over it, she just likes hugs."

I saw Eric stroking her back, and when Felicia looked into his eyes, I saw her with her thumb trapped between her small lips. Guess it's hard to lose your parents at such a dreadful situation, but it's even worse trying to keep up with a routine that no longer exists.

"I had to hug her when she woke in the woods. She cried 'cause she didn't know where she was." I was setting the dishes, the ones we had borrowed, on the table. "She always told she dreamt with our parents, that they cared of us even though they were no longer alive. I don't know, maybe it's true."

I hugged Pam against me, hard, and we stayed like that for a few seconds. I saw Eric watching us, and he gave me a shy smile.

"I'm sorry, Pam."

"Why?"

"I wish your parents were here. They'd know how to take care of you two much better than us." Pam chuckled, but didn't stop hugging me. "Don't worry, Sookie. The truth is you two are doing a good job. I can take care of myself, but it's easier if someone helps me with Felicia."

"We do what we can, honey."

We finally pulled away, not before kissing her on the cheek. "Come on, let's finish making breakfast. I'm starving."

"Me too."

Eric and Felicia walked into the bedroom and came back ten minutes later, with the little girl fully dressed and holding a brush in her hand.

"Sookie, would you do me braids, please?" She asked politely. Eric laughed but said nothing.

"Of course, my love. But we first have to eat breakfast." I put the brush on the coffee table, and I sat her down on the chair.

I would have loved to prepare a feast, but unfortunately we were running out of food. The lake gave us fresh fish, but we needed some other things as well. The last village where we were had a mall, and I bet if we went back, we'd be lucky finding more food. Those trucks were there last time, but I don't think they took everything with them, so it was worth a try.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"I like that you brush my hair." Felicia and I were sitting on the bed, alone. "Pam tried to make me braids, but she wasn't very good at."

I laughed. "Well, there are things that some people do better than others. But your sister has managed to take care of you. And I think she has done it very well." She nodded, and I kept brushing her hair. "My mother brushed my hair in the mornings and before bed at night. I loved she did it, and she was the only one who braided it like I wanted."

"Where are your daddy and mommy?" She asked in a small voice.

I remained silent for a few seconds, but I finally started talking. "My parents died when I was young, honey. But I remember them a lot, and I know they'll always be with me. Like your parents." I sat down in front of her to be face to face. "They're caring for you from heaven, and they did everything they could to keep you both safe."

"Love you, Sookie." She muttered, hugging me. I had to fight back tears, but I got it.

"Love you too, honey."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Are you sure about this?"

"We have no choice if we want to survive, Eric." Pam and Felicia were inside, playing or reading, while we were talking next to the Jeep. "The fish is fine, but we also need other things. Like milk."

"I know you're right." He took me in his arms, and I sighed in relief. "But maybe I should go alone."

"Eric, no!" I answered more sharply than I intended. "We have already talked about this." I added, calmer. "It's not a good idea to split up. If we've survived is because we stand together."

"I know. And that was fine when we were just you and me, even Compton." I couldn't help making a face at the mention of his name. "But we have to little kids in our care now. It's dangerous, and I don't want to risk their lives for no reason."

"And you think I want?" I snapped. It hurt me that he thought Pam and Felicia were not important to me.

"I didn't mean to say that, and you know." I closed my eyes and sighed. I really knew it, but I guess I just let myself go. "Going out there with two girls and chased by zombies is very risky. You and I know how to take care of ourselves, but them?" Yeah, true. "I know Pam is proud to have been able to protect her sister, but the truth is they just got lucky. Very lucky. The zombies might have appeared in the woods at any time, and what would have happened to them? Pam had a gun, yeah, but that wouldn't have been enough. We both know."

"We can't leave them alone in the cabin. What if something happens? And I don't mean zombies," I added quickly, when I saw him opening his mouth. "What if they injure themselves for another reason? I could never forgive myself, Eric, and neither do you."

"Okay. We'll go together."

"Thank you."

Jessica POV

"Oh yeah! Don't stop!" I was over Quinn, one of Madden's guards, who used to visit very often.

I hate him. I hate him with all my strength.

"Look me in the eyes!" I didn't want to. He was disgusting, and being with him made me nausea, touching him, and feeling his hands on my skin. "I said look at me!"

I twisted my head, but he grabbed my chin hard, and forced me to look at his eyes. Those awful purple eyes. Who the hell has that eye color? At first I thought he wore lenses, but then I realized he wasn't.

"You're so naughty," he hissed, and put his paws on my breasts, "but I will make you to fulfill my orders, babe. And then you'll enjoy as you haven't enjoyed in your life." I'd have been able to bite him, but I must follow the plan so everything went well. Amy trusted me, and I wouldn't disappoint her.

Quinn had been interested in me in the past, so I knew perfectly well that he wouldn't last much longer. As soon as he closed his eyes – and he always did – I would take care of him.

"OH YEAH! FUCK! DON'T STOP…NO…DON'T…STOP…" His purple eyes closed for a few seconds, and it was then, still looking at him, when I grabbed the syringe I had hidden under the pillow, and stabbed him in the neck. "BITCH! WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO TO ME!"

"Don't worry, you'll survive. I'm not a killer like you, although I'd have loved to kill you." I whispered in his ear, and in a matter of seconds Quinn passed out on the bed.

I don't know what was in the syringe, but it was quick. Part of me hoped he never woke up again, that he died, but I knew Amy was unable to kill someone in cold blood.

I got up, getting rid of his hands on my hips, and dressed quickly. I wanted to take a shower, take off his awful smell, but I had no time. The other girls were waiting, and it was our opportunity to get away from this dreadful place, to never return.

Someone will find Quinn, sooner or later Madden's guards will come looking for him, but we'll no longer be here. I watched him for a moment. He was motionless, eyes closed and mouth slightly open. He looked dead, but he still had pulse.

I picked up the few belongings I had, including a pendant my parents gave me at sixteen, and opened the door to get out.

"Is it done?" Turning the corner I met Amy. She had reunited the girls, and they were waiting for me.

"It is."

"We don't have much time. Madden and most of his men have abandoned the mansion twenty minutes ago. There are very few guards watching, and a lot of them are drunk."

"How do we do this?" Maybe Quinn and Bill Compton had repeated to me many times that I was just a stupid girl, but now I was about to prove that I wasn't. I deceived John Quinn barely trying, and I'd get revenge on Compton.

"We'll leave behind, and walk in silence to the vehicles. We'll steal two trucks, and Bill and I'll drive." I did not like the idea, but it'd only be temporary. "Is there a problem?" I shook my head, and we left.

It was already dark, and it seemed the perfect time to carry out our plan. The guards had been drinking all day and were too drunk to remember the girls who were locked up. Madden probably ordered them to be alert if the zombies showed up, so they wouldn't worry about watching the back side.

"I want you to get in the truck with Bill." Amy said to me. I was going to protest because I didn't want to be alone with that damn bastard, but seeing the frightened faces of the girls I decided that I couldn't be selfish. It would not kill me to be in Bill's presence, and if he went too far, I might kick him out of the truck. "We'll go right behind you, okay?"

"Yeah."

My heart was beating at full speed, and I even felt sick every time I moved. We could be discovered at any time, and although I wanted to run and get over with, I had to make sure everything was fine. The younger girls were terrified, and the silent tears kept falling from my eyes. We couldn't afford to make a sound.

"We have some weapons and supplies. We're ready to leave." Amy said, approaching Bill and me. "Bill, you know the way, and you can leave the mansion without using the lights. I'll be right behind you, and when we're on the road we'll breathe easy."

"Understood." I replied, and hugged her.

"We have no time for this." Bill hissed. "And I won't let them to catch me while you two are wasting time.

"Let's go." I said no more, climbing into the passenger seat of the first truck.

Bill started the engine, and for a moment neither of us moved a muscle. I guess we were waiting for someone to appear to stop us, or warn the others, but nothing happened.

"Cross your fingers."

"Fuck you, Bill." It was no secret that I hated him, and I don't think he was stupid enough to believe that my opinion of him had changed.

He sighed heavily, and the truck began moving.

"I hope you know what you're doing, because I have no problem to kill you if necessary." He glared at me, but I didn't care. "Those girls have not grabbed a weapon in their lives, and they were too scared to fight back, but not me. I learned a few things since Victor Madden took me to the mansion like I was a prisoner."

"You're just a little girl, what can you know?" He muttered while chuckling.

"I know you're a son of a bitch." I replied, so sure of myself that I was even surprised. "You really can't be trusted, because you're not trustworthy. You'll never be loyal to anyone but yourself, and that's pretty sad."

"Shut up."

Eric POV

"Do you two understand what Sookie and I explained?" They both nodded, and looked sideways at Sookie. "We'll have to take a short trip, and it may be dangerous, but we have no choice, I'm afraid."

"I don't want the monsters to chase us." Felicia hugged Sookie, but I assured her everything would be fine. I'd make sure these girls did not run any danger.

"We'll all get back home, Felicia. I promise you."

"I want a gun." Pam said, surprising us both. Sookie looked at her with wide eyes, but I knew it'd only be a matter of time before she said it. "If we're all going, then I want a gun. I won't stay waiting in the car. I'll help."

"Okay."

It was already dark, so we would expect the next day. We convinced the girls to go bed early because we'd leave at first hour of the morning, and Sookie and I stayed up collecting it all.

"Do you think it's a good idea to give Pam a gun?"

"It wouldn't be the first time." I replied shrugging.

"I know, but I don't think it's safe. One thing is to practice with you, and quite another to have to point to a zombie's head and shoot. She's just a little girl, she shouldn't go around armed."

I had the feeling a fight was coming, so I pulled Sookie into my chest, and we stayed like that for a few minutes. "Nothing's gonna happen, baby. I promise you."

"I wanna believe you, really, but I can't help thinking something bad will happen. That's all. I hate saying it out loud, because I trust you, Eric, but…"

"I know." I kissed her on the lips, and hugged her tighter. "But we'll watch them all the time, do you understand?" She nodded several times, but said nothing. "I love you, beautiful girl, and I hate seeing you so sad and worried."

"I just want us all to be safe."

"And we will."

Sookie and I fell asleep on the couch, me laying on my back and she over me. It was not the most comfortable position in the world, but I guess we were so exhausted that we didn't even care.

I woke up several times during the night, checking that everything was calm, and even I got up slightly to peek into the bedroom. From the couch I could see Pam and Felicia sleeping peacefully. The little girl was hugging her sister, with her thumb stuck in her mouth.

"What is it?" Sookie muttered, and I went to lay down.

"I'm sorry I woke you." She shook her head and sat at the other end of the couch.

"Doesn't matter. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I was just looking if the girls were sleeping." Sookie got up and walked to the bedroom door. I saw her leaning against the frame, and went after her. "It's amazing that they're able to sleep soundly with what's going on."

"They remember me of someone…" she whispered, elbowing me gently in the ribs. "I'm surprised that your snoring hasn't attracted the zombies to us."

"Very funny." We returned to the living room, and sat back on the couch. "We'll take all the weapons and food. I will hide the portable cooler in the kitchen, and we'll put everything in its place when we return, okay?"

"Yeah."

"Sookie, we're going to come back." I assured her, taking her hand. "I don't want you to hesitate about that for a second."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"I hope to kill a few zombies, you know, to keep practicing." I turned around quickly, and grabbed Pam's gun from her hands. "Hey! What are you doing?"

"This is not a toy, Pam, and I don't want you to go around shooting for nothing, okay? We don't do things like that. We're going for supplies, and we better go unnoticed, so I don't want to hear a single bullet out of the gun if it is not necessary, alright?" Maybe I was a little rough with her, but I wanted to make it clear. "It's dangerous out there, Pam, and I just wish to arrive, take what we need, and return safely."

"I understand, Eric."

I gave her the gun back and I didn't stop watching at her until she tucked it safely into her jacket.

"I know it is not a toy." Pam proved to be very mature for her age, but that didn't mean she understood everything. "I only want to be helpful, but the truth is I am scared."

"I am too. It's not bad to be afraid, and believe me, you'd be crazy if you weren't scared. But you must think when you have a gun in your hand. That gun kills, and if you're not careful you might hurt someone else. Or even yourself."

"I know. Sorry."

"No need to apologize, sweetheart, you've done nothing wrong."

Sookie came out a few minutes later, Felicia holding her hand, and locked up the door. We made sure to cover all the windows, and it seemed no one was living there. We hadn't seen anyone else around but the girls, so I did not wish to return and find an unexpected surprise.

"Are we ready?" Sookie nodded after fasten Felicia's seat belt, and sat next to me in the Jeep. "Okay, let's go."

We were all tense, myself included, but nobody said a word. We knew what we had to do, and even if it was dangerous, Sookie and I wouldn't get back. Much less Pam.

I parked near the back door of the mall, so the car will not be seen, and we could come and go without fear zombies appeared when we were on the way to the Jeep.

"Okay, let's go in. We need to be quiet, and with our eyes wide open, alright? Felicia," I bent down to be at her level, and grinned, "I want you to stay with Sookie, okay? She will take care of you."

"Okay."

It seemed the people who were in those trucks took many things, but luckily for us not everything. "We need supplies and medicines. I can see the drug store from here," I muttered, while tiptoeing, "so we'll separate. Pam, you're coming with me. Sookie…"

"We'll be fine, Eric." I handed Sookie the empty backpack, and she and Felicia would take care of medicines, and everything necessary to heal any wound. "Be careful."

"Yeah. Do what Sookie tells." Felicia hugged her sister, and we parted to get what we needed.

"Don't worry, they'll be fine. Besides, we won't here for long."

"I'm not worried." She lied, but I said nothing.

We walked through aisle after aisle, grabbing whatever we could find, and putting them into the backpacks. Pam insisted she could carry with one of them, so I gave it to her.

"Can we grab chocolate?"

"Sure, baby."

There seemed no trace of zombies, but I stayed alert, watching and looking over my shoulder. We were making no noise, and I kept looking toward the area where Sookie and Felicia were. I could see them grabbing boxes and packages of bandages, so it looked they found what they needed.

"Look at this." She showed me an animal shaped candy bag. "My dad bought them, and Felicia and I ate them when we were having a family movie night. Can I have some?"

"Yeah, take as many as you want."

I looked down at my watch and saw that we had been in the store for half an hour, so it was time to leave. I warned Pam, and we went looking for the girls.

"Do you have everything?" I startled Sookie when I spoke, but she got something else in the bag, and nodded, grinning.

"Yeah, we can go now. Felicia, come on." She reached out and the little girl took her hand.

"Have you brought the discount card?" Pam joked, and we all laughed.

I went out first through the back door, looking at both sides. "We're alone. Come on, we will put the backpacks in the trunk and go."

"Eric…" Sookie muttered, and before I could ask, I saw her eyes were on the road.

Trucks.

"Fuck me…"

It was impossible that we hadn't been seen, so we couldn't run away or hide. We wouldn't be able to leave because they'd follow us to the cabin.

"Eric, what do we do now?" Sookie's voice was trembling, but unfortunately I couldn't give her an answer. "Eric…"

Pam grabbed my hand tightly, and when I looked at her eyes I saw she was crying. I was heartbroken, and I froze. I didn't know what to do.

"We have to go…" Sookie whispered.

I shook my head, saying nothing.

"Eric, we have to get out of here."

The trucks were approaching, and they were so close to us that they'd be able to cut us off as we tried to escape.

"I'm sorry…" I muttered, looking at them all.

Hope you like this chapter.

Thank you for reading.

Have a nice week.