Chapter 25: Voices and Figures
"Shouldn't they have been here by now?" Kayla asked, looking at Ben nervously.
"I wouldn't worry too much," Ben adjusted his jacket, "There's still a lot of snow on the roads. If you're that worried you can call Cameron again." She pulled the small hand radio out of her pocket and clicked it on.
"Cameron? Cameron do you copy?" She listened to the static anxiously waiting for a response.
"Hello?" Both Ben and Kayla froze; that voice didn't belong to Cameron or anyone else in their group.
"Hello? Is anyone out there?" Kayla shut the device off, resisting the urge to throw it into the snow.
"Should-"
"No!"
"You didn't even know what I was going to say."
"I knew exactly what you were going to say. You were going to say something like 'Should we tell Cameron?' or 'Should we answer back?' and my answer is no."
"Ben, don't you remember what I said about keeping secrets?"
"Yes, babe, but Cameron would flip out if we told him. He's been overprotective of you lately."
"I think there are worse things we could tell Cameron." Ben exhaled deeply and looked back towards the blanket of white in front of them.
"Tell me what's on your mind," she said sternly.
"I just…I want to move on. I feel like if we tell anyone about what we just heard that they're going to get scared, and they're going to want to stay here. My house isn't that big for one. Two, I can't be in that house anymore. I get emotional, then I get really clingy, and I don't want that anymore."
"Ben," she took his hand, "You're just mourning. People react differently when they're mourning. I get angry and you get …well…emotional. It's not like I disliked this past week at all. It's been nice having this time alone and…it's okay to feel what you're feeling. I don't want you to feel like you can't express your feelings towards me."
"I know," he sighed, putting his arm around her shoulders, "I just want this to go away."
"It doesn't really go away…..you just kind of make room for it." She watched a tear fall from his face, sunlight glistening off of it before it disappeared.
"It'll be okay," she said quietly, standing on her toes to kiss his cheek, "I'm here. It'll be okay." Moments later, they could hear the rumbling of motors in the distance.
"That's probably them," Ben wiped his cheeks with his sleeve, "Sounds like they found a couple trucks." Both of them waved when several trucks appeared in the distance. Once stopped, Cameron jumped out of the passenger side and ran to hug Kayla.
"How are you doing?" he asked.
"I'm fine, Cam."
"Good to see that you haven't killed each other," David smirked. Ben and Kayla laughed a little, watching as the remaining boys climbed out.
"Damn, Ben!" Tim exclaimed, "This is where you lived?"
"Yup. From birth to college."
"Are you okay with being back?" David asked.
Ben sighed, "I mean…..it's not the same. I'm glad that I have a temporary shelter that I'm familiar with but it's no longer home."
"Are you doing okay?" Cameron asked, concern spreading across his face.
"I'm okay for now. Anyway, make yourselves at home guys! There are only 3 bedrooms, but there's plenty of sleeping space," he turned to Kayla with a sly grin on his face, "Do you want to occupy the master bedroom?" She smirked, her cheeks flushing slightly.
Cameron pulled Kayla aside once everyone had settled in, enveloping her into a hug and kissing the top of her head.
"I was worried about you."
"I know. I'm okay though." They broke apart and a smile spread across Cameron's face.
"How many times did you guys do it while you were snowed in?"
"Oh my god, so many times," Kayla laughed, "For me being his first, he really knows how to please me."
"You could just be easy to please."
"Fuck you!" she punched him lightly on his arm and he laughed.
"You used a condom every time right?"
"Yeah, of course."
"Kayla…"
"Yes, Cameron! We used one every time!"
"Okay."
"Do you want details?"
"You know I do."
"Well the first night we were here, we just slept for sixteen hours."
"I'm not surprised; neither of you were sleeping well."
"No kidding. The night the storm hit…..I'm not sure what came over him, but he was just all over me, and it just continued into the morning. And we've been fucking at least once every day."
"Wow, Kayla, I'm a little jealous. David and I haven't had sex in a while."
"Are you guys okay?"
"Yeah, we're fine. We've just been either on the move or stressed or tired."
"Maybe you two can take a breather? Ben and I can move back into his room and you can occupy the master bedroom."
Cameron chuckled, "I appreciate the offer, but I think we're just going to take it easy. I'll let you know if we want it though."
"Okay."
"Have uh…have you two discussed getting married any further."
She shook her head, "I told him I wanted to wait. He hasn't said anything else and I haven't really thought too much about it."
"Mmm….David mentioned getting married to me briefly. I'm in the same boat as you."
"I have a feeling you're going to get married before me."
"Why do you think that?"
"Because you're comfortable with who you are and you love David very deeply."
"And…you're not?" he raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not comfortable with myself. I love Ben so much, but I don't know if I can commit to spending my life with someone else without really knowing who I am."
"Kayla Marie Summers….you never cease to amaze me with your wisdom."
The air was beginning to become cooler and the sun was just beginning to sink below the tree line. Kayla took a deep breath and looked back down at the radio in her hand. It had been hours since she had heard the voice, but she still wanted to know if they were still there, whoever they were. She had managed to sneak away from Ben out to the back porch, and was still contemplating whether to reach out or not. Well…..just don't tell them your location if you don't trust them. She turned the radio on and pressed the talk button.
"Hello?" she could hear the shakiness in her voice.
"Hello? Are you the voice from earlier?" Kayla's breath hitched.
"Y-yeah. That's me."
"Oh my god, I thought I was going crazy. Glad to know I still have some of my sanity."
"Who are you?"
"Just call me Seattle. You?"
"Call me California. You can call me Cali for short."
The voice chuckled, "Okay California. Otherwise known as Cali." Kayla scoffed.
"Seattle, why the hell are you out here? Did you get stuck in the storm like us?"
"Basically. I was looking for supplies when I saw the storm clouds forming."
"Are…are you alone?"
"I am right now." Kayla paused, thinking of her next question.
"Did you hear me, Cali?"
"Yes, I heard you."
"Alright, it's my turn to ask questions. What brought you to Washington in the first place?"
"I got out of a bad group. I figured heading north to colder climates where the walkers didn't move as much was my best bet."
"Hm….you're smart. How long have you been up here?"
"Uh…I guess three weeks." It was then that Kayla had a sudden realization; her last period had been when they had crossed the California border into Oregon, which was well over a month ago. She had been irregular for a while, but this was the longest she had been without one.
"Oh fuck!" she gasped, covering her mouth.
"Cali? Cali! Are you okay? What's going on?"
"I-I need to go. It's getting dark and I-I need to find shelter."
"Okay. Can we talk again?"
"Yeah."
"Same time tomorrow?"
"Sure."
"Okay. Be safe Cali."
"You too, Seattle." She switched off the radio and went back inside, feeling very anxious. I can't be pregnant…..I haven't had any other symptoms. Shit, what if I am though? Cameron's going to kill me. As she ascended the staircase and made her way down the hall to the master bedroom, Cameron's warning kept repeating itself in her mind: "You can't get pregnant, Kayla." She knew there was a test in the medicine cabinet; she just hoped Ben wasn't there. Luckily for her he wasn't. She switched on the sink and began gulping down water until her stomach hurt. She ripped open the box and began to quickly read the directions of how to take it. The few minutes she had to wait felt like hours. One line, negative. She breathed a sigh of relief, almost bursting into tears.
"Kayla?" Ben knocked, "Are you okay? Adam said you came in looking upset."
"Yeah, I'm fine," she washed her hands and opened the door, "I thought I was pregnant for a second." Ben sighed and hugged her.
"How long has it been since your last period?"
"Over a month. That's why I got scared. I haven't had any other symptoms though." Ben kissed her forehead and tightened his grasp.
"Let's hold off on sex for a while. We both need the break honestly." She smiled and dug her forehead into his chest.
"Whoa! No way!" Seattle laughed, "That's fucking crazy, Cali! Weren't you using protection?"
"Of course I was! Jesus, I don't even know why I told you."
"I asked. Do you have a plan on where to go next?"
"Yes and no. B wants to leave the place we're staying in, but I'm not sure where he wants to go."
"There's really not much left up here. Why would you leave if you're in a house?"
"It's not the safest place…we're out in the open. There's also a lot of bad vibes here."
"Bad vibes? Is the place haunted?"
"You can say that."
"I see….well, Cali, I know of a place….but I need to know if I can trust you."
"You can. Can I trust you?"
"Telling me I can trust you is not as simple as that. I have three questions for you, and your answers will determine whether or not I can trust you."
"Okay."
"One, how many dead have you killed?"
"Too many to count."
"How many people have you killed?"
"One."
"Why?"
"He tried to rape me." There was silence before Kayla heard a deep inhale.
"Okay, there's a small party coming for me soon. How many of you are there?"
"There's fourteen of us."
"Damn…I don't think I can take that many."
"Seattle please! We're…..we're just kids. A couple of us are in our twenties, but a majority of us are just teenagers. We need help. We won't survive out here."
"I'll see what I can do, but I can't promise anything." Kayla breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you."
"Listen carefully, I know you have a big group but don't tell anyone until I can secure a spot for you. The higher ups don't take people in often. I really shouldn't have even told you about it, but like you said, you're kids. Keep your radio on; I'll give you more details in the following days. Do you think you can stay put in the meantime?"
"I think so; I'll talk to B."
"Good." Something caught Kayla's eye and she looked towards the woods. There was a dark figure amongst the trees. It was too far away for her to make out any clear details but it was definitely another human.
"I guess I'll sign off now," Seattle's voice broke her trance.
"Hey, before you go I have one question for you."
"Yeah?" She kept her eyes fixed on the figure.
"Are you watching me?" There was no response and the figure didn't move.
"Seattle…..are you watching me?"
"No, Cali. I'm not," the figure still hadn't moved.
"How do I know I can trust you?"
"Listen to me California. I'm not talking to you to fuck you over. I'm talking to you so I can help. I know there are some shitty people out there, but I'm one of the good guys. You can trust me."
"Okay…..will I talk to you tomorrow then?"
"Yes. Same time if not sooner." Kayla blinked and strained her eyes to make out the figure. The outlines became too fuzzy in the dimming light and she turned to go back into the house.
"Guys," she began to walk towards the living room, "house meeting." She waited patiently until all of them had gathered around her.
"I think someone's watching the house. I saw a figure in the woods."
"We'll set up shifts then," Prichard said.
"The attic's the best spot," Ben chimed in, "You can see everything."
"Alright, I'll take the first watch with Alan."
"I volunteer to go after you," Steven spoke up.
"You need a partner."
"I'll go," Brad said.
"Kayla and I will go after you," David added.
"Cameron and I will go next," Ben volunteered.
"Okay, that should be enough. We'll do four hour shifts each. We'll keep the lights off and flashlights low. Everyone else try to get some sleep."
"Kayla, what the hell is going on?" Ben said quietly into her ear as they walked down the hallway.
"I'll tell you when we get in the room." She could feel anger and frustration radiating from him. A pit was beginning to form in her stomach telling her heart and her head that they were probably going to have their first fight.
Ben slammed the door shut, "You talked to that fucking voice didn't you?"
"Yes, but-"
"Kayla, that could be who's watching the house! Why the hell would you put all of us in jeopardy like this? You know better!"
"Because I may have found a place for us to go!"
"What?"
"You said you wanted to leave this house right? Did you think about where we would go after? I want to live somewhere safe, Ben. I want to try and get back to what we had before things went to shit. I want a place where I can find myself and…..and I want a place where we can get married."
"Kayla," Ben breathed, his eyes beginning to water.
"I know I said I wasn't ready, but I know that I do want to marry you eventually. Just not while we're out fighting for our lives in the middle of nowhere." Ben placed both hands on her face, brought it forward, and kissed her.
"I love you," he whispered, "I just want you safe. How much do you even know about this place?"
"Nothing. That voice is my connection; his name is Seattle."
"And you trust him?"
"He trusts me."
"How do you know?"
"Think about it, Ben. Would a stranger offer up a safe haven to you at will?"
"I haven't gotten a chance to catch up with you," David could barely see Kayla in the darkness, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, David, I'm fine."
"How's Ben?"
"He's okay, he's….hanging in there. He's been a little clingy lately, but I get that he needs me right now."
"I take it you guys are still active?"
"Very. I told Cameron we do it at least once every day."
David gave Kayla a concerned look, "You're using protection right?"
"Oh my god, yes, David we use protection. Cameron just asked me that a few hours ago."
"Are you consenting every time?"
"Yeah. I like sex too."
David sighed, "The only reason I'm asking is because I was in a similar situation once. We kept having sex every day, and when I wanted a break….he didn't respect my wishes."
"David-"
"You take your break when you want it, Kayla. I don't think Ben is a bad man, but I just worry about you. You're young. Ben's your first serious boyfriend. Just because you love him doesn't mean you have to do what he wants whenever he wants." Kayla took a deep breath.
"We're taking a break now," she admitted, "My period has been irregular and I thought there was a chance I was pregnant. I'm not by the way."
"Good. I'm glad you're keeping track."
"I'm struggling though. I forget to count days."
"Well, I would too honestly. This is a stressful environment; any type of stress could make you irregular." There was silence between the two of them for a while, the moon barely shining in the sky.
"Did I do the right thing, David?"
"What do you mean?"
"Warning everyone. I don't even know if there is someone really out there. I just thought I saw someone in the trees."
"Did your gut tell you that there was someone out there?"
"Yeah."
"Then you did the right thing." Kayla heard a break in the quiet static on her radio and turned the volume up to listen.
"Cali? California are you there?"
"Who the hell is that?"
"I'm here, Seattle."
"Okay. We need you to get to Raymond as soon as possible."
"Raymond?"
"Yes. Let me know when you get there. I'll turn my radio on every day at dawn and at sunset."
"Okay."
"Be safe, Cali." Kayla shut off her radio and looked straight at David's bewildered face.
"What's going on?"
"I may have found a place."
"Is that…..who's watching us?"
"I don't know," she tapped her finger on her radio, "I think they're seeing how well I….we….can follow orders."
"Do you really want to go to another place like that?"
She inhaled deeply, "I just want to be safe. I'll contribute my part as long as it means I get to have my own free will and I can keep all of us together."
"You know that might not be possible right."
"I know, but I at least want you, Cam, and Ben with me." David hugged her.
"We're not splitting up, Kay. We're in this together."
END PART I