Chapter 23:

They trudged through the snow with Timmy occasionally teleporting just so he could get anywhere. She was surprised there weren't many zombies roaming around in the vast countryside that surrounded the cabin.

"I still want to know why they didn't want to come near us when we were all in a group." It was the second time Stan had face planted the ground. Kenny and Butters helped him up.

"It's got to be a super power." Wendy was certain of it and she was convinced someone in their group had the ability to keep them away. They just didn't know who it was.

So far they'd been able to rule out Shelly, Stan and Dovahkiin Hughes. As far as she knew it could be any of them. They needed more zombies to experiment with. "Maybe they don't come out here because of the cold. There's not many around."

Despite wearing three layers under a puffy jacket she couldn't keep warm. She was originally from Sydney and while winter did get cold it was never cold enough to snow. She didn't think she'd ever get used to a Colorado winter.

"We should probably get back to that cabin before our parents start freaking out any way." Kyle suggested as he too was shivering. The wind was starting to pick up, snow fell and they couldn't see very far ahead anyway. It was too dangerous for Timmy to keep teleporting further away from the safety of the cabin.

"Kyle's right. I don't even want to be out here anymore." Her teeth were chattering and she started back to the cabin. "My mum will freak if she knows I'm not at home."

Since the outbreak and after they left the camp the cabin had become her new home. Even before zombies roamed the earth she thought of it as a second home considering she came to this place so often with her family. Usually when her mother needed a break from town and dealing with idiots.

"If the mayor freaks out we're so busted." Stan added as her friends followed her back to the cabin with Timmy only teleporting in order to keep up with them.

"No shit!" She pulled her scarf up to cover her nose. She hoped they could make it back because she didn't want to spend another minute outside in the bitter cold and instantly regretted her decision to chase zombies and use them as lab rats.

XXXX

She wanted to find his apartment. Government Guy was hiding something and she knew it. She felt sick to her stomach watching the former school councillor Mr. Mackey trailing after him and Sergeant Harrison Yates like a lost puppy.

"Grow some balls homie." She mumbled under her breath and she started exploring apartments looking for answers.

From what she could tell everything looked as it should. People obviously liked this place because it reminded them of what it was like before. She really wasn't in the party mood and wondered why people – namely Liane – couldn't see this place for what it really was. A façade.

She searched through a small living room fitted with mix-matched furniture and shelving. In all the apartments they had shelves stocked with books, blankets and even toiletries. She stole a toiletry bag from one of the shelves she passed since she had no intention of staying. As soon as she found what she was actually looking for she was leaving. She couldn't be so certain about Liane because the minute she peaked outside a top story window she could see Liane Cartman flirting with Government Guy and sharing drinks with Mackey and Yates.

"It's been a while and even I ain't that desperate." She muttered as she rifled through stacks of books and magazines. She even searched through any papers and notebooks she could find. So far she'd found nothing.

XXXX

"I would really like to stay here." She hoped he'd approve. As far as she knew she was leaving with Classi the next day after their doctors gave her a clean bill of health. "I haven't had anything this nice since this all started."

She wanted to start over and live a real life again. Out in the woods with Randy's group and then Classi she merely existed. She wanted to contribute and she just wanted somewhere that was warm and safe. This town ticked all the boxes for her but she wasn't so sure about Classi who'd remained hostile since Harrison brought them here.

"I see this place is growing on you." Government Guy handed her a cold drink. Something she hadn't enjoyed in a long time.

"I really like the room and the bed." She wanted comfort more than anything. She didn't want to spend her time wondering if each day was going to be her last. She came close to death the day Classi saved her from a horde. She wasn't interested in supply runs. There were obviously a lot of other things she could do to contribute.

"You'll have to contribute." Government Guy explained how things worked in his town. "My guys keep the town safe and work the walls. Kids go to school and adults have jobs. We do provide entertainment and you'll see that later tonight."

"What's on tonight?" She seemed confused because it looked like they were already celebrating something.

"You'll see." Yates left with Mackey who was complaining about the impractical use of the generators.

"Can I work the wall?" She wanted to make sure she didn't lose her ability to defend herself. Even though she could cook and clean with the rest of them she wasn't interested in being a housewife. "I'm a good shot I'd like to stay that way."

"Sure, why not." Government Guy didn't seem to mind adding a trainee soldier to patrol the wall and their perimeter. "You'll start training, but for now just enjoy the party."

She sighed with relief because allowing her to work the wall meant that she could stay.

XXXX

"Where have you been?!" He was rarely angry and it was the first time she'd heard him yell. They all knew they were in trouble. "You're mother is worried sick!"

She didn't know what to tell him. She knew he would freak out if he knew the real reason they wondered off the property.

"Is that blood?" Sheila noticed stains on Kyle's clothes and instantly started checking him for bite.

"Argh! Mom!" Kyle freaked out when she started fussing over him. "I'm fine. I didn't get bit."

"Dad don't worry." Dovahkiin also had blood on him as did Stan and Shelly Marsh. She knew she would have to tell them the truth.

"We wanted to see if Timmy's mind bending powers would work on the dead fucks." She tried telling her adoptive father they just went for a walk and he didn't buy it. Her older brother didn't buy the lie either.

"You can't be out here without supervision. It's dangerous." Officer Barbrady was more concerned about their safety, but she knew they were still in trouble. "Did they get bit?"

"He's fine." Relieved Sheila smothered Kyle in a bear hug.

"I can't breathe!" Kyle's shouts were muffled and he squirmed and fidgeted as his mother kissed him. "Mom!"

"Don't ever scare me again Kyle." Kyle was grounded for wandering off the property when he wasn't allowed to.

"So are you Butters." PC Principal and Principal Victoria were raising Butters since his real parents weren't fit just like hers weren't fit to be parents either.

"You mom wants to talk to you Katherine." He wouldn't let her walk the rest of the way and parents carried their children back to the cabin. She dreaded telling her mother why she was wandering around in the woods.

XXXX

"Don't ever do that again!" She knew her mother was freaking out. The adults had settled to vote on what was going to happen to Mr. Marsh when they noticed them missing. Parents had panicked and she sent a search party out for them.

She didn't dare tell her Timmy was teleporting to get through the thick snow. She didn't want to get him in trouble. She decided to tell her what they'd discovered.

"Someone can keep the dead fucks away." She explained despite her mother's initial confusion. "I don't know who it is though. We were trying to see if Timmy could control them with his mind bending powers. We didn't get a chance to test it on the zombie Kenny's we caught at camp."

"What do you mean someone could keep them away?" Based on her mother's questioning she knew she wasn't making any sense. She looked stressed and confused and if she didn't sit down she would probably fall down.

She sat by the fireplace in her mother's master bedroom. She was still cold after wandering around outside. "There was three zombies. When we were in a group they wouldn't come near us. They lunged at Dovahkiin, Kyle, Stan and Shelly when they weren't with the group so someone – I don't know who it is because we couldn't find any more dead fucks can keep them away. It's like someone has another superpower."

Mayor McDaniels remained confused but sat beside her with the heat from the fireplace warming their backs. "How does that even work?"

She shrugged. "I don't know, but it was like walker repellent. They wouldn't come near us even though they could smell fresh food."

She wanted to find out who had this ability because the other kids had noticed it too. She didn't think her mother would allow her to research and find out.

"Don't go past the perimeter without supervision. I can't lose any more children and I don't want you to get hurt. You don't want to get stuck in the woods in this weather." She warned her not to do that again. "Promise me you won't go past the perimeter without supervision."

She took the hot chocolate her father had made and gave the other cup to her mother. "I promise." It was a promise she would keep because she wasn't outside in the cold for very long, but she knew the mayor was right. She didn't want to get stuck outside in this winter. "Am I grounded?"

"You bet you are." Her mother confirmed it to her dismay. "It'd be better for you to stay at the cabin. I need help around here."