7

Marlie's eyes shot open as she heard the door close and the sound of someone entering the living room. She slowly picked her head up from the couch and spotted Selena, who held a bulky plastic bag in her hand while her belt sagged slightly. Selena glanced over at Marlie, smiled slightly and said, "Hi."

Marlie gave her a nod and started look down.

"Where's Jim?" Selena asked her.

Marlie shrugged and said, "Somewhere in the house, I guess."

"You don't know?"

"I think he's outside in the back."

Selena checked the back window and replied, "I didn't see him out there, but I'll check again in a few minutes."

Marlie nodded and was asked how she was feeling.

"You're the second person that's asked me that already," Marlie replied, sitting up, "But I'm okay. Thanks."

Selena walked over to her side and said, "We need to talk."

Marlie glanced at her nervously as she continued.

"I…erm…I want to apologize. I know you must be going through a lot right now after all that's happened and I…well, Jim and I know what it's like. To feel scared and confused. But…you gotta learn to be tough in situations like this. You can't just run and hide..."

"Because there's nowhere else to hide, right?" Marlie asked.

Before Selena could say anything else, Jim entered the room, spotted the two women on the couch and said, "Now this is something I didn't expect to see."

Selena gave him a small grin and asked, "Pleasure to see you, Jim, as always. Where were you?"

"Sayin' hello to Hannah, that's all," Jim answered, "I didn't have the chance last week."

Hannah was one of the youngest survivors in their small group before she died of pneumonia. She had lost her father months after the infection started to spread, and was quickly taken in by Jim and Selena during their first adventure. The three of them had been through a lot before Hannah died, and it was hard for the two of them to lose someone who was like a little sister to them.

"So what's this about, then?" Jim asked, referring to Marlie and Selena.

"Just a talk, that's all," Selena answered, getting up and walking into the kitchen, "But, we need to have another meetin'."

(Hours later)

"I'm not going back out there! It's bollocks!" Marlie yelled, walking out of the kitchen.

"Marlie, you need to learn how to get over that fear," Selena said as she and Jim followed her out of the kitchen, "Remember what I said before? You have to learn to be tough."

"I'm not prepared to go back out on the streets and take another deadly beating from whoever the hell they were!"

"There's a good chance that they might not be out there," Jim said, trying to calm her down.

"But there's a good chance that they might be waiting back inside my apartment!"

Selena had called a meeting and suggested that they take Marlie down to her old apartment to grab a few things. But Marlie resented the idea altogether, thinking that her attackers would follow the group and finish them off.

"Look. If something were to happen, then we'll come prepared," Selena said, walking over to her side and showing her the tool belt. It revealed some small axes, a hammer, a few knives and a sharp hook among her other violent tools.

"I don't know about this," Marlie said, holding her head.

"C'mon, Marlie. We have to at least try."

Marlie stared at the both of them for a few moments and then said, "When do we leave?"

(To be continued…)