Chapter 4

BPOV

The house wasn't in too rough of shape. It looked like the people who lived here left when everything started; drawers will still half hanging out and some cabinets left partially open. No one had died in here so that was a plus as it still smelled pretty good, maybe a little stale but not like rot. The kitchen was pretty cleaned out so I made the right call in grabbing what I did from the other house. I decided to set up the house before reading Alice's letter that I had already pulled from the bottom of the bathroom drawer. I nailed some boards I'd found in the barn out back to cover the lower windows and hung blankets over them to hide any light. This place was a little eery; I had yet to see a zombie, even with all the noise I was making and not one made an appearance yet. I had expected quite a few when I started with the hammer, but it was a risk I was willing to take to have a safer shelter for however long I was supposed to be here. I now had a good supply of candles and I even found some camp gear with a portable stove. The water partially worked in this place since it was probably from a well but without power there wasn't any pressure, more like a slow trickle. I went ahead and cleaned the tub the best I could and began to fill it. It would probably take the rest of the night to get filled enough to use it but I really needed a good scrub. I would need to scout the area tomorrow to find a more reliable water source and see what else I could find around here; while not going to far east or into town like Ali had warned.

After setting up the perimeter with different warning systems, I was exhausted. Setting up my weapons next to the tub along with clean clothes, I scooped out a large pot of water for rinsing when I was done and began scrubbing off all the filth I had accumulated on the trip from Florida. Last thing I wanted to do was be caught butt ass naked and have to make a run for it out in the wilderness, so bathing was put off for a while. Alice had the right idea about braiding my hair, it would've been knotted beyond repair if I hadn't; Only Alice would be worried about how my hair looks in the zombie apocalypse. I'm half surprised she didn't leave me an "appropriate" wardrobe for it. Pulling out my bag of bathroom stuff, I washed with soap and shampooed and conditioned my hair. It felt sooo nice, I think I rubbed my skin raw. Thank you Alice for all those appointment in the city! I no longer had the need to shave at all after all the laser hair removal sessions. I was so embarrassed until she pointed out that if I was to be a vampire eventually, would I want to be hairy for eternity? Because you never know when it could happen by accident and you might have missed shaving for the past week… That was a big fat no about being hairy for eternity, not to mention how much time it saved me shaving. Now, her insisting on my bikini zone had my face crimson. She told the lady at the salon that I wanted Brazilian. Brazilian is like bare everywhere from top to bottom; to have to spread myself wide like that for a stranger made me blush like no other. But I really was thankful now, no shaving anything at all from legs, underarms, or bikini, even my arms, it's really great. She had also taken me to the gynecologist as well, telling me that just because Edward and I were no longer together didn't mean that I wouldn't find someone I wanted to do the deed with eventually. I ended up getting the two year shot for birth control under Alice's insistence a couple months before all this went down. I had never been so happy to be a virgin at that point because there was no way I was putting my feet in those stirrups and opening up for a Dr. to put their face like, right there. I still don't see the point of the shot now, except at least my girly business is more regular and seems to go by faster. Finally being as clean as I was going to get, I rinsed with the pot and left the water in the tub. I threw all my dirty clothes in there to soak before I scrubbed them clean, well as clean as I could get them.

Still thinking about Alice, I dressed, re-braided my hair, and went to get her letter. I had never been very happy about her being able to see my future but now I was thankful for her help. She had for seen all the things I would really need to know to survive. The look on my face when she said that since I wasn't going to get a degree right now, I should keep myself busy by getting an EMT certification…. This was Bella fainting at the sight of blood Bella; in the beginning I gagged my way through it but eventually overcame that thank goodness. Plus, you never know when I might need to stitch myself up along the way. The horticulture classes I took kept me from wiping my ass with poison oak and will probably help me forage for food when stuff gets a little more scarce. The time spent at the gun and archery ranges is really something I wouldn't have survived without. Now the bug out camp training we went to, Alice went with me to "keep me company"; not like she had to learn how to survive. She wouldn't even catch me an animal, told me I had to hunt it myself, then skin and gut it. That was absolutely one of the worse things I ever had to do, I think I puked three times but I did it. She said it would be a good bonding trip for us girls to go on together… yea well she wasn't the one having to wipe her ass with leaves. Edward was beyond furious when he found out what we were going to be up to for a week, and even more so when I told him to shove it. I guess he thought I was just going to fall back into his arms after Italy, and for a moment I almost did. When I woke up in my room and Stalkward was right there in my room, uninvited yet again, and asked for forgiveness for all the bullshit he pulled; I almost said it was all ok. That is until Alice had popped in and wanted to speak with me, it was like a spell being broken. That bastard had tried to dazzle me back into a relationship with him. I had remembered more and more about all the times he got his way and figured out that's what he'd been up our whole relationship. When I called him on it, he at least had the decency to look ashamed, but I caught the glare he sent Alice's way. He was pissed she interrupted him and knew she was there to talk me out of taking him back because he wasn't what was good for me any longer. I had changed and Edward the ever hard headed stalkpire hadn't. He kept trying to talk me into taking him back but I finally had to tell him if he didn't cut that shit out we wouldn't even be friends any longer. Jasper was always around to make sure he didn't pull his dazzle bullshit and to give me a boost of confidence to put my foot down; I had even nailed my window shut and invested in a door lock so he couldn't just sneak through the house and into my room whenever he wanted. Jazz and I had become good friends when Edward was no longer able to tell me what to do or tell his family it was too dangerous for me and it was his call because I was his "mate". Yea right, I call bull shit on that one. Alice and Jasper were the ones to sign me up for martial arts after graduation to keep me busy they had said. Jasper would even spar with me at human speed so I could get even better. They would take me at least 4 times a week to Seattle to train. Then came the horticulture classes, and then the EMT certification classes on top of those. I may not have been a full time student in college, but my schedule became full really quick. Then with visiting the ranges on the weekends, sometimes even taking Charlie with us(He got over being mad at Alice in record time, but still hates Edward with a passion. I think he wanted to through a party with Billy when found out we weren't getting back together, but then canceled it when I wouldn't date Jacob). It was a good bonding experience for Charlie and I, with him being able to teach me all about guns and how to fire one. He even picked up archery just to spend more time with me. I had found it really weird when Alice said Edward was going to accompany me to Florida instead of one of them; I still hadn't gotten on well with Rose, so Emmett and I didn't have much time together as a result, and there was no way she was going to let him go to Jacksonville with me for the week. Victoria was supposed to be scouting the area that week so the Cullen's said it would be best for me to be out of the area while they kept an eye on Charlie when he wasn't at the reservation. Edward seemed ecstatic to have the whole week with me in Florida, myself not so much. It's not that I hated him now or anything, but I had had enough of being a prim and proper door mat. And let's just say after a good confidence boost from Jasper and Alice telling me to be my true self, the sarcasm and curse words came out by the boatload. Emmett had thought it was the funniest thing ever, Edward had looked constipated. But now I know why she sent Edward instead of coming herself; it was so she and Jasper could kill the rest of the Cullen's and then themselves. It also made the goodbye at the airport make so much more since, she kept telling me she loved me and not to forget her like it was the last time I was going to see her. And it was. How much time she must have invested in visions to know what information I would need to keep me on the right path; what equipment I would need and when. That pixie had the weight of the world on her shoulders since getting back from Italy with no one to talk to about it besides Jasper. Then they spent the last year preparing and helping me…

The letter she left for me was a lot thicker than the last one, I had to wonder if that was a good thing or not. Lying down on a bed in the back of the house, I lit a candle and opened it.

Bella,

See having some faith went a long way! You made that shot without hesitation. You'll be happy to know that Sue and Charlie are an "item" now. I only get small glimpses of them when the mutts/ I mean your friends/ aren't around. He seems really happy but still worried about you. By the way he's in the Know now if you know what I mean. Living on the reservation has been an eye opening experience for him; and I'm sure my letter confused him at first until things were explained to him (I'm just guessing) since now he seems more understanding when talking with Sue, so I think someone over there spilled the beans. Everyone there is being safe from what I can see so no need to worry. You know what they are, they have no problem protecting their people. Their hides can't be pierced by the dead if I understood what Sue told Charlie. Even Angela made it to the reservation with her family; you'll be excited to know that I saw Sue baking a cake to congratulate Angela and Embry on their imprinting.

You'll be staying in this house for about a week, maybe a little more. There is a creek off to the west, be careful to stay on the rocks because the mud is like quick sand. You'll come upon Sofia one day soon; she is going to be scared and lost. Protect her and teach her some things that are necessary in the world today, but let her have some fun too. You'll meet the group through Sofia, one of them will happen upon you in the woods with her. If you just show up with her at the farm they will be located at, it could go badly. It's already going to be a rough start as it is for you. Use those skills of perception and pick up on the things most others will miss. You have a big heart Bella, its ok to care for people; but you're nobody's bitch anymore! (not that you were a bitch before but you know what I mean) Don't let anyone push you around… that being said do try to control the level of sarcasm you spew out of your mouth, some people have no since of humor.

The farm you'll end up at is going to have some issues. First off, Shane. Don't trust him or underestimate him. He is a very disturbed individual. He is not above sacrificing your life to save himself; he's already done it to someone else. The barn on the property... well it's full of the dead. The man who owns the farm, Hershel, thinks they can be cured. About 3 weeks from when you arrive a herd will overtake the farm; it will be very foggy that night and people need to be ready to leave. More people need to be on watch if they want enough warning to escape without tragedy. The creek that runs along the edge is going to dry up and they will get through with ease.. It's going to be up to you to convince them that the prison is a better option. Once you convince Rick, most of the others will follow him. Hershel is going to be difficult, but by saying this phrase he'll loosen up enough to help with transport of some of the animals and clearing the prison "Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by discomforts.".. It's something his wife used to say to him. When clearing the prison, without your interference, he will get bit on the leg and the others will chop it off. He would survive but it would impair his ability to survive and travel. The prison is marked on your map; show them the map and they will look into it faster than without. That map stops at the prison; don't tell them about your plans to leave in the spring just yet or they'll be against the idea before you even have a chance to explain. A boy named Randall is bad news. The idea of letting him go can't happen. His whole group would come back and kill all the men and take the women. Beth will just need some encouragement to know she can be strong if she sets her mind to it. She is just like you were at 16 Bella, no confidence in herself.

Rick, he will need to know that all the equipment he will need for Lorie to give birth safely will be at the prison. She is pregnant, and will need all the help she can get to give birth. C block of the prison is the safest place for the group. There is running water there, and with a little work it could be a nice place for everyone. Without your help they would be lost all winter half-starved on the road. He won't believe you at first, tell him that his child will be a little girl, that you know he was shot on the job and in coma before all this started, that his birthday is September 14th, 1973, That he still can't listen to "Love Shack" by B-52's without blushing because of the embarrassing moment he had while losing his virginity to Lorie on his 16th birthday. It will take him a day or so but he'll be convinced. Now Daryl, he's one you'll have to figure out on your own. He's well… Just pay attention to details and you'll do ok. He will confront you about the man on the roof and about being at their camp at the quarry. Just tell him you knew where to be and what to do. It will be a rough beginning, just do what you think is right.

There will be some surviving prisoners at the prison in the cafeteria area. Axel and Oscar are the two that are ok. "Big Tiny" … yes Bella that's what he's called… might be ok, just keep an eye on him. The others are bad people. After getting everyone set up, take Rick and a couple others to the first GPS location to clear it out. It will have almost everything they need to survive the winter in there. You don't have to stay at the prison if you don't want to. The GPS location is specially built by Jazz and I. The door bolts from the inside, it's vented for air, and there is even an escape tunnel under one of the built in bunks. If things aren't going well for you at the prison just go back there. Just don't stray too far from the prison area. There will be another letter under the bottom bunk in the cache location along with a new map for when you set out in the spring.

Try to be nice and not be a hermit Bella. Associating with people isn't all that bad. Your big heart will help a lot of people that will really need it. Believe in yourself. We're always with you. I love you Bella. Jasper wrote a letter for you to read one day when you're feeling down. Save it for then, it will take your mind off of what you're feeling.

Love,

Alice

PS: Drop and do a spin kick when you first get to the farm, they'll be thankful, well mostly.

WTF. Information overload. I'll do what I think is right, but like Alice said I'm nobody's bitch…Running my fingers over the same words on my wrist inside James's bite mark I recall when I got them. Alice took me on several occasions to get tattoos. First the one on my wrist right along the outline of James's teeth marks says Nobody's Bitch; at first I thought it was a little inappropriate until she pointed out how brave I was and unwilling to give James the satisfaction he wanted. Then I thought how I can stand up for myself now and how I never want to feel inferior again; so I went along with it and now it's one of my favorites. The next time we went, I had gotten the Cullen crest on my right ribcage about the size of an orange under Alice's insistence as well. I thought it was her way of making sure that I knew I was part of their family. We once again went and I got the big one on my back… they were beautiful and Alice said I would love them, and don't bet against Alice.. A large pair of wings done in white ink, they are still my favorite. Apparently, tattoos where a good way to work on my pain tolerance since I was such a weenie when it came to needles. Once Jake found out about my Cullen crest tattoo, he decided to get permission from the council to make me an honorary member of the wolf pack. He was upset I wouldn't give him a chance but soooo happy that I wouldn't take Edward back. Let me just say that traditional tattoo hurt like a bitch compared to modern tattoo guns. It's the same tattoo all the wolves have but located on my left rib cage instead of my arm. Charlie would've lost his shit if I would've come home that plastered on my bicep. It was hard enough to cover the one on my wrist, but Alice said the outcome would be a giant headache that I could avoid if I kept it covered around him, so I kept it covered. Another awkward conversation with Charlie to avoid was the instant motivation I needed. The last ones we went to do a few weeks before Florida were the numbers on my inner biceps… I was confused as to what they were for but I trusted Alice when she said I would need them eventually. And she was right of course, like always. Deciding to try to make since of all the shit Alice dumped on me tomorrow, I turned in for the night hoping for full night rest.

Quote about Change by Arnold Bennett. I don't know if this chapter was too much of a run on or not but it is what it is. Yes Bella's wings are the exact match to Daryl's vest. At least there's some extra background on Bella and why she's kind of a sarcastic bitch now and so different from docile little Bella that can't stand on her own two feet without Edwards help.