ALICIA POV

The RV park stretched on for miles as the three of us drove along the dusty track, looking for any sign of occupation by the relocated group of survivors. At first glance the site appeared abandoned until a sharp cry went up from nearby.

'It's Octavia! They returned!'

The car pulled to a stop as doors of nearby campervans began to open cautiously, suspicious faces peering out from the shelter. Octavia hopped out of the car with Murphy as the caution transitioned into a warm greeting and people emerged from the caravans with wide smiles.

One girl strode straight up to Octavia and pulled her into a tight hug, clearly relieved by her presence.

I watched as they exchanged words, their mouths moving soundlessly before I slowly opened my own door and stepped out into the midday heat.

'...that you would find us! It's damn good fortune that we set that code up in case of emergency,' the girl was saying, her hair pulled up into a high ponytail that fell down past her shoulders. All eyes were on their returning friends, but it didn't take long for the gazes to turn curiously towards the stranger emerging from the vehicle.

'This is Alicia and you'll never guess how we came to meet her,' Octavia said as a brief introduction, shaking her head at how surreal the situation had been. 'Come on, lets find somewhere to sit and talk properly.'

The other girl nodded in agreement and gestured for me to approach, a warm smile on her face offering a welcoming reception to the newcomer.

'Nice to meet you Alicia, I'm Raven. Make yourself at home here, as much as you can do anyway,' she offered kindly, gesturing for us to follow behind as she headed for a nearby seating area behind the closest motorhome.

Old material chairs had been dragged out into the open, arranged in a circle with a fire pit positioned in the centre. It was a decent set up, sheltered by the surrounding motor homes and away from any prying eyes.

I gratefully accepted the offered water and food, settling into a dark blue camping chair as I let the old friends catch up. The shock was obvious when it was revealed that the supply party had stumbled upon Elyza and I on their journey, an encounter that had been far from expected.

Raven shook her head disbelievingly. 'I never thought that we would see her again. How is she?'

'She's doing remarkably well, but that's Elyza for you isn't it. Not one to let the apocalypse get her down,' Octavia chuckled, taking a long gulp of water as she relaxed into her chair. Other survivors milled around the gathered arrivals, some sitting nearby to listen to the discussion whilst others went about their own business.

'Never a dull day with Elyza around,' Murphy quipped unnecessarily, noting how there always seemed to be an abundance of trouble where the blonde woman was concerned. 'It's like she enjoys the danger.'

'More importantly,' Raven continued, ignoring the comment. 'Where the hell is she? Is Bellamy with her?'

Octavia rolled her eyes and nodded.

'They went to scout the prison, don't ask me why but they thought it was a fantastic idea.'

Raven frowned thoughtfully, a sorrow settling over the group at the reminder that their friend was still in the grasp of the prison based gang. It was becoming less likely by the day that a rescue would be possible.

'How's Bryan doing?' Octavia asked softly, sympathising with the man who had lost so much. His boyfriend had been taken hostage by the unruly gang almost a month ago.

'As well as can be expected,' Raven admitted, 'he's beginning to lose hope though, I think perhaps we all are.'

They could scout the prison and make all the plans they wanted, but it didn't mean that a rescue would necessarily be possible. When did you give up trying?

'What happened to the old base anyway?' Octavia finally asked, trying to shift the conversation away from events that they could not change. 'The place was a nightmare when we arrived.'

Raven explained how the troublesome gang had decided to have their fun of the day by unleashing walkers around the property, laughing as the group had scrambled to make a hurried exit before smashing the building to pieces in their absence.

It was a ploy to create fear and command subservience to their larger force. They had ransacked the neighbourhood for supplies and a relocation had been necessary in any case. The campsite had fortunately offered a wealth of overlooked supplies that the group had claimed after eliminating the undead roaming the expansive grounds.

A large negative of this location was the lack of perimeter protection, open on all sides to approaching danger so a tight security system was required with around the clock patrols. They could not stay here for much longer but had been awaiting the arrival of the siblings before moving ahead.

A silence settled over the group as each became preoccupied with their own thoughts, wondering what the future held for them. I wondered where Elyza was now and hoped that her and Bellamy would return soon with good news. They could all use it right now.

The peace was broken when an athletic man approached, his head shaved and tattooed skin drawing the observing eye as he sunk into a chair next to Raven.

'Hi there,' he said in greeting and I instantly felt a likening towards the man. There was a kindness in his face that few possessed these days. 'I'm Lincoln. I couldn't help but overhear that you've been travelling with Elyza. How did the two of you meet?'

All eyes in the vicinity turned to me awaiting the answer. It was not a subject that had ever arisen in conversation and I had been more than happy to listen to the tales of the survivors than share my own experiences.

'Well, it's a long story,' I began, but Octavia merely chuckled and insisted that we had nowhere better to be. All that was left was to await Elyza and Bellamy's return so a story could help to pass the time.

I sighed lightly but saw no way of avoiding the question and cast my mind back to the fateful day that Elyza had saved my life and felt a smile creep over my face, my heart warming at the memory.

ELYZA POV

We had been staggering through the streets now for almost a full hour in an attempt to locate our surroundings, aware that Atom was waiting for us to return and complete the journey back to base. Unfortunately it did not appear as if we would be able to reunite with him when we were forced to take shelter in an abandoned house to hide from an unexpected appearance of several walkers.

My ankle was burning ferociously from the exertion and I settled down onto a low chair with a pained grimace. Bel circled the room in frustration, peering out from behind drawn curtains to wait for the walkers to pass by.

There was no way I was running anywhere in this condition.

'Any other bright ideas?' he commented stiffly, retreating from the window with a sigh as the walkers continued to mill aimlessly around the street.

'I'm all out today,' I huffed sarcastically, letting my head fall back against the cushion as I considered how much of a failure this trip had become.

The plan had been simple: collect the supplies, scout the prison, and then return to base. Instead, we had been ambushed by raiders and almost overwhelmed by walkers in the sewers. The supplies were lost to the thieves and I had nothing but a busted ankle to show for the days effort.

We would have to return to base without good news. There were no extra supplies for the survivors and we were no closer to infiltrating the prison to rescue Nathan. It sucked.

'Let's just focus on getting back to base and regrouping with the others,' Bellamy concluded, throwing himself down onto the couch with a lack of enthusiasm. 'Atom will make his own way back when we don't show up. We'll just have to find a ride of our own and get back before they assume the worst.'

I had no arguments with the plan, in fact I had virtually come to the same conclusion already. I just hoped that Alicia had arrived at the base by now with Octavia and Murphy, they should be safe. It was even possible that the girl had managed to use the radio and contact her family by now, at least that would be some good news.

A surge of unease developed in my chest at the thought. As much as I wanted Alicia to reunite with her family, there was no telling what it meant for our future. Perhaps the girl would return to the ocean with her loved ones and these crazy times would be nothing but a memory to her.

It was selfish to want things to remain the same but I could not stop the thought from drifting into my head.

We remained in the house that night, the walkers still too close for comfort as darkness fell. I wasn't overly upset about the turn of events, if anything it provided the much needed time to rest my ankle. It was only a sprain, perhaps a bad one, but nothing was broken.

With dawn came the pleasant sight of an empty street, allowing us to continue our journey now well rested. Even a decent sleep could not overcome the sour knowledge that we would be returning to camp empty handed and without positive results. The silence between us said as much as we trekked on in search of a decent car to claim, neither pleased with the outcome of this trip.

After almost half a day of trekking between abandoned or destroyed vehicles, we eventually found one that suited our needs and dropped gratefully into the padded seats.

'I'm ready for a decent meal,' I grumbled, ripping the lid from the can of fruit that had been stuffed into my bag, yearning for something more appetising.

'We should arrive back at base by the end of the day,' Bel reassured me, readjusting the rear view mirror that had been awkwardly angled towards the passenger.

We were soon streaming along the streets with the shared anticipation of reuniting with our friends. It felt like an age ago that we had left the small hotel on our side mission. I hadn't been back at the old base for almost a year now and it would certainly be strange to return with so many dark memories that dwelt there. I would just have to make new memories, better ones that could outweigh the past.

I gazed out at the blur of buildings that sped past and once more my thoughts drifted to Alicia. I only hoped that she was okay. I would be able to ask her soon enough.

ALICIA POV

We talked for hours in our small circle around the campfire, sharing stories and reminiscing about times long gone by. It was odd yet relieving to be welcomed so openly by these people, and I could already understand why Elyza had spoken so highly of them.

They were wonderful, including me in their conversations and making me feel like part of the group despite only having met me today. It was only the first night but so far I was more than impressed by how these people handled themselves.

I was surprised when a bottle of whiskey emerged from one of the caravans, apparently a rather large supply of alcohol had been rescued on one of the ventures to explore the camp and obtain supplies.

Raven and Octavia openly accepted a small cup but drank no more, aware that there was no time these days to be completely losing your senses. The three patrols of the night were of course excluded from the circling beverage and most people only had one or two to unwind.

I politely turned down the offer when Octavia inclined the bottle in my direction, an eyebrow raised questioningly at my refusal. She shook her head and proceeded to pour a small cup for me, holding the offering out to me insistently.

'You've been in Elyza's company by yourself for months now, you could do with a drink to celebrate that achievement,' the fierce girl teased, no malice in her words as she laughed lightly.

I had little choice but to reach out and claim the drink, smiling in thanks as the bottle was passed around the circle once more.

'As much fun as this has been, I'd best go and check on the others,' Raven piped up, abandoning her cup on the ground to rise to her feet.

She had been left in charge of the camp whilst Bellamy and Octavia were absent, but as I understood it, the system was more of a collective effort than the overwhelming leadership of a single person. The three survivors made quite the hardy selection of fierce individuals to lead the rest of the survivors.

I had deduced that Elyza had once been a leading figure within this group, although dire circumstances had led to her departure into the dangers of the world. I had yet to meet the boy named Jasper that she had mentioned, but hoped that such old scars would have healed by now. There was no room for tension within the camp when they faced danger from the rest of the world as it was.

'Let me know if you need me,' Octavia offered, making it clear that she was available as support if it was required. From the looks of it Raven was more than capable of ensuring the functioning of their new base and was doing a damn good job of it, but she nodded in thanks at the offer.

Someone soon filled the empty chair once she had departed, the group event continuing on as darkness began to fall and finally individuals began to peel away to get some sleep.

I could feel my eyes drooping as the warmth from the fire and the burn of alcohol began to show its effect. A light hand fell on my shoulder and my head jerked upright, hardly even noticing as I had slipped into a light slumber.

'Let's find you somewhere to rest,' Lincoln offered, smiling with humour at my bleary eyed gaze as I shook myself into wakefulness. It had been a long day.

'Thank you,' I said sincerely, somewhat embarrassed by the action but was soon reassured when I glanced around to see the quiet conversations continued to flow oblivious to my lack of input.

We left the remaining group without making a scene, quietly blending into the darker surroundings as Lincoln led me towards an unoccupied motorhome. He reached up a hand and slapped the side with a booming echo.

'This is the last one in a half-decent state. There are larger options but the interiors aren't quite so appealing,' he explained, grimacing as he remembered the systematic exploration of each vehicle and the gruesome scenes that lay within some of them.

'This will be fine,' I insisted, not fussed by how basic the accommodation was. I had most likely stayed in worst over the last few months. 'Thank you.'

Lincoln inclined his head and faded into the darkness to return to his own accommodation as I gripped my bag tightly in one hand and stepped inside the vehicle, pleasantly surprised to see the large double bed that graced the very rear of the compartment. It looked comfy enough and certainly lived up to expectations when I abandoned the bag in the front seat and edged past the narrow kitchen space to collapse on the white sheets.

This would do nicely.

I hardly remembered falling asleep but it felt like only seconds later when my eyes cracked open to be greeted by the soft glow of daylight streaming through the small windows. I had forgotten to pull down the blinds the night before but it had made little difference.

I sat upright and yawned, not remembering a time when I had last slept so well.

The first thought to my mind regarded the urge to locate the radio that had been promised. A device that could finally allow me to reconnect with my family.

The second thought that overwhelmed the first was the consideration that Elyza should have returned by now. If not, then certainly by the end of the day and excitement brewed in my chest at the prospect.

I abandoned the comfortable bed and stepped out from the vehicle into a relatively calm environment. People milled around as they went about their own business, some preparing to depart on patrol whilst others enjoyed a light morning meal.

Raven was passing by when she glimpsed me emerging from the vehicle, jogging over and gesturing for me to fall into step with her.

'I hope you slept well,' she began, leading us around the groups of people that were lounging in the clearing. 'I hear that you're looking for a radio?'

Octavia must have filled the girl in and I couldn't have felt more grateful that her request had been remembered.

'Yes, to contact my family. You have one that works?'

'We do, but the signal can be a bit choppy so it might not work first time,' the girl warned, but it did nothing to deter the smile that was creeping onto my face at the prospect. This was more than I could've hoped.

Raven led me to one of the many caravans that were strewn around the camp, disappearing inside for a few long seconds before emerging with the radio in hand.

'Here you are,' she said, passing the radio over without hesitation. 'Take all the time you need.'

I couldn't express my overwhelming gratitude to this girl but my expression said it all and Raven grinned at my evident excitement, wishing me luck before leaving to go about her duties. There were no words that could convey my anticipation for this moment.

'Raven?' I called out before she could disappear, almost forgetting the other matter that vied for attention in my mind. The girl looked questioningly over her shoulder. 'Any news on Elyza?'

The dark haired girl shook her head.

'She's not back yet, but it's still early,' she concluded, not willing to draw conclusions from their late arrival. There was no telling what trouble they may have ran into on their venture.

My excitement waned slightly as disappointment crept over me, unable to fully eradicate the invading thoughts of what may have occurred. No, they had to be okay. They would return soon enough and I would look back at how foolish my concerns were.

I gripped the radio tightly as Raven continued on into the heart of the camp, taking myself away to a private spot where I could avoid distractions and collect myself. This was the moment that I had been waiting for, but it felt far less monumental without the blonde girl at my side. She had always promised to help reunite me with my family even since rescuing me on our first encounter, but now she was not here to witness the result of her effort.

The radio was similar to the one that I had used on the ship and I carefully switched it on and gently adjusted the dials, breathing slowly through the nerves that enveloped me at the thought that this might not work.

For almost an hour I lent over the device, carefully twisting the dials and listening closely for any sound of life on the other side, announcing my presence each time in the hope that someone would answer but no one did. The only sound to return was the harsh crackle of static.

I eventually abandoned my efforts and switched off the radio, not allowing myself to despair over the failure. Raven had told me that the signal was not strong out here and there was always tomorrow.

Despite the logical thought process, I couldn't help but wonder if this was a futile effort. Perhaps my family didn't even have the radio anymore, they could be anywhere right now. It was impossible to even dwell on. Rather than become overwhelmed by the possibilities, I vowed to try again tomorrow and not lose hope.

I returned in defeat back to the main camp, carefully returning the radio to its allotted place when a cacophony of voices rose from nearby. Hope spiked in my chest and my head whipped up as I wondered whether perhaps Elyza, Bellamy and Atom had finally returned.

Without hesitation I burst from the caravan and jogged towards the frantic voices, rounding one vehicle to see a car pulling into the camp, a trail of dust kicked up by the wheels as it approached.

Raven and Octavia where already stood nearby, squinting uncertainly through the cloud of dust to identify the new arrival. My hopes were risen and suddenly dashed when Atom emerged from the car without any accompanying survivors.

My heart dropped at the sight as it became clear that something had gone terribly wrong on their venture. They should have all returned together, that had been the plan. Atom would not have returned alone unless he had no other choice.

'Atom? Where are the others?'

The dark haired man shook his head despondently as he moved to stand before Raven and Octavia, his expression drawn and tired from his excursion.

'I don't know, they never regrouped with me as planned. I thought they might have beaten me back here,' he admitted, shoulders sagging to learn that there had been no sighting of them. 'I couldn't wait any longer, it was too dangerous.'

Octavia glanced over her shoulder to where I stood observing the conversation, the concern clear on her face at the disappointing news.

'Tell us everything.'

The group retreated to the circle of camp chairs much as they had upon my arrival, and we listened intently to the man's explanation, not that it was of much use. As far as he was aware, Elyza and Bellamy had gone to gather the supplies and scout the prison, but even after waiting hours past their scheduled time they had not returned.

Had they been captured at the prison? Had they been overwhelmed by the undead? Had something even worse befallen them?

The possibilities were endless.

'I can't believe what happened to the old base, the place is in ruins,' Atom continued, shaking his head at the remains of what had once been their safe haven. 'The code will lead them here if they're behind me.'

Silence settled over the group. There was no doubt that Bel and Elyza would understand the code that guided survivors here to the RV camp, but there was no guarantee that they would ever lay eyes upon it. Not if they had been captured or injured somewhere.

'Let's not assume the worst,' Octavia finally said, 'it's still early so they could still be en route.'

'How long do we wait for?' I chimed in, nervously playing with the sleeve of my shirt as I tried not to imagine the terrible fate that may have befallen them.

'A couple of days. There's no point running into harms way without good reason,' she finally responded, trying to alleviate the concerns that would no doubt begin to grow regarding the health of our friends.

A couple of days. It felt like an eternity but there was nothing to do but wait and hope that they were following close behind Atom. I could not bear to think of any other possibility. There was no guarantee of ever seeing my family again or this radio ever contacting them, I could not face losing Elyza as well. I couldn't imagine a reality where I did not see her again.

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