Pressure pushing down on me
Pressing down on you no man ask for
Under pressure that brings a building down
Splits a family in two
Puts people on streets

-Under Pressure; by Queen [feat. David Bowie]


The idea of leaving with Mandi and the others had been a difficult decision. Hailey wanted to believe she was safe inside the gates, but there were so many things that were going wrong that maybe leaving was for the best. Alessandra had made good points earlier; the soldiers aren't giving enough supplies to the survivors. After hearing about Jocelyn's death, and with everything going so downhill, Hailey started to really think over everything that was going on. The only time the soldiers interacted with the survivors was when a deal was being made. Tensions were rising and paranoia was spiraling out of control. Hailey saw people whispering, looking around as if they were scared of being caught. What used to be a supportive community was rendered into a paranoid wasteland.

Alessandra didn't like how "optimistic" I was being, Hailey thought, as she started packing her things, maybe being outside the gates will give me the push I need to change.*

It was a nice thought, and it was definitely one Hailey hoped would happen. If optimism won't keep her alive in such a dark time, then some firsthand experience of the real horrors could give her a push in the right direction. Or it would, if Alessandra would stop freaking out.

For the past five minutes, Alessandra had been yelling and calling out to Hailey, wanting to know what was going on. It was a bit annoying, honestly.

"What the hell are you doing?" Alessandra stood at the doorway of Hailey's bedroom, her face red and her eyes wide. "Didn't you hear me callling earlier?"

"I did," Hailey responded.

"Well what're you doing? Why're you packing?"

"Is that really any of your business?" Hailey grumbled.

A look of confusion swept across Alessandra's face. "Of course it's my business," she exclaimed. "We live here together. Did you forget that part?"

"Are you still upset over earlier?"

"I'm just not in a good mood."

"Why don't you calm down first," Hailey said. "I can't talk to you when you're acting like this."

The confusion on Alessandra's face contorted into a scowl. Hearing her friend talk back to her, in a way, made her feel angrier. Yeah, Alessandra was still a bit upset over her earlier meltdown, but she also was in a bad mood. After Hailey went outside for her walk, Alessandra had gone to her room and did a little drinking. There were some half-empty bottles of whiskey left behind in the house, and she chose to put them to good use.

"I can't believe you," Alessandra scoffed. "You're seriously doing this?"

Hailey didn't respond, instead, she kept packing her things. She didn't have time to deal with her friend's issues. Grabbing some more clothes and a few other personal items, Hailey stuffed it all in her bag before zipping it up. Looking around her bedroom, she felt an overwhelming emotion wash over her. She'd stayed in that bedroom ever since the safe-zones were put into place. At the same time, though that very same room belonged to someone else, someone who left, died, or had something else happen to them. Hailey couldn't say for sure, but she knew there were good memories she had in her room, in the house itself.

"What about me?" Alessandra exclaimed, grabbing Hailey's forearm. "You're just going to leave me here?!"

"Everyone's got to make sacrifices," Hailey responded, yanking her arm free. "Besides, you've made your point earlier. The soldiers aren't going to help us, not if they can help it. We have to take care of ourselves, and it's not going to happen here."

The look of absolute shock that came across Alessandra's face was almost satisfying. Almost. There was a part of Hailey that felt guilty for leaving her friend behind, but Mandi's terms were clear. Alessandra couldn't accompany them, she'd be too much of a liability. And if her earlier meltdown hadn't been enough proof of how she'd be beyond the gates, then Hailey didn't know what else to say.

Hailey's life, the lives of Mandi's people, were top priority.

Slinging her backpack over her shoulders, she walked out of her bedroom and out the front door. The first thing that Hailey noticed were the increased number of people. They were all walking around, talking amongst each other. Some of them were looking around, huddling together as if in some top secret meeting. Others were loosely crowded around, looking anxious and uncomfortable. One thing seemed to stand out, though, and that was the looks people were giving to Jocelyn's house. Soldiers were gathered around the front entrance of the old house, muffled shouts and voices could be heard inside. Hailey paused for a moment, observing the scene in front of her. The soldiers standing outside of Jocelyn's home were holding guns, standing stiffly in front of the main entrance. One soldier was spray-painting the outer walls, putting up various symbols.

Hailey couldn't quite believe what she was seeing. It felt like everything that had gone on was part of some big nightmare. The virus, the collapse, the safe-zones — none of it felt real. Knowing that all of America could fall apart over one virus was mind-boggling.

"Hailey?"

Jumping nearly a foot off the ground, she turned her head to see Mandi and the others approaching. While it was a relief to see them, it had Hailey wondering: how long had she been staring at Jocelyn's place? It didn't feel like very long, but it could've been. But weren't the other survivors talking about what happened? Weren't they all looking at Jocelyn's place; filled with anxiety, uncertainty, and pity?

Shoving the thoughts out of her mind, Hailey forced a small smile on her face as she turned to look at Mandi and the others. "Hey," she called. "How're you guys doing?"

"We're fine," Xavier exclaimed, once he and the others were close enough. "Just a little nervous."

The final statement was said quietly, with a glance thrown Mandi's way. Hailey was quick to notice that, and she was also quick to notice the frown that came across Mandi's face.

"Xavier doesn't think we should leave with all the soldiers around," Josiah, Mandi's nephew, murmured. "I think he's right."

"They'll be focusing more on Jocelyn's family than on us," Mandi mumbled. "Now's our opportunity."

"We could try sneaking out the back way," Hailey offered. "I've seen a small opening in the corner of the gates — it should be big enough for us all to get through."

"You're positive?" Xavier asked.

Hailey nodded. "I'm fairly positive," she responded.

"We'd better get going," Josiah murmured, leaning in a little. "The soldiers are starting to pay attention."

Glancing over, Hailey felt her blood run cold. Some of the soldiers were starting to pay attention. They were looking over at the group, whispering to each other as they did so. It would only be a matter of time before one of them — or all of them — walked over to ask questions. That was the last thing any of them needed.

"We'll go back to my place," Xavier said, "and wait this out. I really don't think it's safe to try this now."

...

Xavier's home was a bit bigger than Hailey's old one. It had a lot more room, maybe a couple more guest rooms, too. But the one thing that stood out the most was the atmosphere. Overall, everything was tense. Xavier's boyfriend, Rio, refused to acknowledge anyone. Everything about their relationship seemed strained, and it was apparent that it came from the split on leaving or staying. So when Hailey and the others were brought back to Xavier's house, Rio had been less than pleased. For him, it was bad enough his boyfriend wanted to leave; but then he decided to come back for a little while longer with his friends. Or maybe they were more of acquaintances.

"Are you guys thirsty?" Xavier asked. The small group had gathered in the kitchen, sitting or standing around. Duffel bags and backpacks were lying around, everyone just being as quiet as they possibly could. "I've got some extra water bottles if any of you want some."

"I'd like one." Mandi's niece, Nina, raised her hand, looking at Xavier shyly. Nina was the youngest in the group, at only nine years old. She rarely spoke to anyone in the zone, hardly even worked up the courage to leave Mandi's house. So seeing her outside of the house, talking to people, was impressive if not a bit heartwarming.

A warm smile came across Xavier's face as he regarded Nina. "Let me get you one," he said kindly. "Anyone else?"

Murmured no thanks rang out throughout the kitchen.

"Did Alessandra find out?" Mandi asked, looking at Hailey.

"She did." Hailey shrugged. "She was a bit drunk, and in a bit of a foul mood. I think me wanting to leave pissed her off even more."

Snorting, Mandi nodded.* "This will be a new beginning for us," she said confidently. "We'll be able to start over out there."

"How?" Hailey asked. "We don't know what we'll find out there."

"We'll find the infected, that's what," Josiah said. "I've gone out there a few times; managed to sneak out. There's a lot of infected roaming around, that's what the soldiers are keeping us away from."

"What do you mean infected?" Wren asked.

"Wait. . .you've left the compound?" Mandi exclaimed.

Looking almost embarrassed, Josiah only shrugged at his aunt. "I've seen what it's like out there," he grumbled quietly. "The infected are all rotted and gross. When they saw me, they started coming after me."

Hailey's brows furrowed at Josiah's explanation. Rotted infected people? For some reason, it was hard to imagine. When the virus first started, it only gave flulike symptoms before evolving. The power went out before any further researching could be performed or announced. Once communications fell, that was when everything seemed to be officially over. But word of the infected looking rotted was something Hailey never heard of. She couldn't wrap her brain around it.

"Rotted?" Wren asked, crossing her arms over her chest. She looked at everyone worriedly. "I don't understand."

Josiah let out a huff. "Their skin was all rotted; they looked dead," he replied. "None of them knew how to properly talk, either."

"How is any of that possible?" Hailey asked. "How could the infected look like the dead?"

"The power went out before we could learn anything else on the virus," Wren exclaimed. "Maybe resurrection was something that couldn't get out."

"I don't know if I can believe this," Xavier murmured, chewing on his bottom lip. "All of this, it took a while for me to fully grasp it. But living rotted people? I can't find it in me to think it's true."

"Well it is," Josiah exclaimed. "I went out there; I saw how it is! The infected are rotting away. We've got to do something."

There was a long pause within the group. No one knew how to properly react. The infected were roaming freely outside the gates; they were rotting. How could that be possible? Was it even a good idea to leave anymore? If it seemed that dangerous on the outside, maybe it would be a good idea to stay. But at the same time, if they chose to stay, things with the soldiers would only get worse. For the group, there were a lot of conflicting emotions.

"Are we gonna die?" Nina asked.

Everyone's gaze went to her. They were surprised by the question, but they felt their hearts clench at the look on her face. Nina looked absolutely terrified, gripping her cup tightly in her small hands.

"No, we'll be just fine," Mandi said. "Don't you worry."

"But we were supposed to find grammy and grandpa," Nina whimpered, "and we couldn't. We don't know how they're dead or not."

Mandi's face contorted, just slightly, into a look of sadness. Nina loved her grandparents dearly, and having to be rounded up into the safe-zones really frightened her. For Mandi, her and her in-laws had a decent relationship, but it was still heartbreaking not to know what happened to them.

"I'm sure grammy and grandpa are fine," Josiah exclaimed, hoping to comfort his sister. His gaze went to his brother, Zander, for help. Nina, being the youngest, needed a lot more comforting than anyone else. She was very impressionable, very naive in a sense.

"We'll find them, Nina," Zander murmured. "They'll be fine."

Zander was the eldest of the children, looming over his brother and sister 6'1". He was known for being even more quiet than Nina, but only because he wasn't very social. Zander felt as though he didn't have a lot in common when it came to other people.

"Where'd Rio go?" Hailey asked, looking at Xavier. "Is he okay?"

Xavier sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "He's probably still mad at me," he grumbled. "He doesn't like the idea of me going off and leaving him. He thinks living here is the safer, better option."

"Not everyone will agree with what we want to do," Mandi said, putting a comforting hand on Xavier's shoulder. "We know what's best for us. Right?"

Murmured agreements arose from the small group. Hailey, though, watched curiously. It seemed as though they had been planning on the escape for quite some time.

"What motivated you guys to want to leave?" she asked.

"There's nothing for us here anymore," Wren replied. "The soldiers aren't doing their fair share in helping us, and tensions are going to keep rising until something terrible happens."

"We don't want to be here when it does," Josiah added.

"There's more to the world than what's in here," Mandi responded. "We can't sit around and hope for the best. We've got to go out and make a life for ourselves."

Nodding, Hailey brushed some of her hair behind her ear. It was an interesting concept, what Mandi and the others were explaining. They had a point, and it was one Hailey had no problems agreeing with. In some ways, it was a bit similar to what Alessandra had mentioned. Maybe not in such an inappropriate way of explaining it, though.

"Having you come with us would be a big help," Mandi went on. "The more people we have with us, the better."

"It feels weird, doing something like this," Hailey expressed. "I thought the zones would keep us safe."

"They did in the beginning," Zander murmured. "Now, it's just time to go."

...

Alessandra knew it was a difficult decision to make, but she knew it was for the greater good. In her opinion, the idea of leaving the safe zone, or leaving her for that matter, was illogical and immature. Alessandra liked to think of herself as a reasonable and responsible person. She knew when to be real with someone and when to call them out on their bullshit. Hailey's bullshit happened to be the one that needed calling out. When the world falls apart and someone feels the need to be hopelessly optimistic — it was frustrating, at best.

Whatever reasoning Hailey had, though, for wanting to leave was a mystery. But she knew the kind of people who'd get her to stay and talk.

...

It was close to half an hour in Xavier's home when there was a firm knock on the front door. It was seen as odd, considering anyone who wasn't a soldier would just walk right in. That's when it seemed to dawn on them. Soldiers were the only ones who knocked. If they were at Xavier's home, then that could only mean a multitude of things. Interrogation, extraction, execution, or payments.

Oh God.


(A/N):

Sorry for the wait on this chapter. I've been super busy lately, so this had to be pushed off. Hopefully you guys understand. Give some constructive criticism where you think it's due.

Nothing in TWD belongs to me. All I own are my OCs, my subplots, and the exhaustion I'm currently feeling. If you've got ideas for OCs or subplots, be sure to PM me or leave a review. I'll add them in as soon as possible, okay?

If you've got any random facts you'd like to leave, be sure to leave it in the review section. I'd like to think I'm a curious person.* It can be on something new or something old, it doesn't matter to me.

Blessed be,

Florida Mayers