Chapter Two

Natalie walked cautiously through the woods. She couldn't believe that Rex was being so trusting and by the looks of things he had the hots for the blond haired girl and apparently the feeling was mutual because the young girl wouldn't stop smiling and laughing. Natalie on the other hand kept her eye on John as he walked ahead of everyone. She didn't trust anyone anymore and she wasn't about to start now.

A tall jock of a guy with short cropped hair made his way over to her as she kept walking.."thirsty?" he asked as he held out a bottle of water..

"No thanks" she said coldly as she avoided eye contact with him and kept walking.

"its not too much farther" he continued as she ignored him.."I'm Cris by the way" he smiled and she rolled her eyes now..

"and im not in the mood to talk" she said sarcastically..

Apparently he didn't get her cue as he continued.."how long you been out here?" she ignored him as he talked.." been about three years for me, these guys saved my life" he said as he continued to walk next to her.."you know were not so bad, we all want the same thing"

"and what exactly is that, huh" she finally spoke angrily as he looked at her..

Before he could answer her John called out to him.."Cris come here", the young guy didn't wait as he walked quickly up to John and Natalie sighed heavily as she looked over at Rex who was blushing from ear to ear. He glanced at her and smiled some as she rolled her eyes.

The sight of a few tents set up in the dense woods came into view. More people stood around and even a campfire was burning bright. The smell of food cooking filled the air as they got closer and the group of people she was walking with greeted the others with pats on the back.

Natalie stood awkwardly off to the side with her arms crossed over her chest as people began to look at her and Rex. The tall man John walked over to another equally tall man and whispered something to him as he too looked over at Natalie. She wondered if they would even be able to escape if needed. They were completely outnumbered and out weaponed.

"were cooking up some burgers if your hungry" Gigi said as she walked over with Rex..Natalie didn't say a word as Rex looked at her..

"give me a sec ok" he said to Gigi and then she walked away as he got closer to Natalie.."Nat their cool ok"

"yeah whatever you say Rex" she said sarcastically as she stood there stoic.

"Nat don't do this ok, they have shelter, they have food and hell they have enough people for protection" he began..

"fine Rex you can go ahead and trust them but don't ask me to do the same" she said as she turned from him and walked over to a tree and leaned against it.

Rex watched her as he stood there and Gigi walked over to him and put her hand on his shoulder as he looked at her.."she'll come around"

"you don't know her" Rex said as he shook his head.."when she sets her mind to something" he began..

"well lets give her space then, come on lets get something to eat. I bet your starved" Gigi smiled softly at him and they headed back to the group as Natalie stood there and watched.

Natalie kept to herself against the tree as she watched everyone mingle and talk. Even Rex was getting in on it as he spoke to various people. She would never understand why he was still so trusting of people especially after everything they had been through. It wasn't just the monsters out there but people were just as bad. She glanced down at her wrists as she rubbed them. Faint scars were a reminder of how cruel the world really was.

"the food is good if you want some" a male voice snapped her out of her thoughts as she quickly looked up and tensed. A tall brown haired man stood before her.."I'm Michael by the way" he put his hand out to her but she didn't shake it..."your brother says your name is Natalie" he began as she continued to refuse to look at him.."i heard there was a rough start" he said as she looked up now..

"Your buddy nearly killed my brother" she said angrily as she stood now..

Michael looked over to the crowd of people and John looked over at him.."please don't mind my brother, he really has bad manners" he said apologetically.

Natalie looked at John now and then at Michael..She was a bit surprised to know that they were brothers..."I do believe that is an understatement" she said with a shake of her head as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"you should eat something, we have plenty of food" he said softly..

"yeah well I will pass" she said as she walked past him and further away from the crowd..

"that one is gonna be trouble" John said as he walked over, sipping on his beer..

Michael looked at him.."yeah well I mean you did almost cut her brothers head off" he said sarcastically..

"what can I say its a dog eat dog world out there" John shrugged his shoulders at his brother.."and besides I didn't want them to come along anyways"

"they are fighting the same battle as us John, for once maybe have some compassion" Michael said honestly..

"thats why we got you, always the sympathetic one" John said sarcastically.."anyways im going to bed" John turned from him and then began to walk away but he stopped.."Just so you know if shit goes south I wont hesitate to take them out" he finished as he walked away and Michael stood there and sighed heavily.

Natalie found yet another tree to lean against as she sat on the ground and stared at the people by the fire pit. Rex looked to be having the time of his life and for a moment she was jealous. She couldn't even find a second to relax her body. It was as if she was on overdrive nonstop. It was exhausting and yet Rex was partying away with a bunch of strangers who just a few hours ago were trying to kill them.

Natalie must of fallen asleep right there under that tree cause when she awoke it was nearly pitch black and by the sounds surrounding her, everyone was asleep. She stood slowly and stretched her tired bones as she looked around. Her stomach growled and she glanced at the fire pit that was out now but she could see a hot dog or two on a tray and after a moment she walked over to it and quickly grabbed them. The first bite felt like heaven as she savored the taste.

"You should of just ate earlier" a voice in the darkness startled her, nearly making her drop her food as she spun around to see John sitting in a chair with a large shot gun in his lap.

"thats my brothers gun" she began angrily as she looked at him through the light of the moon.."and I want my knife back" she added..

"First off it wasn't your knife to begin with" he said as he leaned up more now in the chair..."Your just a common thief aren't you?"

"excuse me, listen I found that knife fair and square" she said defensively.."i didn't steal it"

"That maybe so but you acquired it off of a dead man" he stared blankly at her..

"what? no..i told you I found it in an alley" she began once more. This man was really starting to get on her nerves..."now give it back" she stood as tall as she could but she was only 5'3 so it wasn't much.

"No" he said simply as he sat back in the chair..

"fine, you know what, whatever I will get another one" she spun from him. She was too tired and too sore to fight right now.

"how long have you been on the street" he asked as she stopped a few feet away..

"Long enough to know an asshole when I see one" she said and then she marched back over to her tree and sat under it as she ate up the other hot dog. She would have to talk to Rex tomorrow. They would have to find somewhere else to stay because she couldn't see herself staying around that arrogant man another day.

The sound of a howl woke her abruptly from sleep as her eyes shot open and a gasp left her mouth as she stared into the huge eyes of a hungry gigantic wolf. It was literally just a foot away and she could feel its breath on her face but before it could jump at her a gunshot went off and it yelped as it backed up and spun around. Natalie scrambled to her feet as John aimed the gun again..

"Get out of the way!" he yelled at her as she dove to the right and another gunshot went off as people around her scrambled about. Chaos erupted quick as she quickly got herself up only to see three more wolves standing around them. She had never seen anything like this in her life, she had seen demons and shape shifting things but huge wolves, never!

Gunfire went off like crazy as she dodged bullets and ran to find Rex. It only took her a few seconds to see him as she darted for him but one of the large wolves crashed into her. Sending her crashing hard into the ground as she yelled out..

"Natalie!" she could hear Rex yell out as the monstrous wolf pinned her down and then a gun shot went off, then another as the dog slumped lifelessly onto her as blood soaked her clothes.

She could make out two men, one of which was her brother running over to her as she tried to remove the large body off of her but it was futile. The damn thing was too heavy but then she felt it move and she felt a hand grab at her, pulling her from under..

"Lets go, lets go, lets go!" John yelled out to all those around him as Rex grabbed Natalie's arm and they all took off running.

The sun wasn't even up yet as they all ran through the nearly pitch black forest. Branches and other debris hitting their faces and arms as they ran. Gunshots could still be heard and a faint scream was heard in the distance. It was the sound of death but they kept running.

The sight of a road up ahead had them running faster as they hit gravel and Natalie nearly fell as they all piled out onto the street. A pickup truck sat with the engine running and a man laid lifeless on the ground..

Shouting continued as they all piled inside the back of the truck, packing them tight like sardines as they got inside. And then before they knew it the truck was hauling ass down the road as the sight of a lone wolf could be seen standing a few hundred feet behind them in the road. It let out a strangled howl and then disappeared back into the woods as Natalie looked at Rex who looked just as white faced as she felt.

They drove for miles with no one saying a word. Some were injured, some weren't even in the back of the truck and some just stared aimlessly as the wind whipped through their hair. It was too loud to even hear anyone talk, though not a lot of talking was done more like groaning in pain.

The sun began to rise slowly as the truck kept moving and it was apparent that many were injured and some even crying at the loss of a friend. Natalie just kept staring at Rex, grateful that they had made it out of there alive.

They pulled down a dirt road and kept on speeding away until the sight of a large abandoned building could be seen. It looked like an old factory that probably was booming back in the day but now it resembled a ghost town. As the truck stopped everyone began piling out. Some hugging each other, others sobbing and some still in shock.

It wasn't until Natalie tried to get out of the truck that the pain in her arm nearly sent her through the roof as she winced and Rex's eyes got wide as he looked at the large gash in her bicep.. She too glanced at it and sucked in a deep breath..

"we need help, we need help over here" Rex yelled out as he helped her get out of the truck and Michael ran over to her assessing the damage..

"I'm fine" Natalie lied even as she felt her world beginning to spin from the blood loss..

"John!" Michael yelled out as he too came running over.."i need you to set me up a med room" he continued as John looked at Natalie..

"I'm fine.. its just a scratch" Natalie said as she stumbled forward and John caught her in mid fall as she passed out..

"Is your sister always this damn stubborn!" John snapped at Rex as he picked up the limp body of Natalie..

"come on we have to hurry, she is bleeding out" Michael yelled as he began to limp his way over to the large double doors as John ran with her and Rex followed quickly behind him..

"Please please don't let her die" Rex yelled out as he followed them..

Natalie awoke to her head pounding and the sound of voices in the distance not to mention a bright light in her face. She squinted her eyes as she tried to move but the pain was more than she could bear..

"Hey now don't move" she heard Rex say as she opened her eyes some and his face came into focus.."you had me scared there for a bit" he said with a soft smile as he brushed her red hair from her face..

"what, um" she tried to speak but her throat was so dry she could barely make any words out as she tried to move again..

"shhh, here have some water" Rex held a bottle of water to her lips and she took a small sip and then another as she coughed some..

Her eyes darted to the side and she saw the saline bag hanging there and then she looked down at her bandaged arm and the IV in her hand.

"we almost lost you Nat, several times" Rex shook his head, the emotion apparent in his voice.."if it hadn't been for Michael and John" his voice trailed..

Natalie had a hard time letting his words sink in. They had saved her, they had saved a stranger and why? She had all but thought that people didn't go out of their anymore to help one another, at least that was the experience she had seen over the years but they had saved her. She was at a loss for words..

"I bet your hungry, I cant get you something to eat" Rex said as he stood now but she reached out and took his hand in hers and squeezed it lightly, just enough to get the point across as she winced some and then let go of his hand.."i know, I love you too sis" Rex smiled and then walked off as she tried to sit up some.

She still had no idea where they were and by the looks of it, they were in some sort of redone factory. It was one huge room that had cots on the floor. The windows were all boarded up, the only light was from the few hanging bulbs..

As her eyes drifted through the room they stopped when she saw John. He was sitting across the room with her knife in his hand, he was sharpening it or cleaning it, she couldn't tell but he was looking right at her and she quickly looked away. She moved some more on the bed..

"don't try and move too much" Michael said as he came over.."You need to get your strength back, let me take a look at your arm" he said as he began taking the bandage off it and she was surprised to see it completely stitched up.."Looks nice, not infected"

"You did that" she said with a hoarse voice as he smiled some at her..

"some of us actually had lives before" he grinned.."Doctor Michael McBain at your service"

"a doctor" she said in shock, she hadn't seen that one coming..

"we all have our reasons for being out here Natalie" he nodded his head.."John helped too, I gotta say you have a lot of fight in you even when your unconscious"

Natalie turned her eyes from him, suddenly embarrassed about her behavior.."thank you" she said quietly..

"No problem, we take care of our own here" he put the bandage back on her arm as Rex came over.."now eat something ok, you've been out for days and you need your strength"

"Days? How many?" she said in shock as she looked at Rex and then Michael..

"about four" Michael smiled some and then walked across the room and over to his brother..

"here, eat" Rex said to Natalie as he placed a plate of food on her stomach.

Michael made his way over to John as he shined the knife in his lap.."she's awake I see" he said nonchalantly.

"she wouldn't of been here without your help John" Michael said honestly as he looked at Natalie and then back at John..He didn't say a word as he looked back at his knife.."im gonna do my rounds" Michael finished as he walked away and John looked back at Natalie as she sat up in the bed now eating some food. Her eyes met his for a split second and he quickly looked down back at his knife..

"I never saw anyone fight while unconscious but hell Nat, you were absolutely rabid" Rex smirked some..

"what can I say im always on guard" she said with a shake of her head..

"i told you they were good guys Nat, now do you believe me?" Rex said with a smile as he looked at her..She didn't answer as Gigi came over..

"How you feeling?" Gigi asked as she looked at Natalie with a soft smile..

"sore but alive" she answered quickly..

"and were all grateful for that" Gigi took Rex's hand in hers and Natalie was surprised to see how quickly their relationship had gone in just a few days time. They were clearly in love and to be honest it made her a bit uncomfortable.

"did you lose a lot of people?" Natalie finally asked softly, she could still hear the mangled screams in her head..

Gigi cast her eyes down.."Paul and Marlena, they were good people" she said solemnly..

"I'm sorry for your loss" Natalie said quietly as she stared down at the food..

"well you need to eat, get your strength up, were leaving in a few days. Heading up north, we have more people there" Gigi said quietly..

"More?" Natalie said with surprise..

"there's a lot of us Natalie and were all family, that means you too" she smiled softly..

John sat staring at his knife as he rubbed the cloth over it again and again.."you know there is such a thing as cleaning it too much" a tall man with long dark hair said as he came over. He was nearly six and a half feet tall and he towered over John.."she's a cute girl, a little rough around the edges but still" he smirked..

"I didn't notice" John said dryly as his tall friend smirked..

"oh really, now I definitely know you got the hots for her" he laughed..

"don't you have something better to do Steele, like get us ready for the trip" John quickly changed the subject..

"OK ok, no talk about the hot young red head with whom you have feelings for" Steele smirked as he walked off and John rolled his eyes and then quickly shot a glance at Natalie and then shook his head. He didn't have the hots for anyone. In this world there wasn't time for that. There was only time to prepare for what was to come and he needed to be ready and focused.

Natalie finished as much food as she could. She already felt better, still a bit weak but overall she felt stronger. The one thing she did feel was dirty as she laid there, she couldn't remember the last time she had a shower and she wasn't even sure if they had running water there but she was gonna find out. She moved her legs slowly off the bed and steadied herself as she began to stand up and stretch her weak limbs but it was almost too much as she wobbled some..

"are you just asking to hurt yourself some more" she heard Johns sarcastic voice as he came over to her and grabbed her arm in the nick of time. He looked annoyed as he shook his head..

"I cant lay in that bed anymore" she said faintly, she wanted to be more sarcastic but it fell short. It wasn't until that very moment that she honestly got a good look at him. He was a large man with shoulder length dark hair that was pulled back into a pony tail. His eyes were like blue crystals and he was dressed in all black. He was attractive and rugged. It looked like he had been in this life for quite sometime, maybe even longer then her.

"yeah well you cant very well walk around with that thing attached to your arm" he huffed as he grabbed her arm and quickly pulled the IV out as she winced. A second later he was wrapping tape around it as she watched..

"thank you for" she began as he looked at her..

"you have no idea how to fight, your going to be the weak link" he snapped at her..

"i can fight" she began quickly as he let go of her arm and she nearly buckled forward but he grabbed her arm again.."I'm just not at my full strength just yet" she added a bit out of breath..

"I'm not a babysitter you know, you have to toughen up, take care of yourself" he said quickly and she just didn't get him. He was so angry, though she was angry a lot as well but still..

"I don't need a babysitter" she yanked her arm back and slowly walked away from him as he exhaled deep..She walked up to the first person she could see, it was the guy from the other day, Cris was his name..

"Hey you, your up and around" he smiled as he walked over to her..

"I need a bathroom, perhaps a shower" she said quietly, she hated having to rely on others for help but at the moment she had no other choice..

"sure, I'll show ya" he smiled as he began to lead her across the room..

"Cris, right?" she said as they walked and he nodded his head.."I'm Natalie"

He smiled big now.."yes you are, come this way"

John watched as Cris walked her towards the bathroom.."She's a fighter that one" Michael said as he walked over to his brother and John looked at him..

"More like a pain in my ass" John said as he walked past Michael but not before placing the knife on the bed as Michael watched.. He couldn't help but smirk, his brother may just be smitten with that girl.