" I'm hungry, miss Carol. Don't we have anything to eat?" Mika asked, looking up at Carol with those big, puppy eyes.
Carol didn't want to feed them, till she absolutely had to, but it was late, and they hadn't known the pain of hunger since before they came to live with the Atlanata group, maybe not ever. Sighing, she dug in her bag, pulling out a can of Vienna sausages, handing the little girl two of them.
" Here Lizzie," She gave the elder girl a couple sausages and then helped Nico to eat the last two, wiping the spittle from her fingers, eating none herself. She didn't want the kids to go hungry and Carol was use to it. Ed had often complained she was getting too fat, and would starve her for days on end, just so he could eat more, especially back in Atlanta. She'd be fine. But the kids, well, it'd mess with their development.
" Everyone take a drink, but we need to conserve it. We don't know how long we'll be here." She helped Nicolai take one, giving the bottle to the girls,who both took a big drink. Knowing she only had three bottles, she took a small sip, nothing more. Carol was determined these kids live. But she couldn't die, none of them would be able to put her down.
" I wanna get out of here, I have to potty!" Mika cried, tears streaking down her face. Carol sighed, knowing they may need it later, and nodded toward the bucket by Nico's bed.
" Potty in that for me, sweetheart. We won't look." She turned away, covering Nico's eyes, who was, by this point, sleepy and whiney. She was exhausted, the boy didn't sleep well and had the runs. Carol was worried about this health and their living conditions weren't exactly opportune for a toddler who was pooping almost constantly.
There was noise outside the door, gunshots and the sounds of bodies hitting the floor and Carol hurried to push the kids under the bed. She prayed Daryl came back, but somehow knew she wouldn't be that lucky. Carol swallowed, making sure the kids were hidden with the food and stood up, chin high, knife in hand.
" If this isn't someone we know Lizzie, you wait till they take me then you run, understand? Get Nicolai and Mika out safe." Carol kept her voice very quiet, so as not to be heard by anyone outside.
There was a heavy noise on the otherwise of the room, the thump of a body hitting it, again and again, and Carol realized the door was still jammed. The window on the door had been covered with a thin sheet of metal that swung, to be opened and closed, and Carol hadn't thought out barricade it, after all, zombies wouldn't be able to get in from there.
The little slot was pushed open, harshly and a male voice from behind it crowed and whooped. " Hell yeah bruthahs! We gonna get us some tonight. She got some tender lookin muscles on her, be real good eats."
Carol felt panic race through her. Eats? Where they, oh god, they were cannibals. She trembled, but stepped back, toward the window, eyes widening when the muzzle of a gun appeared in the small opening.
" Oh no sugah, you's not gettin' away tha' easy. C'mon honey, open this door real slow like and come on out with ya hands up."
She glanced under the bed, where the kids were hidden, and saw Lizzie shaking her head, tears in her eyes. She widened her eyes and shook her head, just slightly, enough to let the girl know not to fallow. Then, something terrible happened. Nicolai coughed. Carol cursed and covered her mouth, but the damage was done, he'd gotten away from Lizzie, who was now clinging to Mika, hand over her little sister's mouth, and crawled to Carol, crying, and reeking of shit.
" Well now! Ya got a cub! You's a momma. Mmm, got some nice birthin' hips on ya. May just make ya my woman. Long as ya can cook. C'mon, bring the little 'un with ya." The man flicked the tip of the the gun toward the door handle.
Carol gathered the messy boy on her hip, soothingly kissing his hair and calming him down as she moved the chair and unlocked the door, stepping out into the room, head held high. She made a solemn promise to God above that she'd keep Nicolai safe.
She sized the man up. He was a little taller then Daryl with thick muscles, a beard full of bits of bones and such nastiness. His eyes were little, brown and almost lifeless. They chilled her to the bone. He had a hatched in one hand, a sick looking, long blade with a strange point at the end, in the other. Some kind of farm tool, Carol thought.
" Mmm, skinny, old bitch. Don't got much meat on 'er. Maybe we just keep 'er a while, fatten 'er up an' play with her a bit." The man smiled at her, and she just tucked Nicolai closer.
An elder man, with grizzled white hair and a filthy beard spoke up. " Just get her into the truck, we'll see his things go."
Carol was lead, roughly by the arm, to a truck with what looked like a large dog cage on the back. She and Nicolai were thrown roughly inside, and she heels the little boy close. He was kicking and whining. Poor boy was sitting in his own shit. She saw the bones of a small child, about Nicolai's size, and sobbing, removed the clothes, thankful for the pack of diapers beside what looked like a parent.
" Come here sweetheart, let me get you changed." Carol murmured, helping remove his pants and his diaper. She wiped his butt clean with the clean parts of his pants, being sure to clean him thoroughly. They'd need some anti opioids if he was going to live. It seemed he had a terrible stomach virus.
" It hurts. I want my daddy!" He cried, kicking his tiny feet and whimpering softly, clutching at his stomach. She knew there was nothing to be done for him and sighed scuttling back. It was going it be a very bumpy ride indeed.
Reviews are, as always, love. I'd appreciate some more reviews very very much. thanks to AgentBSmith, who always gives me good advice, SOA Loving Mom for words of encouragement, vickih for her reviews and the rest of you, for your love and support.