Joey watched his father pat Uncle Joel's back. The young man still wore his brown pants and blue shirt from the day before, unable to sleep after his incident with Ellie.

"If you're not back in a year," his father was saying, also wearing his black sweatshirt and jeans from the day before. "I'm coming out after you."

"Uncle Joel?" Joey finally said, walking out of the house.

Uncle Joel turned toward Joey.

Joey continued. "What about your guitar? You and Ellie were always playing your guitars."

Uncle Joel gave Joey a small smile. The older man handed Joey the key to the house. "It's in my room. How about you get it for me."

Joey entered the house and found himself drawn to Ellie's room. He looked around. After a moment, he looked at the ground, realizing that this could be the last time he may see Uncle Joel or Ellie. Emotions started to rise within him.

Joey quickly retrieved Uncle Joel's guitar and left the house, closing the door behind him.

Once back outside, Joey handed his uncle the guitar.

Uncle Joel ruffled Joey's hair. "Thanks kid," his uncle said, turning to Joey's father. "I'm sorry for… whatever there is to be sorry for."

Joey's father folded his arms. "Don't talk to me as if you aren't coming back," he said to Joey's uncle firmly. "Have faith, big brother. You'll find her and be home in one year."

Joey gulped. Hoping his father was right,

Joey's father raised a finger to Joel. "One year."

Uncle Joel nodded. "One year," he repeated.

Joey turned and walked into his house, unable to contain his emotion any longer. He closed the door loudly and accidently ran into his mother, who was wearing a black jacket and jeans, as he moved toward his room.

Joey heard his mother walking up the stairs behind him. "Joey," she called. "Do you—"

"I don't want to talk about it, mom."

Joey slammed his door shut. It's my fault. I'm the reason Ellie left. He laid down in his bed and didn't rise until his mother called him down for lunch.

Joey walked down the stairs and sat at the table. His family ate in silence. After eating half a plate, Joey pushed it toward the center of the table.

He parents looked at him curiously.

"I'm going for a walk," Joey said. He stood and walked out the door. "I'll be back later."

Joey started walking through Jackson with no particular destination in mind, trying to quell the emotions inside of him. Mom and dad always said it was bad out there. What if Ellie and Uncle Joel… Joey looked down and kept walking.

When Joey looked up again, he found that he was standing fifty feet from the north side of the Wall. He was about to turn and go the other way when saw his dad talking to a man on the Wall. Joey moved to the side of the street and started making his way toward his father.

Joey watched his father take a walkie-talkie, a rifle, and a handgun from the man on the Wall as well as a backpack.

Joey stopped for a moment. Dad's leaving. He'd only leave if he was going after…

Joey moved forward, intending to call out to his father. After a moment of thought, he stopped himself and moved to the Wall, standing off to the side.

Joey's father turned off the walkie-talkie and strapped it to his belt. After a few seconds, his father jumped over the Wall.

Joey froze. He can't go after them alone. Joey jogged toward the Wall and up the ladder. As he was about to jump over, a hand grabbed him.

"Not so fast," the man on the Wall said. "You're way too young to go out there, kid."

"Where is he going?" Joey asked as his father disappeared past the tree line.

The man on the Wall opened his mouth to answer when his own walkie-talkie went off.

Joey didn't hesitate. He tugged himself from the man's grasp, jumped over the Wall, and started running.

"Kid!" the man on the Wall shouted. "Get back— Shit! Tommy! Tommy, pick up!"

Joey ran into the tree line. He kept on running until his elation, fear, and exhaustion brought him to a halt. Joey finally looked around. Trees surrounded him. There was no sign of his father.

Joey cursed to himself as he realized that he had no idea where he was. He'd never been outside the Wall.

Joey slowly moved forward and almost puked as a stench carried by a gust of wind surrounded him. Joey moved forward quickly, hoping to outrun the rancid smell. It only got worse.

Joey froze. He listened and heard a deep, ragged breathing coming from behind the tree in front of him.

Joey slowly moved toward the sound.

"Da— dad?" Joey called cautiously, suddenly terrified.

The breathing stopped.

Joey saw a man shuffling around the tree.

The man stood hunched and was twitching incessantly.

Joey took a step back and snapped a twig.

The shuffling man looked at him.

For a split second, Joey saw a flash of red in the man's eyes.

The man screeched and charged forward.

Before it moved two steps toward Joey, there was a loud BANG and the man's head exploded open.

Joey screamed.

The man fell to the ground and blood flowed from his head.

Joey didn't move. He couldn't take his eyes off the corpse. He heard shuffling. Joey slowly turned his head and saw his father moving behind him, holding a rifle.

"Da—" Joey was immediately silenced when his father clamped a hand over his mouth.

His father gave him a stern look and looked around. After a few seconds, his father slowly lowered his hand.

Joey turned away from the corpse and took a deep breath. "Dad…"

"What the hell are you doing here?" his father snapped, keeping his voice low. "We told you that you are never allowed to go over the Wall. Jackson is the only safe place left in the world."

Joey couldn't answer the question. He forced himself to look at the corpse, accepting the danger it had represented. He looked at his father. "Was that one of the monsters?"

"One kind. Infected aren't always the problem," his father replied quickly. He grabbed Joey and roughly turned him around to face him. "What are you doing out here?"

"You're going after them. Uncle Joel and Ellie," Joey finally said. He raised his voice, hoping to sound confident. "I want to help."

"I'm not going after them," Joey's father explained. "I'm doing something else. But it'll have to wait. I have to get you—"

"It's my fault," Joey blurted. He continued speaking before his father could interrupt him. "It's my fault. I said those things to Ellie yesterday morning and she left because—"

Joey's father knelt to eye level. "This is not your fault," he said firmly. He sighed, placing a hand on his son's shoulder. "Look, there's a whole hell of a lot more to what happened to Ellie and your uncle than what you know."

"Will they come back?" Joey asked, afraid of the answer.

"I don't know," his father answered. He squeezed Joey's shoulder. "I wish I did. But right now, that doesn't matter. What matters is getting you home. Your mother is going to… shit."

"What?" Joey asked looking around.

"Don't talk," his father said. He grabbed his walkie-talkie and turned it on to an explosion of dialogue.

Joey recognized the voice as his mother's.

Joey's father immediately started talking. "Maria, I got him. He's fine. He's with me."

"I'm going to kill him!" Joey heard his mother say.

"Yeah, get in line," Joey's father said, glancing at his son.

"Bring him home," Joey's mother said, somewhat calmer.

"I will," Joey's father assured his mother. He looked at his son.

Joey looked at the corpse again and nodded to himself. He looked at his father.

His father spoke again. "I already cleared the perimeter of the wreck. I'll do a quick sweep with Joey for supplies and we'll be home in less than an hour."

"Are you sure?" Joey's mother asked sternly.

"Yes," Joey's father promised. "We'll see you soon."

Joey opened his mouth to speak. His father held up a hand and silenced the walkie-talkie. He grabbed Joey by the arm and led him onward. As they crested a small hill, Joey saw what had created the stench.

The large wreckage in front of him contained multiple cars and trucks. There were bodies all around. As Joey gazed at their lifeless faces, he realized that some looked like the man his father had shot minutes before. Joey swallowed bile as he attempted not to allow his fear and disgust to show.

Joey's father walked in front of Joey and turned, grabbing the pistol from his belt. He held it out to Joey. Joey slowly took the gun and weighed it in his hand. His father walked behind Joey and grabbed his arm, slowly moving it.

"Aim and fire," his father said, motioning to the weapon's trigger. He turned Joey to look into his eyes. "You stay right next to me, and you don't use that gun unless I say so, understand?"

"I understand," Joey said, half entranced and half afraid of the weapon he now held in his hand.

"Good," his father said. They slowly started walking toward the wreckage. "Last night, during the attack and the storm, a lot of the monsters… Infected would have been moving around."

"Is that bad?" Joey asked.

"Sometimes," Joey's father said, constantly scanning their surroundings. "Sometimes the storms can lead them away. Unfortunately for this convoy here, it must have led the Infected right to them."

"Those uniforms," Joey said, slowly pointing at one of the bodies. "They look important. What were they doing here with all the trucks?"

"Another quarantine zone must have fallen," his father replied. "They were probably trying to find a safer place to go."

"What are we doing here?" Joey said as they reached the first car.

"We're going to search for anything useful," his father answered. "If you see anything like medicine or food, you tell me. Don't. Touch. Anything."

"Okay," Joey said, tightening his grip on the pistol.

They spent the next couple minutes moving from vehicle to vehicle in search of supplies. Joey stood back as his father searched bodies inside of a truck. Joey tried his best to ignore the stench and resist the urge to look away from the death and destruction around him.

"Here we go," Joey's dad said with a hint of satisfaction.

Joey's father pocketed something, moved around to the other side of the truck they were standing next to, and started to pry open the door. Joey stood still as his father searched the large, canopy covered truck.

There was a rustling sound a few cars over.

Joey thought it was the wind until he heard the rustling again. He narrowed his eyes and, against his better judgment, moved toward the sound.

Joey leveled his pistol. When he turned the corner, he hesitated.

There was a young woman crouched in front of him, brandishing a scalpel.

The young woman couldn't have been more than a few years older than Joey himself. Her blond hair reached her shoulders. She wore a ripped pair of blue jeans, tattered shoes, and a grey zip-up sweater over a white t-shirt. Aside from a couple of scrapes and bruises, she appeared uninjured.

Joey took a small step forward.

The young woman stood, holding out her blade.

"Woah," Joey said, holding up his hands. "It's okay. I'm—"

The young woman shook her head and backed up a step only to find herself blocked by a truck.

"It's okay," Joey repeated. He consciously lowered the gun, realizing that he had no desire to use it. Joey took a small step forward. "It's alright. I'm not one of…whoever… whatever did this."

The young woman shook her head again and stepped forward bravely, pointing the scalpel at Joey's chest. Joey took a step back as his father came around the corner, his rifle raised. He slowly moved next to Joey as the young woman retreated again.

"You'll want to drop that scalpel," Joey's father said calmly but firmly. "If you don't, we can't help you."

The young woman shook her head again and tried to move away.

Before Joey even knew what he was doing, he tossed his pistol in front of the young woman.

"Joey!" his father said sternly and with no small amount of surprise. He moved forward to retrieve the gun.

The young woman quickly grabbed the weapon and started to raise it.

"Don't," Joey's father warned, leveling his weapon again.

"We can help you," Joey said, taking a small step forward.

"Joey," his father warned.

"We have a… a zone. It's close," Joey said, his voice shaking. He ignored his father and pointed in the direction of Jackson. "That way. It's close."

The young woman looked in the direction Joey was pointing, then back at his father.

Joey slowly used his arm to lower father's weapon.

The young woman looked around for a few seconds and shakily motioned with her gun, pointing in the direction of Jackson.

"No way," Joey's father said, keeping his rifle leveled. "Put the gun down first."

The young woman tightened her grip on the pistol and her scalpel. There was a tense silence.

Joey took a step between his father and the young woman. He kept his hands raised and pointed back the way they had come.

"I'll go first," Joey said. "Keep the gun pointed down… and I'll go first."

The young woman looked at Joey's father and the gun he held.

Joey's father shook his head, as if reading her mind. "I don't even want you holding the gun," he said, looking the young woman in the eye. "This is the deal you get."

The young woman slowly nodded and motioned for Joey to move.

Joey's father grabbed his son's shoulder, holding it firmly. "You and I are going to have a very long talk about this later."

Joey slowly walked in the direction of Jackson County. Every few seconds, he would glance behind him. Each time, the young woman was looking determinedly ahead. Her grip on the gun and scalpel was as tight as ever.

The young woman stopped for a moment as the Wall surrounding Jackson came into view.

Joey stopped and looked her in the eye. "It's okay," he said cautiously. "These aren't like the other Quarantine Zone's. Well, that's what I've been told at least."

They reached the Wall a couple of minutes later.

Joey spotted his mother on top of a bus, a rifle pointing in their direction.

Joey looked down. She's pissed.

They all stopped.

Joey saw his father exchange a nod with his mother.

Joey's mother pointed at the young woman. "You need to return that weapon," Joey's mother said firmly.

"Her you won't be able to argue with," Joey's father said to the young woman. "I'd do it."

The young woman looked between them all for a moment took a few steps back, as if she was going to run back the way they had come. After a few seconds of tense silence, she moved the arm that held her gun, earning caution from the two adults.

The young woman finally knelt and placed the weapon on the ground a few feet from Joey. Joey slowly moved forward as the young woman renewed her grip on the scalpel. Joey put one hand up and grabbed the gun with the other, immediately stuffing it in his belt.

Joey's father stepped forward and looked at his wife. "Go ahead, Maria."

A ladder was lowered down.

Joey went up the ladder first.

His mother moved forward and roughly turned him, giving him a glare more powerful than words. A few seconds later, she smiled in relief and ruffled his hair.

Joey shyly offered his hand to the young woman as she ascended the ladder. She ignored the hand and stood on the Wall as Joey's father joined them.

After using the ladder to descend to the street below, the four stood apart. Off to the side, a few men appeared to greet them.

The girl slowly raised the scalpel as the men took a step forward.

"Has she been checked for infection?" Joey's mother asked.

"Not yet," Joey's father answered. "The scanners at the wreckage were busted and things got… complicated. There wasn't much to salvage either Wherever they came from, it wasn't close."

Joey's mother nodded and looked at the two other men. "Check her. Make sure there's no bite," she ordered.

The two men moved forward and the young woman lashed out with the scalpel, nearly cutting one of the two men. The other man attempted to rush forward and the young woman slashed again.

"Wait!" Joey shouted. He moved forward before the two men could make a second attempt. "Stop!"

"Joey!" his mother said sharply.

"Maria, hold up," Joey's father said calmly, placing a hand on her arm.

"Back off!" Joey said to the two men as his mother folded her arms.

The two men didn't move.

Joey placed himself between the two men and the young woman. "Just back off."

Joey turned toward the young woman, once again keeping his hands held in the air. He took a step forward.

The young woman took a small step back.

"They just want to make sure you haven't been infected," Joey needlessly explained. "It's the only thing stopping you from being able to stay."

Joey slowly reached into his belt and retrieved the pistol. He dropped it to the ground and slid it toward the young woman with his foot. He took a step back and nodded.

The young woman looked at him curiously. She slowly lifted one pant leg, then the other and turned, allowing everyone to see that there were no bites. Then she unzipped her sweater and pulled her arms out one sleeve at a time, always keeping her scalpel in hand.

Joey's mother moved forward, ignoring the scalpel and looking at the young woman's limbs. She took a step back and looked the young woman in the eye. "Are you infected?"

The young woman looked Joey's mother in the eye and shook her head.

Joey stood nervously for six seconds.

The two women didn't break eye contact.

Joey's mother turned to his father. "She's clear."

Joey let out a breath and saw the young woman do the same. She looked at Joey and made eye contact with him.

Joey's mother walked between them as his father placed a hand on Joey's shoulder.

"We've got a home that you can stay in," Joey's mother said to the young woman. "The people who live there are always willing to take newcomers in for a while. You can get some food and sleep there. It's safe."

The young woman nodded and stood next to Joey's mother.

The older woman started to lead the young woman away, placing a comforting hand around her shoulder.

The young woman didn't shy away.

After a few steps, the young woman stopped and turned, making eye contact with Joey again. She walked forward and kicked his weapon back to him.

Joey knelt and slowly grabbed the gun, unsure of what to say or do.

The young woman turned away, once again choosing not to speak.

Joey and his father walked back to the house. Joey didn't say a word as he entered. He walked to the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water. His father chose not to say a word either. He picked up the walkie-talkie on his belt and started checking with patrols along the Wall.

After an hour, Joey's mother returned home. She turned off her walkie-talkie and sat down across from Joey. After a few minutes of silence, Joey's father returned and stood next to his wife, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Joey set down his glass of water and looked them. He decided he would try to avoid the subject of him leaving Jackson County. "How is she? The girl. Does she like the house?"

"She's nervous," Joey's mother answered.

Joey nodded.

"Do you have any idea how much you scared us today?" Joey's mother continued.

"I have a pretty good idea," Joey replied.

"Do you really think so?" his mother asked sternly but calmly.

"Yeah, I do," Joey answered evenly. "It probably feels the same as all those times when you two leave me at the shop to go over the Wall."

"Joey," his father warned. "Turning this around on us isn't a good idea."

"If you know how it feels, then why did you leave?" his mother asked.

"I already told dad," Joey said, looking at his father. "I guess I was wrong."

"Damn right you were!" his father snapped. "You have to understand that when you do shit like this, it puts all of Jackson at risk!"

"Worse," Joey's mom said, continuing where his father left off. "You were in danger."

"Just like every other person who goes over the Wall," Joey argued.

"Joey," his father warned.

Joey fell silent and looked at the table.

His father sighed. "Son, you have to understand… we built Jackson for everyone."

"We keep it safe for you," Joey's mother finished.

Again, Joey didn't answer.

"So," Joey's father said. "Do you have anything to say to us?"

"Like what?" Joey asked.

"Maybe an apology," his mother suggested sharply. "For scaring us. And endangering yourself."

Joey shook his head. I was right to go out there. I'm not going to apologize. Joey looked at his parents. "Can I go to my room now?" he asked.

Joey's parents looked at each other. After a silent communication, they looked back at Joey.

Joey's father nodded. "Yeah, you can go. Don't ever go over the Wall like that again."

"Okay," Joey said. He stood and moved toward the stairs.

"When you go to check on the girl later," his mom called, stopping him. "Use the front door. Don't go sneaking out the window."

Joey stayed in his room until the sun had set. He figured that avoiding his parents was the best way of avoiding uncomfortable silences.

Joey sighed and got off his bed, pulling on a blue sweater. He walked down the stairs and past his parents. "Be back soon," he said, grabbing a water bottle.

…

The young woman looked around the room that she had been given to sleep in. She felt like the walls were closing in and that the shadows in the unfamiliar corners were creeping toward her.

The young woman grabbed a blanket and a pillow from the bed. She moved downstairs and out the door, setting the blankets on the ground across the street from the house.

The young woman then returned to the house and quickly grabbed a plate that was left out for her, stacked it with food, and walked out the door again without a word.

As the young woman sat down next to her pillow and started eating from her plate, she relaxed, feeling safe-ish for the first time since she'd parted ways with the young man's mother. She placed the scalpel on the ground and began to eat.

Something rustled the bushes next to her.

The young woman grabbed the scalpel.

A few seconds later, a cat cautiously poked its head out.

The young woman slowly put down the scalpel.

The cat was a calico. It had green eyes and a long, fluffy tail. It took another step toward the young woman's plate. The young woman grabbed a scrap piece of meat and set it down in front of her.

The cat moved forward and sniffed the meat. The young woman reached her hand out and touched the cat. It purred quietly and started to eat the meat. The young woman took a bite of meat from her plate and began to pet the cat, smiling slightly.

"It's nice to see you smile," a voice said behind the young woman.

The young woman reached for her scalpel. She turned and saw it was the young man she had followed to Jackson. He held his hands at his sides where she could see them. In one hand, he held a water bottle. The young woman slowly lowered the blade and placed it on the ground.

…

Joey took the young woman placing the scalpel on the ground as permission to stay. He sat down a few feet across from her.

The cat she had next to her growled at him and took off into the bushes.

Joey laughed. "That cat's never liked anyone. I'm glad to see it found a friend."

The young woman glanced in the direction of the cat and nodded. She grabbed a piece of meat and continued to eat.

"So, you're still not going to talk to anyone?" Joey asked.

The young woman shook her head as she swallowed.

"Anytime you want me to leave, just say so," Joey said.

The young woman smiled slightly and took another bite.

Joey smiled as well and held out the water bottle he was holding.

The young woman stared at it for a moment before looking away.

Joey placed the bottle on the ground.

The young woman picked it up immediately, uncapped it, and downed half the bottle.

Joey sniggered.

The young woman blushed. She placed the bottle on the ground between them.

Joey shook his head. "You can keep it," he said. "I can bring another tomorrow."

The young woman nodded appreciatively and grabbed the water bottle, taking a slower drink.

They sat in silence for a few seconds before Joey lowered his voice. "You don't like being touched, do you? At least not by guys. You seemed to like my mom."

The young woman flashed him a look of warning.

"Sorry," Joey said, realizing he'd said something stupid. "I always sucked at talking to… well, I have to learn to think about what I say before I say it."

The young woman nodded again and looked away.

Joey looked at the makeshift bed next to the young woman. "Not a fan of beds or people?"

The young woman shrugged and took another bite of her food.

Joey chuckled. "Weirdly enough, I've seen it before," he said. "Ellie and I did a few outdoor sleepovers. I was never a fan, but sometimes I think it's the only time she slept well."

The young woman raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, Ellie," Joey stammered, not really understanding his own embarrassment. "She um, she was a friend of my uncle's. She's… she left this morning. She's not back yet."

The young woman looked down and grabbed a piece of meat, throwing it toward the bush the cat had disappeared into. A paw reached through the bushes, grabbed the meat, and tugged it out of sight.

Joey and the young woman stifled their laughs.

After a few more minutes of silence, Joey stood. "I should get home. My parents are already pissed. I wasn't exactly supposed to be out there this morning."

The young woman gave him a look that told him that anyone could have guessed the same thing.

"I don't suppose I can get a name before I go," Joey said.

The young woman opened her mouth for a moment, then closed it. She looked away.

Joey nodded. "Goodnight."

…

The young woman waited until the young man walked away. She grabbed her blanket and pillow, moving against a tree a short distance from the house.

After a moment, the young woman placed the pillow behind her and laid back, wrapping the blanket around herself. She closed her eyes. After a few minutes, she felt a pressure against her side. She looked down and saw the cat snuggling close to her blanket, purring loudly.

…

Joey walked back into the house as his mother turned off the light in the kitchen.

"How is she?" his mother asked ask Joey walked toward the stairs.

"She's… sleeping outside," Joey answered.

His mom raised an eyebrow.

Joey shrugged. "She doesn't like the bed, I guess."

"Well, we'll figure something for her," his mother replied. "In the meantime, we'll give her some space."

"As long as it doesn't rain, I think she'll be fine," Joey said. "Goodnight."

"'Night," his mother said.

Joey walked up the stairs and into his room. He stared at the shelf that he'd had to repair the day before after Ellie had shoved him into it. He got changed and laid down on the bed. After a couple minutes of staring at the ceiling, there was a knock on his door.

"Joey," his father said poking his head in. "Make sure you get sleep. We need you up early tomorrow."

"Got it," Joey said, forcing himself to close his eyes.

…

Unable to sleep, the young woman watched as the last of the lights in the houses around her dimmed.

The wind picked up and whistled through trees. The young woman forced herself to relax. A few seconds later, the cat crawled under the blanket and rested on her chest. The young woman closed her eyes again.

…

"Joey, wake up."

Joey opened his eyes to see his father standing over him. After rubbing his eyes, Joey looked out his window. The sun had just begun to rise.

Joey moaned.

"I said that I needed you up early," his father said with amusement in his voice.

"Early," Joey groaned.

"Get up," his father said, throwing clothes at him.

Joey looked at the clothes on his bed and noticed that they were smaller versions of what his father was wearing. Joey quickly climbed into a pair of blue jeans and a black jacket before walking down the stairs.

There was a writing pad, two pencils, and a walkie-talkie on the table next to his bowl. Joey sat down and grabbed the walkie-talkie, offering it to his mother, who was wearing a dark blue jacket and blue jeans.

"It's not for me," Joey's mother said.

Joey stared at the device in his hand for a moment, then at his mother. "Seriously?" he said excitedly.

Joey's mother nodded. "Your father and I had a long talk last night. And while we don't like how you ran off, we think you're ready to take on a little more responsibility."

"So, you're saying that I'll be going outside the Wall with you and dad?" Joey asked, confused.

"No," his mother said firmly. "But you can help out here, inside Jackson."

"How?" Joey asked.

"That's why you're up early," Joey's father said, entering the room. "I'm going to take you on my rounds. Show you how things work."

Joey smiled. Finally. I can be more than just—

"Don't get too excited," Joey's father said. "It means that you're up early any morning and up late any night."

"And you will have a much larger appreciation for coffee," Joey's mother added.

"Not if we find more soda," Joey replied.

"Or you can get used to waking up earlier," his father said.

…

The young woman awoke and brushed her hair behind her head. She turned over and noticed that the cat was gone.

The young woman felt a moment of sadness when she looked around and couldn't see the small animal. As she stretched and made her way back to the house across the street, she noticed a note on the door saying that there was food in the kitchen.

The young woman grabbed the food and brought it back outside. She set the meat aside for the cat that never showed up. The young woman ate a few scraps, placed the plate in back in the house, and stashed the pillow and blankets behind a nearby tree. She stood still for a few seconds, unsure of what to do next. She started walking.

…

Joey and his father exited the house fifteen minutes later.

"Alright, first things first," Joey's father said, pointing to the walkie-talkie in his son's hand. "You'll want to clip that to your belt. Keep them walkie-talkie's safe 'cuz those things don't come easy."

"Got it," Joey said, clipping the walkie-talkie to his belt. "Anything else?"

"Lots," his father replied. "Let's get started."

…

As the sun rose high into the sky, the young woman found herself next to one of the Walls surrounding Jackson County.

The young woman stared up at the Wall for a moment before climbing on top.

The two men on the Wall stopped talking for a moment, then exchanged shrugs and continued their conversation.

The young woman had no incentive to talk to them. She walked a short distance and sat down.

The young woman heard a familiar voice a few minutes later. She turned and saw the young man from the day before walking alongside his father.

The older man was talking quietly and pointing at separate spots on the Wall and to various people.

The young man was listening intently.

…

"So," Joey's father finished. "If you ever hear anything over the Wall, see anything, or somebody is missing their shift, you—"

"Call you or mom on the walkie-talkie," Joey finished. "I think you've said that three times now."

"If you want to go back to helping your mom with chores…" Joey's father began.

"Sorry," Joey said, yawning.

"What did we say you'd learn this morning?" his father asked.

"An appreciation for coffee," Joey said, looking down.

"Or?"

"Or I'll start waking up earlier."

"That-a-boy," his father said with a small smile. "Let's head over to the south side of the Wall. We have to check on a few things. I'll show how we do orientation for newcomers."

"I've already done that," Joey grumbled.

"Get used to repetition," his father chastised. "It keeps everything running and everyone alive."

Joey glanced up and saw the young woman from the night before. He raised his hand in shy greeting.

The young woman slowly raised her hand for a moment as well, her face unreadable.

"Orientation without putting your life in a stranger's hands," Joey's father said quietly, noticing the exchange. He ruffled his son's hair and turned away. "Keep focused. C'mon."

Joey quickly brushed his hair down and turned away, catching a glimpse of the young woman smiling.

As they walked to the south side of the Wall, Joey looked at a newly abandoned house.

"Dad?" Joey said carefully. "Is anyone moving into Ester's old house? I mean, she's already living with that guy she's going to marry."

"Hey," his father said with a chuckle. "Just because we're giving you more responsibility doesn't mean your mother and I are ready let you move out on your own."

"I'm not asking for me," Joey said.

"The girl," his father guessed. He laughed. "What is it with you and this girl."

"I don't know," Joey said with a shrug. "I like her."

"Are we talking like like, or just like?" his father teased.

"Dad…" Joey said, turning away as his face turned red. "I think she needs a friend, that's all."

"She's not the only one," his father said lowering his voice.

"This again?" Joey said. "I just don't feel like talking to some people."

"Why?" his father pressed.

"They look at me like I'm…" Joey scratched the back of his head and changed the subject. "Would you just answer my question about the house?"

"Tell you what," his father said. "You get through the rest of the day with minimal smartass comments and complaining… and you can ask the girl about the house."

Joey nodded.

"I don't suppose you got her name," his father said.

Joey shook his head. "Not for the lack of trying."

"You tried to talk to a girl," his father said lightly, turning around. "That's progress."

Joey stifled his response.

…

The young woman spent the day exploring Jackson. Aside from returning a few polite nods, she kept to herself and avoided people as much as possible.

The young woman found herself back near the house she'd been given to sleep in the night before. She walked in the unlocked door, grabbed a plate of food, and walked outside. The sun began to set as she sat down to eat, wondering what she would do the next day.

The cat from the night before came out of the bushes a few minutes later and sat next to the young woman expectantly. The young woman offered the cat some food.

She sat with it for a while before the young man she'd seen with his father walked down the street. He stopped as the cat growled. The young woman smiled as the young man slowly walked forward. The young woman offered him some food.

…

Joey shook his head politely and held out the key he had in his hand.

The young woman reached for it, then pulled her hand back.

Joey nodded and retracted his hand. "You want to know what it unlocks?"

The young woman thought for a moment, then shrugged. She picked up her plate. They returned the food, sheets, and pillows to the house.

"Ready?" Joey asked.

The young woman shrugged again.

Joey led the way though Jackson County. After a couple of blocks, he glanced over his shoulder and noticed the cat trailing behind them.

Joey eventually stopped them next to a single-story house. The young woman stared at it cautiously, then looked at the key in Joey's hand.

Joey shrugged. "The owner moved out a few days ago," he explained. "It's pretty empty. But I figured you could use a place of your own."

The young woman looked at the house again, then back at Joey, caution and confusion on her face.

"It's better than sleeping outside all the time," Joey said nervously. "It can get pretty cold some nights."

After a moment of silence, Joey moved to the door and inserted the key.

The young woman waited until he'd moved back a few feet before walking up to it.

"It's yours if you want it," Joey said, taking another step back.

The young woman moved forward and slowly turned the key, opening the door. She stood just inside the house for a moment. She turned to Joey and nodded.

Joey nodded as well. "Your welcome."

The young woman moved past the doorway.

"So…" Joey started awkwardly. "When new people come into Jackson and asks whose house this is, what should I say?"

The young woman smiled evilly and closed the door.

Joey looked down and chuckled. "Worth a shot."

As Joey turned away, he noticed the cat slip into the bushes a few houses away.

Joey nodded to himself and walked to the shop. He moved aside as a few men walked out. Joey walked in and began to look around.

"I was just about to close up, kid," the shopkeeper said behind him. "Looking for something specific?"

Joey turned. "Do you happen to have any traps that don't kill?"

"Depends on the animal," the shopkeeper answered, scratching his beard. "How big?"

"It's for a cat," Joey replied.

"I've got just the thing," the shopkeeper said.

Joey followed the shopkeeper to the back of the store where he was handed a case with a closable cage door.

"Thanks," Joey said as he grabbed the box.

The shopkeeper grabbed a pair of thick gloves off a nearby shelf and threw them on top of the box.

"What are these for?" Joey asked.

The shopkeeper grinned.

…

The young woman laid down on the couch, pulling a spare blanket she'd found over her. She made sure that she could see the front door.

The young woman attempted to sleep, but felt too restless. She stood and started to walk around the house.

…

Joey put on the gloves and set the box on the ground, leaving the cage door open. He slowly crept toward the side of the house he'd seen the cat disappear next to.

After a few seconds, Joey spotted the cat near an old dumpster behind the house.

The cat saw Joey and jumped into the dumpster.

Joey sighed in frustration and brought the box closer. He took a deep breath and pulled the sleeves of his jacket down over the gloves.

The cat growled.

Joey stuck his hand in the dumpster and grabbed the cat by the scruff of its neck.

"Ow! Shit, that hurts!" Joey exclaimed as the cat wrapped itself around his arm and started biting and clawing.

Joey put his other hand on the cat to make sure it couldn't escape. He knelt and quickly shoved the cat inside the box. The cat didn't let go of Joey's gloved hand.

Joey attempted to pry the animal off. When force failed, he straightened his fingers and yanked his hand out of the glove.

Joey quickly shoved the door shut as the cat launched itself against it, hissing and growling.

"You'll like me later," Joey grunted as he latched the door.

Joey sat back for a moment, breathing heavily before sitting up and grabbing the closed box.

The cat continued to growl and hiss its opinion.

Joey walked past the front of the house he'd found the cat behind and gave the confused owners a wave. Once on the street, he set down the box, grabbing a pencil and a piece of paper from his notepad.

After a completing the note, he reread it twice.

This is for you.

Now you have someone to talk to and the cat doesn't have to hiss and growl at everyone!

Joey nodded, walked up to the young woman's new house, and knocked on the door.

The young woman answered almost immediately.

Joey didn't say a word. He simply handed her the box from which the cat was still growling and hissing.

The young woman took the box, set it on the floor, and unlatched it.

The cat bolted out of the confined space immediately and jumped onto the couch, finally dropping the glove. It hissed at Joey and burrowed under the blankets where it continued to growl.

Joey and the young woman laughed.

Joey looked at the young woman and opened his mouth to say something. He closed it almost immediately, deciding not to speak. He gave the young woman the note he'd written before tossing the glove over by the couch.

The young woman unfolded the note and began to read, A hint of a smile forming on her face as she finished.

They looked at each other, waiting for the other to speak.

After a few seconds of silence, Joey decided it was time for him to leave. "Have a good night," he said awkwardly, turning away. "The cat can keep the glove."

"Heather."

"What?" Joey asked, swinging around.

"My name," the young woman said. "My name is Heather."

"Nice to finally meet you, Heather," Joey replied, extending his hand. "My name is Joey."

Heather looked at the hand but didn't take it.

Joey nodded. "It's fine," he said calmly. "The names a good start."

Heather looked away apologetically.

"Goodnight," Joey said again.

…

Heather nodded and Joey left with a sheepish smile. After closing the door, she smiled and placed the note on the table before walking over to the couch.

Heather sighed, picked up the blankets, and moved the cat onto the floor. As Heather laid down on the couch and started to get settled under the blanket, the cat climbed on top of her and curled into a ball, purring contently.

Heather closed her eyes and slept peacefully for the first time in Jackson.