The next morning met Ben early. He woke with the beginning of the sunrise. His brothers and dad were still asleep. Matt was lying on his face with his hand bandaged hand by his head. He and their dad had come back not long after Hal and himself. Anne had given Matt a light sedative and he was out once he was on the cot.
Ben quietly sat up in his cot and grabbed his shirt. He slipped it on and over the needles. He tied his shoes and left the room. If today was going to be a bad one, he may as well start it out right. And the first thing he needed to do was talk to Jaden. He walked down the hall, he didn't know where her room was, but there was a good chance one of the other fighters would.
Ben had run into Maggie only a few times and one of them had been just seconds after she'd left her room. She was across the school, keeping her distance from the 2nd Mass. Given the state of her last group, Ben couldn't blame her. He turned the corner, coming up on her room. The door was shut, but Ben could hear movement and voices. He knocked on the door twice and waited.
Maggie opened the door. She wore the white tank top, showing her tattoos. Her rifle was strapped to her back already. "Hey Ben. Heard about what happened last night."
Ben nodded. "I need to talk with Jaden. Do you know where I can find her?"
"Sure do." Maggie said. She opened the door wider and looked into her room. "Hey JJ, you got a visitor."
Ben looked into the room. Jaden was standing beside on of the two cots. Her back was to Ben as she finished fastening her corset in front. She looked over her shoulder to see him in the door. There was a flash of surprise in her eyes that quickly diminished.
"You shouldn't be here Ben." She said.
"I needed to talk to you." Ben replied.
"And I don't know you two aren't supposed to be talking to each other, so I'm gonna leave." Maggie said. "Catch ya later Ben, JJ."
Jaden nodded." I'll see what I can do Magg's."
Maggie gave her a thumb's up and left the room.
"If your dad catches us, he'll have my ass." Jaden said. She grabbed her shoulder holster and strapped it to her back.
"Jaden about last night-"
"Drop it Ben." She said. She slung her pack over her back. "I've already had plenty of reprimands."
"That's just it, you didn't do anything wrong."
"Besides go outside the perimeter." Jaden reminded. She slung her rifle and walked past Ben out of her room.
"You're not the first person to do that." Ben stated.
Jaden pulled her hair up. "Your brother followed us out and got lost."
"But you helped find him."
"If I'd have been paying attention more, I would've notice him before we left the school." Jaden stated. She sighed. "Look Ben, I appreciate what you're trying to do and the effort you're putting into this. But your dad doesn't want you running and I'm not going to disobey another order. So take his advice and stay clear of me."
Ben followed Jaden down the hall. "There's got to be something I can still do."
"There is, listen to your dad, because I can't afford another confrontation with him." Jaden said. She glanced over Ben's shoulder. "See around Ben." She turned and walked down the hall quickly.
Ben looked behind him. His dad was standing by the corner. His head rose as he met Ben's eyes. "I didn't mean to send her off."
Ben walked toward his dad. "Yeah well you didn't have to try hard."
Tom sighed. "Ben we need to talk."
"No we don't. You said plenty last night." Ben walked past his dad.
"Yeah well, I might have overreacted." Tom said.
Ben stopped. He turned around, looking at his dad. "What?"
"Now, granted you and Jaden brought Matt back to camp, you did go outside the perimeter." Tom said. "I just want you to know how dangerous straying from the group is."
"Dad, I'm reminded of that every day." Ben replied.
Tom nodded slowly. "Jaden's got a short run tonight. From now until then, inventory needs to be taken. Start in the kitchen, that's where she'll be."
"You're gonna let me run with her?" Ben asked.
"We'll see how it goes tonight. Jaden or I don't like how it goes, you're done. Clear?"
Ben nodded. "Yeah."
"Jaden?" Tom called.
Jaden appeared around the corner. "Clear Mason."
Tom jerked his head toward Jaden. "Go on."
Ben smiled. "Thanks dad." He jogged down to Jaden.
"Let's go, Mason. We got a lot of inventory to check." Jaden said.
"How'd my dad know you were still here?" Ben asked.
"He wasn't glaring at me like he was last night. I figured he wasn't going to yell at you." Jaden answered.
Night had fallen over Acton. Lamp posts stood over the street, standing as ghost haunting the survivors of there once mediocre point that was now taken away. Ben and Jaden ran down the dark street, hugging to the fences and walls. Each one had an empty pack strapped to their backs. Jaden led the way down the street. Her braids were stuffed up into her beanie with her rifle in her grasp. She turned into the first yard and disappeared in the back. Ben jumped the fence and landed beside her. Jaden popped open and back door and slipped inside the house. She closed the door after Ben.
Ben pulled out his light and turned it on.
"Food or meds?" Jaden whispered.
"Food." Ben answered.
Jaden nodded. "Alright. Get the cans, I'll find the meds."
The idea of taking items from someone's house wasn't conscious friendly, both agreed to the strong distaste for the motion, but the 2nd Mass needed supplies and Ben needed a practice run. And the thought of the reality that befell the homeowners wasn't as helpful for them either.
Ben headed toward the kitchen. He passed through the open archway into the kitchen. He dropped out of sight from the windows and started searching through the cupboards. He found a few cans without labels and prayed they'd be worth it. He moved through the kitchen and found the pantry. There were a few scattered cans and a first aid kit. He pulled the kit and stowed the cans. He slipped back into the living room.
Jaden came down the stairs and met up with Ben. "How's you score?"
"Couple cans and a first aid kit." Ben lifted the box.
Jaden nodded and opened her box. "Stash it."
Ben shoved the kit inside Jaden's bag, catching sight of the medication.
They moved to the next house and followed the pattern. Ben checked for food while Jaden searched for meds. Sometimes there were no meds and Jaden helped Ben, but sometimes they both struck out and moved. Sometimes they got really lucky and found a few guns or ammo.
With their bags nearly full at scavenging the last house on the block, they began to get anxious. Ben searched through the pantry, finding plenty of cans to carry back. He loaded his pack, filling it completely. He heaved it onto his back, feeling its weight but not slowed down by it. He looked out the kitchen window and spotted a mech patrolling. He ducked down and shut off his light. His heart doubled its speed as he waited. The ground shook and echoed with each step the mech took. Its bright light peered into the house, illuminating the air just above Ben's hair. He reached into his holster and pulled out his pistol. A pistol vs. a mechs weapon wasn't worth much, but if it meant living and being harnessed, Ben chose the pistol.
The light above him diminished and the mech continued its patrol. Ben sat on the floor listening to the mechs fading steps. His heart still thundered in his own chest. He closed his eyes and sighed heavily.
"Looked like you were gonna piss yourself for a moment there." Jaden whispered, appearing beside him.
Ben jumped. "Don't do that!"
"Pay attention." Jaden snapped. "You can't afford to be caught off-guard on a supply run. You okay?"
Ben nodded. "Yeah."
"Good. Almost thought I'd have to drag your ass back to the school." Jaden said. She stayed beneath the counters and moved out of the kitchen.
"You're not ditching your partner that easily." Ben replied.
"Partner?" Jaden asked as they slipped outside.
"Partner." Ben repeated.
"Are you kidding me? You're not at partner level yet." Jaden said. "You're my sidekick."
"Not a chance, I'm hauling half this stuff." Ben replied. They jogged across the road toward the school.
"Pack mule?" Jaden asked with a smirk.
okay so i'm pretty much making this up as i go. at some point i'll link it in with the episodes.