They were setting up camp in the middle of the desert on the side of the road. Doc, 10K, Addy, Murphy, Vasquez, and Warren were sitting around the campfire in that order. Warren had what little food they had laid out on a blanket in front of her as she tried to ration it. They were low. It wasn't looking good.
Warren said she rationed everything, "Everyone can have one apple slice and half a granola bar."
Everyone groaned. 10K mumbled, "What I wouldn't do for a bag of dog food."
Doc replied, "Maybe we'll find a PetCo somewhere."
Murphy growled, "That's it! It's like I've been saying. We have too many people in our 'happy little family'," he spat in a sing-songy voice. He continued, "One of us has got to go, and it sure as hell ain't gonna be me."
This wasn't the first time they had this "discussion". Murphy and 10K always seemed to be having some sort of rivalry. 10K put up with Murphy. Murphy did everything he could to get rid of 10K.
"Well Mister Grumpy," Warren said sarcastically, "You'll just have to suck it up."
"Oh come on!" Murphy yelled, "You know what I think? We should get rid of him!" He pointed at 10K.
Addy yelled back, "Hey! We're not getting rid of anyone, especially 10K!"
Murphy insisted, "Listen, fewer people means there'll be more food for everyone else. I say, let's get rid of the expendable people. We don't need him. He's just a kid with a gun."
Addy exploded at him as did Warren. Their voices overlapped with each other. Addy was ready to kill Murphy, Murphy was ready to evict 10K, and Warren tried to mediate both. Vasquez didn't know what to do and simply watched.
Doc peeled his eyes from the fight to look at 10K. The teen was watching the argument with sad eyes, and Doc could swear he could see his lip quivering.
Murphy yelled, "So what if he can shoot! Everyone can shoot in the damn apocalypse!"
Addy yelled, "Says the guy who can't!"
Murphy argued, "He's just an extra mouth to feed!"
Warren screamed, "Everyone, be quiet!"
They continued to argue. 10K looked back at Doc with moist eyes. Doc was in shock.10K wasn't about to cry, was he? Wasn't that impossible? It didn't make sense. There were always two rules to 10K: 10K never missed, and 10K never cried.
10K's voice cracked, "They wouldn't really abandon me, right?"
Doc felt his heart sink to his empty stomach. Doc, being the psychiatrist that he is, noted the word "abandon". 10K may have some issues, and in this apocalypse who doesn't? But he noted it and decided they would have a heart-to-heart the next chance they got. He assured him, "What? No! We'd never abandon you!"
10K insisted as if he hadn't heard him, "You wouldn't leave me, right? I'll be better, I promise. I'll scavenge more. I'll aim better. I'll eat less. I'll hunt more. You wouldn't leave me alone, right?"
Doc asked him seriously, "Did you hear me? I said we'd never leave you."
10K screamed in panic, "Please! Don't leave me alone! I can't be alone again!"
Addy, Warren, and Murphy's argument abruptly stopped. They all stopped and watched 10K, though he didn't notice.
"Please!" he begged, "I've been alone since I was thirteen! I was alone for three years! I was so lonely. I can't. I can't. I-I…" he started breathing heavily and hyperventilating.
Doc scrambled to his knees and grabbed 10K's arms. He told him firmly, "You need to calm down. You're having an anxiety attack. Here, put your head between your knees." He helped the teen lean forward and face the ground. 10K choked on air as his tears threatened to spill. Doc kept a firm and consistent hand on 10K's back.
Addy angrily turned to Murphy, "Now look what you've done."
Warren interrupted before Murphy could say a comeback. She commented, "Three years alone. He was thirteen in a zombie apocalypse and he was alone the entire time. Could you imagine that?"
Vasquez added, "It may not be my place, but my little girl, she was ten when she was taken away from me. I couldn't imagine if she was out there with those things, especially by herself."
"Kid," Doc tried, "Take a deep breath."
10K took a shaky breath. At least he was listening to him.
Kid… He was a kid, wasn't he? He had only recently turned 17. If this was pre-Z, he would be in high school and maybe working a part-time job. He would have had his dad watching him like a hawk. He wouldn't have been left alone for three entire years.
What were they thinking? They were supposed to be the responsible adults, and yet here they were arguing whether the youngest should be thrown overboard.
"You're right Murphy," Warren said, "He is a kid with a gun, and that's exactly why we can't leave him."