"So are you a cabin in the woods or house by the beach kind of guy?"
A few weeks had passed since Ben and Amelia had discovered the diner. That morning, they were gathering the last of the food from the walk-in freezer.
Ben placed the last of the canned goods in the backpack, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Hm...cabin in the woods."
Amelia's eyes lit up. "Hell yes!" Can you imagine? Just you and me... no one else around, no walkers, no... noise. Just the sound of the trees."
She stepped closer, her voice softening, playful but laced with something deeper. "Maybe a porch, some rocking chairs... If we ever find a guitar, we could sit out there and butcher some songs together. Or we could stay up late, just watching the stars... Or when it rains, we'd just stay inside, cozy and safe."
Ben's grin widened, but he was quiet for a moment, as if savoring the thought. "I like the sound of that... except for the rain. I'm not a fan of being stuck inside all day."
"Then we'll make our own fun." Amelia waggled her eyebrows suggestively.
Ben snorted and nudged her shoulder. "You're ridiculous."
Amelia smirked. "Oh, I'm ridiculous? I'm just sayin', we'll make the most of our time together...invent our own kind of fun."
Ben chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm starting to think this is a terrible idea. You'd probably just rope me into a game of Monopoly, and we'd be stuck playing it forever."
Amelia laughed, the sound light and carefree, almost as if the world hadn't fallen apart outside. "Could be worse. I could start a dance-off in the living room and you'd have no choice but to join in."
"Dance-off?" He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused but skeptical. "You're insane."
She shrugged, her smile mischievous. "You'd be surprised how much fun you could have when there's no one around to judge."
The last of the canned goods were packed. Ben adjusted the strap on the backpack and gave Amelia a nod, signaling they were ready to leave.
"Let's get back to camp," he said.
Amelia gave a short nod, but before either of them could make a move, a loud crash echoed through the diner, the sound of shattering glass splintering the quiet.
"Shit!" Amelia hissed, her fingers instinctively reaching for her knife. "What the fuck was that?!"
Ben didn't hesitate. He grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the walk-in freezer. "Hide!" he whispered urgently.
Amelia hurried after him, her heart pounding in her chest. They slipped into the freezer, the metal door closing with a soft, deliberate click. They sat in complete darkness, the only sound between them being their labored, shallow breaths. Faint voices drifted from the dining area, but they couldn't make out the words from outside the thick metal door. Ben opened the door just a crack, a small sliver of light shining through.
"…looks like this place will do for a while," a gruff voice said, followed by the scrape of a chair being dragged across the floor.
"We'll board up the windows, secure the doors," another voice added, this one sharper, more authoritative. "Won't be perfect, but it'll hold for a bit. Savannah's a fuckin' death trap."
"Exactly," the first voice said. "There's nothin' out here. When we bring everyone back here, we'll have an advantage. Boss is gonna promote us for this."
"Yeah, as long as no one comes snooping around," a third voice chimed in, lower and more menacing. "Not much left out there worth fighting for, anyway."
Ben bit his lip and swallowed hard. Shit. Bandits. A lot of them, from what it sounded like. And they were coming this way. He glanced at Amelia. She sat hugging her legs to her chest, tremblin her breathing quickening. He could tell she was beginning to shut down.
Ben reached out, his hand brushing against Amelia's arm. She flinched at the contact, her wide eyes snapping to his. He gave her a small, steadying nod, trying to anchor her to the moment.
"Hey," he whispered. "It's gonna be okay. Stay with me."
Amelia blinked rapidly, her breath still coming in short bursts. Her fingers dug into the fabric of her jeans, knuckles white. "I can't... I can't," she whispered, her voice trembling.
"You can," Ben insisted, his tone firm but calm. "Focus on me. Just me. We're gonna get through this."
Amelia squeezed her eyes shut, taking a shuddering breath. "If they find us-"
"They won't," Ben cut her off. "They won't."
"I'll check the back," the sharp voice said suddenly, his tone commanding.
Ben's eyes widened, and he quickly, silently shut the freezer door. The faint click of the latch sounded deafening in the tense silence.
Amelia lifted her head up, her whisper barely audible. "W-W-What do we do?"
Ben didn't answer immediately, his mind racing. "Just wait 'til they leave," he said finally. "We can't take them on."
Amelia nodded, her stomach churning as she tried to push down the rising panic. Outside the freezer, footsteps echoed faintly, heading in their direction.
They sat motionless in the dark, hoping the bandits wouldn't find them—praying they wouldn't decide to check the freezer.
The footsteps stopped just outside the freezer door. Ben tensed, his heart pounding so loud he was sure it would give them away.
A voice called out, rough and impatient. "Anything back there?"
Another voice answered, closer this time. "Nah, just a bunch of junk."
Ben let out a silent breath of relief as the footsteps receded. Amelia's head dropped to her knees, her body trembling. Ben reached over, his hand steady on her arm. "It's okay," he whispered. "We're okay... for now."
She nodded weakly, her breathing beginning to steady.
Ben barely had time to exhale before the freezer door swung open suddenly, the bright light blinding them momentarily.
Standing above them were two masked men, silhouetted against the glow. Their clothes were patched and dirty, weapons slung casually in their hands.
"Well, well," one of the men said, his tone mockingly friendly. "What do we have here? A couple of lovebirds, hiding in the icebox?"
Before either of them could react, rough hands seized them both. The bandits yanked them up by their shirt collars with brutal efficiency, dragging them out of the freezer and into the dining area.
"Let go!" Ben shouted, twisting against the iron grip on his shirt, but the man holding him just laughed, shoving him forward with enough force to make him stumble.
Amelia struggled too, kicking at the man dragging her, but it was no use. He was twice her size and barely flinched as he hauled her through the narrow kitchen doorway.
Ben and Amelia were shoved into the dining area in front of a wiry man with a cold face - presumably the one in charge - standing in the middle of the room. He was older, his face lined and weathered.
The man raised an eyebrow. "A couple of kids? Really, Jenkins?"
'Jenkins' shrugged. "Kids or not, they were hiding in the freezer. Gotta figure they've got something worth keeping."
The older man stepped closer, his boots thudding against the tiled floor. His cold, calculating eyes swept over Ben and Amelia, lingering for a moment on the backpack. "Y'all armed?" he asked flatly.
Ben glared but said nothing, his jaw tight. The silence didn't last long - Jenkins grabbed Ben's backpack and ripped it off his shoulders. "Let's find out," he said, dumping the contents onto the nearest table.
Canned goods spilled out, clattering noisily. Jenkins let out a low whistle. "Hot damn, look at that! Jackpot."
The older man frowned, his tone sharp. "Food doesn't mean they're not carrying. Search 'em."
Ben's heart pounded as the other masked man approached him, hoping the pistol hidden in his jacket would go unnoticed. He tried to back away, but there was nowhere to go. The bandit's hands were rough as he patted him down, pulling the dull pocket knife from his pocket with a smirk.
"Cute," he sneered, tossing it onto the table with a clatter. "Bet you thought this would keep you safe."
Ben exhaled slowly, relief flooding him even as his muscles remained coiled. The pistol was still their last chance, but he'd only get one shot—literally.
Jenkins snatched Amelia's knife and tossed it onto the table.
"Now," the older man said, stepping closer to them. "You're gonna tell us where you came from and if there's anyone else with you."
Ben said nothing, his silence defiant.
Jenkins smirked from behind his mask. "Quiet type, huh? That's fine. We've got ways of loosening tongues."
Amelia swallowed, her voice shaky. "W-We're alone. We don't have anything else. Just... just take the food and let us go."
The older man chuckled, low and humorless. "Oh, it ain't that simple, sweetheart. See, you've seen us now. Can't just let you walk away, can we?"
Ben's fists clenched. "We'll go. We won't tell anyone."
"That's what they all say," the older man replied coolly.
Jenkins then grabbed Amelia and pushed her into the arms of the older man. She stumbled, barely catching herself before the older man's hands gripped her arms, his hold firm and possessive.
"Why don't we just kill him," Jenkins nodded at Ben, "and take this one back to camp with us?" Ben could see the sick grin from beneath his mask.
"Hey, no, stop! Get the fuck off me!" Amelia cried, struggling wildly against him.
Jenkins chuckled darkly, his eyes glinting with malice. "She's feisty. She gon' be real popular back at camp."
The older man smirked, his grip tightening on Amelia. "She's got spirit. I like that."
Ben's fists clenched so tightly that his nails bit into his palms. His heart raced, but his voice came out steady, low, and dangerous. "Let her go."
Jenkins turned his attention to Ben, tilting his head like a predator sizing up its prey. "Oh, look. The boyfriend wants to play hero. That's sweet." He nodded toward the other masked man. "Let's do him a favor and put him out of his misery."
The man took his gun from the holster at his hip and stepped forward.
Amelia screamed, thrashing in the older man's grip. "No, no, please! Don't!"
Jenkins turned back to her, his voice dripping with mockery. "Don't worry, sweetheart. You'll forget all about him soon enough."
Ben had to act fast. He couldn't take them all, but if he timed it right… His fingers twitched toward his jacket. The pistol was still there. It had to be now or never.
As the masked man raised his weapon, Ben yanked the gun from his jacket, leveling it at the older man.
"Let her go," he snarled, his finger on the trigger.
The room froze. Jenkins' smirk faltered for the first time. "Oh, shit! Looks like the boy's been holding out on us."
The older man tightened his grip on Amelia, dragging her closer. "You don't have the guts, kid," he taunted him. He reached behind his back and freed his own small gun from its holster. "Besides, you might hit the girl."
Amelia shrieked at the gun facing her and began her struggles anew, twisting and crying and trying so desperately to wrench herself free.
Ben's hands shook, but his aim didn't waver. His heart clenched in his chest when Amelia looked at him, her wide eyes filled with fear and pleading.
"I said let her go." Ben pulled the hammer back. "Now."
The older man started to lift his gun. "I don't think-"
BANG!
Amelia stumbled as she was violently thrown forward, her face suddenly wet and hot when the man holding her jerked backward and collapsed onto the floor. She froze, her mind unable to process what had just happened. The room seemed to hold its breath, the other bandits staring in stunned silence at their fallen leader.
She barely had time to react before Ben tossed aside the now-empty pistol and lunged forward, grabbing her arm in a vice-like grip. He hauled her to her feet with a force that jolted her back to reality.
They bolted for the door, feet pounding against the worn diner tiles. The spell of silence shattered as the bandits began screaming obscenities at them.
Gunfire erupted, deafeningly loud in the confined space. Bullets whizzed past, shattering plates and ripping through the furniture as Ben and Amelia burst through the door and into the fading light outside.
The cool evening air hit them like a slap, but they didn't stop. Ben dragged her toward the tree line, his grip unrelenting as they tore into the woods.
Branches whipped at their faces and snagged their clothes, but neither dared slow down. Behind them, the shouts of the bandits grew fainter, though the occasional gunshot cracked through the air like thunder.
Amelia's lungs burned, her legs threatening to give out, but she pushed herself to keep up with Ben. The woods grew denser, the fading daylight swallowed by the thick canopy above.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Ben pulled her behind a large tree.
The sounds of pursuit were distant now, the bandits' shouts fading into the rustle of leaves and the pounding of their hearts. For the moment, they were safe.
Amelia slumped against the tree trunk, panting. Her face was still slick with blood, her mind racing to make sense of what had just happened. She turned to Ben, who had braced himself against the tree as well, chest heaving. "Think we lost 'em?"
"I think so," Ben said between ragged breaths. "Holy fuck..."
Amelia shuddered as she felt something warm and sodden slipping down the back of her neck. "I can't believe you shot that guy in the face."
"I had to do something," Ben said hoarsely, his jaw tight as he fought to keep his emotions in check. His chest tightened as the memory flashed back— the terrified look in his classmate's eyes.
"I-I couldn't let the same thing happen to you," he finished, his voice faltering as a lump formed in his throat.
Amelia reached out and squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. "I know. It's okay."
They stood in silence for a few minutes, the gravity of the situation weighing down on them. Ben's breath was still shallow.
Finally, he spoke, his voice low but urgent. "They're definitely going to come after us."
Amelia nodded, her face pale but determined. "All the more reason to get the fuck out of Georgia."
"We gotta get back to camp and warn everyone."
Amelia let out a slow breath, leaning back against the rough bark of the tree. "Yeah. I just...need a minute."
"Yeah, yeah, take it easy," Ben told her. "We were running for a while."
Amelia winced then, her face twisting in pain as she gripped her upper arm tightly.
Ben's heart skipped a beat, his eyes locking onto her movement. "Did you get shot?" His voice was sharp with concern, his brow furrowing as he took a step toward her. "Let me see it."
Amelia shook her head quickly, her voice steady but faintly defensive. "I'm fine, really. It just grazed me." She turned slightly to reveal a jagged red streak across her skin, where the bullet had grazed her. The wound was still raw, inflamed, and bleeding, though it wasn't deep. "Mom can patch me up when we get back."
Ben's concern deepened. "Are you sure you're okay, though?"
Amelia brought a hand to her forehead, her expression momentarily distant, and she took in a shaky breath. "I-I dunno... I feel woozy." Her words were slow, her voice quieter than before, exhaustion and pain finally taking its toll.
Before Ben could respond, Amelia's knees buckled. She pitched forward suddenly, her hand flying to her mouth just in time to cough and gag, before she collapsed to her hands and vomited in the dirt.
Ben's eyes widened in alarm, the sight of her struggling to hold herself up sending a sharp spike of panic through him. Without thinking, he reached forward to steady her, his hand at her back. "Amelia, hey-hey, look at me," he urged, his voice frantic. "Stay with me. Don't pass out on me now, okay?"
Amelia groaned weakly, her body trembling, but her eyes were unfocused, glazed with the sudden wave of dizziness. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and tried to push herself back up, but her legs were shaky. "I'm... I'm fine," she mumbled.
Ben's heart pounded, his fear escalating. This wasn't just the graze. There was more to it. He gently cupped her face, forcing her to meet his gaze. "You're not fine. You're not looking so good."
"We...h-have to go," she said weakly. "Th-They'll find us."
Her words cut through him, and Ben clenched his jaw, fighting back the swell of panic. He needed to think, needed to get them both to safety. He pulled her into his arms, supporting her weight as best he could. "Okay, let's go," he said, his voice firm despite the worry lacing it. "But you need to stay with me. Can you do that?"
Amelia nodded faintly, her body heavy against his as she leaned into him. Her strength was fading, but she still managed to whisper, " Thank you..." Her voice was soft, almost lost in the rustle of leaves.
Her breathing slowed, though still shaky, and her head rested against his shoulder. For a moment, she let herself drift, the pain in her arm and the dizziness in her head pushed to the background, replaced by the comfort of Ben's presence.
Ben's mind ran a million miles a minute as he navigated through the woods, each step heavy with the knowledge that every second counted. He couldn't afford to slow down, not now, not when their lives were on the line. Yet, with every step, he could feel the weight of Amelia's body growing heavier in his arms, and the fear gnawing at him that he wouldn't be able to keep her safe.
"You're gonna be okay," he whispered under his breath, as much for his own reassurance as hers.
Night had already fallen by the time Ben and Amelia stumbled back into camp. The firelight flickered weakly in the gathering darkness. As they emerged from the woods, weary and bloodied, Marie was the first to spring to her feet, her eyes widening when she saw her daughter in Ben's arms.
"Oh my god!" Marie's voice cracked as she rushed toward them, her face pale with worry. "We were just about to come looking for you guys! What in the hell happened?!" Her eyes quickly scanned over them, noticing the bloodstains on Amelia's clothes and the strain on Ben's face.
Ben shifted Amelia slightly in his arms, his own exhaustion threatening to pull him under. "We ran into some...trouble," he said, his gaze flickering to Amelia's pale face. "Bandits. They attacked us. We barely got away."
Marie's breath hitched as she reached them, and just as she was about to take Amelia from Ben, Todd stepped forward from the shadows. His tired eyes locked onto his daughter, and a mixture of concern and relief crossed his face. "What happened?"
Amelia winced as Marie gently helped her to her feet, inspecting the wound on her arm. "I'm fine, Dad," she said, trying to sound convincing. "It's just a graze. I'll be fine."
Todd didn't look convinced. He turned to Marie. "How bad is it?"
Marie carefully rolled up Amelia's sleeve, inspecting the wound under the flickering light of the campfire. "It's not too deep," she said after a moment, her tone measured. "But it needs to be cleaned properly, or it'll get infected. I'll patch her up, but she's going to need some rest."
His gaze turned to Ben, and there was a silent understanding between them - Ben had carried Amelia back, and it was clear he'd made some tough calls along the way.
Ben nodded, avoiding Todd's eyes as he spoke. "We were ambushed. I-I had to shoot one of them. They're going to come looking for us."
Todd's eyes widened at this. "Shit. Where are they? How many of them are there?"
Before Ben could respond, Leland's voice sliced through the tension. He had been sitting at his usual place by the fire. "Bandits?" he asked. He didn't wait for an answer, his eyes shifting from the others to the dark tree line. "We need to leave. They could be on our trail by now." He looked at Todd and Marie, his face unreadable, but his mind already working. "I'll keep watch tonight and start breaking down our gear in the morning."
Todd nodded. "I guess we have no choice. As soon as Mel's feeling better, we're leaving for Wellington."
Marie was digging through their supplies, trying to find something to clean the wound. "Don't worry, honey. I'll get you patched up." She spoke with a calmness that seemed to steady everyone around her, even if the fear was still there in her eyes.
Amelia gave her a weak smile before turning back to her father. "I'm actually feeling a little better already."
"Good," Todd said. "Then we best start packing up our things and get some shut-eye, because we're leaving tomorrow."
"I'll take the first watch with Leland," Ben said, glancing between Todd and Marie. "You all need to rest."
Todd looked at him for a long moment before nodding. "Alright. But don't push yourself too hard, kid. We'll need all hands tomorrow."
Ben's eyes flickered to Amelia before he turned away, heading toward the edge of the camp with Leland. As he settled into his spot, the weight of the day pressed heavily on him, but he shook it off.
After her wound had been cleaned and bandaged, Amelia retreated to her tent, eager for a moment alone. The dim light from a lantern cast flickering shadows as she moved quietly, folding clothes and shoving them into her worn backpack. Her hand brushed against something small and crinkly, and she paused, pulling out a pack of tampons. She stared at it for a good, long moment, stomach sinking as the realization hit her.
"Fuck."