A/N: Whew! Long chapter, lots of drama! Hope y'all enjoy.
The morning broke with a cold, pale light seeping through the broken windows of the gas station. Ben sat near the front counter, staring blankly at the doorway where the weak sunlight filtered in. He had barely slept after the nightmare, the memory of Todd and the others lingering like a sour taste in his mouth. His hands still trembled slightly as he fumbled with a dented can of beans, trying to open it with a rusty knife.
Amelia shuffled over, still groggy but alert enough to catch Ben's haggard expression. "You look like shit," she said, sitting down beside him and pulling her blanket tighter around her shoulders. Her tone was light, but concern lingered in her eyes.
Ben glanced at her briefly, then returned to his task. "Didn't get much sleep, that's all."
She studied him, but when he didn't elaborate, she didn't push. "Any luck with breakfast?" she asked instead, nodding at the can.
"Not yet." The knife slipped, and he cursed under his breath. Amelia reached over and gently took the can and knife from his hands.
"Let me try," she said. Despite her delicate movements, it was clear she was just as frustrated with the crude tools. Still, after some effort, she managed to pop the can open, releasing the metallic smell of processed beans.
"Tada!" she said with a faint smile, handing it back to Ben.
He chuckled lightly, though it felt forced. "Thanks." He grabbed a spoon from their stash and handed it to her. "Here. You should eat first."
Amelia frowned. "You need it more than me."
"You're eating for two," Ben pointed out, managing a small smirk.
Before the debate could escalate, Leland and Marie appeared from the back room, both looking marginally more rested than Ben felt. Leland stretched his arms above his head, groaning. "Mornin', lovebirds," he said with a yawn. "How'd you sleep?"
Ben hesitated, glancing at Amelia, who answered for him. "Could've been better. We're all running on fumes at this point."
Leland shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, ain't no luxury hotel around. At least no walkers stumbled in during the night."
Marie sat down near the counter. "What's the plan for today?" she asked, directing her question at Leland.
He pulled out the map, unfolding it over the dusty countertop. "We've got a few options. We're running low on food, so scavenging is a must. There's a town about fifteen miles east. Looks small enough that it might not have been picked clean. Downside is the route's through open farmland—not much cover if we run into trouble."
Amelia raised an eyebrow. "Fifteen miles? You think we can manage that today?"
"Not all in one go," Leland admitted. "But if we don't head toward resources, we're as good as done."
"And if the town's crawling with walkers?" Ben asked, his tone sharper than he intended. He immediately regretted it when Marie and Amelia both shot him concerned looks.
Leland, however, met Ben's gaze evenly. "Then we deal with it. Like we always do."
Silence hung between them for a moment before Marie broke it, her voice softer. "We'll take it slow," she said. "Stop if anyone's too tired, especially Amelia." She glanced at the younger woman. "We need to play it safe. For all of us."
Amelia nodded, clutching her blanket tighter. Ben's hand unconsciously twitched toward hers, but he stopped himself short of taking it. His mind was still stuck in the nightmare, haunted by the same doubts Todd had voiced in his dream.
"Let's pack up, then," Leland said. "The sooner we move out, the better."
Within minutes, the group was gathering their meager belongings and preparing to leave the relative safety of the gas station. As Ben hoisted his backpack onto his shoulders, Amelia placed a hand on his arm, stopping him.
"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked quietly, searching his face.
Ben forced a smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yeah. I'll be fine."
Amelia frowned but didn't press further. "Just… don't forget you don't have to carry everything alone, okay?"
Her words hung in the air as Ben nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. As they stepped out into the cold morning, leaving the gas station behind, he resolved to do whatever it took to prove his dream wrong. Because no matter how heavy his guilt felt, the lives of the people around him—especially the one growing inside Amelia—were depending on him now.
The crisp morning air bit at their skin as the group moved forward, the sound of crunching gravel underfoot filling the quiet. Ben stayed close to Amelia, his eyes constantly scanning their surroundings for any signs of movement. The open fields around them felt vast and exposed, offering little comfort.
Leland took the lead, holding the map in one hand and his rifle in the other. His eyes flicked between the route ahead and the horizon. "We'll follow this road for about five miles," he said. "After that, there should be a tree line we can use for cover."
"Should be?" Marie asked.
"It's either that or we double back toward the highway," Leland replied, his voice firm. "And I'd rather take my chances here."
The group fell into a tense silence as they walked, the rustling wind carrying faint, haunting whispers through the empty landscape. Amelia tugged at her jacket, looking over at Ben, who hadn't spoken since they left the station.
"You're awful quiet," she said softly.
Ben's grip on his backpack straps tightened. "Just trying to stay focused."
"You're always focused," she said, her tone attempting to be lighthearted but coming off more worried than anything else. "You're allowed to breathe, you know."
"I'll breathe when we're safe," he said, quickening his pace to keep ahead.
Amelia opened her mouth to respond but stopped when Marie fell into step beside her. "Just give him some space," Marie murmured. "He's just trying to figure things out."
Amelia sighed. "I know. I just wish he'd talk to me. I mean, we're supposed to be a team, right?"
Marie offered a small, understanding smile. "He'll come around."
Ahead of them, Leland raised a hand, motioning for everyone to stop. "What is it?" Ben whispered.
Leland pointed to a small cluster of buildings in the distance. "Looks like a farmstead. Could be abandoned. Might have supplies."
"Might have walkers, too," Ben said, his hand moving instinctively toward his weapon.
"Exactly why we're checking it out carefully," Leland replied. He turned to Amelia. "You stay here with Marie. Ben and I will take a look."
Amelia frowned but nodded, understanding the risk. "Be careful," she said.
Ben hesitated for a moment before giving her a quick nod. "Always."
Leland and Ben made their way toward the farmhouse, crouching low as they approached. The main structure was weathered, its roof partially caved in and windows boarded up haphazardly. A rusted tractor sat abandoned in the yard, surrounded by overgrown weeds.
The two men paused just outside the front door. Leland gestured for Ben to cover him as he pushed the door open with the barrel of his rifle. The inside was dark, the air thick with the stench of decay. They stepped cautiously into the main room, their footsteps echoing on the wooden floorboards.
Ben's heart pounded as his eyes darted around the shadowy interior. The house looked ransacked, with overturned furniture and broken glass littering the floor. "Doesn't look like anyone's been here for a while," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Leland nodded, his gaze fixed on a staircase leading to the second floor. "Check the kitchen. I'll take upstairs."
Ben moved toward the kitchen, the floor creaking ominously under his weight. The cupboards were mostly bare, save for a few dented cans of food and a box of stale crackers. He stuffed them into his bag, trying not to think about how little they'd found.
A sudden crash from upstairs made him freeze, his grip tightening on his weapon. "Leland?" he called out.
"Just a raccoon," Leland's voice came from above. "Scared the hell out of me."
Ben let out a shaky breath, but his relief was short-lived. The faint sound of shuffling footsteps behind him made his blood run cold. He turned slowly, his weapon raised, to find a walker stumbling toward him from the back hallway. Its lifeless eyes locked onto him, and a guttural growl escaped its rotted throat.
"Shit," Ben muttered, taking a step back. His hands trembled as he aimed, his finger tightening on the trigger. The gunshot echoed through the house, the walker dropping to the floor in a heap.
The noise brought Leland rushing back down the stairs. "What happened?" he asked, his eyes scanning the room.
"Walker," Ben said, his voice shaky. "It must've been trapped back there."
Leland nodded grimly. "Let's wrap this up and get back to the others. No telling if that shot attracted more."
The two quickly finished their search, gathering what little supplies they could find before heading back outside. Amelia and Marie were waiting where they'd left them, their eyes filled with relief when they saw the men returning.
"Find anything?" Marie asked.
"Couple of cans," Leland replied. "Better than nothing."
Ben avoided Amelia's gaze, guilt weighing heavily on him. She watched him silently, her concern deepening as she noticed the tension in his posture.
As they resumed their trek, Amelia fell in step beside Ben. "Seriously, what's wrong?" she asked quietly.
"Nothing," he said, but his tone was far from convincing.
Amelia didn't press further, but her heart ached as she saw him retreat further into himself. Whatever was haunting him, she knew it wouldn't stay buried for long.
The group trudged on through the morning, the air thick with unspoken tension, and the barren landscape seemed to stretch endlessly. Amelia could feel the unease radiating from Ben.
His blocked off behavior continued.
Amelia wanted to hold hands with him, but every time she reached for one, he would pull away and place the hand in his pocket. After several unsuccessful attempts at trying to grasp at his fingers, Amelia stopped and turned to him, emotions and hormones flaring.
"What the fuck is your problem?!"
Ben turned to her, surprised by her words. He opened his mouth to answer, but she didn't allow him to as her emotions flew out of control and she started to rant.
"I don't get you, Ben!" Amelia continued, her voice a mixture of frustration and heartbreak. "One minute, you're sweet, caring, and acting like you'd do anything for me. The next, you're acting like I'm some kind of burden you don't want to deal with."
Ben winced at her words, glancing nervously at Leland and Marie, who exchanged looks, as if to silently ask whether one of them should intervene, but said nothing. They gave the couple some space, walking ahead, though they remained within earshot.
"It's not like that," Ben said, his voice soft but defensive.
"Then what is it, Ben?!" Amelia snapped, stepping closer to him, her eyes locking onto his with an intensity that made him want to look away. "Is it the baby? Is it me? Because if I'm too much for you to handle, just fucking say it."
Ben groaned and ran a hand over his face. "Oh, Jesus fucking Christ, Mel, can we not do this right now?"
"Fuck you!" Amelia jabbed a finger against his chest. "If you don't want this—don't want us—then just say it! Say you don't want this, so I can stop wasting my time on someone who won't even fight for me!'
Ben flinched as if she'd struck him. His lips parted, but no sound came out. He couldn't seem to find the right words. After having to deal with quite a few of these hysterical, emotional fits over the past few months, he'd learned it was better to just let her run her mouth off and tire herself out, but his silence only fueled Amelia's anger.
"That's what I thought," she said bitterly, her voice breaking. She turned away, her arms crossing over her chest. "I thought I meant more to you than this. That we meant more to you."
Hearing her voice crack broke something inside of him. He looked down, his hands twitching like they didn't know what to do with themselves. Finally, he raked them through his hair, gripping it for a second before sighing.
"Amelia, stop!" Ben finally blurted out, his voice louder than he intended. She froze, her shoulders stiffening as she turned back to look at him. "You think I don't care? You think I don't want this? I do! God, I do, more than anything."
"Then why are you acting like this?" she demanded.
"Because I'm scared, okay?" he shouted, his words tumbling out all at once. "I'm scared of screwing this up. I'm scared of letting you down. I'm scared I'm going to get you or this baby—or all of us—killed. Because that's what I do. I mess things up. I've been doing it my whole damn life."
Amelia wanted to stay mad. She wanted to shove his words back in his face, to tell him that fear wasn't an excuse to make her feel alone in this. But then she saw it- She saw the way his hands trembled, the way his eyes shimmered with unshed tears, the way his whole body looked like it was caving in on itself. And just like that, her anger cracked, giving way to something far more painful.
"Ben…" she said, her voice quieter now, but he shook his head.
"You don't get it," he muttered. "You weren't there. You didn't see how I—" He stopped himself, pressing his fingers to his temples like he could push the memories back in. "Every time I try to help, I just make things worse. I let people down. I get people killed."
He squeezed his hands into fists, his knuckles going white. "I can't—I won't—let that happen again. Not to you. Not to the baby."
Amelia swallowed hard, his words cutting through the last remnants of her anger. She stepped closer, hesitating only a second before reaching out again. This time, when she touched his arm, he didn't pull away.
"You think you're the only one who's made mistakes?" she asked gently. "We're all still here because of you, Ben. You've done so much right. And yeah, things are terrifying now, but we don't have to face them alone. I don't want to face them without you."
Ben's breath hitched, his gaze flickering to hers. His walls were crumbling, but a part of him still looked like he was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"What if I screw it all up anyway?" he whispered.
Amelia's fingers slid down his arm until she found his hand, lacing their fingers together. "Then we'll figure it out together. Because that's what we do."
Ben let out a shaky breath, his grip tightening around hers like she was the only thing keeping him tethered. For the first time since his nightmare, he felt a sliver of hope break through the dark cloud hanging over him.
Up ahead, Leland glanced over his shoulder at the two of them. Marie met his gaze, lifting a brow, but he just smirked and shook his head. They walked on without a word, giving them their space.
As they approached a thin line of trees in the distance, the sound of rustling caught everyone's attention. Leland immediately raised his rifle, signaling for the group to stop. The others froze, their eyes scanning the area.
"What is it?" Amelia whispered.
"Could be nothing," Leland replied, his voice low, "or could be something."
A moment of silence stretched on before a figure stumbled out from the brush ahead. Everyone tensed, weapons at the ready, but as it moved closer, it became clear—it was no walker.
The man was disheveled, his clothes tattered and his face gaunt. He raised a hand weakly, showing he was unarmed. "Please," he croaked, his voice barely audible. "Help me."
Marie cast Leland a wary glance. "What do we do?"
Leland didn't lower his gun. "We ask questions. Don't let your guard down."
The man stumbled closer and dropped to his knees, his hands shaking. "I'm not a threat," he said, coughing. "Haven't eaten in days. I just...need something to keep me going."
Ben stepped forward, his hesitation written all over his face. "What's your name?"
"Elliot," the man replied between labored breaths. "Used to be part of a group, but...they're gone. Been wandering ever since."
Leland's grip on his rifle didn't waver. "And how do we know this isn't some kind of setup? Got anyone waiting for us out there?"
Elliot's bloodshot eyes widened and he shook his head. "No, no, it's just me. I swear."
Amelia exchanged a glance with Ben, who seemed torn. She spoke up, her voice cautious. "If he's telling the truth, leaving him out here is a death sentence."
"And taking him with us could be one too," Leland countered. "For all we know, he could rob us blind."
Ben took a deep breath, stepping closer to Elliot. "Look, we're low on supplies as it is, but...we can't just leave him like this."
"Ben," Leland started, but Ben cut him off.
"I know it's risky," Ben said, his voice firm, "but it's the right thing to do."
Leland looked at Ben for a long moment before letting out a frustrated sigh and lowering his rifle. "Fine. But he's your responsibility," he said, pointing a finger at Ben. "Anything goes south, it's on you."
Ben nodded, then knelt in front of Elliot, offering him a bottle of water and one of the cans of beans. "Here. Start with this."
Elliot took them with shaking hands, his expression almost crumbling. "Thank you," he whispered. "You don't know what this means to me."
Leland turned away, muttering under his breath as he resumed his watch.
As the group pressed forward, Elliot trailed behind, his steps still unsteady but gaining strength. Ben kept glancing back, making sure he was keeping up.
Amelia moved closer, her fingers brushing against his.
"You really think he's harmless?" she asked softly.
Ben exhaled, shaking his head. "I don't know. But I couldn't just walk away."
Amelia studied him, her expression softening. "That's what I like about you. You care… even when it's hard."
Ben didn't answer, but her words settled in his chest, lingering beneath the weight of his past mistakes. He hadn't been able to save Todd. Or the others.
But maybe, just maybe, he could do something right this time.
The group pressed forward, their path winding through the sparse line of trees and into the open sprawl of farmland Leland had mentioned. The cold crept through their layers, but the real weight pressing down on them was silence. Every step brought them closer to the town—and whatever dangers waited there.
Elliot stayed toward the back, still weak but moving steadier than before. His eyes flicked now and then to Leland's rifle or the pistol at Amelia's hip, but he kept quiet. Ben kept glancing over his shoulder, gauging him. Did I make the right call?
When they reached an overgrown ditch, Leland called for a break. Marie passed around the last of their water, carefully rationing out small sips.
"Not much left," she murmured, screwing the cap back on. "That town better not be dry."
"It'll have something," Leland said, though his confidence felt more like hope than fact. He unfolded the map, eyes tracing their position.
Amelia eased down onto a rock, rubbing her lower back with a sigh. Ben was at her side instantly. "You okay?"
"Fine. Just achy," she replied, waving him off.
Ben nodded and sat beside her, his eyes drifting back to Elliot. The man was seated a few feet away, his shoulders slumped as he cradled his head in his hands. Ben wanted to believe Elliot was telling the truth, that he was just another unlucky survivor trying to get by. But the voice of doubt, the one seeded by Leland and watered by his nightmare, was hard to ignore.
Ben hesitated, then asked, "What's your story, Elliot?"
Elliot lifted his head, his sunken eyes catching the light for a brief moment. "What do you mean?"
"How'd you end up alone?"
A pause. Elliot's gaze dropped to the dirt. "We were holed up in a warehouse not far from here. There were six of us. Thought we had it figured out—enough food, solid defenses...but nothing lasts out here."
He ran a hand through his unkempt hair. "A herd rolled through two weeks ago. We held them off at first, but the noise just drew more. It was like a flood. No stopping it. I got separated in the chaos, and when I circled back…" His jaw tensed. "Nothing left. Just blood and bodies."
Amelia's expression softened. "I'm sorry."
Elliot shrugged, though his haunted eyes betrayed his attempt at indifference. "It is what it is. People don't last. You just keep moving until you can't anymore."
Leland, who had been listening from a few feet away, folded the map and stepped closer. "That's rough," he said flatly. "But if you want to stick with us, you're pulling your weight. No freeloaders."
Elliot raised his hands. "I get it. I'll do what I can."
Leland's stare lingered, measuring him. Then he turned to the group. "Let's move. We've got a couple hours of daylight. I want to be closer to that town before we set up camp."
The group stood, their weariness clear in the heaviness of their movements. Ben helped Amelia to her feet, his hand lingering on hers longer than necessary. She squeezed it lightly before releasing it, her silent way of reassuring him.
As dusk crept in, the edges of the town finally came into view. Broken rooftops jutted out against the orange sky, and faint whispers of movement could be heard on the wind. Leland signaled for everyone to crouch low, and they made their way to a dilapidated barn on the outskirts. Inside, it was dark and smelled of damp wood and rot, but it would do for shelter.
"We'll stay here tonight," Leland said, closing the barn door as quietly as possible. "First light, we scout the town."
Marie busied herself setting up their camp, while Amelia eased herself onto a pile of hay with a tired sigh. Ben stayed nearby, his thoughts tugging him in two directions. Elliot's story echoed in his mind, but the edges of it didn't sit right. Why was Elliot so close to the town if the herd had wiped out his group? Hadn't he said he circled back to find nothing but blood?
His gaze flicked toward Elliot, who sat cross-legged near the barn door, staring out into the fading light. Something about him felt...off.
Ben didn't trust him. Not yet.
A sudden clang echoed through the barn as Elliot's boot accidentally kicked over a metal bucket. Everyone froze. Leland's hand darted to his rifle, and Amelia tensed, her eyes darting to the door. For a moment, there was silence, but then came the sound—faint, guttural groans outside.
"Shit," Leland hissed. "Walkers."
"Could be nothing," Elliot whispered, standing up slowly. "Just a stray or two."
"Or a lot more," Ben countered, his voice low but firm. He stood, positioning himself near Amelia as the groans grew louder.
Suddenly, a heavy thud slammed against the barn door, followed by another. The group exchanged tense glances, Leland motioning for everyone to back away.
"Whatever's out there, it knows we're in here," Leland muttered. "We need to—"
The door gave way slightly, a decayed hand clawing through the gap. Chaos erupted as Leland fired his rifle, the crack of the shot deafening in the confined space. The walkers pushed harder against the weakened door, their numbers becoming apparent.
"Out the back!" Leland yelled. "Move!"
Ben grabbed Amelia's hand, pulling her toward the back door as Marie and Nick followed. They burst into the open field behind the barn, the chilling sound of the horde close behind. But as they ran, Ben caught the flicker of movement to their left—Elliot slowing just slightly, his eyes darting toward the bag on Leland's shoulder.
For a split second, Ben saw the intent in Elliot's expression.
And then Elliot bolted into the trees, abandoning the group without a word.
Anger clenched around Ben's heart like a vise. But there was no time to dwell. He tightened his grip on Amelia's hand and kept running.
Four months later
The headlights of the old sedan cut beams of dull light through the thick blanket of night. The vehicle's engine hummed steadily, a reassuring constant against the backdrop of dark, endless trees. A shared sense of exhaustion enveloped the group inside, akin to a weighted blanket. After numerous setbacks, a glimmer of hope had finally emerged.
Leland gripped the steering wheel, his fingers lightly tapping against it. In the passenger seat, Marie studied the map in her lap under the dim glow of a flashlight.
"We've just crossed into Virginia," she announced, tracing her finger along the faded paper. "At this rate, we could be nearing Wellington in about two days."
In the backseat, Amelia shifted uncomfortably, her swollen belly making every position unbearable. She rested her head against Ben's shoulder, trying to focus on the steady rise and fall of his breathing.
"Ah—shit," she murmured, wincing.
"You okay?" Ben asked, his worry obvious.
She nodded faintly. "I think so. Just... moving around a lot down there."
"You sure you're not in labor?"
"Yeah, I think I'm fine," she insisted, though her voice wavered.
Marie looked up from the map. "Probably just Braxton Hicks. No need to panic over a false alarm."
Ben caught another fleeting grimace from Amelia but held his tongue. Instead, he squeezed her hand, trying to will away his growing unease.
Leland glanced at them through the rearview mirror. "We're making good time. I'll keep pushing through the night. With any luck, we won't have to go through this on the side of the road."
"Thanks, Leland," Amelia said, managing a small smile.
"Don't mention it, kid," Leland replied with a nod.
The car fell into a tense silence. The only sounds were the rhythmic thump of the tires against the road and Amelia's labored breathing.
Marie peered out the window, her grip tightening on the map. "You think we're still being followed?"
Leland exhaled through his nose. "Not sure. "But the sooner we get out of these woods, the better. They're perfect cover for anyone—or anything."
The night shattered with a sudden, violent crack—metal shrieked as the car jerked hard to the right. Ben's stomach lurched as his shoulder slammed into the door. Amelia drew in a quick, pained gasp, clutching her belly as the seatbelt cut into her ribs. The car wobbled wildly before Leland wrenched it to a grinding stop.
"Shit, what the hell was that?!" Ben shouted, his heart slamming against his ribs.
Leland's teeth clenched. "Jesus Christ—I must've hit somethin'. Everybody stay put."
Gun in hand, Leland swung the door open and stalked toward the front of the car. Squatting down, he braced a hand on his knee and froze.
Marie rolled down her window. "What is it?"
Leland rose stiffly. The moonlight caught the jagged shaft of an arrow embedded deep in the blown tire. "Shit," he muttered, heart thudding. "We're under attack."
Before the words even fully left his mouth, low whistle cut through the night, followed by the guttural, breathy moans of the dead.
Then the voices slithered out from the darkness, layered whispers that made Ben's skin crawl.
"Intrudersss...They don't belong…must be silent...hush them..."
The shadows shifted. At first, they seemed like part of the forest—tree trunks swaying, tangled branches reaching out—but then one moved against the wind. A pale, stretched face with hollow, soulless eyes turned toward them.
All of the color drained from Leland's face. "Out of the car! Now!" he barked.
"What is it?" Ben demanded. "Bandits?"
"Worse. No time to explain, we gotta move!"
Ben flung his door open, scrambling to help Amelia out as panic surged in his chest. Another arrow zipped past, embedding into the car's hood.
Marie grabbed Amelia's other arm. "Come on, honey, we have to move."
"Run!" Leland commanded. "Don't stop for anything!"
Amelia's breath hitched—a sudden pop that rippled through her abdomen made her stiffen. A sickening wave of pressure crashed over her, followed by a sudden warmth gushing down her legs. Her knees buckled as white-hot agony gripped her insides, twisting and wrenching. She gasped, vision swimming, her nails digging into Ben's wrist. "U-Um, Ben?"
She was staring down at her legs, a look of pure terror painted across her face.
Cold fear clawed up Ben's throat as his brain struggled to process the moment. Amelia's jeans were soaked—her face pale and twisted in pain. His breath came in short bursts, the air suddenly too thin. Not here. Not now. "Oh, no."
Amelia crumpled to the ground as a primal scream tore from her throat.
"Goddammit!" Leland fired a warning shot into the air to buy them time. "That's just our fucking luck!"
Marie's eyes darted around wildly until she spotted the outline of a house just beyond the treeline. "Look, there's a house up ahead!" she shouted, pointing. "We can make it!"
Leland took the lead, shoving through the thick underbrush, his gun raised.
Ben wrapped an arm tightly around Amelia, half carrying, half dragging her as her legs kept giving out, her body trembling with another agonizing contraction. Marie stayed at her other side, whispering frantic reassurances between gasps for breath. The walkers were closing in fast, their grotesque forms barely distinguishable from the figures who slithered like ghosts among them.
Leland rammed open the door, nearly tripping in his haste, and shoved Amelia and Ben inside first before slamming it shut. Heavy breathing filled the dark space.
Click.
The unmistakable snap of a gun being cocked made everyone freeze.
A middle-aged man with a scruffy beard aimed a rifle at them. Beside him, a teenage girl with dark curls pointed a pistol, her knuckles white around the grip.
Leland slowly raised his hands. "Whoa, whoa. We ain't here to hurt you."
A soft, pained whimper slipped from Amelia. The girl's finger twitched near the trigger, her gaze darting between Amelia's pained expression and Leland's raised hands. Her expression faltered, uncertainty flashing across her features. "Dad, I don't think they're with them."
The man exhaled sharply, lowering his gun. "Who are you and why are you here?"
"Leland," he answered quickly. "That's Marie, Ben, and Amelia. We were on our way to Wellington, but then we got attacked by them freaks in the dead skin masks."
"Whisperers."
All eyes were on the girl.
She shifted uneasily, then mumbled, "That's what they call themselves. They wear their skins so they can blend in."
"They attacked us, too," the man added. "We've been hiding here for days. You sure you weren't followed?"
Marie checked through a gap in the blinds. "I think we lost 'em."
Another broken cry from Amelia made everyone snap to attention.
"Listen, we ain't got a lot of time," Leland explained. "She went into labor earlier than we expected, and we're massively under prepared."
The man pointed to the staircase. "There's a room with a bed upstairs. And there's an old supermarket down the road that might have some supplies left, but I can't guarantee."
The girl nodded. "We'll help you."
Ben sagged in relief. "Thank you."
Leland eyed them both warily. "Y'all got names?"
"Robert," the man said, then gestured to the girl. "This is my daughter, Mia."
Leland nodded. "Alright, Mia, Marie, Ben—you get Amelia situated upstairs. Robert and I'll stay down here and keep watch."
Mia led the way up, flicking a weak flashlight ahead while Ben and Marie hurried Amelia up the stairs.
Mia pointed down the hall. "It's just down the hall, to the right. I'll go get some towels from the bathroom."
"Thank you, Mia!" Marie called over her shoulder before the three made their way to the bedroom.
Ben and Marie helped Amelia onto the bed. Mia soon rushed back in, spreading a towel beneath her.
"Let's get these off." Marie went to work, tugging Amelia's jeans off, and then gently inserted her index and middle fingers to check how dilated she was, making her tense up and squirm a bit. Ben gave her hand a little squeeze in an attempt to comfort her.
Moments later, Marie gently pulled her fingers from her. "You're about six centimeters dilated."
"H-How do I know when to push?" Amelia whimpered.
"When you're ten centimeters dilated. Come on, baby, we've talked about this."
Mia tilted her head. "You know a lot about this."
"Oh, yes. I was a nurse before all this. I helped deliver a lot of babies in my career." Marie stared ahead in disbelief then. "I just...never once would've imagined I'd be delivering my own grandchild in an apocalypse."
"It's going to be okay," Ben said, running his thumb over Amelia's knuckles.
Her face contorted as another contraction shook her frame. She had Ben's hand in a death grip, making him wince. "That's easy for you to say," she gritted out between pants. "I swear, if I die pushing out your kid, I'm haunting you for the rest of your days."
Ben let out a breathless laugh, but the tremor in his voice betrayed the fear beneath it.
"You're not going to die, Mellie," Marie stated confidently. "Not on my watch."
Ben stood quickly. "I'll go with Leland and Robert for supplies."
A trembling hand caught his wrist.
Amelia's teary eyes locked onto his, desperate. "Please hurry."
Ben leaned down, brushing a kiss to her forehead. "I'll be back before you know it."
Marie began rummaging frantically through drawers. "I'll see what I can find here."
Mia took Ben's place beside Amelia, wiping the sweat from her brow with a cloth. "Good luck."
He jogged down the stairs. Leland and Robert were waiting for him near the front door. "You ready?" Leland asked him.
Ben swallowed hard. "As I'll ever be."
Leland gave them a resolute nod, cocking his gun. "Let's try to make this quick."