Our Days Are Numbered

Chapter 14

The sound of the loud siren going off startled me awake, the whining of the large iron gates opening brought me back to reality. The Jeeps came to stop and everyone started jumping out, the Doctors doing their routine checks. Once the go-ahead was given the men started to unpack the Jeeps. Dr. Green was holding Nora and doing a quick once over her

“Brett” I called shaking my head at him when his hands were full of supplies, “There is enough hands-on Deck take your daughter to the clinic and her checked properly” he smiled and put the things down taking Nora from Dr. Green, and headed towards the clinic. I half smiled at Dr. Green as she walked up to me, she reached to take my broken hand but I stopped her

“I’ll come by in a bit I need to sort out a few arrangements for our new members” I walked away before she could say anything more. I walked up to the Jeep, Marshal was trying to gather supplies from it.

“Marshal I appreciate that you are trying to help but I would like you to please come with me” he left the supplies in the back and staggered towards me, I hooked my arm into his trying to help support him

“the first thing I think that is in order is a walking stick”

“My dear that would be wonderful” I walked with Marshal towards Porta’s classroom giving him a mini-tour of the grounds as we went, the kids were outside playing and creating things, the noise level was being kept low but it felt good to watch the small children having fun.

Knock knock

“Enter” came Porta’s voice from the other side I let go of Marshal’s arm opening the door and quickly sliding my arm back through his. “Ah Zoni, it’s nice to see back, and who is this”

“This is Marshal we found him at the last stop and he has some skills that will be useful to teach to the kids” I saw Porta’s eyes wander to my hand “long story,” I said quickly, helping Marshal sit “and we have a baby” Porta’s eyes widened

“well, that sounds like quite the adventure, and the baby who is going to care for it?”

“Her, Nora. Brett has taken to her and has taken on the role of her father, I would like to change his role in the camp until the child is old enough to be around the others”

“very well, now I believe you have some business to deal with,” he said gesturing to my hand “Marshal and I will have a little chat while you sort out that hand”

*****

“well you have three broken fingers, nothing too serious though considering that you are left-handed, but I would recommend that you do take it easy, fixing broken fingers is a lot easier than fixing a whole hand,” Dr green said wrapping my hand in a hard bandage

“I’ll do my best,” I said looking out towards the door “how is Nora?” I asked. Dr. Green looked at me in confusion “the baby we brought in” I said when I noticed her face

“oh, she’s malnourished and slightly dehydrated but because of the help you guys were it's not severe enough that she needs to stay in the clinic”

“that’s good to hear”

“Zoni… it’s probably not my place, but the people are getting… well unsettled” I waited for her to say more but she seemed to be tight-lipped

“How so?” I asked after a few minutes of silence. “Dr. Green, I need to know if I am going to need to make a fix for it”

“I believe the only fix would be to find another camp, the east wall was breached three nights back, luckily no one was hurt but it’s being covered up as a maintained error, a few of us saw the Eaters scaling that fence like it was nothing.”

“How many other breaches were there?”

“Just the one since you left” I patted Dr. Green on the shoulder as I got up. Porta had some explaining to do.

PORTA POV

After the little chat with the old man, I ensured that he was taken to a room where he could properly rest. The poor man had been through so much. Of course, there was the slight issue with Zoni catching wind of the new wall breach but she could be persuaded easily, the girl was just like her father, a drone, someone I could easily push around, there was the small issue of her bulldog though. But then again he was more than willing to follow her into a fire like a lost puppy. I stood by the window watching the little children running about on the field that was specially left for them. Zoni’s idea, one that she did without consent, no matter it gave the children a feeling of freedom I suppose. The older boys were doing drills with Devin and that nice chap Granville, hmmm odd. I went back to my desk and gathered up the schedule that had been made upon the raid teams arrival, very odd, Brett was only on this twice in the week. I placed the paper back down on my desk and walked back to the window. Zoni was standing near the ladies teaching the older girl teens how to weave and make clothing. Her hand wrapped up in a cast. I needed to know the story behind that. And the one about the fact that her hair was significantly shorter. Was the girl slowing down? Was it time to find a new second in command

“Watch it moron” I looked over to see that Devin was now face to face with Granvill - Granville was a few centimeters taller than Devin, it was the first time I had actually seen the two side by side… well this looked like it was going to be interesting.

“You will get them killed teaching them that” Granville snapped back at Devin, ah, and Zoni to the rescue so I see.

ZONI’S POV

“s**t not again,” I said more to myself than Stacy, I walked over to the combat training, the two idiots were now shoving at each other

“Hey! What the f**k?” I said getting between them, “You are supposed to be teaching them not f*****g fighting with one another” I said resting my hands on their chest, my arms outstretched as I help them away from each other

“the i***t here thinks that teaching the kids to kick ass is a bad idea,” Devin said crossing his arms over his chest

“The bulldog here is teaching them to get into the damn eater's faces,” Granville said moving back from my injured hand that was straining against his chest “telling them it’s okay to get as close as you can to take them out” I turned to Devin

“What the hell has gotten into you” I shout, making everyone jump. “You know as well as I that is how you f*****g get killed or worse turned” I turned my full attention on him

“Babe, it needs to be taught, you nearly got caught because you didn’t know how to deal with one snagging your hair”

“What?” I hissed at him, “Listen here,” my voice was dripping with acid as I spoke “I had to make a quick decision based on little information of my surroundings” if I had been alone I wouldn’t have gone into the building, that is why we raid in teams. Don’t you f*****g dare make a slight flaw a teaching opportunity. You will put every one of these people in danger with that kind of thinking” I turned to the teen boys

“Go join the girls, this class is over for today, hopefully, tomorrow your teachers can be more prepared” the boys followed the instruction without hesitation  

“Babe don’t be ridiculous,” Devin said taking my hand

“Granville you can return to the jeeps,” I said pulling my hand from Devin’s, “patrol waits for you” looking back at him as I started to walk away

“Patrol?” Devin scoffed, “I can be a hell of a lot more useful”

“patrol, and that’s an order Devin,” I said walking away towards the north gate of the camp.

As I sat under my favorite tree I longed to hear the sound of the birds sing and the sound of other little animals, I was so deep in thought that I hadn’t heard someone walk up to me.

“Beautiful day, the leaves are taking color quite nicely” I opened my eyes to see Dr. Leonard standing in front of me an orange and red leaf in his hand. I half smiled at his observation

“To what do I owe the pleasure of you coming out of your lab”

“Ah well, rumor has it you got hurt and I needed to see it for myself”

“And that’s exactly that, a rumor, I punched Devin,” I said lifting my hand “it was self-inflicted” I half-laughed

“None the less, I think that boy had it coming, mind if I” he gestured at the ground next to me

“Be my guest, hell knows you could use the fresh air” I watched as the old man sat down beside me turning the leaf between his fingers we sat in silence for a while, just watching the children play a game with a ball, most normal ball games had fallen away, the kids just came up with ways to have fun.

“I saw the tension between the two boys - care to explain?’’

“It’s a long, very dull story I’m afraid” I pressed my lips together taking in a long breath “I know that nothing gets past you, what happened while we were gone?”

“a lot, my advice to you my dear, is de-thronging the king and moving this camp, it is not safe here anymore, and our Friend Porta has a lot of people believing that you are keeping secrets from us. Do watch your back, I believe that your own will be convinced to turn theirs on you if the two men keep fighting over you like they are, one could easily be manipulated.” Dr. Leonard used his cane to help himself up to his feet, “I think that is enough fresh air for today” he said with a small smile and he walked off. I watched as he walked off towards the building that held his lab. He like Marshal had weak hips, they would need help if we were to find another camp, I watched the children as they played, most of them would need breaks while walking, they would never keep up with the pace of  the adults, the same went for the two women that were pregnant. I let out a breath, the vulnerable wouldn’t make it if this wasn’t planed correctly.