Blood is pounding in my ears as I grip the machete tighter. The entire group falls silent as the sound of feet in the sand grows nearer. The footsteps aren’t irregular like a zombie’s would be, it sounds like a living person. I started creeping towards the opening of the tent when the footsteps stopped. Joey lets out a small gasp as Emery presses down harder on his wound, and the footsteps start up again, faster and with more desperation. Jerry grabbed his knife and we both rushed out of the tent, blades brandished and gleaming in the pale light. The footsteps belonged to a man decked out in tattoos and carrying a black side bag; it was almost overflowing with the materials stuffed inside.

“What do you want?” Jerry screamed, his throat seemed raw and there were tears in his eyes. I guessed that Margaret’s close encounter really rattled him. The man put his right hand up and used the left to take down a grey face mask.

“I mean you no harm. I was in the town getting supplies for my people when I saw your group rush a hurt man out. I followed the blood drops on the ground. I believe that I can help if he is not too far gone.” There was no hint of insincerity in his voice, but Jerry wasn’t having it.

“You fucko! You followed us here? You stalked a group of kids and want to be let into their camp? You a fucking pedophile that just wants to kill and rape everyone?” I grabbed Jerry back and shoved him towards the tent.

“Dude! Fucking calm down. This guy seems like he actually wants to help and we need it. We didn’t bring shit back because we were preoccupied. Joey will be brought out to him, and the guy won’t go near Margaret, ok? Take a fucking chill pill.” I shoved him back again. My firm tone and gritted teeth apparently expressed the point to Jerry enough that he finally backed down. Jerry went back inside the tent, and I could hear people moving things around. I could hear Joey cry out from being moved, and Emery smacking someone on the arm for being too rough. “I do apologize on behalf of my companions. It’s been a rough day and most of the people that we’ve met have tried to kill us.” The man laughed and put his hands down.

“I get that. I could say the same thing, Kid. Who’s in charge of all of you?” I smirked.

“You’re talking to the boss man himself. I know that I’m a bit young, but I’ve been taking care of these guys for around a year and a half. I am afraid that this might be our first death.” My voice cracked on the word death, but I hoped that the wind covered that up. The man walked towards me, his tattoos were incredibly detailed, and there was sympathy in his eyes. He really just wanted to help, or he was a fantastic liar.

“I’ll do my best, Chief. I do respect you, two years and no one has die- Whose fucking baby is that?” The man locked eyes with someone behind me. Joey was brought out by Emery and Jerry. Rosie and Jack were following closely behind and the rest of the group followed suit.

“Uhh, mine? Now you said that you could help?” Rosie stared back at the man warily. They almost seemed to know each other, but the context of this situation was too strange for either party to be present. The man cleared his throat and dropped down next to where Emery and Jerry set Joey down. The cut was deep and still sending out new, crimson blood all over his chest. The man gingerly lifted the hacked up arm from Joey’s torso, and I could almost hear Joey’s teeth grit together.

“Hello, my name is Neo, and I think that we can fix this up for you. You have to listen to what I say, I’m not gonna hurt you, I just might have to make your arm feel a little uncomfortable while I’m working on it, ok?” Joey nodded grimly. Neo gestured for someone to take the gashed arm, and Emery grabbed a hold of the hand. Joey gave her a squeeze, and Emery reciprocated whilst Neo rummaged through his bag. He produced antiseptic wipes, a surgical needle, thread, and wrapping. I could hear Jan behind me sigh in relief at the sight of everything; in my peripheral vision, I saw Bob wipe a tear from his eye. Emery helped brace the arm for Neo as he started to wipe down Joey’s arm when I felt a hand clasped my shoulder. My head whipped around, and Roy was standing behind me.

“Is he gonna be ok?” Roy’s voice was warbly and hushed in tone. The rims of his eyes were red, and the hand on my shoulder was clammy and shaky. I put my hand over his and nodded. Roy let out a shuddering sigh and went to go around for a better view. I could see Margaret talking to Jerry and Rosie as Roy went to join them. Roy glared at Margaret and turned to watch Neo start stitching Joey up. I turned back to Neo and Joey. Emery was whispering to Joey, trying to distract him from the needle going in and out of his skin. Her thin fingers brushed back some of his sweaty hair out of his eyes, and they both laughed a little at something she said. My cheeks started to burn, and I looked away again. Jan was saying something to Jay and Bob, the blood vessel on Bob’s forehead looked like it was about to burst. My feet started moving before my brain could process what my intentions of going over there would be.

“-and if you think that just because you helped me out of the sinking car means that you two don’t deserve to be shocked then oh do I have news for you!” Her words were whispered but no less scathing. Jay was holding onto Bob’s hand tight, trying to keep him from retaliating. “You two should have been the ones to go instead of Margaret and Joey. If either of you died, it wouldn’t matter. It’s your fault that a nice, young man is having to get his arm stitched up by complete-” I put both of my hands on Jan’s shoulders. I could feel her stiffen up as she realized that I was behind her.

“Jan, what are you doing?” She turned around, and I could see her face start to get red. Jan didn’t like me either, I was younger and more successful at getting people to listen to me.

“Why, I was just having a nice chat with Jay and Bob. We were discussing what we thought about the raid situation. I still don’t understand why you had to bring two of the weakest people in the group and Joey. We needed him here to make sure that everyone was safe while you were away. Jay and Bob even volunteered to join the next one to spare Joey of having to carry the team again.” Now it was time for my forehead to throb. Jay and Bob both looked dismayed when she called Emery and Margaret weak. Emery could break all of your bones and then fix them right up for you, and Margaret can hold her own just fine. She and Jerry spent large portions of their summers working at their father’s boxing studio. All Jan could do was give some half-cracked medical advice and complain about how upset she was about losing her car. Bob started to walk towards me when Jay held him back. Smart. I smiled at Jan and felt the poison coated words start to drip from my tongue.

“I think that you might want to rephrase your statement because I could hear what you were saying to Bob and Jay. And that was some pretty terrible things for an equalist such as yourself to be saying. I also would consider retracting your remarks about Emery and Margaret because I didn’t see you rushing over to help Joey when we brought him in. I didn’t see you knock a zombie’s head clear off of its decaying body with a well-placed kick. I didn’t see you step up and offer any help when we were setting up camp either. I told you last time that if you continued to keep on harassing other people in my group that we were gonna have a problem.” I grabbed her shoulder again and started leading her away from the group. Pure fear was all that I could see in her eyes, and it was scary how addicting that look was to see. “And now we have a motherfucking problem.” I let go of her arm and crossed mine against my chest. All of the excuses for her behavior started to come to her lips, the desperation for forgiveness was so abundant that I could feel it from two feet away. My eyes locked with her, and something clicked in her head.

“You must be one of them, right? That’s the only reason that you would defend such disgusting behavior. I knew that you were a faggot.” My stance didn't change, nothing about my outward appearance could have tipped her off to how fast my heart was beating, how the aching of my ribs grew greater, how the scars from the needle were stinging like they were fresh.

“No, Jan, I am not a homosexual. And there is nothing wrong with being one, I just do not wish to be in an intimate relationship with a man. I told you that if you harassed Bob and Jay, or anyone else for that matter, again that you would not have a place here anymore. You have proven to be of little use to the group and your presence is not wanted here.”

“You need me! Who else is going to treat people when they’re sick? Who is going to help Rosie with the baby? Who’s going to keep people in their place, Oliver? How can you, a stupid seventeen year old, possibly keep this many people alive without the help of a trained professional?”

“You aren’t trained, you flunked out of med school twenty years ago and tried to get back in by coursing the director into having sex with you, sex that he declined and got you banned from the campus by asking for might I add. And yes, you share a lot when you get a bit of alcohol in you.” By this point, Jan was bright red and the others had started to tune into our conversation. Rosie came over to me and offered Jack. I accepted the baby and took a step back. Rosie walked up to Jan and slapped her, hard.

“I’m sick and tired of your fucking bullshit. You don’t know shit about my baby, and I am terrified every time you have your hands on him. You don’t know anything about taking care of people and all you do is act like nothing is your fault. If Emery hadn’t covered your ass, Joey wouldn’t fucking be here! If Oliver hadn’t taken Joey on the raid, Margaret wouldn’t fucking be here! If Margaret hadn’t heard you screaming from the middle of the lake, you wouldn’t fucking be here, Jan! You would be trapped in your car at the bottom of a lake. Oliver has had the kindness and graciousness to let your pathetic self into the group, and all you’ve done is fuck shit up. Roy is allergic to peanuts and you just told him to ‘man up’ while you shoved a spoon of expired peanut butter in his face. He could have fucking died, Jan! You are a sad excuse of a person, and I hope that once this situation with Joey gets resolved that I can personally put you back in the lake where you belong!” Jan let out an animalistic scream and tried to slap Rosie back, but Rosie didn’t take shit from anyone anymore. Rosie grabbed Jan by the wrist and used her other hand to bend Jan’s fingers back. Pushing harder and harder until Jan begged for Rosie to stop. Rosie dropped Jan’s wrist and walked back over to Roy and the twins. Jan crumpled to the ground and started to sob. Jack started squirming in my arms. His hands smacked against my face, and his stubby little fingers almost caught hold of my glasses. I shifted him over to the other side and started to walk towards Jan. Her body was shaking and her fingers started to look swollen. I nudged her leg with the tip of my shoe.

“We’ll make you a pack with necessities and send you off in a safe direction. You won’t be left for dead, but you won’t be welcome here. Rosie is just on a trip because of Joey.” Jan nodded and squeaked out a small thank you as I walked away. Neo was almost done with Joey. Emery saw me approach and glared at me. She didn’t look at me after that. Anywhere else was better than looking at me. Joey looked up and saw Jack reaching out for him. He smiled and laughed as Jack started wiggling to get out of my arms. Joey reached out his other hand for Jack, and Neo smacked it down.

“I’m almost done, don’t make me fuck it up now.” with the last stitch put in place, Neo tied off the thread and wiped Joey’s arm down again. Neo held up a finger for Emery to continue supporting Joey as he rummaged through his back again. A sling was produced, what else was this man going to pull out of his bag? Emery helped Joey sit up as Neo started to put the sling on him. Tears were forming in his eyes as a big grin split across his face.

“Thank you, Neo. I probably would have bled out if you hadn’t come. Thank you.” Neo gave Joey a smile of his own and nodded in response. Neo turned towards me and indicated that we should have a chat away from the group. I nodded and looked at Emery. She nodded but still didn’t look at me. Jerry and Roy came over to help Joey lie down inside the tent as Emery and I walked over to talk to Neo. Jan had gone back inside the tent to gather her things.