“Look, what I said about me getting stuff for my group was true, but I was looking for people. I’m part of a gang that took up residence at Charles Pinckney, and we want to help as many people as possible under our care. There’s another gang out looking for people, fucking Liebers, and what they’re doing to some of their members is like what your friend screamed at me when I showed up. No stone is gonna be left un-fucking-turned, so I suggest that you come with me before someone comes for you. I understand that you all have been independent for years, but I can get you shelter, medical support, food, and a community that won’t let people like Jan?” he paused, almost like he was worried that he had gotten her name wrong, “ Jan, right? Anyway, they aren’t welcome to be so openly hateful. We have ways for dealing with that.” Neo laughed softly and darkly at his joke. I looked at Emery again. We needed more support, Jack was getting sicker, Joey was going to need a lot of help, all of the group needed more supplies for things than we could give them, Roy needed some space where he could have alone time and not be forced to hang out with people, the twins needed somewhere where they could safely work their issues with each other out and not cause harm to anyone else, Bob and Jay needed a break from people like Jan, and Emery has always wanted to be part of a cause. From the day I met her, it was clear that Emery wanted to save as many people as she could, even if it meant that she couldn’t save herself. Emery wanted to be on the front lines of a war, she wanted to be in the field and treating people as they fell. One late night at a sleepover, Emery told me that she wanted to go into the military. She wanted to be strong and protect those who couldn’t protect themselves. She wanted to prove to her parents that she could stand tall and proud while doing what she loved. They always wanted her to live a low profile and safe life, but even they couldn’t stop Emery from reaching her goals, only the apocalypse could do that. Emery looked back at me and whispered so quietly that I almost didn’t hear her.

“Can I talk to you without Neo?” I nodded and we walked a bit aways from him. My hands were shaking and I could feel my heart beat so hard that I thought my chest was going to split open. Emery looked back up at me again. I was almost a foot taller than her, but I felt so small in that moment. “Why did you do that to Jan? I told you that we weren’t going to do that?” I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose.

“That’s what this is about?” I inquired despite knowing that it was most likely to be this. I didn’t want to have this conversation, but I dug my grave and now it was time to lie in it.

“Yes, Ollie, this is about Jan! I mean, that was barbaric! You treated her like she was subhuman! I can’t believe I heard those words come out of your mouth. And don’t even get me started on Rosie, you just let her go off like that! What if she didn’t stop? What if she had killed Jan right then and there? That would have been on you, Ollie. You’re supposed to keep peace and make sure that everyone gets out of this in one piece, how can I trust you if you’re just going to rip us to pieces once we say something that you don’t agree with?”

“Em, did you hear what she was calling Bob and Jay? Did you hear what she called you? What she called me? I had to defend myself, and I made it clear that if she didn’t shape up that consequences were going to be given. It’s my job to make sure that everyone is safe, and she was hurting people!”

“You’re hurting people!”

“Don’t you think I know that? I’m shit at this, and I fuck up everything. But I wasn’t going to let Bob and Jay be harassed anymore, I wasn’t going to let her talk about you like that. The entire raid was my fault, and believe me, Jan made sure that I knew that.” I didn’t even know that I had started crying until I felt the tears hit my lips. Emery’s face softened once she realized what was happening. Her hand reached out for me, but I backed away. I couldn’t look at her anymore. The heat in my cheeks had gotten unbearably hot. “I told Jan that we wouldn’t leave her for dead. That we would gather things for her to take and send her off in the right direction. Now, it seems that we could ask Neo to take her in and then she’ll be safe with the gang. I know that they might be a little cruel to her, but I’m sure that she’ll be more willing to hold her tongue after today. I don’t know if we should go or not, but I know that you want to. It’s the closest to the army that you could get. With your skills, you could probably be the new Neo.” My body started to cave in on itself, and my rear end hit the ground with a pathetic thud. My watch scraped against my face as I tried to rub the tears away. Emery crouched down next to me. Her hand took a hold of mine and lifted my hand away. I looked up at her and she had a shocked look on her face.

“You think that we should go?”

“I know that you should go, I don’t know if the others would be willing to,”

“Ollie, I’m not gonna leave you. You know that, right?” I shook my head and closed my eyes again. Emery’s glare was all that I could see, I had never seen her that angry at me before. It felt like the only person that had my back drove a knife through it. My nails dug into my forearms as I tried to push the image away. Emery was more rough with moving my hands this time. She grabbed them and held them tight in hers.

“Ollie, the raid was not your fault. Jan was wrong to say that, and I actually didn’t hear what she said. I only heard you and saw you let Rosie go off. If you think that everyone would be better off at Charles Pickney, I want to support your decision, but I’m not going without you. You’ve been stuck with me since second grade and you can’t get rid of me that easily.” She smiled at me and I felt myself smile back. I didn’t even mean to. It was just the first instinct to smile at Emery, like it has been hardwired into my brain. Emery let go of my hands and tried to smooth out the indents on my forearms. She looked at me again and I nodded. We stood up and broke apart. I sniffed and started walking towards Neo, he jogged towards us hesitantly.

“So, do I hear a yes?”

“You do, but Jan needs a home too. I know that you have a way with the homophobic, but she’s still a person. A person that does know of some medical things and could be of use. She can move equipment and supplies around just fine.” Emery shuffled and crossed her arms before continuing. “I also need to make sure that you have the means to help Jack, the baby. He’s been sick for a while. He spends all night coughing, the cold air is just torture for him. He’s not eating enough, and there isn’t much around for the littles anymore.” Neo nodded.

“Don’t worry, our camp has been up and running for a little over a year, multiple people have had children and we have lots of stuff going on to make sure that they’re safe. There’s a whole section of our medical ward dedicated to people going into labor.” Emery smiled.

“What about people who need tes-” I elbowed her in the rib and Neo made an ‘o’ shape with his mouth.

“Don’t worry, Boss, I got you.” Neo winked at her and I felt my hands start to get sweaty. I don’t think that he got her, and I didn’t want him to. I stepped forward and wedged myself between Emery and Neo.

“Would you be able to take in and transport all of us? We’re a decent sized crew, and you came here by foot. Isn’t Pinckney miles and miles away?”

“Don’t worry, Chief, I have a pickup truck parked where you guys were trying to raid. I just knew that if a car started chasing all of you that I probably would have been shot by the boss over here.” Neo stuck his thumb out at Emery and she chuckled. “Let’s pack up shop and get the group over to my truck. I really want to leave before it gets too dark, I have shitty night vision, and I don’t want anyone else driving.” Emery and I both nodded and the three of us walked back towards the tent. Roy was sitting next to a snoozing Joey, the twins were playing a game with Jack in the corner while Rosie was talking to Bob and Jay. They all were shooting eye daggers towards Jan as she was checking through her bag to make sure that she had everything packed. Emery cleared her throat and the room turned towards her.

“Oliver and I talked with Neo and we all came to the conclusion that we need more help than we’re currently getting. What happened at the raid was no one’s fault, but we want to make sure that another accident doesn’t happen. Neo offered us a place to stay with his group at the Charles Pinckney plantation. Oliver and I decided that it would be best if we joined them. They have food, shelter, medical supplies, and room for us to be safe. I know that the area is fenced in, and a year and a half in the place must be pretty good at keeping people safe. If we’re going, we have to go now. “ Emery turned towards me and I started to speak.

“We have to pack everything and get to Neo’s truck before it gets too dark. He doesn’t want to drive in the dark and I’m afraid that he won’t wait around for us to come to our senses.” Everyone looked at each other, we’ve been so close over these two years, relying on each other more than we have on anyone else, this change was drastic, there was very little possibility that we would be able to go back if everything went to shit. Jay stood up.

“I think that we should listen to Emery and Oliver. They’ve kept us alive this long, maybe this is just how they plan to keep us alive even after they can’t support a large group.” Jay and I looked at each other. We smiled and Jay started to pack stuff up. Margaret snatched up Jack and ran over to Rosie. Jerry and Bob started taking down the tent, and Roy stayed with Joey, trying to wake him up without actually touching him. Jan stood up, clutching her bag with white knuckles, and walked towards Emery and me.

“Where am I being sent off to?” Jan stared at my shoes, her eyes darted around like she was counting the various splatters staining them.

“You are welcome to join the gang, they are looking for anyone and everyone. I would keep your thoughts about religion, sexuality, gender, and race to yourself. It’s a pretty mish-mashed group of people who don’t put up with any shit.” Jan looked up at Neo and pressed her lips together, she bobbed her head. Jan slipped the bag strap over her head and started packing up everything else. Emery and I went to the medical table to pack up and Neo started to help Jerry and Bob take down the tent. The trip to the truck was going to be a dangerous one, but I knew that we’d all make it together.