The thought of finding herself a new life was good news. Particularly good news, considering how she wouldn’t have to worry anymore. Isabel thought that everything she did was wrong, but now, the solution came to her as if someone had lit a lightning bulb in her head. She felt fresh, with innovative ideas, new ambitions, and a new way to view the world. In a way, the girl thought that she wasn’t completely responsible for her own decisions, as she needed someone to come over to gain a new form of self-esteem. 

Lazarus came and proposed to them a place to live, protection for her and her sister. They would learn how to wield weapons, how to shoot, and most of all, how to protect themselves properly if ever something bad happened. That’s all the sisters knew about that “Survival Camp.” Whatever its true name was, they didn’t know whether they’d end up leaving that place or not, if there was a school there, and how long they would last. Impulsively, the eldest thought that it would be the best choice for both. Was it? She wouldn’t know until something bad happened. But for now, everything looked to be great. 

The teenager checked 0ut the letter afterwards, wondering if she’d get a comeback. Unfortunately, the only message she saw was Thank you for using the AirFly Mail, we hope you are satisfied with our service. No news from Lazarus neither from his camp. Yet when she looked deeper through it, she saw a small message indicating the time, reminding them to bring everything they needed, and that personal items were tolerated. Lucia chose to bring her childhood teddy bear, Snuggles-what an original name, by the way- as Isabel brought the necklace her parents gave her. 

She’d see her father again. She was certain. He couldn’t be gone. Rafael Fletcher was a man with a strong physique and a strong mindset. He certainly wasn’t the one to fall apart first, as he’d always put others before him. Their mom was dead, since she killed her, that’s for sure, but the only member from her family that she thought was left was her father. What about her cousins, her aunts, her uncles, and her grandparents? Jokes aside, the girl always preferred her small family of four. It wasn’t that she didn’t like the others-she simply was more attached to the ones that brought her to life along with the only sibling she had. 

The small message in the letter mentioned that the car would come to the house at ten, and that they would need to arrive ten minutes early, just in case. Additional information about the traffic was written in the letter, live during the problem. At nine thirty, Lucia was playing Just Dance in her room, glancing at the window from time to time, as if she feared a zombie from coming. Isabel knocked. Her heart ached at the thought that Lucia didn’t agree with this, and that she had to pretend it didn’t bother her. 

“May I come in?” The girl questioned hesitantly, leaning against the door. 

She could hear a sigh, then the sound of her sister’s PlayStation closing. Hurried footsteps were heard as the door opened, showing Lucia, wearing a sweaty oversized shirt with leggings, her black hair untied as she was panting heavily. 

“What do you want?” 

“I just want to talk to you.” Isabel shrugged, “I hope I’m not bothering you?” 

“Well, yeah, you are.” Her sister retorted, rolling her eyes. Isabel could see that she was still angry about her decision, but that she was trying to get over it. Lucia thought that she fooled her sister with her act, and it was the other way around, which was activating her pride. “I was playing Just Dance.” 

“Mh-hm. Obviously. Senorita, really? You know that’s a two-player dance, why didn’t you just invite me over?” The eldest replied as she sat next to her sister on the bed. 

“You’re an awful dancer. Plus, the wall looks prettier than you.” She teased. 

Isabel sighed, searching through Lucia’s eyes. Although she knew she was being teased, she knew that secretly, her sister didn’t want to talk to her. At all. She was playing with the words and acting mad, but truly, she only wanted to be alone. Isabel wouldn’t blame her for it-she understood how she felt. 

“Right. It’s going to be the time to prepare, Lu.” Isabel spoke, her black eyes meeting Lucia’s blue glare. “Lazarus’ men will be here in about.... Ten minutes.” 

“Good to know. I already packed my stuff anyways if that’s what you want to know. I brushed my teeth, my hair, and I wore my best smile. How about you?” 

“Lucia!” The teenager gasped, slamming her hands on her mouth, “Are you really going to wear this sweaty shirt to camp? Everyone’s going to look at you because you’re going to be all smelly!” 

“Come on, Isa!” The girl groaned as she shook her head, leaning it back, “Nobody’s going to care, they’re not going to think I played Just Dance, they’re going to think I’m a fighter and that I defeated a few zombies! You should consider yourself lucky to have a smelly sister...” 

“Yuck. I hate you.” 

“No, I hate you more.” 

*** 

The doorbell rang. In front of the house, two men with black sunglasses stood in front of them, holding submachine guns as they kept a poker face. They did their job, and it was all that mattered. They did what the boss told them to. Take the girls, fight any visible zombies, shoot them, then leave. Isabel and Lucia Fletcher. Two girls from Massachusetts, with Italian-like appearances from their mother. The oldest was sixteen, and the youngest, fourteen. The men didn’t know how he got that information, but, as always, they didn’t question it. Hurriedly, foosteps rushed closer. The men heard whispers, then a girl with black eyes with deep brown hair opened the door, a girl with blue eyes and deep brown hair following her. 

“Uh, hello. You are with Lazarus, right?” 

“We are.” The tallest man agreed, showing his badge, “You girls must be Isabel and Lucia. Who’s who?” 

“I’m Isabel Fletcher.” The brown eyed girl said, tilting her head back to gesture to her sister, “And she’s Lucia, Lucia Fletcher. And we’re sisters.” 

“Cards?” The shortest one inquired as he raised a brow. 

The sisters seemed to freak out. Their eyes widened as they looked at each other, puzzled. The men simply stood there as they watched them silently, impatient. A few seconds later, Isabel came back with her driver’s license and Lucia’s hospital card. 

“Uh, is this working?” She asked nervously, her voice shaking as she handed them over. 

The tallest took them, his fingers brushing against Isabel’s. The youngest sister, Lucia, stood behind, her arms wrapped around her sixteen-year-old sister, as if she was afraid of saying something. Her eyes were closed, her lips parted as she tried to catch her breath.  

“Yes, that’s working. You girls can go to the car and settle by the backseat if you take your luggage behind with you. Have a good ride!”  

Isabel and Lucia stepped outside with their luggage, shutting the door behind them as they locked it. Their gaze was stuck to the house for a few seconds, a look of melancholy and sadness. It was the last time they would see their childhood house in their entire life. Well, that’s what it looked like. After a while, Isabel nodded, holding Lucia’s hand, before she stepped to the car. 

Both sat and closed the door behind them, taking deep breaths as the car started to drive off, away from their home that they always knew. The eldest grazed her fingers along the window, her eyes shining as she whispered to herself quietly, holding something in her hand, something that looked like a necklace. 

“We’re leaving to come back to you, mom and dad, don't worry.”  

The rest was muffled by the car’s engine sound, along with Taylor Swift’s voice on the radio, screaming on the top of her lungs the song Cruel Summer. Not wanting to make this awkward with all this yelling, the men decided to put Coldplay for a relaxing ambiance. 

*** 

Isabel couldn’t sleep on her trip. Most of all, because it was only one hour long, and second of all, because her thoughts kept on wandering. Why were those men so formal? Why did they ask for their cards? Why did it look so secretive? Instead of going by the usual road, they passed by the campaign, visibly not wanting to attract zombies. They sometimes kept the windows opened as there were guards in the car shooting them easily, in one shot. Not like Isabel, when it took her five shots to start hurting the creature. 

Lucia, though, ended up falling asleep. She leaned her head on her sister’s shoulder, and she snored quietly, all peaceful. From time to time, a distracted hand would run through her hair, worried. It was Isabel’s, of course. Yet the girl still didn’t wake up as she slept. The teenager didn’t know why she was so stressed out, but she didn’t know what she’d do without Lucia either. 

Her headphones plugged in her ear; Isabel decided to listen to her own music. The men had a weird musical choice, and remaining in silence was simply awkward with the music, considering that they wouldn’t dare pronounce a single word. The men, of course. Lucia tried to speak once, but it grew weird, and nobody spoke ever again. 

Normally, it would be one hour and a half for the ride, but they took two hours. They wanted to be more cautious. To make sure they weren’t followed, and that everyone was safe. When there was about fourty five minutes left to the trip, Lucia woke up, and so Isabel questioned the men: 

“How is it, there, at the camp?” 

They hesitated. They knew that whatever they’d say, they’d end up having even more questions to answer, and they didn’t have the answer to every single one of them. And so, they replied simply, with the only thought that crossed their minds: 

“It’s cool. But you’ll figure it out by yourself.”  

“What does it look like? It’s a pretty place, in New Hampshire, and I’ve heard that there are a lot of trees there. I bet it was related to the fact that the goal is to be secret, am I right? The trees are probably covering the whole building.” She said, speaking to herself as she swung her legs back and forth nonchalantly. 

“Yes, indeed. It is a pretty place, but it isn’t like a summer camp that you’re used to go...” The shortest man responded, “I don’t know how to get you a reference, but it’s more of a mafia place than a small canoe club? Y’get what I mean? Anyway, the best way for you to see what it looks like is to see by yourself.” 

“Landon...” The tallest warned, “You could try to be less general with your information, those kids don't have a clue what you’re yapping about. They’re not adults like us, they can’t have every single reference all around the world!” 

“Hey!” Isabel complained, but neither of them seemed to hear her neither care. And Lucia didn’t flinch, as she had her head on her shoulder, snoring softly. 

“Logan, you can’t always know what they know! Tell us, kids, what did Mr. Lazarus tell you girls? Did he only tell you it was all about a survival camp where you pretty much train children to fight against zombies? Or did he mention something else with that? Don’t tell me you made the decision to come over with only that as an information.” The shortest warned as he glanced at Isabel from the mirror. 

“Listen here Sir, it’s not like we had that much of a choice. I’m the oldest and I’m trying to make the best decision, and it’s not easy I decided to take that decision, and it belongs to me, but now there’s no going back. I’m not immature, I’m not the type of person to act without thinking. I took some time to think. So, tell me something I don’t know.” 

Logan remained silent. Either way, he thought about what to respond. Yet he decided to remain silent, ignoring the girl completely. Instead, he increased the volume of the music and glanced outside, the wheel moving between his hands. Isabel was offended. Landon then spoke, sighing as he noticed how stubborn his comrade was being. 

“There’s Wi-Fi here. You’re separated into different genders if you’re in the training camp, but if not, you have your whole life in those small cabins if you prefer to play coward and to have a family. What do you girls think you’re going to do here?” 

“Personally, I’m definitely heading for the training camp, but I don't know about Lucia.” She admitted, looking at her sister’s sleeping face on her shoulder, “I’m sure she’d like to fight because she’s strong, but I believe that she should take it slow. She’s only fourteen.” 

“You’re a brave kid.” Landon nodded, his expression softening, “Your sister is too. I understand why Laz chose you girls. I don’t know how he knew about your existence, though.” The man mentioned. 

“Landon...” Logan snapped back, gritting his teeth, “We don’t question Boss’s orders, neither the why, the who or the how, got it?” 

“Oh, sure. I was only thinking about it, there’s a contrast. Anyways, Isabel, you should wake up Lucia because we’re going to be here soon.” 

Isabel shrugged, trying to find a way to make her sister flinch by the simple lifting of her shoulders. No reaction. And so, she cupped her chin and poked her nose, whispering softly in her ear reassuringly. She didn’t want to make her wake up as a startle, so she tried to be gentle with her. Lucia didn’t agree with it, so she didn’t want to make it worse. 

“Lu-Lu...We’re there. Please wake up, open your eyes, and don’t be lazy, pretty please...” 

The eldest thought that Lucia was going to grumble about something sheepishly and bury her head in her shoulder, but, to her surprise, her eyes shot open, and she pulled away from her sister’s shoulder, her eyes widening. The girl rubbed her eyes, a smile forming on her lips as she gasped. 

“Isabel, look at that landscape.” 

“Yes, I know, we’re in New Hampshire.” Isabel laughed, certain that was what Lucia mentioned. 

“No, look at this!” 

Following her gaze, Isabel’s jaw dropped when she noticed a huge green mountain, covered with pines and firs.  It was all green, covered in mush. The sun was shining at its brightest behind all that beauty, and it looked like paradise. It was a gorgeous sight for the eyes, really. Isabel devoured every moment of it, wanting to print that image in her memory. 

“Welcome home!” Landon said as he gestured around. 

Normally, Isabel would be saying that this wasn’t their real house, but she felt like she had her place there. Her eyes shining with anticipation and excitement, she opened the door and took Lucia’s hand, following Landon and Logan to wherever they were leading them to. They weren’t scared because all of this was marvelous.