Forgetting the Apocalypse

59. Safe Zone?

Kailee's Pov*

When I saw them get surrounded by the soldiers I felt like a failure. I didn't have the strength to help. I just sat there in the ditch, frozen. Feeling Jack's muscles tense up, I was worried that I'd have to hold him back from running after Mara. Thankfully he didn't move, he was just ready to pounce.

Looking back towards my family, I saw the soldiers try to invite them inside. I wanted to scoff. There was no way they'd get them inside. I was in the midst of trying to hold in my laugh when Jack turned around and started growling. Right away I went for my pistol at my hip but loud voice made me freeze again.

"Don't even think about it!" he shouted.

He actually shouted. There was no whispering. It actually hurt my ears a little. I wanted to smack this idiot upside the head for speaking at full volume.

"We don't want to hurt you but you pull that gun and I'll have to subdue you. I don't want to hurt your dog either, so calm him down now."

His voice was a little lower now but still not whispering. I heard Mara call out to me, telling me not to fight. So slowly, I raised my hand after petting Jack in hopes that he'd calm down a bit. Keeping my movements slow, I rose and turned to the soldier behind me. He had the same type of automatic rifle as the ones by Mara and the boys but he was no longer pointin it at me. In fact, they had lowered their weapons.

The boys and their dogs had aleady gone inside but Mara was still outside waiting for me. She wasn't budging an inch until I was right next to her. Her arm isntantly went around my shoulders. She didn't bother taking Jack's leash from me so I knew she was still on edge. I mean she's always vigilant but this something different.

There was a look in her eyes that I couldn't really place. I thought I've seen all sides to her eyes. She gets this hyper focus, exactly the way a predator would when she goes out hunting for our first meal. When she's taking out the dead, she has this dark look to her that makes her look like a gladiator or amazon. She also has this other type of focus. Not exactly the same as when she's hunting but the type of focus I remember my mother having whenever she would do her crossword puzzles. That was the look she had when we would search a place for whatever we needed.

There was another look she had. One that was almost carefree and hopeful but that was not the one she had on. This look in her eyes, I've never seen before and I didn't like it. I had heard bits and pieces about what had happened to her the few times she's met other survivors. A bunch of freaks. Either cannibals or cultists types that hated men. There wasn't much talk but I've seen the scars on her body.

I've seen the way she sometimes tenses up whenever Roone accidently catches her by surprise by touching her hand or her shoulder. The look in her eyes I'm seeing right now looks nothing like the survivor I've come to know. The arm she had around me felt coiled, like she was ready to take a swing at anyone who gave her a reason.

"...this is one of the larger safe zones that we have here in Alaska. Anchorage is the largest one, they managed to get a radio tower up and running so we all have been able to remain in communication..."

I drifted out of that conversation when I heard the words safe zone. If you would have told me about a year ago that I would be hesistant to be joining a safe zone community I would have told you that you were high or off your rocker. But that was then. That was before I realized just how weak they could make you. My brother and I were woefully unprepared to survive outside the fences. Maybe if we were out from the start like Mara and the boys were then just maybe my brother would still be alive.

We were led inside and saw that they had another small group of survivors that were sitting by a table. One of them was cleaning up what looked to be pieces of glass off from the floor. There were three of them. Two adults and a kid, probably early teens, maybe even preteens. A family.

"Right this way, ladies.." the one who picked me up from the ditch instructed.

He led us into another room that looked to be a former office. Fredi, Riva and Roone were all waiting there along with their dogs. They were all placing their weapons onto the table. It looked like they were planning on being completely honest because they were getting the ones that were hidden in the doggy vests.

A tall soldier ushered us foward and to the table, "We're not taking any of your weapons away, we just want to know what each of you have. Think of it as a sort of inventory. As soon as we finish logging them then you can have them right back alright."

That took us all by surprise. Usually, they take them all. Only time we get them back is if we were placed in some sort of guard duty or going out for runs. When I was in the safe zone where my parents took us, we had contact with two others by letters and each one, including ours all kept the guns that they had taken from the people within. It made me scoff. No wonder when shit had inevitably hit the fan everyone was scrambling to try and fight back when they didn't have anything to protect themselves with.

I think we all let out a breath when they let us put our things away after they were done jotting it all down. They even brought out treats for our dogs. Real treats. They tried to offer up some real dog food but we obviously had to decline after the chemical warfare that declared when we were in white pass.

Once we put all of our things away we were led back into the main room where the other family was, only this time the man or father wasn't with them. I think they sensed our unasked question because they immediately started explaining themselves.

"It's nothing to be concerned with. As I've just finished explaining to his family, he's been taken back to one of the other rooms for his interview."

"An interview? For what?" I finally spoke.

"Well we have four safe zones here in Alaska and while they are not at full capacity we like to place everyone in the best place that they can be. Best way to see where survivors would fit best is through interviews. Once we find your best fit, one of four armed groups will take you to your designated safe zone," he leaned against the table placing his hands on his knees.

As comforting as getting our weapons back was we all became guarded at his statement. I mean all of it was logical but what if we got separated?

"Mara Soles?" someone called out.

The man who called out Mara's name didn't look like a soldier. He looked more like a teacher or guidance counselor. "Mara," he called her name again, this time she had no choice but to turn around to him, "Miss Soles if you may follow me so we can get started on your interview. You're more than welcome to bring your little friend with you."

She still had that same look in her eye when she looked back over at us before the door shut.