Blood

20.

She turns to me,"Heard you need company."

"Yeah."

She places herself across me,"Well then, tell me about the Inside."

So I explain.

"Ooh." she smirks,"Is Tyler hot?"

"I guess." I say uncomfortably.

"Basically, life sucks in there."

"It doesn't suck." I protest but she gives me a blank look.

"-it's just...boring. There's no fun" I add.

She smiles,"It's a lot of fun out here. I mean it's hard and intense. But fun."

"What do you guys train for?"

"We train ourselves to be physically fit and to utilize out skills effectively under low oxygen." She explains.

"How do you guys eat the defected animal meat that is affected by the radiation?"

"The Commander found a way to cleanse the meat with special herbs. But we mostly stick to a vegan diet."Cara answers.

"But how do the animals survive?"

"Well, I'm pretty sure Cole told you how we acquire the oxygen."

I nod.

"We'll the force field has this effect on the water which makes it less harmful, but harmful enough to kill you over time. We have clean water because we boil it and use traditional methods to purify it. Unfortunately, the animals die out fast because of this." She says.

"What about radiation?"

"Over the span of around forty to fifty years, the radiation has receded. It's still there, but it's not harmful as such."

"You're a nice person you should really hang out with my friends and I more often." Cara laughs.

Maybe she wasn't a psycho after all.

"Cara, are your parents out here?"

"No. My brother and I were sent out."

"Why?"

"Theft and attacking a Guard."

Oh no.

"Did you guys come here two years ago?"

"Um...yeah, why?"

Oh, Cara. Oh no.

"Can you do me a favor and call Cole here? Tell him it's urgent." I plead.

"Sure. I mean it's Cole." She smiles and my gut twists.

She disappears and reappears.

"Cole will be here in a minute."

"Did you overhear anything?" I ask.

"Well, the Africans aren't attacking anytime soon. They've come to ask whether we will allow them to set up camp on our land when they plan to attack."

"And?"

"The Commander has agreed and Cole is furious."

My heart sinks.

They can't attack my home.

Cole appears through the flap.

"Cole!" I jump to my feet.

"They can't attack!" I say,"You have to stop them."

"Lisa..." he sounds defeated.

"No." I shout,"I can't stand here and watch them plan to attack my home! My family is in there!"

He stares at me with a pained expression.

"And they can't take the person who came before me..." I turn to Cara,"I can't let them take Cara."

"They're not going to take anyone anywhere." Cole says, crossing his arms over his chest,"And besides, Daniel is more than willing to volunteer."

I assume Daniel is Cara's brother.

"No."Cara objects,"My parents are still in there."

Cole shrugs helplessly.

"You are the Commander's second, do something!" She says.

"I'm trying."

"I'm going to speak to Dan." Cara huffs.

I watch her stomp out of the tent.

"When are they attacking?"

"Four months or so."

"Cole-"

"We have four months to formulate a plan." He says,"The Commander and the Samantha are stalling them."

I nod. I had to warn my family. I have to.

Maybe I could contact them the way Grandma contacted me.

"I'm so sorry." he apologizes.

"I shouldn't have come here." I groan,"I'm so stupid."

In two strides, he is kneeling before me.

"You haven't given this place a chance."

"I wonder why." I snort.

The chattering outside grows louder.

"They're leaving the camp. They are going for the shore."

I stiffen.

"It's okay. They want to be closer to the shore." he stands up,"I have to see them off. I'll be back."

I shrug and sit back down.

The chattering grows louder as Cole disappears and I become curious.

I walk over to the entrance of the tent and peer through the flap.

The Afrikans are a lively group. They are wearing colorful clothes and fancy clothes and jewelry. Most of them wear capes made of animal hides.

They march in groups behind their leader. The group is gone after a few minutes.

"What are you doing?" A familiar voice rings.

I leap back into the tent.

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A/N: Motivate me to continue updating by VOTING, COMMENTING AND SHARING.