【ｔｈｅ ｈｏｕｓｅ ｉｎ ｏｕｒ ｄｒｅａｍｓ．】 (twd)

The Kids

THE SUNSET WAS BEAUTIFUL. We'd been driving in the car for nearly four hours now, just as Mitch said, their camp was quite far away, and the whole time I'd been listening to him talk about his greatest walker kills. I didn't mind, I actually enjoyed listening to him talk. He was easily likable, with his curly brown hair and his soft eyes, glowing like pools of warm honey in the sun. And his soothing voice almost lulled me to sleep, but I pinched myself awake, not wanting to seem rude. Pierre sat silently in the front seat, one arm hanging out of the window, and the other gripping the steering wheel loosely, as he let the grey sedan cruise through abandoned freeways and deserted roads. Katherine was leaning against the passenger window, her head resting on the hoodie Mitch had given her. I watched her shoulders rise up and down steadily, and her hair dance with every gust of wind, gently. Poor girl, this was probably the best sleep she had gotten in weeks.

I turned back to my window, gazing at the setting sun paint the sky all shades of pink and red, hues I'd never imagine clinging to thick fluffy clouds, perfectly blending together to create a masterpiece of colour, simply mesmerized by its beauty. The world had ended, humanity was on the brink of extinction, deformed abominations of nature ruled the planet, yet God still had the grace to allow us a glimpse of what heaven looks like, in the midst of this hell on Earth. Watching the sun dip below the horizon, sending streaks of purple and dark blue across the sky, made my heart twinge sadly, as if I was saying farewell to a loved one. I had done too much of that already, and unlike the sun, which would rise again the next morning, my family were not coming back. They were gone, forever in the abyss. And I never got to say goodbye. Because I ran. Because I'm a coward. I gripped the door handle tightly, guilt pulling my heart to my stomach as I blinked back sombre tears.

"Home sweet home..." Mitch sighed with relief, as a large brick building came into view, littered with windows, surrounded by a black steel fence. It looked almost like some kind of a prestigious private school. I looked over at Mitch, who's smile faded like ash as soon as he saw my face. "Whoa...everything okay?"

"I'm fine." I smiled, reassuringly as we pulled up to the gate. I watched them open slowly, and we drove inside, closer to the building but still in the outside perimeter.

"Well, Roach." Mitch smiled back at me. "Welcome to the Children's Home Society of Washington." I parted my lips as a wave of realization flooded over me. I knew what this place was, not a school but an orphanage. These children were orphans, no family to take care of them before, none to take care of them now. They were survivors.

Pierre parked the car right where the road ended and gave way to a small patch of gravel, directly in front of the building. He leaned over and gently prodded Katherine, waking her up from whatever pleasant dream I hoped she was having. She yawned and stretched, rubbing her eyes groggily, before stepping out of the car in a hurry. Pierre turned the key in the ignition and the car engine rumbled to a halt, before he too stepped out of the car, quickly followed by Mitch. I stayed for a few moments, gazing out the window, watching two figures approach. They embraced Katherine, tenderly, exchanging muffled words and someone made a joke and they all laughed. I smiled, watching them. I was wrong, they had a family. This was their family. Mitch tapped on the glass on the other side, startling me. Taking the hint, I opened the door and stepped outside, turning to the new faces.

"Hello." One of them held out his hand for me to shake. "My name is Mahlik." He said, in an assertive but friendly tone, his dark brown eyes watching me intently. I knew that look, it said if you do anything to hurt my family, I'll kill you. I took his hand and shook it, flashing him an unassuming smile.

"Roach." I introduced myself, ignoring Pierre sniggering behind Mahlik.

"Nice to meet you, this is Reiji..." Mahlik gestured to the other new boy, who nodded in return, before turning back to me. "Mitch tells me you saved their lives?"