Jack & Erica

 

The motion detectors we'd set had gone off and we'd hurried back as quick as we could. We walked carefully but swiftly through our small village, guns loaded, until I heard noises coming from one of the houses. "I think we found our culprits," I said, nodding at the house.

"Sounds like they needed to make a pit stop...that or they've decided to play house."

"Who knows, but let's keep our guard off. Could be anyone," I said as we moved closer to the house.

We made our way into the house, being as cautious as possible.

A man came down the stairs and I pointed my gun at him, the others doing the same. "Drop your weapon and keep your hands where I can see them. Who are you and why are you here?"

"You don't know who I am?" I asked, puzzled "Alright, listen. I don't want any trouble. I lower mine if you lower yours." I said, I couldn't get a decent look at them.

"You came into our home, we have a right to protect ourselves. You lower yours and we'll talk." I took a couple steps towards him, keeping my gun trained on him, and stopped dead in my tracks when I got a good look at him. "Wait... you look familiar. What's your name?"

"Jason...Jason Campbell. I didn't know anyone else lived here I would have kept moving." I said as I lowered my weapon to the ground.

"Jason... Jason Campbell? Are you shitting me? Man it's me, Jackson Oliver, though they call me just plain Jack these days. Fuck I haven't seen you since we were kids," I said, lowering my weapon too.

I came closer "Holy shit!" I smiled "I've always wondered what happened to you." I yelled up the stairs "Faye! It's alright, come one down." I said "Sorry about intruding, didn't know it was occupied."

"This one's not, a few of the surrounding ones are. Dad got me and a few of us out and we found this place. He died a few years back though. Anyway, these are my right hand men, Brett and Lincoln," I said, then introduced the rest. "This, guys, is my best friend from when I was like ten. And that, I assume, is Faye?" I asked him as a woman came down the stairs.



I moved to stand slightly behind Jason as I came down.

I nodded "Nice too meet you guys and yes this is my girlfriend Faye." I offered her my hand and she took it "It's okay, they aren't going to hurt us."

"Nice to meet you Faye."



"It's nice to meet you too. So you all live out here?"



"Sure do, have for quite awhile. We make do pretty well out here."

"We were hoping to build ourselves another life out here, things in Kampfer have gotten a lot worse."


"Living out here isn't always the most easy but it's a hell of a lot better than that place. I haven't been hungry in years." Furious came through behind me and started to growl "Don't mind her, she's harmless for the most part.

I smiled. "I love animals, I've always been good with them," I said and knelt down very slowly, putting my hand out to see if he would come to me.



"Come over to the mess hall with us and eat, you can tell me all about what the hell made you leave."

Furious ran over to her "See? Harmless, that and he's probably happy to see a female around her."


"Sure, sounds great." I said as we followed them over.

I went through the house, being sure to stay quiet, and smiled when I saw Erica putting things away. I knocked quietly on the door and smiled at her when she turned around. "Selma let me in, I hope that's okay. I wanted to check on you, see how you're doing."

"It's fine, thank you for checking on me." I smiled back at him lightly.

"Of course. So... how are you doing? Is there anything I can help with?"

"I just can't wait to actually do laundry and bathe." I said "I'm doing alright, I guess. Just still worried about Raine, my boys, and everyone else."

I nodded. "Understandable. Everyone will be okay eventually. And anything I can do to help... please let me know. Are you hungry? Or did you want to get a shower first? I can show you where the shower house is, get you what you need, and I can take care of your laundry while you're doing that. Unless that would make you uncomfortable?"

"Do you always offer to wash ladies underwear?" I teased him, grinning "Why are you being so nice to me , Jack?"

I chuckled. "I just didn't figure you'd feel like working after that long trip, but figured you'd feel better in clean clothes. And why shouldn't I be nice to you? You're an amazing woman Erica." Not to mention drop dead gorgeous, I thought to myself.