{"id":239,"date":"2013-07-21T16:20:39","date_gmt":"2013-07-21T16:20:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/?page_id=239"},"modified":"2013-07-21T16:20:39","modified_gmt":"2013-07-21T16:20:39","slug":"chapter-49","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/story\/chapter-49\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 49"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter 49<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

People cause problems. \u00a0A person doesn\u2019t. \u00a0People do. \u00a0That\u2019s the truth: \u00a0when one person joins another person, that\u2019s when problems arise.<\/i><\/p>\n

I ain\u2019t saying I ain\u2019t happy to be in a group. \u00a0I am. \u00a0I wonder if I tell them that enough. \u00a0But I am. \u00a0They try to make sure to reach out to me, and it feels strange as hell, but good too, in a way. \u00a0I\u2019m glad I have them, though I really don\u2019t think I tell them enough. \u00a0Heh, well, they should just know without me having to say it.<\/i><\/p>\n

I think I\u2019ve gotten more talkative ever since I started journaling. \u00a0Damn.<\/i><\/p>\n

As I was saying, when you have a group, problems come right along with it. \u00a0Look at how the world was before the dead rose \u2013 perfect example. \u00a0People thought coming together solved any problem, and throughout history, all it showed was that it created more.<\/i><\/p>\n

Did they listen to history?<\/i><\/p>\n

No.<\/i><\/p>\n

We could, but we\u2019d die trying to fight off too many fucking ghouls, so we have to stick together. \u00a0So we have the problems. \u00a0People try to lead when their ass knows nothing about true leadership. \u00a0People try to loaf and let others do their work. \u00a0Heh, if the others read this, they\u2019d know exactly who I mean. \u00a0Others try to keep the peace, and others get pissed off at the ones causing the problems to begin with. \u00a0Dynamics and all that interaction bullshit. \u00a0Before, you could afford to have those problems. \u00a0It\u2019s people being people. \u00a0Now, everyone needs to get the hell over themselves when this shit happens. \u00a0Otherwise, we may as well walk out the door, ring a bell, and yell \u201cCHOW TIME!\u201d to those damn ghouls and save us all some time and energy.<\/i><\/p>\n

Like I said, a person doesn\u2019t cause problems, but people do.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Friday, April 20, 2012<\/b>
\n12:30 p.m.<\/b><\/p>\n

AJ was beginning to get far too stir-crazy in the chapel. \u00a0He was looking for any excuse to get out now, taking on sniper duty more often than anyone else, going out when Gabby or someone thought they heard a car, gathering supplies. \u00a0Every excuse meant an escape from the suffocation of people and people trying to understand him. \u00a0In a sense, he appreciated the interest, but felt stifled by it. \u00a0It had been bad enough at rehab, and even then, he\u2019d known how to get the therapists to back off and give up. \u00a0Those methods wouldn\u2019t work now, and even though he was free of the past that had gagged him, he felt he\u2019d gone from one extreme to another. \u00a0From being seen as a blemish on society to being seen as an asset.\u00a0 He hadn\u2019t made the adjustment just yet.<\/p>\n

It was making him anxious, making him crave a hit worse than anything else since he\u2019d gone sober. \u00a0He wanted to go with Kevin to the range again this morning, take on some ghouls, the first purpose he\u2019s had in an existence that seemed so pathetic to him now. \u00a0Instead, that early morning, he\u2019d taken one of their newest arrivals, Nick, for some training, along with Howie, whom Kevin felt needed more<\/i> practice, much to AJ\u2019s amusement. \u00a0He got a nice stab of satisfaction every time the snotty businessman was shown that he wasn\u2019t superior to everyone else in this \u201cnew\u201d world.<\/p>\n

AJ looked around, beginning to pace around the sanctuary of the chapel, taking in what everyone else was doing. \u00a0At the moment, Gabby was napping, having not slept well the night before. \u00a0He knew this because she\u2019d woken him up during her nightmare, before she\u2019d quieted down and gone back to sleep. \u00a0A simple reminder that she was the child of the bunch, rather than Kayleigh.<\/p>\n

Speaking of Kayleigh, she had actually eaten that morning, a shock to them all, except AJ, who figured she didn\u2019t want to actually starve herself; rather, she wanted the sympathy and attention that went with it. \u00a0Sad, really, both the action and the reason. \u00a0The action wouldn\u2019t work, making her even more depressed, and the reason just showed how weak a person the girl really was. \u00a0Pathetic.<\/p>\n

Jo was in the little kitchenette by the Sunday school room, preparing lunch with what food Riley and Nick had brought with them in their bags.\u00a0 Kevin had mentioned them going supply hunting for real food soon, after they had everyone familiar with the guns, anyway. \u00a0Riley was near Kayleigh, jotting something down on some paper. \u00a0When she noticed she\u2019d caught his eye, she met his gaze and waited expectantly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a bit bored, so I\u2019m just thinking, jotting down random thoughts on paper. \u00a0It\u2019s used for like writers for inspiration, but I forgot the term. \u00a0Oh!\u00a0 Stream of consciousness.\u201d<\/p>\n

He wanted to lean over and just see what thoughts were running through her head, simply out of curiosity, but was relieved when Kevin, Howie, and Nick came in. \u00a0AJ grinned just a little, hoping maybe he could get out of the church and finally do something interesting. \u00a0Being around people and \u201cbonding\u201d just wasn\u2019t his idea of a good fun time. \u00a0Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the look of relief on Riley\u2019s face as well. \u00a0But unlike his gaze, which focused on the door, hers focused on the blonde. \u00a0Interesting. \u00a0Maybe he should just start people watching when he got too bored. \u00a0God, he wanted a hit.\u00a0 Anything to just fade away from the mind-numbing reality for a change. \u00a0But he couldn\u2019t, and not just because all the dealers wanted flesh rather than drugs now. \u00a0He had to do his part like everyone else.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Riley, you\u2019re up. \u00a0Kayleigh, we need you to stop being stubborn and come with us.\u00a0 Kayleigh\u2026 KAYLEIGH!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?! \u00a0God.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need you to come with us; if you\u2019re going to survive, you need to learn to kill them from a distance.\u201d<\/p>\n

AJ saw as the girl rolled her eyes for the millionth time. \u00a0All week, it\u2019d been the same thing. \u00a0She\u2019d refuse, Kevin would get frustrated \u2013 actually, they\u2019d all get frustrated \u2013 and in the end, Kayleigh would get her way. \u00a0She\u2019d sulk in the corner, eat very little, and stare at her phone, put her head down, or feel her bald spot. \u00a0He caught the look of Nick, who was standing behind Kevin, choosing not to say anything. \u00a0Then there was Howie, who walked up to Kayleigh and sat next to her, while giving Kevin an evil eye.<\/p>\n

\u201cLeave her alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHowie, she needs to learn.\u00a0 We don\u2019t know what\u2019ll happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll have people around, you don\u2019t need me, and I\u2019m not touching a gun.\u201d<\/p>\n

Throughout all this, AJ, along with Riley and Nick, were watching this with a detached interest. \u00a0All for different reasons, he guessed. \u00a0While Howie and Kevin were emotionally involved, they weren\u2019t. \u00a0He couldn\u2019t say why the two blondes were so interested, but for AJ, he was simply bored. \u00a0He didn\u2019t bother caring or even giving a thought to becoming involved, himself, because he knew nothing could change. \u00a0If the girl wanted to stay helpless and weak and, as a byproduct of that, cause her own demise when the time came, so be it. \u00a0He really wasn\u2019t bothered by it either way.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you fucking kidding me?\u201d \u00a0The voice was irritated, disbelieving, and undoubtedly female. \u00a0All heads turned to Riley, who was fuming, causing AJ to smirk to himself.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s right, she and Nick haven\u2019t seen this debate yet, <\/i>he mused.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, and I don\u2019t care.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLeave her alone.\u00a0 You haven\u2019t been here long, and-\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShut it, Howie; I\u2019m talking to Kayleigh, not you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll have you know-\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes it look like I care? \u00a0Shut. \u00a0The. \u00a0Fuck. \u00a0Up. \u00a0Okay? \u00a0She\u2019s technically an adult; she doesn\u2019t need ya to hold her hand and coddle the hell out of her.\u201d \u00a0Put in his place, the businessman stepped back.\u00a0 He appeared to have decided that this wasn\u2019t his fight and he shouldn\u2019t get involved. \u00a0So he sat down next to Kayleigh, offering her a small smile.<\/p>\n

Everyone stared at her now, as Kevin stepped forward. \u00a0He, like everybody else, saw where this was heading real quick. \u00a0\u201cRiley\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRye, calm down,\u201d Nick cut in, interrupting Kevin as he stepped closer to her. \u00a0She turned, and AJ saw her soften at his words, before her eyes became icy once more, as they refocused upon the college girl.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, this clearly<\/i> needs to be said.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finally, Kayleigh stood, before anything more could be said, fuming now, herself, at Riley\u2019s justified anger. \u00a0Just from watching the brunette, AJ could tell that she thought the fury of Riley was uncalled for.\u00a0 Deluded, even after the dead rise. \u00a0How pathetic.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t know me, and you need to just back off.\u201d \u00a0Her voice was monotone, steady and unwavering.<\/p>\n

AJ raised a brow. \u00a0Sadly, this had replaced the void television, Shakespeare, and radio had once left in the shallow entertainment of his life. \u00a0But at least he knew it was shallow and vapid, unlike the rest of humanity, before they\u2019d become ghouls, who\u2019d lived in their perpetual state of limitless deniability. \u00a0He\u2019d seen the coats they\u2019d all donned and known them for what they\u2019d been, which, to him, made all the difference. \u00a0At least, that was how he was currently justifying his enjoyment of the ever rising scene. \u00a0He only wished he had some popcorn, as he watched Riley hoist her shoulders, as if preparing for battle, which, in essence, it seemed she was.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me tell you something, little girl.<\/i> \u00a0I don\u2019t need<\/i> to know you. \u00a0Fuck, I don\u2019t even want<\/i> to know you. \u00a0I already know more than enough to tell me that much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh yeah? \u00a0So why don\u2019t you keep on talking with that big mouth of yours, and-\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, hell no, I\u2019m not finished. \u00a0Let me tell you, Miss Kayleigh, all about your damn self, as you were about to suggest. \u00a0Number one:\u00a0 You\u2019re an adult, who\u2019s acting like a child. \u00a0Period. \u00a0Gabby acts more adult at thirteen than you do at college age. \u00a0Number two: \u00a0You\u2019re not<\/i> special! \u00a0We\u2019ve all lost people; we\u2019ve all been through hell on Earth. \u00a0Not just you! \u00a0Lastly, number three: \u00a0Get over yourself. \u00a0I can handle you mooching off of us for stuff like cleaning and food. \u00a0What I cannot<\/i> even think of dealing with is you risking our lives by being lazy about protecting yourself and, therefore, all<\/i> of us. \u00a0You get it now?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t about you! \u00a0Take your own advice and get over your<\/i>self! \u00a0If I<\/i> don\u2019t want to, then\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026 It still affects us. \u00a0Period. \u00a0All of us, you idiot! \u00a0What if one of us gets taken down because we\u2019re too busy trying to keep your useless self safe because you can\u2019t do it? \u00a0You expect us to die making sure you live \u2018cause you can\u2019t bother? \u00a0Forget it. \u00a0Screw that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019m not touching a gun, and you can\u2019t force me!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRiley, calm down,\u201d the heavy, Southern voice belonging to the colonel pleaded. \u00a0AJ suppressed a laugh. \u00a0Fat chance of that. \u00a0Not to mention, AJ wanted her to keep it up \u2013 and not just for the amusement anymore. \u00a0The girl had a point:\u00a0 this needed to be said; in fact, it was a bit overdue. \u00a0Yet again, it wasn\u2019t shocking that Kevin actually stepped between them now, but what was shocking was Riley shoving herself past him, her face actually red after hearing Kayleigh\u2019s last response. \u00a0The entire scene had caused Jo to peek out of the Sunday school room to see what was causing all the commotion.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know what? \u00a0I\u2019m different from everyone else here.\u00a0 You know why<\/i> I am?\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayleigh crossed her arms over her chest defiantly and stared at the former reporter, brown eyes clashing with blue, neither girl willing to back down. \u00a0\u201cBecause you\u2019re a psycho?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNope, because I\u2019m a bitch who knows she is a bitch and has no problem being one. \u00a0So much so that I have absolutely no<\/i> problem shoving you out that door with nothing but a gun and making you fend for yourself. \u00a0So much that I\u2019ll make damn sure that no one goes out there to help you, either. \u00a0I won\u2019t even care that you\u2019ll be doomed and die within the hour. \u00a0You know why? \u00a0Because I\u2019m a bitch who\u2019ll know it was your own damn fault for refusing to learn how to fight and survive. \u00a0I am not risking my life, or anyone else\u2019s lives, to coddle you. \u00a0You\u2019re learning, or I will toss you out of this damn church right here, right now. \u00a0And I dare everyone else to stop me.\u201d<\/p>\n

The room was silent. \u00a0No one knew what to say as they stared at the two girls. \u00a0Nick was looking at Riley as if he\u2019d never seen her before. \u00a0Kevin was carefully observing the situation, waiting to make sure it wasn\u2019t going to come to physical blows, as it had looked like it would only minutes before.\u00a0 Jo must have decided she was best off staying in the kitchen, as if she were oblivious to the whole thing, as AJ saw her duck back into the Sunday school room as if nothing had happened. \u00a0Howie stood, looking like he wanted to say something, but was debating to himself if it was worth it or not. \u00a0AJ glanced at his tattooed hands for a moment, before breaking the silence himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo me, Riley, Kayleigh, and you, Kevin? \u00a0We can make sure they shoot out their anger.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kevin gave him an appreciative look and nodded. \u00a0\u201cHow about I try guard duty for the church while you help them practice? \u00a0See if I can\u2019t take any more out that are roaming around.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe?\u201d AJ asked, surprised. \u00a0Typically, it was Kevin who prepared everyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I trust you. \u00a0You\u2019re the best shooter here so far; you know the basics to show them. \u00a0I think you can handle it.\u201d<\/p>\n

And while Howie looked furious from his corner, AJ felt a smile form. \u00a0It wasn\u2019t the most important task to do; in fact, Kevin\u2019s was more imperative. \u00a0The quicker they cleared out the base, the better. \u00a0However, it felt good to be relied on, to be considered trustworthy. \u00a0To have someone see something worthy in him, after feeling, for so long, that no one would. \u00a0He\u2019d never believed the psychologists who tried to tell him in countless therapy sessions that he was worth anything. \u00a0Yet, now there was the little group of survivors. \u00a0He was the one being relied on for help, sent to check for people, sent to protect. \u00a0They trusted him and showed it, especially Kevin. \u00a0It got to him, in ways words never had.<\/p>\n

Words were meaningless; they\u2019d been tossed around carelessly in the world before.<\/p>\n

Actions, however\u2026\u00a0 They spoke volumes.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

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Chapter 49 People cause problems. \u00a0A person doesn\u2019t. \u00a0People do. \u00a0That\u2019s the truth: \u00a0when one person joins another person, that\u2019s when problems arise. I ain\u2019t saying I ain\u2019t happy to be in a group. \u00a0I am. \u00a0I wonder if I … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":8,"menu_order":49,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"onecolumn-page.php","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/239"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=239"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/239\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":240,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/239\/revisions\/240"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}