The Unavoidable

We arrived back 18 hours early with a lot of extra materials. The whole settlement was honestly astonished at the sheer amount of stuff we were able to fit inside that truck.

I made the tip to William before we left that someone should go out and scavenge for materials. They’d cut down dead trees here at the base and someone would scavenge for scrap metal just lying around in nearby communities. It was a pretty good idea too. Cutting down trees not only have us material to build with, and exposed longer sight-lines in case we got attacked, and with the truck that’s make it so much more efficient. But we’ve been getting hit here and there by gangs we’ve been able to get them out without casualties, on our side at least. Like I said, I don’t want to kill, but if it comes down to me or them. I’m choosing me.

“Look who’s back!” Will kinda scared me when he said that. I kinda forgot how loud he was. His hugs are strong too. when I was little I almost never wanted him to hug me, I thought I’d pop before anything else.

“Will! Hey, We got something to show you.”

“What is it?” I took long strides to the bed of the truck, ready to show him the weapons and gasoline. Honestly, I didn’t know what he was feeling, He was obviously feeling joy but there was something else there. I couldn’t tell if it was fear or just flat anxiety, but I knew it had something to do with Dwain, So I tried to change the subject.

“Have you found anything we can use for food?”

“Yeah, We had Dwain and Lance go out hunting. Of course I only gave Lance a gun but I really want to try and trust Dwain.” Of course It went back to him. Better just keep it here, things need to be said anyways.

“I had a thought while we were out. I don’t think we have that option anymore, Will. He’s too shady, Too faulty.”

“Okay. When do we want to do this, because he can’t stay around for much longer, Not nearly long enough to get out propelling unit on. He’s been getting seemingly more aggressive with every task I asked of him, even if it was just the smallest thing. We can’t just ditch him out on a run either, he’ll somehow find his way back.”

“I agree.” Jamal added, “Something needs to be done about him.”

“Wait, when are Dwain and Lance due back from the hunt?” I asked

“In a few hours. I told them before sundown.”

“When did you send them?”

“Four hours ago.” That worried me, a lot. “Why do you want to know that?”

“Lance’s safety, mostly.”

“What do you mea-”

William’s sentence was abruptly cut of by the sound of a distant gunshot and a deafening scream shortly afterwards. A few seconds went by, until nothing but silence filled the air.

“That’s what I mean.”