Note: this takes place three weeks after finding the house, and the outbreak has now spread past the stopping point. They are now almost two months in to the apocalypse.
++++++++++

I felt funny as I jolted upright in a room I didn't remember. I looked around at the wood paneled walls, and glanced at a smudged window that seemed to be in need of replacement. I suddenly let out a cry of pain as my side felt like a hot iron placed on my skin.

I glanced down to see a thick wrap placed on my side, and realized why I hurt so much. My lungs had been cut off from filling up all the way which made my body tired. I lied back down as I heard footsteps coming from what I assumed was up the steps.

The door opened up, and three people entered. One was the man that I remembered carrying me, another one was a girl that I assumed was Ann, the name he had called for, and another man was with them.

Ann came to me while saying, "I honestly thought you'd be out for another month, but here you are. Wide awake. I'm surprised that your shoulder wasn't busted as well. Where did you get that nasty cut on your side?" She spoke smoothly, and seemed interested of what I had to tell them.

I glanced at the two men, and then at Ann again. "I got it from shooting a gun. It was broke. I didn't know it."

The other man scoffed at me loudly, and said. "That's why you shouldn't be using them. Where is this gun if yours?"

I looked at him momentarily before replying harshly with, "It's right where it dropped. Why don't you go out their and look for it yourself?"

Ann seemed to avoid eye contact for a moment, and the man I knew straightened his posture. I just have said something wrong because that man looked at me with pure hatred in his eyes.

"Boy. You think you can just simply walk up to our camp, and not cause any trouble? We're all starving because of you! We can't get out because those things are outside! We lost Rose!" He practically screamed that name, and then fell down into a chair, his bow red faces laced with tears.

Ann saw my momentary confusion, and noticed me scolding myself for being so harsh to the people who had saved me. She quickly stated, "Rose is.... was his daughter. She spotted you on the way back from a supply run. She saved your life by pulling the cursed away from here. They came back though, they heard your screams. I had to sow you up, but your good to go now."

I looked at her and nodded before asking, "Did you see her die?"

Ann looked confused for a moment before saying, "What do you mean? Nobody did, but she was lugging a lot of stuff with her."

"Who said she was dead? She might be alive, but you haven't looked for her yet." I asked, hope rising for the girl.

Ann saw that hope and simply crushed it by saying, "look, it's been three weeks since we found you. I don't think she's alive."

I was hurt, but decided something that might make relations with me and the man better. "What if... I found her? There is still a chance that she's alive. She WAS carrying stuff with her. It must have been important if you guys needed it."

I hadn't noticed that I was talking loud enough that the old man heard it, and both of the men were staring at me. They both glanced at Ann, and the old man stood up abruptly. He yanked his head backwards, and opened the door, waiting for the rest to file pit before he left. I sat on the bed, straining to make out what they were saying on the other side, but didn't accomplish anything.

My stomach suddenly growled out in anguish as it had gone hungry for many days. That was when they entered again. They all looked at me with happiness in their eyes, but their expression said something different.

Ann spoke to me again, "My name is Ann. The knuckle head who picked you up is Dan." She then pointed at the old man, "this here is old Samuel Jack. He owns the land we are on, and luckily he let us in."

He nodded slightly, "It was a matter of priority dear. I needed you, and you needed a home. It works out for both of us."

Dan nodded at that statement, and then looked at me. "What I want to know is the name of the boy who ended up saving my life before I saved his."

I looked at them all, slowly licked my dry lips, and said, "My name is Ethan."

Dan's small smile widened as I said my name, and he nodded to Ann who suddenly was relieved. I looked at them both, and they started laughing.

Samuel answered me, "It's nothing really. They just are happy to know that you aren't what we all thought you were. The government had gone completely silent one week ago. Last thing they said was to report a lonely boy by the name of McAllister."

I looked at him, and forced a laugh out while my mind was frozen in fear.

Why was the government looking for me? What do they want? What do they need?

Dan patted my back slightly, and said, "why don't you come downstairs and meet the others. There's only six of us counting you, but that's still a crowd."

I disliked the idea, but nodded anyways. I followed Samuel down the door as Dan, and Ann stayed behind to fix up the bed. I looked down at the regular jeans I wore, and realized that I was bare from the waist up. My embarrassment quickly faded as I came downstairs to another girl who seemed to be just younger than Samuel, and a boy that was also my age.

The boy was also bare from the waist up, and smiled at me with white teeth. He seemed excited that I was up and loving where as the other girl seemed more indulged about the bad things I had unknowingly committed.

She stated so with, "Good. He's up. Now let's kick him out so those things leave."

Ann slipped in and quickly avoided an argument by introducing me to them both. "Guys. This is Ethan. Ethan, meet Shelly, and this boy here is Charles. I think he's around your age, but I'll let you two find out by yourself." She ended that with a wink, and I was confused by the way she talked.

Shelly looked disgusted now that I knew her name, but Charles just shook his head. He reminded me of a seven year old on a sugar high, and it made me wonder why he was acting that way. Charles told me to follow him into another room that was used as a supply room. We went through it, and made our way towards the basement.

As soon as we were downstairs his smile dropped a little, and he turned around. "Sorry about that kiddo stuff upstairs. Dan and Ann managed to talk me into pranking Shelly when she first arrived. She thinks that my mind progresses slower than it should, but we're going to end it soon."

I looked at him, and cracked a smile as I said, "Charles. That is honestly the best prank I have ever heard. How did they come up with it?"

He just shrugged his shoulders before saying, "I want to know as well, but did you realize that there names rhyme?"

I looked at him with an almost comical look on my face. My jaw dropped a little, and I swear I felt a piece of saliva curve over my bottom lip. He laughed at my expression, and I just smiled some more.

"Do you know why?" Was all I managed to say in disbelief at the little thing I had missed.

He nodded while saying, "Dan and Ann are siblings. Dan looks older but Ann is the oldest by a year."

I just looked at him for more of an explanation.

"Oh... you want to know how I know. Well, that's because Ann used to babysit me, but now she's more like an after school helper with homework. She's one of my closest friends, and she's talked about Dan before. Now she's more of a protector, but I don't understand why they won't let me use a weapon. I'm literally 15! I just turned 15 yesterday."

I looked at him before slapping his shoulder. "Well congratulations. I'm also 15 years old. Looks like Ann was right!"

Charles only nodded this time, and I caught a rather strange glint from his eyes. He was staring at my chest which barely sported the outlines of a six-pack, but still showed muscles. He noticed me looking, and quickly averted his gaze to my eyes.

He pointed nonchalantly at the wrap on my side before saying, "When can you get that off?"

I just shrugged, and he nodded his head before stating, "We better head upstairs. It's best we don't stay down here to long before Shelly freaks out."

We both laughed at that, and he grabbed my hand while leading me up the stairs.

When we came upstairs he spoke with child like words, "Shelly! Ethan helped me to stop being afraid of the monsters! The dark monsters can't hurt me anymore!"

I smiled at the dramatic prank continued along, all the while thinking about him looking at my chest.

======

Another chapter finished. Finally getting closer to another great adventure.

What do you all think of Charles?

What about the others?

Will they look for Rose?

Find out (hopefully) in the next chapter to come!