SOTC: Echo by Trevor Moran
• Even though you make me glow, I have to move on and go •
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We were ten feet away. I folded my arms over my chest. My duffel stopped bouncing against my back. Marshal pressed his finger to his lips, listening.
Silence.
"I really hope that you're right about this place, Keira." Marshal furrowed his brow.
A lump sat in my throat. It would be all my fault if this place didn't turn out well.
Marshal unlatched the gate.
•••
Carl poked me lightly in the arm. I peeked through bleary eyes, glaring as I sat up. "Are we finally here?"
The RV jiggled and stopped, giving me my answer. I turned towards the windows, my mouth hanging open at the huge walls.
I hadn't seen walls like those since Terminus.
Everything seemed so wrong... But I had to go in. I had to push through.
It would be worth the risk.
Wouldn't it?
Millions of questions and possibilities battled throughout my head as I stood and ran out into the cold air. Wind stung my face as I pushed my way against it, sweeping my braid across my neck as a method of warmth. Then, retrieving my bag from the trunk, I swung it across my shoulders and hugged it to my chest.
The wind quieted down a bit as everybody else came out. I jogged up to the gates. Rick was there too, with Aaron by his side. They were just standing there, then I realized that they were listening.
It was the sound of laughter.
Children's laughter.
I took a deep breath and felt a chill run down my spine. This was going to be okay, I reassured myself. Don't worry. (A/N: BE HAPPY)
The gate slid open with a rusty creak, revealing a normal-looking neighborhood, so picturesque it looked like a stock photo.
A turmoil of emotions rippled through my body as I dug my nails into my bag. Carl came up beside me, holding baby Judith in his arms.
He looked over at me, giving a smile.
I returned it. It's going to be okay.
•••
Her name was Deanna, and she seemed pretty damn suspicious. Spewing advertisement of this "fantastic" city to our group. Pretty soon she had herded most of us to our houses, but she kept a few to interview.
I was, unfortunately, one of those people.
I was stuck in a wallpapered room, with a hardwood floor and three cushy chairs arranged around a table. Cards and board games were stacked up inside a cabinet with a TV on top.
A TV. Like, sit down and rot your brain for hours TV.
I decided that I might accidentally hit the power button later.
It still felt so weird to be alone, in a room, without some kind of blood on the walls or walker on my tail. Sunlight poured out the window and onto the table. I realized this was one of the first peaceful moments I had enjoyed since the apocalypse started.
Closing my eyes, I curled up into the cushion.
"It's your turn." My eyes fluttered open to find Carl, with Judith almost sleeping in his arms. I automatically smiled, rolling off the chair and walking towards them. He gestured over to the door at the end of the hall. He gave me a reassuring smile as I turned around, settling my hand on the doorknob and twisting.
I almost choked.
The room was a fully decked out library, with hundreds of books! I held back a squeal as I gawked at it all, racing over to a shelf, tracing my fingers on the spines...
"Quite a collection, right?"
I whirled around to see Deanna, who was closing the door and walking over to me. I immediately froze up, panic flaring in my chest when I remembered I had left my knife in my bag, which was back in the sunroom. But then I relaxed. You can trust her. Trust her, Keira.
"What's your favorite book?"
I gave a weak chuckle. "Umm, I don't really know."
"Me neither," she said, gesturing over to a comfy-looking chair. "So many to choose from."
A wary smile played across my face as I tried to loosen the tightness in my shoulders. I plunked myself down in the chair. She pressed a button on a camera mounted on a tripod, and I took a deep breath.
Don't fuck this up.
She sat behind the camera. "So, let's start with your name."
"Keira." I tried to stop my fidgeting by balling my hands into fists.
"How long have you been with this group?"
My gaze floated upwards as I thought. "Maybe two months?"
"And before that?"
"With my brother and dog."
She gestured for me to continue.
"We started in Atlanta and headed inland. We wandered for a while before finding a place called Terminus but it was a trap and my brother and dog died, but then I found this group." I said this all with basically one breath, before deflating back into my seat.
She nodded. "Sounds like you've gone through some bad stuff."
"Yeah."
"What was it like for you before this all happened?"
I looked up, kinda surprised. "Why do you want to know that?"
"Well, you still existed back then, didn't you?"
I tried to ignore a shiver creeping up my spine. "I was little," I lied. "I hardly remember it."
She nodded. I let out a quiet, celebratory breath. She bought it.
She cut off the camera, then turned back to me. "Are you okay?"
I knit my eyebrows. "Umm, yeah." I said, somewhat accusingly. But then I disentangled my fingers from their clasp. "Sorry."
She quirked a smile. "Just making sure."
I headed for the door, but before I could exit...
"There's another girl. Your age. You won't be alone."
My spirited lifted a bit, then I looked down and nodded goodbye. Goosebumps ran up and down my body. I crossed my arms and shouldered my bag. No matter how many other teenagers were left in the world, only two other would ever completely understand.
Marshal, and Carl.
I'm not alone yet.
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A/N: It's been SO FRICKIN LONG SINCE I UPDATE!!!!! Well, I did edit the first two chapters so that they'd match up with the rest of the story.
But that doesn't count. I'm so sorry guys :(
If you've read my LIFE update today, then you know that I'm on a long road trip! Yippee! Lotsa writing time!
Anyway... I now need to work on Cold Shadows a bit before we get to the hotel in 2 hours.
Take care, fluff nuggets!
QOTD: List all your favorite musical youtubers. It's okay if you don't watch any.
AOTD: Troye Sivan. Conor Maynard. Trevor Moran. Please try out all of them! They all have amazing voices :3
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Word count:
1156
Created 1-13-16
Edited 3-7-16