The Survivor Chronicles (Book 2): The Divide (39 page)
"A very good possibility, but we can't stand out here. We might as well ring the dinner bell or wave the 'come try to rob us' sign," Carl said.
"We have to leave a note."
Carl nodded toward the truck. "There's a pen and some paper in there."
Riley turned toward the truck but the sound of a door opening caused all of them to spin toward the house next door. Riley, Carl and Al had their guns raised as a man stepped onto the porch. "Hey! Whoa!" he shouted and ducked back inside before Al could see him.
Carl shifted and began to move toward the front of the house the man had emerged from. Al hedged toward Rochelle and nudged her back a little. "Stay behind me," he instructed in a low voice.
"Riley!" All of their attention turned toward Riley as the man shouted her name from the shadows of the house. "Riley it's me, it's Bobby!"
Riley's rigid stance melted, her arms fell back to her side. "Bobby?"
"Yeah." He poked his head back outside with his arms raised above it. "It's me."
A small squeal, one that Al never would have associated with the girl he had come to know, escaped Riley as she dropped her gun and bolted forward with the easy grace of an athlete. She never even landed on one of the steps as she leapt over them and onto the porch. Bobby was laughing as he opened his arms and grabbed hold of her in a bear hug that lifted her off the ground.
"My mom…?"
Even as Rochelle started to ask the question Mary Ellen stepped onto the porch. Rochelle started to cry but Mary Ellen didn't seem aware of her yet as her gaze ran over John and Carl before settling on him. A grin lit her face as she lifted her hand and waved to him. Her hand froze; she looked as if she'd seen a ghost as Rochelle stepped out from behind his back.
The noise that escaped her caused Al's heart to lurch as Mary Ellen pushed past Riley and Bobby and staggered down the steps. John moved out of the way as Rochelle ran past him toward her mother. Al felt tears burning his eyes as they met in the middle of the yard. Mary Ellen pulled Rochelle down to the ground with her and held her close as they both sobbed openly and hugged each other tightly.
John wiped a tear away and tilted his head to look at the sky as he turned away. Carl lowered his gun as Al walked past him toward Mary Ellen and the porch. "Lee?" Bobby asked as he took a step back from Riley and looked over at them. His gaze lingered on John and Carl, his forehead furrowed as the bridge above his nose creased.
Riley shook her head as she released him and took a step back. Bobby's face fell and his head bowed as realization sank in. "Xander?" she croaked.
Bobby wiped the tears from his eyes as he focused on her again. Before he had a chance to speak though a hoarse voice sounded from the shadows of the doorway. "Here."
Riley froze for a moment before staggering forward. The other man he remembered from the stadium took an awkward step out of the door. His face was haggard and the color of an eggshell, but even so he enveloped her in a large hug and leaned against the doorframe as he lifted her off the ground. His hands pushed the straggling hair away from her face before he kissed her with a tenderness and desperation that caused Al to look away as he sought to give them some semblance of privacy. Bobby was blushing as he folded his hands behind his back and studied the three of them.
Carl raised an eyebrow and grinned as he elbowed John. "I think you're out of luck."
John scowled at him. "I gave up on that a long time ago."
Al's gaze drifted to the stained bandage wrapped around Xander's leg. He was keeping a fair amount of his weight off of it as he finally broke the kiss with Riley and pulled her against his chest.
For the first time since all of this had started Al felt real hope bloom in his chest. It was awful, this world now, but there was still hope in it and there was still a chance of surviving for all of them. They just had to keep going. They just had to take it one second, one hour, one day at a time, and eventually those days would turn into a lifetime like they always did.
It was still hideous out there, it was still deadly, but as Bobby stepped back to allow them entrance into the house he found that he didn't care. Tomorrow, they could figure out their next step, but for today he was going to take this brief reprieve into normalcy and happiness. He was going to enjoy the glow of Riley's smile and the happy tears that continued to streak down Rochelle and Mary Ellen's faces as they each talked at a million miles an hour.
This was the closest he'd come to happiness in a very long time and as a bottle of whiskey was brought forth he happily shared in a drink with the others as they exchanged stories and details of what they had all endured. Laughter filled the house as they briefly focused on something other than what was waiting for them just outside the front door.
He didn't even know if they would all stay together as Carl and John had never stated what their intentions were after they found Mary Ellen. He didn't think Peter and Josh were going anywhere else, and he hoped the same for Carl and John. The idea of splitting up, of people deciding to go their own way wasn't one that he wanted to contemplate or face, but again it could be decided tomorrow.
The rest of today was for them.
End of Book 2
Book 3: The
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Though my name is not really Erica Stevens, it is a pen name that I chose in memory of two amazing friends lost too soon, I do however live in Mass with my wonderful husband and our fish Radar and puppy Loki. I have a large and crazy family that I fit in well with. I am thankful every day for the love and laughter they have brought to my life. I have always loved to write and am an avid reader.
