“Well, we have been talking with other survivors and as you know we take a statement of everyone’s account of what they have been through since the apocalypse began. Just to see what skills people have and maybe even to match up a missing person with their families. When it comes to both, you and Will are regarded significantly high by the people that you were rescued with. Especially Billy, here.” He pointed over his shoulder at Billy who smiled at me. “Plus, when asked what jobs you would like Will said sentry duty and the occasional mission and you said supply runs. So, we would like both you and Will here to join our ranks. We are drastically thin on military members at the moment.”
I looked at Will, he had a look of utter shock on his face that I’m sure would be mirrored on my own. I’d thought about asking them for a military position but didn’t think that they would ever consider me which is why I chose supply runs. It was the closest job which required military training that I thought I could get. Now that I knew it was not the case I was a little excited.
I nodded slightly to Will who replied with his own little nod.
“Sounds good to me” I grinned at the captain standing up and shaking his hand.
“Me too” Will stayed sitting down but had a huge smile on his face and I knew that he was just as excited as me to become part of the team.
I sat back down and glanced at Nia, she looked tremendously unhappy. I knew why. This meant extra danger for myself and now Will too.
“Right, that’s fantastic. I’ll be leaving with a group of four officers around ten, I’d like to see you both here in my office at 9am sharp to be briefed. Thank you both” he smiled at us and started to talk quietly to the doctor.
I guess that was our cue to leave. I got up, followed by Nia and then Will. We left the room and closed the door behind us. The rest of the officers stayed.
“Nia, I-“I started to explain why I had chosen to say yes to the captain but she cut me off.
“I understand George, after hearing about what the guys managed to get from the lab I get it. I know how much it will help our camp, I just wish that it wasn’t you guys risking your lives, but I guess in this world we are risking our lives every day.”
I pulled her in for a big hug, then Will joined in.
“Team hug!” Adam called out running towards us and hugging tightly, I laughed. This felt good, although I felt bad for feeling happy, I couldn’t push it away.
“Hey, aren’t you supposed to being quarantine? Nia laughed
“They let us out early, like Will, for good behaviour” Adam explained. Amelia was with him but did not join in our family hug. Instead she held back, hugging herself and looking a little awkward.
“I’m here too” Billy had just exited the Captains office, looking very smart in his new khaki uniform. It suited him.
“That’s great, how about we all get some food and you guys can fill me in on what happened whilst you were out?” I said once I had broken free of the hug.
Nia held on to my arm, I watched as Billy’s eyes narrowed in jealousy. I wasn’t about to tell her to let me go though. She was my friend, if he had a problem then he needed to man up and say.
So, I just ignored it as we made our way towards the canteen, laughing and joking like we didn’t have a care in the world. I tried to hide my hurt that I still carried around behind my smile. My friends had gone out on a mission and had all come back safely and for that I truly was grateful.
Chapter 8
Will and Adam were so animated when they were telling the story of their adventure that I couldn’t help but feel a little green with envy. I swore that at any moment I was going to turn into the hulk.
Billy didn’t say much, just nodded along as he played with his food. He kept giving Nia pointed looks which she kept ignoring, in the end he huffed out an excuse and left the room. Nia looked troubled but when she saw me looking she smiled and started up a conversation with Amelia.
The boys told me that they had started off well and got to the facility quickly. No hordes of zombies, no road blocks with assholes like Deacon around, ready to take advantage of innocent people. They found most of the things that we needed but that there were a few offices they couldn’t access without a key card. They had spent a few hours at the site trying to override the system only to be unsuccessful. Still they were clearly happy with their haul, as was the doctor and the captain. They were hoping to go back in the future to see if they could get in using the doctors key card that she had forgotten to give them.
It all sounded amazing, it struck me as a little odd that the Doctor would forget to give them her key card, after she had planned the mission herself. But I didn’t say anything, it sounded like the mission was a success anyway and the doc had a lot going on. Which would probably account for the memory slip.
“Aw guys I’m so jealous, I really wish that I could have come with
