* * * *
“We will head towards Portland or Salem. There might be more survivors there.” Travis says. He moves at a swift pace, like he’s racing someone; while continuing to add new supplies from the tunnel into his backpack.
“What about the looters?” Billy’s voice cuts out like a preteen boy going through puberty.
“What are looters?” Ty chirps up. He has stopped playing with Cano and is now silently waiting for an answer.
“Nothing we need to be worried about.” Travis replies sharply.
“They’re not just stealing or breaking into stores. They could kill you all.” Billy says.
“For the last six years I’ve lived in war zones more than my own home. I have fought in other countries where fellow soldiers were killed by not only their military but by children Ty’s age. I’m not afraid of some group of untrained civilians.” Travis snaps. He turns away and shoves a full canteen into his backpack.
Billy’s teeth sink into his bottom lip as he glares at him. He doesn’t say a word; he just sits there staring angrily. Before Travis notices him, he twists back and lets out a heavy breath - his cheeks flushed red. When he locks his dark eyes with mine, I quickly look away. I don’t want to get involved in this one. As I’m slipping a few extra daggers from the tunnel into my bag, Billy steps behind me. He’s so close that I can feel his warm breath hitting the back of my neck.
“Hey, I need to talk to you about the looters.” He whispers.
“Listen Billy, if you’re too scared then you can stay here.” I whisper over my shoulder. I tug at the black zipper to close my backpack. When it gets stuck on a skinny string I yank harder.
“No. I would like to come with you.”
“Okay, then get over the looters.” I cut in. When I spin around, I come face to face. With my eyes locked on his I throw the straps on over my shoulders.
My body pushes past his, making it only a foot or two away, until he mumbles, “They’re murdering survivors for fun.”
I become motionless at the word fun, my stomach twisted. I twist back and whisper, “I’m sorry, what did you just say?”
“They’re murdering survivors, like us, for fun. It’s like a hunting game for them.” He replies.
“How would you know that?”
“Because they almost killed me when I went back to Portland last month. I was able to escape, but the family I was with weren’t so lucky.”
“Did you see where they hide?”
“They’re everywhere. The closer to the big cities, the more chance of coming across them.”
My eyes shift to where Travis is standing beside Ty, helping him fill his hydration pack with fresh water. We already have to worry about being hunted down by aliens, but now we have to worry about other people too. I sigh heavily and reply, “We need to learn all the information you have about these looters.”
“I don’t know anything else.” Billy replies quietly. With a raised brow he asks, “Your family hasn’t seen any looters since the invasion?”
“We knew that there had to be people killing others for supplies, but we never thought it would be for sport.” I chew on the inside of my cheek, thinking it over. We’ve always moved during the day, thinking it’s safer. But it turns out there are people out there that we should be preparing for just as much as the aliens.
His boots stomp heavily as he steps in front of me. With Cano by his side, He asks, “Isabelle? You ready?”
I look him in the eyes and announce, “We need to talk.”