Chapter 1
Iris’s POV
“I’m going on the excavation tomorrow,” I said, arguing with Mia.
The hot sun shone brightly against my face, making me squint.
“No, you’re not. You’re staying here, and you’re going to watch over Hope.”
I rolled my eyes.
“You’re not my mom.”
I pointed toward my mother, who was across the school grounds being lovingly held in my father’s arms.
“My mom is over there.”
I knew my words hurt Mia, but at that moment, I didn’t care. Her constant overprotectiveness was starting to get ridiculous.
Mia crossed her arms.
“You’re too young to go out excavating. It’s dangerous. You could get yourself killed.”
“I’m not five years old.”
I felt my frustration building.
“I’ve been training. Auntie Lily and Rain have been training me for years. Why can Chance go and I can’t? I’m three years older than her. I’m eighteen. I can take care of myself.”
Mia stared at me.
“Maybe because the last time you went out, you almost got bitten? I don’t think Mom and Dad want to take that chance again.”
“But how am I supposed to learn if I don’t get a chance to survive?”
Mia opened her mouth to respond.
Before she could say anything, I heard Rain’s voice from across the schoolyard.
“We have people!”
My head snapped toward the gate.
My parents were already staring in the same direction.
I watched them as they both immediately walked toward the front gate. My mother was a fee steps behind my father.
I looked over at my little sister, Hope who had stopped playing, she immediately looked over to me
“Come here.” I whispered and motioned for her to come toward me.
She ran over to me into my arms, and I pulled her close.
Elliot stood up and positioned himself in front of us, almost instinctively making himself like a shield.
I looked toward the other side of the schoolyard.
Joseph ran over to Noah, and several others began pouring out of the school.
Within seconds, everyone was gathered around the school yard.
Whatever argument Mia and I had been having didn’t matter anymore.
Something was happening.
And judging by the way everyone was looking toward the gate, I wasn’t sure what was going to happen.
They were organized.
They had medical bags, equipment, protective clothing, and a large vehicle with a strange symbol painted across the side.
“Who are you?” my dad asked as he made his way toward the gate.
The woman at the front of the group stepped forward.
“We’re scientists.”
His expression didn’t change.
“Scientists?”
I watched as she nodded.
“We’re trying to find a cure for the virus. We’ve been traveling from settlement to settlement, collecting information and studying survivors.”
She glanced toward the school.
“We’ve been watching your settlement for a while.”
I looked over at Mia.
She had the same concerned expression I did.
The woman continued.
“Your community has survived longer than most of the settlements we’ve encountered.”
She paused.
“We were wondering if you’d allow us to stay for a while and conduct some studies.”
My dad looked back at my mom.
I could see the hesitation in both of their eyes.
He took a slow breath before turning back toward the scientists.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t think we can. We’re filled to the brim with survivors.”
That was a lie.
What was Dad planning?
We had plenty of room.
But we had also learned the hard way not to trust everyone who came knocking.
A few months ago, raiders had gotten into the settlement and taken the majority of our crops and supplies. We’d been forced to start almost completely over.
We were barely getting by.
We’d been going out scavenging every week. It had become a necessity for us, at least until we could get back on our feet and rebuild what we had lost.
My dad looked back at my mom.
Then he looked toward us and the rest of the group
He subtly moved his hands.
A signal.
One we’d practiced before.
telling us to ready.
My heart dropped.
They weren’t scientists.
Or at least… Dad didn’t believe they were.
I moved Hope behind me and pulled the knife from the sheath strapped to my thigh.
Looking over my shoulder
“Go with Joseph inside and hide you understand?”
She nodded quickly as she ran inside with Joshua and his pregnant mother
Elliot stepped back bringing himself closer to us.
Mia reached behind her waistband of her pants and pulled out a pistol.
And suddenly, our quiet little school didn’t feel like home anymore.
It felt like a battlefield waiting to happen.
