Wings of the Walker - CoraLee June Page 0,302

The ceiling had caved in, and it wasn't nearly as lovely as the general store Kemper had built.

"Are you okay, Ash?" Jacob’s mindspeak asked, and he sighed as if he wasn't really wanting to ask me that. I was sure on some level they all knew that I wasn't doing okay. But honestly, none of us were. What use was hashing out my issues when we were all going through the same thing? The only thing that would fix this would be to find Payne. He was the key to unlocking the cure and rebuilding this crumbled empire.

"I'm worried about Payne," I answered before tightening my sweater around my body. I had lost a lot of weight, and it seemed like none of my clothes fit anymore. “What if something happened to him? What if we don’t get to him in time?” It wasn't just that I wanted the cure, the lingering threat that my men could become infected with X at any moment scared me.

Above all of that, I had come to care about the little boy. His mother's involvement in all of this baffled me. I wish I had more insight into Dominique’s story. I wanted to know what led her to help out the late Lackley. What kind of mindset would push a person to develop a virus so lethal? “I’m worried you’re all going to contract X,” I said before looking around for signs of anyone. Speaking my fears out loud made them real, and I preferred to lock them away.

“I’m worried, too,” Jacob’s mindspeak said. His expression was reluctant, almost like he didn’t want to share that vulnerable train of thought with me.

I lifted up a piece of plywood, and bugs flew at me from the movement. I swatted them away and nearly fell over my boots before Jacob righted me.

“This is creepy as fuck. Can we just sleep in the transport again?” Jacob’s mindspeak said in a monotone voice, making the hilarity of his words more impactful. I tried not to laugh at the robotic tone, Jacob was sensitive about his disability, but sometimes I had to laugh to stop myself from crying.

“If I have to spend one more night sleeping in the transport with Jules’ snoring, I might kill her, which would be very unfortunate ’cause I just started to like the poor girl,” I said before brushing my hands off on my pants. “This place seems to be in better shape than new Dormas,” I admitted.

“Not by much.”

We walked, exploring the southern side of the buildings with ease, keeping our eyes peeled for infected Walkers and anything we could use to survive. I found an old can of beans and was currently coveting it, clutching the can to my chest like it was something to be treasured.

I’d been hungry many times in my life, but I’d never had others to worry about before. I could sense their weakness and knew that many times they took turns going without so that I had some food. My men were selfless and incredibly caring. How in the empire did I deserve such kindness?

“I bet if we built a house here, we could have the kitchen windows facing the west. You’d get a great view of the sunset while you make us dinner,” Jacob’s mindspeak said as he smiled at me. He reached out to grab hold of my free hand, lacing his calloused fingertips through mine before swinging my arm in a careless way that made this entire experience feel less...daunting.

“I want a large kitchen. Big enough for a table that extends to fit twenty people,” I joined in the fun, imagining a future I wasn’t quite sure would ever happen.

“I bet you want a large bed, too. One that fits all of us,” Jacob’s mindspeak replied, and I laughed. I’d be lying if I hadn’t imagined all of us together, sharing a bed. It seemed like a fun fantasy, but the reality of six snoring men did not appeal to me.

“I’d like my own room. You all can take turns,” I replied cheekily.

Jacob’s mindspeak didn’t register laughter, so instead, his mouth broke out into a wide grin, and he shook his shoulders in amusement, tilting his head back like we were on a date joking about hypotheticals instead of searching for supplies and infected Walkers in a run-down town.

“Funny, huh?” I asked as his laughter calmed down.

“You do realize that we’ll all end up in your bed regardless? It’s hard keeping you out of