One Ocean

Elyza POV

I wasn't much for hostages or captive but who was I to ask Marcus about his plans? They'd taken me in when the world went to hell and for the most part they never asked me to do anything that truly pushed my limits. The dirty jobs were always usually saved for Eric and his boys. Marcus liked to let them "let loose" as he called it. I called it savagery. These were the types of guys that were deliquents before the outbreak and now that it was everyone for themselves they were living the life. I'd seen in my time with them that some people were built for this life and other's weren't. At the end of the day to me it was all about survival. Yet even I felt a slight pang of regret while bringing Alicia and Travis back to camp. If I was honest with myself, I knew their family was dead. Even if Eric did drop them off at shore he probably did so by the closest swarm of infected he could find.

I watched Jack and Alicia interact and placed my bets that he'd been the first one she killed if given the chance. She pulled away from his grip and avoided his touch despite it appearing to be gentle. I couldn't blame her I doubt that I would have wanted anything to do with him at this moment either. Sighing I walked off and brushed him away telling him I'd take care of her instead. When Jack left the frightened girl's green orbs sought me out and looked me up and down. I stepped forward and she mirrored me by taking a step back.

"Where are we?"

"Our camp." I answered blandly.

"Where's that?" She asked.

"Does it really matter?" I raised an eyebrow tilting my head to look at her.

"It'd make me feel better to know where I am and where is the rest of my family."

"I don't have those answers for you. I'm sorry." I offered sincerely.

"What can you tell me?"

I huffed again trying to control my temper, "I can tell you that Jack's a good guy most of the time. I can tell you that as long as you and Travis follow the rules and don't cause any trouble that you two are safe.'

"We're safe after being kidnapped by a guy that tricked me into feeling sorry for him?" She shrieked reiterating the actions that had occurred.

I grimaced at the piercing sound of her voice and shifted my shoulders back more determined to make her more cooperative "Remember my piece of advice to you on the boat? You're getting off to a bad start already." I stepped forward arm outstretched.

"Don't you touch me."

"Would you rather me call over one of the other guys and let them deal with you? I promise they won't be as nice as me."

"This is nice?"

"I could be worse." I took another stab at grabbing her and managed to latch onto her elbow "Listen, I'll take you to your dad and let you two settle into your rooms."

"He's not my dad -" She cut off absently allowing her words to trail off.

"I'll take you to Travis then. What you two choose to do together is on you."

I walked her to the Great Hall not knowing where Marcus would choose to store them for the night yet knowing that they'd be under guard for the first few nights. I navigated her through the hall to where I had placed Travis. I watched as his eyes lit up at seeing the girl he obviously cared for.

"Alicia" He called out to her seeming to try and get up.

"Relax. She's okay." I helped the ginger haired girl sit down and rested on heels. "You'll see alot of people come in and out of this building. Some people are going to stare and wonder why you're here. Don't talk to them, just sit here and keep your head low. The Council is probably trying to figure out what to do with you."

"The council?" Travis asked.

"The guys that run things around here." I answered.

"Where's my family." Travis asked desperately.

"Right there." I pointed to Alicia who subconsciously scooted closer to Travis since the moment I had sat her down. "Focus on keeping her safe. She's who matters now" I replied. To which Travis nodded.

Standing up I looked around noticing some of the kids that I personally knew and nodding to some of the adults. The "soldiers" as we were called by Marcus and his men were often treated with the utmost respect. Everyone knew that we were the ones that protected them and provided food for them. We went to bat for them so that they could maintain some sort of normalcy while the rest of the world imploded. I saw Jack walk into the Great Hall and quickly scan the crowd for me. I waved him off wondering what was with the urgency behind his eyes.

"What's going on?" I asked keeping my voice quiet.

Jack looked over my shoulder at Travis and Alicia before backing away using his hand to pull me forward when we were a safe distance from the hostages he spoke. "We don't see the boat Eric was supposed to be bringing and he hasn't radioed in yet. It's been several hours Elyza."

"So what are we saying happened?"

"They are sending out a patrol boat to see if they can find him."

"You think they're using him to find Travis and the girl?" I asked in all seriousness.

"Eric would die before he allowed anyone to use him. You know it and so do I."

I looked over my shoulder to where I had sat our guests. "I'm going to take them to one of the tents outside. They don't need to be here for this."

"You sure that's a good idea?"

"It's better than them being in eye sight when Marcus and his men come out of their meeting." I promised walking forward only to feel Jack grabbing my wrist.

"I can help. Let me take Alicia."

"You want to help?" I steeled my tone at the younger boy. "Then you take Travis and you stay away from the girl. You upset her then you upset him and we don't need that running around this camp." I snatched away and walked up to Alicia and Travis. Kneeling back down I smiled "Change of plans sweetheart. Alicia you're coming with me."

"Why? What's going on?"

"You wanna talk or you want to be safe?" I asked giving her, her only two options. Alicia passed a look to Travis and Travis looked between the two of us. "She's with me. Travis you'll go with Jack." I looked at Travis "She'll be okay. I give you my word." Alicia nodded and I grabbed her arm helping her to stand and rushing her out of the building.

I did something with Alicia that I hadn't done in a long time. I took her back to my RV. It was small compared to some of the other vehicles at the camp but it suited me fine. Inside I kept my place clean with a few pots and pans to cook in. Some photos of my old family and heavy blankets that I acquired both from my own home and from searching other cars and mobile homes along the way. Sometimes I had to remind myself that this was real and this RV was indeed mine. Marcus had gifted me this space once I proved myself vital to his group. I didn't bother asking where he or any of the men got the RVs, I knew my heart I can't take the answer. Nonetheless I'd seen the other 'soldiers' parade about their superiority. Bringing women to their RVs and tents, sleeping with them then kicking them out. I'd only brought one girl back to my RV. None of the others had seemed worth my time after her. Sitting Alicia down I pulled out my knife and cut the zip tie holding her hands tight.

"You hungry?"

"What?" she asked.

"Hungry. Ya know as in wanting food."

"I want to know what's going on."

"So do I but for right now we're going to sit tight."

"Fine." She folded her arms over her chest and crossed her legs.

"Look I'm not your enemy. It's nothing personal I was just following orders."

"Do you always do what you're told?"

"I didn't use to." I chuckled thinking back to several weeks ago.

"Could have fooled me. What were you before this?"

"Normal." I answered truthfully. Looking over at the kitchen I asked again "Last chance...hungry?"

"You cook?"

"Whatever I can get my hands on. Recently it's only been cans of beans." I picked up a can to show her.

"I guess it's better than nothing right?" She shrugged.

"Can I trust you to stay here?"

"Where else can I go?" Her voice slightly broken.

I headed outside with one of my pans and a bottle of luke warm water to keep the pan from burning the food inside. Sitting down next to one of the pits I lit the fire with some of the supplies stationed there and watched as the bean proceeded to heat up.  It wasn't long before the sound of the door closing caught my attention and I looked up to see Alicia hesitantly walking towards me.

"Thought you were going to stay inside."

"Thought you didn't always follow the rules?" She quirked back.

"Did you atleast bring the plates outside?" I asked to which she pulled out the two white plates from behind her back. I chuckled and motioned for her to sit down next to me.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"It's not like I can stop you now can I?"

"What happened to your family. Are they here too?"

"When shit hit the fan I was in college. Junior year. First we got a city wide annoucement to be on high alert about an accidental biohazard spill. Everyone pretty much just went back to their rooms ya know. We thought we'd just wait this out. Roads were shut down and that's when people started to question what was going on. When the technology started failing that's when people started to panic. People started packing and those that could get back to their parents did. My friend...Alexandria wasn't so lucky. She was on bad terms with some of the people in her family so I thought...ya know I'd bring her with me. We just...didn't make it far enough out." I felt the tears start to shimmer in my eyes and I sucked in some air trying to chase them away. "We found Marcus and I figured we could just stay here."

"Where is she now?" Alicia asked quietly.

"They don't call us soldiers for nothing." I spoke allowing her imagination to carry her where my words could not.

"I'm sorry for your loss." Alicia offered compassionately.

I looked up and for the first time realized she was just as alone as I felt. "Me too."