Rachel successfully managed to secure an audience with Mariam, which brought her a sense of relief.
She had anticipated it would be much more challenging, especially with the heightened security.
Who could bla her, considering what had transpired in the past couple of months? It made her feel safer, but it also raised concerns about the system in place.
If one of her security personnel could betray her and be part of a secret revolt, then there was definitely a flaw in the system.
"Good evening, Rachel. What brings you here?" Mariam asked, as stunning as ever in a dress Rachel had never seen her wear before. Each ti Rachel saw her, Mariam seed even more beautiful than before. Mariam crossed her legs and waited for Rachel to explain her purpose.
Rachel looked around nervously, and Mariam understood the ssage. She gestured for her security personnel to leave the room. Once they were gone, Rachel visibly relaxed, and Mariam patiently waited for her to speak.
"This feels more like a personal visit, doesn’t it?" Mariam inquired, pouring Rachel a drink.
"I didn’t an to trouble you," Rachel made it clear before continuing. "I no longer feel safe in this community, and I might have to leave," Rachel expressed, causing an imdiate change in Mariam’s expression.
"Wait, why don’t you feel safe? Did sothing happen?" Mariam urgently requested, displaying genuine concern. She had developed a fondness for Rachel and her crew, knowing that if Rachel felt unsafe, it could extend to the others.
She couldn’t afford to lose them.
"There’s this man who has started harassing , but it’s not my safety that worries —it’s my sister’s. I can’t let anything happen to her, or I would never forgive myself," Rachel sounded genuinely worried, but Mariam was determined to prevent any harm.
"I promise you, I won’t let anything happen to you or your sister again. I have people watching over her for this very reason," Mariam assured, revealing that she had taken precautions long before Rachel even realized it.
Mariam understood that protecting the children should be their top priority. It was no secret that Carl had taken an interest in Rachel’s seventeen-year-old sister. Therefore, any harm that ca to her wouldn’t just affect Rachel but also Mariam’s son.
Though it seed like Mariam was doing it for Rachel, the reality was that she did it for er son’s sake.
"You did?" Rachel asked, clearly surprised by Mariam’s proactive asures.
Mariam knew that there might be a few troublemakers within the community, but as long as they didn’t break any rules, there was little that could be done. She couldn’t risk stirring up unnecessary tension, considering the current state of the community. She didn’t need to explain this to Rachel, as she could sense the relief in Rachel the mont she heard that steps had been taken to ensure Lillian’s safety.
Even Corey wouldn’t be so reckless, and this imdiate ease brought Rachel a sense of comfort. She could finally breathe easier.
-
Lillian led a relatively quiet life, not engaging much in social activities despite the presence of kids her age.
She lacked knowledge about social interaction and understood that her straightforward nature might not appeal to others. Letting out a sigh, she hadn’t ventured outside the house, yet she could sense eyes on her. Soone was watching, but she knew it was just the security. Jason, one of the community’s highest-ranking individuals, should handle such matters easily, but she hadn’t seen Bella in a while.
"In a zombie apocalypse, and what I fear is interacting with people my age," Lillian expressed, sighing in disbelief. Taking a step outside to breathe in so fresh air, she acknowledged that she couldn’t stay cooped up indoors forever.
Lillian decided to take a walk and noticed that the area seed sowhat deserted, although it wasn’t anything new.
People were starting to relax, and there wasn’t much work to be done, allowing them the freedom to rest.
Lillian had one person in mind whom she wanted to befriend, a boy nad Mark. Mark was approximately eighteen years old but carried himself with a maturity beyond his years. Lillian observed that he, like her, preferred to be alone, which naturally attracted her to him.
She wondered what kind of person he was but hesitated to get close, fearing that he might pose a threat. Nonetheless, the fact that she bothered to learn his na was a rarity for Lillian, as she rarely knew anyone’s na.
Mark always seed to be working on the farm, even when there was no pressing task at hand.
He always found sothing to do, as if he feared idleness and constantly needed to occupy his mind with work. Lillian found herself on the farmland, and as expected, Mark was already there, imrsed in his work. Mark had an average appearance, standing tall at 6’0", which was impressive for soone his age.
However, Lillian couldn’t help but wonder what demons he might be hiding.
Recognizing this pattern, Lillian felt fear because she knew that whatever demons Mark carried, they could consu her if awakened.
She had her own traumas to deal with and lacked the capacity and necessary skills to shoulder soone else’s burdens. Mark’s eyes t hers, and Lillian instinctively looked away in that mont.
"Why did I look away?" she pondered to herself, but Mark didn’t seem bothered and resud his work. He was preparing the soil for apple trees they planned to add to their list of edibles.
However, there was no rush to till the soil just yet. Lillian realized that she needed to give this interaction a chance, despite all the chaos happening in the world. She had to gather her courage and face the situation head-on.
Approaching Mark, who continued working without acknowledging her presence, Lillian called out,
"You’re Mark, right?" Mark glanced at her but didn’t stop working.
"That’s right, am I in trouble?" he replied.
"No, I just wanted to know why you’re working so much when you could be resting, that’s all," Lillian asked curiously.
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