Chapter 2: Chapter 2

Erin sat on a stump a few meters away from the house. She dunked a rag into the bucket of lukewarm water and scrubbed herself off before raising the bucket and dumping it over her head. She had not stripped naked, as there was little privacy in the colony. Reaching for a towel, she dried herself and stood up from the stump, walking up the skinny dirt path toward the house. 

 

“Oh. Erin.” She looked over to see Scout on the porch of the house, likely about to knock on the door. “I was just looking for you.”

 

“What’s up, Scout?” Erin jogged up the stairs and pushed past Scout and into the house. Scout followed after her toward Erin’s bedroom.

 

“I--I…” She trailed off, causing Erin to look back at her to see her nervously gripping her arm.

 

“Are you alright, Scout?” Erin turned to face her fully in concern.

 

“You’re going to leave soon, right?”

 

Erin nodded. “I need to get changed and head out.”

 

Scout’s eyes cast downward as she scuffed her boots on the wood floor. She finally spoke again, this time in a whisper. “Can I come?”

 

“No. No way. Not to Denver.” Erin’s voice became stern.

 

“Come on.” Scout pouted. “I’m older now, and I can fight better now. How am I supposed to do any better if you won’t let me come and learn?” Scout became more passionate as she spoke. “What if something bad happens, and I need to protect Skye and Bailey, and Rylan?” 

 

Erin sighed, putting her arm against the wall. She tucked her head into the crook of the arm as she made her decision. Scout watched her expectantly. 

 

“Fine.” Erin finally looked up as she gave her answer. “But you listen to every word I say. No exceptions.”

 

“Yes!” Scout jumped, fist-bumping the air.

 

“Go put something else on, Scout. Boots with treads, long pants, and pull your hair back.”

 

“Sure thing!” Scout yelled out once more before running out of the house. Erin sighed before turning back to her room.

---

The two pull up to the gates of a large fortified area. Tall watchtowers surround the property. Scout counted at least eight of them in total. The area around the walls was quiet. Scout wondered if the people behind the wall did a good job of clearing out the infected.

 

“We were sent by an NCR caravan.” Erin yelled up to the tower. “Mercenaries were requested.”

 

Promptly, the gate opened. A couple of people with guns came to greet them, directing Erin in front of the old hospital. The two rode towards the large building, driving slowly. Erin couldn’t help but notice how well the colony was doing. Strong walls, crops in the fields as far as the walls go, horses roaming in a large field, healthy-looking people walking around doing their duties. She thought to herself how she wouldn’t mind moving her family to a colony like this, where life could be easier for them. But she would always worry about the colony being a bigger target compared to their small colony. She eventually came to the conclusion that she wouldn’t want to move them, even if winters in the mountains are hard.

 

Erin turned the bike off as they arrived at the front of the hospital. She waited for Scout to dismount before swinging her leg over. “Stay with the bike until I get this figured out.” She stepped towards the reinforced doors before stopping. “Show me you have your pistol.”

 

“I already did.” Scout pouts.

 

“Humor me, Scout.” Scout sighed before lifting up her shirt, showing off the pistol in its holster. “Thank you.” Erin continued towards the door where two armed guards stood. She repeated herself to the guard about being a mercenary before they opened the door and allowed her in. 

 

“I’ll show you the way.” One of the guards started walking, leading Erin.

 

“You’ve done a good job with this place. I’m impressed.” She admitted to the guard, who faced her with a smile.

 

“Our leaders were quick with setting this place up.” He nodded. “After the outbreak…well, I suppose after the quarantine zones fell. This place was a hospital before the outbreak. We cleared most of the rooms for apartments, but there are still medical spaces. It holds over a thousand alone. We also have a sister colony down by the dam that provides power to us.”

 

“Sounds like a sweet deal.”

 

“It is.” He chuckled before stopping. “Here we are.” The guard motioned towards a door.

 

“Would you be willing to watch my bike and send the girl next to it up here?”

 

“Can do.” He nodded.

 

Erin watched him walk off before opening the door and walking in. There were men already there, some heavily armored and prepared for a fight. Erin walked over and pulled out a chair before sitting down. There are two maps set out on the table, one of downtown Denver and one of an amusement park.

 

“Who invited the cunt?” One of the men cursed loud enough for her to hear before spitting on the linoleum. 

 

Erin ignored him, standing up from the chair to inspect the maps. After a few moments, Scout and another man in NCR garb come in. The both of them are smiling. Erin pushed a chair out for Scout who readily took it.

 

“You must be Erin.” The NCR man held his hand out to her. “I’m Hsu.”

 

Erin shakes his hand before sitting back down. “You’re correct. Erin.”

 

Hsu walks to the other end of the table and takes a seat at the head spot that had been left open. “This’ll probably be all that show up, but if any show up later, I’ll give them the same information.”

 

“We can’t bring some damned little girl with us.” One of the men turned angrily toward Erin. He was mostly bald with a large black beard, looking like a pre-Fall biker.

 

“She can handle herself.” Erin spoke calmly, looking over at the man. “She’ll be a help, not a hindrance.”

 

“Oh, so I’m supposed to trust a bitch just because she uses big words?” The man growled, making his sexism all too apparent. 

 

“Please.” Hsu spoke up. “Calm down and take a seat so we can go over the job.”

 

“Fine.” The man spat once more, glaring at Erin before taking a seat.

 

“We should do some quick introductions first. My name is Hsu. I am a Lieutenant in the New California Republic. Your turn.” He turned towards the bald hyper-salivating man.

 

“You must be shittin’ me. This isn’t Kindergarten.” Erin’s eyes scanned over him, noting an old-looking scar. Maybe even older than the infection.

 

“Blake.” The man sitting next to him raised his voice. “And he’s Jarett. We’re brothers who work throughout No Man’s Land.” Erin couldn’t help but to notice the age difference and dissimilar features, leading her to wonder if they were actually related. 

 

“I’m Buster. I’m a bounty hunter. I often work for the NCR.” The man next to him leaned forwards on the table. Erin noticed his prosthetic arm, causing him to chuckle as he watched Erin. “No need to worry. I can still handle a gun fine.” 

 

Erin nodded before looking at the next man who spoke. “Raze.” He spoke with a large smile on his face. “I’m the best mercenary this side of the Mississippi and the other side, for that matter.”

 

Erin raised an eyebrow at him but kept her comments to herself. Everyone turned to Scout and her, waiting for their introductions. “Erin and Scout.” She simply explained, leaving it at that.

 

“Great.” Hsu smiled. “Let’s get on with the details now.”

---

Erin and Scout were eating their provided dinner in the food court. The food wasn’t special, just some beef and gravy on toast, but enough to give them strength for tomorrow. Erin watched as Scout scarfed the food down. “Slow up, Scout, or you’ll get a stomach ache.”

 

Scout only stopped to stick her tongue out at Erin before resuming her eating. Erin looked up to see Hsu sit down next to them. He set a jar of honey and crackers in front of them with a smile. “My mom lives here. She’s a beekeeper and makes the best honey. I was wondering if you’d like some.”

 

Scout's eyes widened as she quickly opened up the lidded jar and started tasting the sweet substance. She muttered a thank you in between breaths.

 

“How’re you in the NCR if your mom lives here? Or how did your mom end up out here instead of the NCR?” Erin asked as she dipped a cracker in the honey.

 

“I joined before the outbreak.” He shrugged. “I’m just lucky my troop is often in this area, allowing me to see my mom.”

 

“Must be nice.” 

 

The two chat as Scout eats until her stomach hurts. Hsu walked them up to their apartment, saying a goodnight to the both of them before disappearing down the dimly lit hallway.

 

“Nice digs.” Erin looked around the converted hospital room. “Better than most places I sleep on the road.”

 

Scout let out a groan, letting Erin know she was in no mood for anything but sleep. Erin smiled slightly and guided her to the bed, removing her boots before tucking her in.

---

 In the early morning, they rode the lent horses through the suburbs of Denver, headed towards the amusement park. Erin noted how few infected they’ve seen so far, wondering if the colony goes out on hunting parties to clear the infected. A dangerous but useful tactic. Erin turned her attention toward the draft horses pulling the wagon in front of them. They’re larger, more sturdy horses without the same speed as a normal horse, lending them well to the carriage pulling and, as far as Hsu told them, they need the extra carrying power.

 

“Erin. Look.” Scout pointed to their left at an aged billboard next to the aquarium. “It says you can meet mermaids!”

 

“Not real ones.” Erin answers, shaking her head. “Just people dressed in costumes.”

 

“Still would be cool.” Scout said under her breath, not wanting to admit to Erin she thinks they could be real. After all, zombies were once thought to be just a myth. 

 

The band of horses takes a turn into the parking lot and up to the gates of the amusement park. There is little fanfare for such a cool place, or at least Scout thinks so. She would kill to be able to have seen something like this running. Everyone dismounted their horse and approached the steel gating, keeping the place locked down.

 

Hsu walked over to the gate and tried to pull it open to no avail before turning towards the group. “It looks like it’s locked from the inside. Look for some way to get in there.”

 

They begin looking around before a gunshot rings out, causing everyone to look in that direction. Raze ducked into the shot-out window and slipped inside.

 

“You okay?” Erin asked a cringing Scout after she removed her hands from her ears.

 

Scout nodded. “I guess.”

 

“Let’s hope no infected decide to show up because of that.” Erin shook her head. 

 

A few moments later, there was another loud noise as the gates were pulled up. Everyone helps as they get the horses inside before propping it open with a rolling souvenir stand. They began looking around the area, getting a feel of their surroundings. Scout pulled at Erin’s arm, showing her a cache of t-shirts she found collecting dust.

 

You are reading story The Divided States of America at novel35.com

“Can I take a few for the kids?”

 

“Take whatever, as long as you can carry it.” Erin shrugged, knowing a few toys won’t slow them down. Scout goes through the store, picking up things that are still in decent shape and putting them into the saddlebags.

 

They head back outside, now on the other side of the fence, after getting the other gate open. In front of them was what they came for: the carousel. 

 

“Remember. We need the one with the two white horses and an attached carriage.” Hsu began walking around before stopping. “Here. This one.”

 

“This shit is boring.” Raze scoffed, leaning lazily against the wall as the rest of the mercenaries headed over to Hsu. “I should be off somewhere else risking my life, fighting off a thousand zeds by myself.”

 

“Come on.” Hsu spoke up, turning the mercenaries’ attention back to him. “Let’s get it off and loaded up in the wagon.” 

 

They take the saws and begin cutting away at the poles to free it from the base. “Why does someone want this?” Jarrett asks, his voice strained.

 

“Some rich guy said his wife used to ride these when she was a little girl. She always loved them, and this is where they met. She’s dying now, apparently, and wants to give them as a gift.” Hsu explained as they continued working. “Seems kinda sweet to me.”

 

“We’re getting paid, so no reason to complain.” Erin shrugged slightly, glancing over at Scout, who was currently taking in the sight of the large roller coasters around her.

 

“‘Nough talking.” Blake barked. “Let’s just get this damn thing out of here.”

---

Everyone let out a sigh of relief as they loaded the last part of the carriage. Erin wiped the sweat from her forehead with her shirt. Scout noticed the men’s eyes on her as she did, a shiver running down her spine.

 

“We should search the area while we’re here. See if there’s anything the colony should know about.” Hsu suggested. “We should split up.”

 

“Come on.” Erin placed her hand on Scout’s shoulder, walking away from the group once they decided who would go in which direction.

 

“This place is awesome, Erin. I wish I could’ve been here when it was working.” Scout smiled widely as she frantically looked around her, wanting to see everything she could.

 

“Wait.” Erin put her hand out, stopping Scout, who looked in front of them, seeing the infected Erin was alerting her of. Erin took out her knife, prompting Scout to do the same. “Remember what to do?”

 

“Yeah.” Scout quietly answered. ”Kick them in the knee, stab them in the brain.”

 

Erin nodded, giving her a thumbs up before signaling her to move. They approached the first two infected and easily took them down with their strategy. Erin didn’t need to kick their knees, though, as she’s as tall as or taller than the hunched-over infected.

 

“Nice job.” Erin complimented Scout as the last one fell. She wiped her knife on her arm bracer before putting it back away. 

 

They continued on their path, stopping at a large colorful rollercoaster. Erin continued on as Scout stopped, staring up at the ride, causing Erin to turn around and question her. 

 

“I wanna go.”

 

“That’s not really looking for supplies.” Erin tried to reason before she shook her head and smiled. “But alright. Come on.”

 

They hop over the chain, followed by the railing up to the loading area. Scout touched the seats, tempted to climb in, before looking back at Erin.

 

“I wonder what they were like. Before the Fall.”

 

“Never go the chance to see them for myself.” Erin shook her head, looking away at the river on the other side of the fence. “Mom never had enough time or money for shit like this.” When she looked back, Scout was already gone, walking up the tight passage up the rollercoaster track.

 

Erin signed before following her, making it to the top before they stopped. Scout sat down, her legs dangling off the edge, stories above the ground. From there, they had a perfect view of the fallen city, one you couldn’t get anywhere else.

 

“If this thing breaks and we die, you know we’ll never hear the end of it from your brother.”

 

Scout laughed, before becoming serious again. She sighed and looked over at the city dramatically.

 

Erin leaned against the railing next to her, looking into the distance. “What’s up, Scout?”

 

“I…finally got my period. You weren’t there, so I told Skye. She was so excited about it she even baked me a cake. A terrible one. And then told half the colony.”

 

Erin shook her head. “I’m sorry, Scout. Skye’s always been a gossip. Use to tell mom every time I did something, just to get me grounded.” Erin looked down at Scout, touching the top of her head gently. “She shouldn’t’ve done that. It’s your private information, and I’m sorry she shared it.” Erin paused for a moment, sighing. “Be careful now, Scout. With sex, I mean.”

 

“Sex.” Scout stuck her tongue out in disgust.

 

Erin laughed, ruffling Scout’s hair slightly. “That’s not such a bad attitude to have. You don’t want to make the same mistake Skye has.”

 

“I know.”

 

“Alright.” Erin nodded, removing her hand. “I’m going to search below. Come down when you’re ready.” She climbed down and walked around the surrounding area, careful not to go too far without Scout. Erin found game booths and began to go through them, looking for anything of value, seeing nothing but decaying stuffed toys until she found a package of stars that claimed to glow in the dark. She took them and stuffed them away, planning to give them to Scout later.

 

Scout finds Erin, and they start back to where the horses are, having finished their search. Partway there, they hear yelling and run over to find Raze yelling at an old man, spread out in front of double doors, trying to block the entrance from him. Blake and Jarett are there too. Jarett is trying to pull Raze away. Erin glanced over at Scout, seeing her slowly pulling her pistol out.

 

“What’s going on?” Erin turned her attention back to the men. She was hit with the rotting smell of flesh, covering her face with her shirt.

 

“This freak has hundreds of infected in there.” Raze points towards the door.

 

“Sure smells like it.” Erin nods.

 

“Please.” The old man begged. “Just leave. I’m not doing anything wrong. I just care for them. Feed them. Animals. They’re still humans somewhere in there. They’re no harm to anyone. Just leave. Please.”

 

“He’s crazy!” Raze yelled again. “They’re dangerous! He’s just waiting to release them.”

 

“He’s right.” Hsu calmly speaks as he approaches, having likely heard the previous parts of the conversation. “If there are as many as he says in there, it could be a risk to the colony.”

 

“We’re in no place to fight that many infected.” Erin pointed out.

 

“Cunt’s right.” Blake agreed.

 

“Fuck this.” Raze bolted from Jarett’s grasp. Without a moment’s passing, he shot the old man in the chest. The sound seemed to cause the infected to get agitated as the door crashed open, tossing the man away from it. The infected began to rush out.

 

“Run.” Erin grabbed Scout’s shoulder as everyone began to run. They could hear the old man screaming as he was being torn apart. Most of the group had a gap between them and the infected, but Raze lagged behind, getting grabbed by one of the zombies. He yells out as one bit into his leg.

 

Erin stopped to shoot, but Scout had beaten her to it, killing to infected on top of him. Buster helped him up, putting Raze’s arm over his shoulder, and continued running as fast as Raze could hobble along. They finally arrived at the horses, which were now spooked, tossing their heads and pulling at their leads. 

 

“Leave the carriage.” Hsu yelled out as the others began to mount the horses. Buster helps Raze get onto his horse, pushing him up, while Erin searched for Scout, finding her sawing away at the horses’ harness. Erin quickly dismounted and helped her cut the leather binding for the horses, but they were stopped as the other horse got bit into.

 

“Come on!” Erin grabbed Scout's arm and ran for their horses, pushing her up onto the horse’s back. They take off after the rest of the group. As Scout looked back, she informed Erin the horse that wasn’t free was being torn apart, letting them get away. Erin tells her not to look, as there is nothing they can do now. 

---

Erin dismounted her horse now that they were in the safety of the colony’s walls. She walked over to help Scout off the horse, putting a hand on her shoulder afterwards. “Are you alright?” Erin asked softly. 

 

Scout nodded slightly, looking up at Erin with saddened eyes. “That was scary.”

 

“I know. But you did good, Scout.”

 

She smiled slightly, but it quickly faded as she looked in the direction of Raze, who was being rushed off on a gurney. Jarrett was holding back an angry Blake whose looks could kill. 

 

Erin walked over to Hsu, who was simply observing the situation somberly. “We’re leaving. I expect my fuel tank to be filled already. And I’m not coming back here. Find someone else to get that damned wagon but keep some green kid off the job next time.” Erin angrily motioned toward the hospital where Raze disappeared into. 

 

“Erin. I’m sorry.” Hsu raised his hand but promptly dropped it. “Your motorcycle was fueled. And I hope the best for you and Scout.”

---

Erin and Scout drove through their home colony’s gate and park. They both get off the bike. Scout starts towards her camper, but Erin stops her. 

 

“You did well today, Scout. Truly. You deserve a shower.”

 

Scout smiled slightly, nodding. “Okay.”

 

“I also got something special for you.” Erin pulls the glow-in-the-dark stars out of her inner jacket pocket and hands them to an amazed Scout. 

 

Scout quickly hugged Erin before taking the package from her and running off to her bus. Erin took a deep breath and ran her fingers through her hair. She thought to herself how she could use a good long sleep before she set off tomorrow again. 

 

On her way to the house, she is greeted by a few people asking her how the trip went and how Scout did. She kept the details to herself, telling them she did well. Erin finally made it to the house and opened the front door to see rice strung about the floor. She took in the scene for a moment, noting her niece and nephew playing in the rice while an opened bag was in the corner, tipped over. 

 

Erin angrily called out to Skye but got no response. She checked the small house but still couldn’t find her. Erin deftly picked the children up and headed out of the house. She stopped one of the women and asked if she knew where Skye was. She said she went to Hector’s house a few hours ago and to check there maybe. Erin thanked her before heading in that direction, stopping at his door. She knocked on the door with her foot and called out to Skye but got no response. She tried a second time but, after no response, ended up kicking down the flimsy door. 

 

Erin found them in the middle of sex, Skye naked on top of him on the pullout couch. 

 

“How could you leave your children unattended for hours?” Erin angrily asked. “You need to grow up, Skye! Take some responsibility!”

 

“What?! As if you’re one to talk!” Skye angrily scowls at Erin. “Should I just go run off like you did? Fuck some rich dude?! Be constantly high and drunk while your little sister takes care of everything?! Would that be helpful?! Would that be responsible?!”

 

Erin scowled gently, setting her niece and nephew down. “I’ll be back.” She walks away from the house and towards the motorcycle.

---

 

You can find story with these keywords: The Divided States of America, Read The Divided States of America, The Divided States of America novel, The Divided States of America book, The Divided States of America story, The Divided States of America full, The Divided States of America Latest Chapter