Chapter 19 #2
With that exciting revelation, he surges forward. I follow, hot on his heels, and judging from the happy squeals and laughter behind me, the rest of the group aren’t far behind. My heart pounds against my chest, and my body is practically brimming with barely contained elation.
That last mile is both the longest and shortest mile of my life.
Everyone is practically running, chatting and laughing, and I even hear Harlow bark excitedly from beside Alex.
The woods grow thicker around us and the road changes from tarmac to a worn dirt and gravel road that’s slick with mud.
It feels like we’re entering a completely different world.
And then we find it.
Haven.
A huge metal and wood gate stretches across the dirt road, blocking the view of the settlement beyond.
Painted across the gate in blue paint is the name of the place, Haven, scrawled in neat handwriting.
On either side are lookout towers, similar to the ones the Scourge camp had, only sturdier and with a better roof and more cover.
Several people move in the towers, and dark metal glints in the winter sun.
A huge wooden wall stretches out from the gate and disappears into the thick trees.
“Stop!” a voice barks from the left tower, their deep voice easily carrying on the wind. “State your name and purpose!”
Rhys halts, and everyone else follows.
“Anthony, is that you?” Theo’s joyful voice comes from my left, startling me.
I didn’t even hear him move up to me. Alex is on his other side, a massive smile on his face, and when our eyes meet, his blue eyes are sparkling with glee. Harlow prances around us, sneezing and yipping with excitement.
“Holy shit. Theo?” the voice—Anthony—shouts back.
“In the flesh! Alex and Rhys are here, too!”
“Where the fuck have you three been? We were expecting you back over a week ago!”
“Well—”
“Can we get inside before discussing this?” Rhys calls, cutting Theo off before he can answer. “There are about thirty of us out here that could do with a good meal, a shower and some rest.”
“Oh shit. Yeah, let me just open up for you.” Footsteps pound on wood, and a moment later, the gates creak open, revealing Haven.
I don’t know what I expected from what little Theo’s told me about it, but I wasn’t expecting the sprawling complex of caravans, cabins and other buildings. Or the view of the murky blue water of the Bristol Channel to peek from between the buildings and trees. Or the sheer amount of life here.
People—so many people—wander from buildings, chatting and laughing while carrying out their tasks.
Children scream and shout as they dart between the adults with pure, unfiltered joy on their chubby faces.
Dogs bark as they chase after the children with wagging tails and tongues lolling out of the sides of their mouths.
A cat lies sprawled in the sunshine on the decking of a caravan, completely content.
In the distance are the snorts and whinnies of horses, the low mooing of cows, and the bleating of goats and sheep.
It’s almost overwhelming just how much activity there is. And unlike the night we spent at the Lodge, there’s no immediate warning signs that this is an unsafe place. It’s warm, inviting, and teeming with happiness and excitement.
“Holy shit,” I whisper as I stare, unable to do anything else. It’s like the apocalypse never touched this place, causing it to take after its namesake.
Haven.
“Amazing, isn’t it?” Alex says as he moves to flank my other side and drapes an arm over my shoulders.
I nod, still dazed.
“I’m still blown away by how much it reminds me of life before the apocalypse.
No death, no zombies, no bone-deep fear and wondering if you’re going to survive the night.
Just safety and knowledge that you’re going to have food, fresh water, and a safe, comfortable place to sleep.
” While there’s wonder in his voice, there’s something else in there.
I tear my gaze away from the view of Haven sprawled in front of us to look up at him.
While there’s still a sparkle of joy in his eyes, there’s also a sadness and longing that wasn’t there before as he lingers on a couple laughing as they cling to one another.
And then it hits me. All the things he mentioned are the bare minimum of what a human needs to survive, not thrive.
I reach over to his hand and thread my fingers through his. “But there’s also no love or pure joy,” I say softly as I squeeze his fingers. Sure, he has Rhys and Theo, but the love you experience from friends and family is different from the love from a partner.
I know that better than anyone.
His eyes flick to me, and the sadness dissipates as his lips curl upward into a soft smile, displaying those dimples I love so much. “Until now.” He leans down and kisses me gently, pouring every drop of emotion into it.
I kiss him back with the same intensity, my hand fisted into his jacket to pull him closer.
That this man, who has been hurt so deeply by someone in the past, is willing to give me his heart fills me with a sense of awe and a sliver of doubt.
But I shove that emotion to the side before it can take root.
While I’m terrified of not being good enough, I make a silent promise to make myself worthy of his trust.
And when the time is right, hopefully his love, too.
“As much as I enjoy the sight of you two kissing, I also want a hot shower and clothes that aren’t soaked through and just this side of clean,” Theo says, his loud, amused voice cutting through my thoughts.
My eyes fly open and my cheeks burn as several Haven residents cast curious and confused glances over to us.
Alex pulls back with a huff of laughter and shakes his head at his best friend. “Why don’t you shout that a bit louder? I don’t think everyone in Haven quite heard it.”
Theo’s silver eyes gleam with mischief. “Oh really? Well—”
“If you ever want to see me naked again, I suggest you keep your mouth shut,” I say sharply, cutting him off before he can alert the entire community about our unorthodox relationship.
His mouth snaps shut, much to Alex’s amusement.
“I didn’t realise it’d be that easy to shut him up,” he says with a chuckle as he pulls me into his chest and presses a kiss to the top of my head. “You’ll have to remember that threat the next time he becomes annoying again.”
Theo makes an indignant noise. “I’m never annoying.”
“I very much disagree,” Alex shoots back. “As someone who’s been your friend for over two decades, you’re probably one of the most annoying people I know.”
“Ollie,” Theo whines as he pouts at me. “Alex is being mean to me.”
I roll m eyes. “Consider it payback for ganging up on me earlier.”
“Earlier? What happened earlier?” Alex asks.
“We didn’t gang up on you.” Theo crosses his arms over his chest. “We were merely trying to open your eyes to what everyone and their mother can see.”
Alex arches an eyebrow. “And what was that?”
“That Rhys and Ollie are constantly eye-fucking one another and they need to throw this idea of being friends into the bin where it belongs and fuck already.”
I rub my forehead and smother a groan. “And like I told you before; we’re friends and happy being only friends.” I look over at Alex, expecting him to nod and back me up.
Except he’s not.
He’s staring at me with a knowing look. “Ollie…”
“Et tu, Brute?” And here I thought Alex would be on my side. Traitor.
He winces and rubs the back of his neck. “He’s kind of right.”
I huff and shake my head. “You’re both never seeing me naked again.” I walk away from them and towards the gate.
“Now let’s not be hasty, princess!” Theo calls, sounding a little panicked.
“Ollie, sweetheart, don’t say things you don’t mean,” Alex says, also sounding nervous.
A small smile curls on my lips. That’ll teach them.
I turn as soft hoofbeats grow closer behind me. Elise steers a tired-looking Bean towards me, relief stark on her face. Ketchup must have already flown off. “Thank you so much for letting me ride Bean,” she says as she stops the mare in front of me.
Bean shoves her nose into my chest and blows out a breath. I huff out a laugh and stroke her nose. “No need to thank me. You’ve taken great care of her the entire way.” It’s made my life a hell of a lot easier since I can trust Elise to look after the mare.
“She’s a great horse.” A soft smile spreads across her face as she pats Bean’s neck. “I’m going to see if anyone knows where the fields are so she can have a good rest and grass.”
“Thanks, Elise,” I say as she steers Bean away from me and nudges her onward into Haven.
I follow them. As I step through the gate, I notice my brother standing off to the side, a stunned expression on his face as he glances around the community. I sidle up to him and bump my shoulder against his.
“You okay?” I ask him softly as I watch Harlow dart forward to sniff anything and everything within reach, her stubby tail wagging so hard her entire bum is wiggling.
“I knew the settlement was big from what the others told me of it, but I wasn’t expecting this.”
I nod. “Same. It’s so different from the cottage.”
He turns to me, his expression suddenly serious.
“I think I should bring Lauren here, especially with a kid on the way.” His eyes flick over to where a group of children splash and play in the puddles while laughing and cheering loudly.
“They might actually have a good life here… We might have a good life here.”
I already knew I was staying here with the guys, but to know my brother and Lauren will be living here too… It’s a dream come true. All the people I care for safe and in one place.
“When do you want to leave to go get her? Tomorrow?” I ask, already planning the route in my head.
He nods. “Tomorrow sounds—”
“Tobias?” a familiar feminine voice shouts, cutting him off.
Both of us whip our heads to the side just as someone barrels into him, laughing and crying as they cling to him. Both of us stand there, staring in shock as Lauren clings to him.
Tobias is the one who reacts first. He snaps his arms around her and hauls her up against him. She immediately wraps her legs around his waist and clings to him like a koala while sobbing into his chest.
“Lauren, babe, I can’t believe you’re here,” Tobias croaks as he buries his face into her neck. “How did you get here?”
“Andy and I left home with the ponies and headed here a week after you disappeared. We figured we’d be safer here than there in case… you know…” She sucks in a shuddering breath. “But you’re here and you’re alive!”
I back away from them as they descend into desperate, sobbing kisses.
It’s a relief to know that she’s unharmed and we won’t have to leave Haven to go grab her or my ponies.
While I’m under no illusion that I’ll stay behind the tall walls of Haven forever, the idea of diving straight back into the dangers of the outside world has my stomach in knots.
I need some time to rest and decompress.
As I walk further into the settlement, my eyes taking it all in with awe, a hand grabs my shoulder and spins me around. A moment later I’m enveloped into a massive bear hug.
“I can’t believe you did it,” Andy says, his voice sounding suspiciously thick. “You actually saved my daughter and your brother and brought them back home.”
He squeezes me hard, causing me to wheeze as he forces the air out of my lungs.
“Can’t… breathe…” I pat his arm.
“Shit, sorry,” he says as he loosens his grip and smiles sheepishly down at me.
“No worries. I should be thanking you for getting Lauren and my ponies here safely.”
“Consider us even.” He steps back and looks to the left, his face softening.
I follow his gaze to see Rachel holding and kissing the shit out of a tall, willowy woman with straight black hair and almond-shaped eyes. That must be her partner, Tamsin.
A contented smile spreads across my lips as relief settles in my bones.
For the first time in a long time, I feel settled. Sure, the threat of the Scourge and their allies is still there, and the zombies are still outside the walls, but my family and those I care about are all here. They’re all finally safe and so am I.