Almost Paradise

Mina walked through the forest her bag on her back. She had never really liked going so far into the forest, but it was getting harder to find food close to home. Mina walked until she noticed a few traps that someone had set. They looked like they hadn't been checked so maybe they just decided to move on. A lot of people did that anymore. They were just drifters and they never really stayed in one place. Mina smiled when she found a trap that had a rabbit in it. She grabbed it and untied it from the trap. She heard something behind her and turned to see a guy coming towards her. He did not look very happy. "You have a problem?" She asked. She had learned quickly that if you didn't stand up for yourself in this new world that you would get walked all over. Mina glared at him as he came closer to her. She really hoped it didn't end in a fight.

---

Matt exhaled heavily as he leaned against the wall. He was really getting tired of getting the shit beat out of him for someone else's amusement. Though how could they expect him to win if they weren't giving him food. Hell they barely gave him water anymore and he was sure he would die soon. Matt knew that Brian and Johnny wouldn't quit looking for him though. He frowned when he heard a woman's voice and the asshole who he hated talking back and forth. He went to get to his feet, noticing the blood that was on his knuckled and his fingers. He needed a shower and it was something he really missed since the world became so fucked up.

[Sorry this is terrible. I am horrible at starting ]

@ Bongs Before Bibles

@ Gunslinger;
Brian rubbed the dirt off on his jeans as he stood, shaking his head he headed to the next trap he'd set. It had been a week with no food found, if he didn't get anything now it would only mean the worst for him and Johnny. Moving wasn't an option right now, if he could have then they would have already went looking for Matt. Following the path he'd marked stopping his eyes locking on a woman's back. He noticed she was messing with his trap. Doing his best not to loose his temper he headed straight for her. When she turned to glare at him he was slightly taken back, but noticed the rabbit in her hand. "That's my trap your stealing from." He glared at her. "So you're the reason I haven't been getting anything." He scoffed, "can't work for your own so you've got to steal from people." He shook his head, hating the fact that they had to fight over things now.

---

Bree smiled down at the kid hugging her leg. "I'll only be gone for a few days." She told him, before moving him off her. Then climbing up on her horse, turning to Faith she smiled at the girl. "Make sure you keep the gate locked behind me, and unless it me shoot." She told her, before grabbing the rope that held the donkey. Taking off she started the long ride to the market.

Stepping off the horse she glared at the man before her. He was a fat squat man, and he always reeked of alcohol. She'd nearly stabbed him in the throat the first time they met. But since then they'd had a sort of an agreement she'd trade with him. "I've got some goods." She told him, before letting him lead the way through the small town. It always made her skin crawl and she never let her guard down. Keeping a tight hold on her reigns she stopped noticing a few items she needed. After collecting a few things she noticed he still didn't have the one thing she'd asked for. "I thought you were the man to get what I need." She growled out to him, placing the items she'd collected back down. "It looks like I'll take my business else where." She told him, moving like she was going to get on her horse. "Wait, I'll get it, in the mean why don't you take him." He jerked his head in the direction of a rather dirty and blood man. Her eyes lingered on him, wondering why he was offering to give her a person. "Now why would I want him?" She asked, knowing that she wasn't in the business of human trafficking. And even if a man would come in handy she didn't know if she could trust him around all the women and children she housed. "Use him how you see fit, I'll give him to you for free. A sign of good faith." He smirked. "Fine, but every shipment till I get what I want will be light." She told him. "So don't disappoint me." She told him, before letting him take the items off of her donkey.

"You." She addressed the man who was now her property, though that wouldn't last long. She watched as he gave her his attention. "Have a name?" She asked him, knowing that they needed to be on their way now. She wasn't wanting to get caught out after dark. She still had one stop left after all he hadn't gotten what she needed so she would have to get it else where.

Mina frowned when she heard what he accused her of, "Um excuse me? I haven't stolen anything from you. I just found this today. Perhaps you just have shitty trapping skills." She snapped back at him. She pulled away as he reached for the rabbit in her hand, "Sorry looks like you lose on this one. I found it first." She said. She didn't care how much bigger he was than her, she was not going to let him win. She rolled her eyes when he accused her of stealing, "Looks like you might want to take your own advice since you have nothing." she said before she started to walk away. She bit her bottom lip lightly as she heard him start following her again. Mina stopped and looked at him, "Go away." She said.

---

Matt couldn't believe what he was hearing when the guy offered to just give him to the girl like he was some kind of object. Then again anything would be better than being with that asshole. He looked at her when she asked him if he had a name, "Matt." He said. He felt the pain in his side every time he took a breath. "You?" He asked. He nodded when he said her name. He was glad that he was able to just get away from the guy. He moved with her, "Where exactly are we going?" He asked her. He hoped where ever they went had food and a place to clean off at. "That guys an asshole by the way. Why do you trade with him?" He asked once they were far enough away from the an. He understood that everyone was just out to help themselves though. She didn't care if he was being beat by the guy or used. Hell she might be just as bad.

@ Bongs Before Bibles

@ Gunslinger;
Brian scoffed at her comment about trapping, before pointing to the rabbit in her hands. A sign he obviously knew what he was doing. He watched as she turned and walked away, grumbling under his breath he knew he couldn't let her leave with this. He needed it, he'd been giving Johnny most of his food so he was going on day two without eating. So if he couldn't get the rabbit he might as well start digging himself a grave. "Hey." He grabbed her arm as she told him to go away. "Please." He pleaded with her, not one big on begging. But he couldn't let her steal his stuff, and if he had to hurt her it'd kill him inside. "My friend is badly hurt and trapping food is all I can do to survive right now, so please don't take it." He knew that she more than likely wouldn't believe him about Johnny, but he'd show her if he needed to. But he couldn't let himself stoop as low as to hit a woman.

---

"Bree" She informed him, "we need to leave now." She told him before walking out the way she came in. Her eyes never stopping as they took in her surroundings. The men here could easily hurt her, but she wasn't stupid. They needed her food the food she brought in, and they'd be lucky as hell if they found her farm with out following her. But they never seen anyone but her, and knew that she was always armed. So they hadn't been stupid yet to try anything with her. She waited till they were a ways away, before stopping and looking at him. "I'm going home, you can do whatever the fuck you want." She told him before climbing up on her horse. "And my business is none of your concern." She told him. She dug in her bag, before pulling out a piece of bread and some cheese. "It's not much, but here." She handed him the food. Watching as he nearly inhaled it, she could tell by the way he looked they weren't feeding him. "I don't do charity, if you come with me, you work for everything. Food, clothing, and you stay the hell away from the women and children." She warned him, knowing that she was talking about sexually.

Mina was surprised when he grabbed her, but looked at him. He seemed really desperate. She bit her bottom lip lightly as she thought about what she was going to do if she didn't take the rabbit back with her. Though he seemed like he needed it more. Mina worried about letting him have his way though because people had a tendency to take advantage of emotions anymore. She sighed, "What's wrong with him?" She asked, trying to see if he was telling the truth or not. She frowned as he went into detail, "Fine." She said, handing the rabbit back to him. "Congratulations you just took my food for the next few days." She said before she turned and started to walk away. She knew she had to find something before she could go back to her friend, but she didn't have it in her to let someone else die for her own personal gain.

---

Matt was glad when she gave him some food. He felt like he hadn't eaten in weeks. He raised an eyebrow when she mentioned him going with her. Anything would be better than traveling on his own. Hell he didn't even know where his friends were now. They might even be dead. He shook his head, "You don't have to worry about me doing that." He told her. He knew there was some fucked up people anymore and she had a right to me nervous about him tagging along. "I'll do whatever you want me to." He said. He felt like their journey took forever until they got to her farm. It actually looked like a decent place and it didn't look fucked up like everything else. "Thank you by the way." He said to her as they walked towards the house.

@ Bongs Before Bibles

@ Gunslinger;
Brian felt the weight of her question hit him in the chest. He sighed before launching into what happened to Johnny. "We were walking around that town about a mile from here and someone yelled. We took off and I don't know how or what exactly happened but he tripped and rolled down a hill. Once I got to him he was screaming his leg hurt. I did what I could but I'm not a doctor, the break was bad. He's been feverish and I can't move him." He told her, he smiled at her when she handed him the rabbit. "Thank you." He said, happiness seeping into him. Though she had to ruin it by putting him on a guilt trip. He watched as started to leave. "You don't have to go." He figured the least he could do was feed her after she gave him the food. "I mean there's enough of this guy that we can at least give you something to eat tonight." He offered.

---

Bree nodded at his response, before she took off towards the farm. She decided to take the shorter way home. The things she needed to get would have to wait until another day. As they neared the gate she let out a loud whistle, letting them know she was home. Dismounting she lead the horse and donkey into the now opened gate. She turned back to look at Matt. "Don't thank me yet." She told him before handing the animals off to Kyle, the fourteen year old seemed to do better with animals then humans. "Thanks sweet heart." She told him, then lead the way to the house. "There isn't enough room for everyone in the house, so you'll sleep in the barn with the others." They'd turned the upstairs loft into sizable sleeping area, they'd managed to get mattresses, pillows, and blankets from the abandoned houses close by. But it wasn't much it was a place to feel safe and at home. "Dinner should be just about ready to serve." She stopped at the back door. "There's a pump over there you can wash up a bit. I'll see if we've got anything that might fit you." She then turned and headed inside. She knew her uncle had been a big man, but he was more fat and sassy than anything. There might be a pair of overalls she could find. But his shirts might just do the trick. She smiled at Faith as she enter the place. "We've got ourselves another mouth to feed." She told the woman, knowing they had enough food, it was just keeping up with everyone. She nodded as the woman explained supper would be ready in about ten minutes. That had Bree heading up the stair and into her aunt and uncles bedroom. She opened the closet and started looking through the clothes. Before taking a hand full down stairs. "Okay." She started but stopped as she took in his shirtless body. Even though he wasn't well feed she could tell he'd been fit. "These may not fit right, but they should work till we can get you something made or find something."

Mina looked at him when he mentioned giving her food. She knew she had to take something back to her friend. "I would love that but I cant. I have my own friend waiting for me. Plus I cant go back to her with nothing." She told him. "If you want though I can come with you and check out your friends leg. I was a nurse before the world went to shit." She said. She didnt know why she felt the need to help this guy but she did.

---

Matt smirked, "Honestly anything is better than where I was before." He said. He walked over to where the water was and began to wash up some. It felt amazing as the cool water hit his skin. He frowned as he took in how messed up his hand were from fighting. He looked over as she spoke, taking the clothes from her, "Thank you." He said. "Did you want to show me where I will be sleeping?" He asked. He walked with her and he was glad to see no one was up there so he could change. "I will meet you at the house." He told her. He looked at the tshirt and immediately ripped the sleeves off of it. He was glad he had a fresh pair of Jean's. He pulled his boots on then walked out, finding her out on the porch. "So, how did you build this group of people?" He asked as he leaned against the banister.

@ Bongs Before Bibles

@ Gunslinger;
Brian smiled at her, "I would appreciate any help I can get with it." He knew that it hadn't set right, but he wasn't sure how to go about fixing it. But once she did that he'd have to feed her and her friend too. "Is your friend far from here?" He asked, "I mean there is enough to go around." He showed her the rabbit, maybe they could work around hiccup and be friends. He hoped she could fix Johnny. If that was the case then they could go and find Matt and then finally put this chapter behind them. He was missing his family now more than ever.

---

Bree nodded as he asked her to show him where he was sleeping. "You'll have to wait on the others to show you which bed you can have, but this is it." She told him as she entered the room. She nodded as he wished to be alone to change. Leaving the room she couldn't help but let her mind wondered. He was damn good looking, once you washed away the blood and dirt he cleaned up real nice. She sat on the porch once she made it back to the house looking over the field and the kids rushing around the yard. It hadn't always been this peaceful. Some of the kids were lucky she was close by when she stubble on them, others were old enough to take care of themselves for days. But once the food ran out no one knew what she did. And even though her parents forced her to do it over the summer and she hated every minute of it. All the stuff she'd learned came in handy. She looked up at Matt when he asked her about the people here. "I lived in Atlanta when people started dying. When I realized the chaos around me I got in my car and drove, till I ran out of gas. I ended up in some small town when I found those three wandering around the streets. I stole a car and they came with me. Then drove, as I past town and kids I couldn't leave them so I pick them up. Then I meet Faith and she and I finally made it here." She shrugged. "The others were strays like you, found out in the wilderness. We work well here." She stood and looked at him. "And I will kill you if you hurt any of them." She told him, knowing this was her family now, nothing and no one was going to hurt them.

Mina nodded, "She isnt far from here. If you want you can come with me and we can get her then head to your friend. My first aid kit is back there anyway." She said. She walked with him and once they got to where Hannah was she smiled. "Hey Hannah. I found food and we are going to help him." She said, pointing to the guy behind her. "Come to think of it I never got your name." She said laughing. "I'm Mina." She said as she grabbed her first aid kit.

--
Matt nodded, "I promise I am not going to hurt anyone. Honestly I am hoping I can find my friend eventually." He said. "We got separate and I have no idea if they are even alive anymore." He said. Matt was glad when he heard dinner was ready. He waited for everyone to get their food before he got his. He sat down and began to eat. He was so hungry he felt like he could eat for days.

@ Bongs Before Bibles

@ Gunslinger;
Brian nodded before following her back to her camp. He stopped in the door way as he noticed the girl just laying on a tatted couch. He wondered why she wasn't out helping look for food. He smiled when Mina introduced herself to him. "I'm Brian." He chuckled knowing they'd completely forgotten that part. He turned his head to the other girl and smiled when she stood, though her huffing and puffing gave him the impression she was rather lazy. He kept his opinions to himself but lead the way back to Johnny. Entering the place where they were sleeping, he was surprised at how close they were and never ran into each other before. "Hey man." He greeted Johnny looking at the groggy man. He knew he hated being laid up in bed, but he couldn't help it. "I got food," he sang, before throwing a thumb over his shoulder. "And guests." He chuckled, "Mina said she'd take a look at your leg." He told his friend, before moving over to the table. Dropping the rabbit down on it he started to skin it. Something he'd never would have imagined doing before, but he did it with skill.

---

Bree nodded when he talked about finding his friends. His friends were lucky to have a friend like him, one caring enough to go look for them. She was about to start asking questions when Faith stuck her head out the door a hollered for dinner. She smiled at the older lady before heading inside. She watched as everyone gathered around the tables in the kitchen and dinning room, glad there was enough room for one more. She helped Faith get the younger kids feed, before grabbing her a plate. "Is there going to be enough?" She questioned the woman, knowing that Matt hadn't eaten in days. Faith nodded before Making Matt a plate, she made sure it was heaping with food. They took care of each other, settling down at the table she listened to the children as they were excited to tell her all that she'd missed. "Well that sounds like fun." She teased the youngest Kate, she was five she was also one of the first she'd encountered. "Tomorrow it's back to work though." She told them all, knowing they would have to spend time harvesting some of the crop. "Kyle would you mind showing Matt where he can sleep tonight, get him a pillow and blanket." She watched as he nodded, he wasn't one for talking.

Mina smiled as she walked to Johnny. She pulled her first aid kit and looked over Johnny leg. She ran her hand down it and sighed, ""The break is really bad. I am going to have to reset it and it is going to hurt really bad." She explained. She looked at Johnny, "Okay on the count of three. One, two." She reset his leg and heard him scream. Mina made a splint for his leg and looked at Brian. "Make sure he keeps it elevated." She said. Mina pulled out a bottle of pills she swiped from a hospital. "Here." She said, handing him a pain pill. She got up and moved over to Brian as he finished skinning the rabbit. She watched as Hannah sat down and sighed.

--

Matt ate his food listening to the chatter around him. Everyone seemed to get along in their group. It was nice that they all had someone. When he finished eating he leaned back against his chair and relaxed. He knew he was going to be working hard the next day. Matt got up when Kyle moved over to him the headed to where he would be sleeping. Matt was glad to have an actual bed.

@ Bongs Before Bibles

@ Gunslinger;
Brian was surprised she'd set his leg when she did, he figured they could at least eat and discuss what they were going to do. But he knew that times were hard and they needed people to take action. He was just glad she was able to do so. "Thank you, really you have no idea what this means to me." He noticed Johnny had passed out due to the pain. He set the pills aside before deboning the rabbit. "So how do you two know each other?" He asked wondering why they were even friends. He could tell that Hannah completely depended on Mina. And she wasn't the normal type of person he ran into out here.

---

Bree smiled and ushered all the little children to bed, before heading out to the barn. She smiled at Kyle and handed him a notebook. "Sorry still working the rest." She knew he'd asked for some thing to draw with, he'd had pens and pencils but she was looking for colored pencils or crayons anything that he could use. After all he'd given the little children his crayons. She then turned to Matt, "in the morning the boys and I will be out in the field picking crops when you wake up and eat you can help us." She knew he couldn't have been treated well and there was no telling when the last time he actually got a nights worth of sleep. Who knows once his head hits the pillow he could sleep for days. No matter, he would earn his keep once she knew he was at a hundred percent. She couldn't have him collapsing, the had no way to take care of someone if they got hurt of sick. "Goodnight guys." She told him, before tucking in Mace.

Mina nodded, "No problem." She said to him. She looked at Hannah, "We grew up together." She said. She turned her attention back to Brian. "How do you two know each other?" She asked him as she watched him prepare the rabbit. He did a much better job than she would have done. Part of her thought that teaming up with him wouldn't be a bad idea. Especially if he had skills like that. She leaned against the table he was at and watched him. Plus, it didn't hurt that he was cute. Most guys were all ugly anymore that she ran into.

---

Matt nodded, then laid down, falling asleep instantly. It had been so long since he had a bed. He slept what felt like forever. He woke up at noon the next day and rubbed his eyes. He was exhausted still, but he knew he needed to help out. Matt figured if he got some food in his body he would feel better. He got dressed then headed towards the house. He walked in, smiling as Faith offered him a sandwich, "Thank you." He said as he sat down and began to eat. He was glad he was getting real food for a change.

@ Bongs Before Bibles

@ Gunslinger;
Brian chuckled a soft smirk forming on his face, "same he was a pesty brat always coming around my house and annoying me." He smiled remembering all the fun time they had before the virus nearly wiped out all the world. He noticed that Hannah was showing them interest, he knew that having group were rare so this was something they weren't used to. Not to mention that he wasn't that bad of a catch. Turning to Mina he smiled, before moving around her to grab a few bowls. Then headed back to the cooking food. He would be a stupid man if he hadn't noticed the way both women stared at him. And honestly the way it made him feel was something he thought he'd never feel again.

---

Bree woke later than she usually did the next morning. But it was something that happened. Getting dressed into a pair of ripped jeans and a tee. Moving down the stairs she yawned before setting down at the table. Smiled pulled at her lips as a cup of coffee was set before her. Taking a sip she looked up at the woman who she'd gotten to know so well and was almost like a mother to her now. She kept her groaned and helped with the kids and cooking. Sighing she relaxed into the chair. "The boys are already out there working away." Faith told her, before setting a plate down too. Then heading to clean up the kitchen. "Kyle said the new ones snoozing away, poor thing must have been so exhausted." Bree chewed down her bite, before nodding. "Yeah I already told them to let him sleep, he was shoved in an old alley way boxed in by wires and being forced to fight." She explained. She knew they would have to take it easy with him for a little while. But once he was healed he could really be a great asset. "I'll be out in the field if you need me." She told the woman placing her empty plate and cup in a sink full of dishes, then heading outside.

Mina smiled as she sat with him and began to eat. She was so glad that she actually had food in her body. She felt like she had went so long without eating. She looked at him, "Thanks for letting us eat for you." She said, looking at him. Mina smiled before she went back to eating. She knew they would have to separate eventually. No group actually stayed together in the world they lived in.

---

Matt woke up and got dressed. Once he got some food he headed out to the field and found Bree. He felt a lot better, though he still had some cuts and bruises. He began to help out and he helped all day. He knew that sitting around and being lazy would be no good for him. He just wanted to forget about the place he use to be at. He wondered where Brian and the guys were though.

@ Bongs Before Bibles

@ Gunslinger;
Brian smiled at her, "it's the least I could do since you've helped him out." He turned to his food noticing the way the two girls gravitated towards him. Part of him feared them trying to seduce him and then taking off with everything he's gathered. But the thoughts faded as they ate. "So were you guys heading somewhere?" He asked knowing that he was looking for Matt when Johnny got hurt. "I mean once he's better we'll be moving on too." He hoped that it didn't take him too long to get back on his feet.

---

Bree and the kids had barely returned to the field after lunch when Matt joined them. She couldn't help but smile at the fact he was so much help. As the day went on she noticed just how much the young kids seemed to play more than work. She was happy that they got to take a bit of a break and enjoy being young. As they were cleaning up the weeds they'd been pulling up she wandered close to Matt. "You seemed have a knack for this." She teased him, before bending down and bundling up the weeds he'd pulled. Normally when farming properly they didn't get this tall but as of late they been falling behind and not getting enough done. So with an extra set of hands they were catching up.

@ Gunslinger;
Brian smiled at her, "it's the least I could do since you've helped him out." He turned to his food noticing the way the two girls gravitated towards him. Part of him feared them trying to seduce him and then taking off with everything he's gathered. But the thoughts faded as they ate. "So were you guys heading somewhere?" He asked knowing that he was looking for Matt when Johnny got hurt. "I mean once he's better we'll be moving on too." He hoped that it didn't take him too long to get back on his feet.

---

Bree and the kids had barely returned to the field after lunch when Matt joined them. She couldn't help but smile at the fact he was so much help. As the day went on she noticed just how much the young kids seemed to play more than work. She was happy that they got to take a bit of a break and enjoy being young. As they were cleaning up the weeds they'd been pulling up she wandered close to Matt. "You seemed have a knack for this." She teased him, before bending down and bundling up the weeds he'd pulled. Normally when farming properly they didn't get this tall but as of late they been falling behind and not getting enough done. So with an extra set of hands they were catching up.

Mina looked at him, "Well right now we are kind of staying in one place, but eventually we will have to move on from here." She said. She knew they couldn't stay in one place for a long time. She took a sip of the water she had. Mina nodded, "Where are you headed to?" She asked him. She wondered if they had someone they could stay with.

---

Matt laughed a little, "I just like to keep busy." He said. He thought about where he would be if the world wasn't in shambles. He'd be on tour, singing his heart out. He would be doing what he loved. He looked at her as she looked at him, "What did you do before all this shit happened?" He asked her. "Did you always live on a farm?" He asked her.

@ Bongs Before Bibles

@ Gunslinger;
Brian sighed as he set his empty bowl down beside his feet. "Well we were looking for a friend of ours." He informed her. "He's been missing a little over a month now, we were suppose to meet him back here but he never showed and then Johnny got hurt." He explained, "so I guess once he's better we'll head off the way he went, hopefully we'll get a clue or something where he is."

---

Bree let out a soft laugh, "no I didn't live on a farm. She shook her head. "I was actually a dentist assistant." She told him, she was working towards becoming a dentist herself but never made it that far. "This was my uncles place and every summer my parents would send me here." She turned at looked at the house, memories of her time as a child always flooded her mind. Sure she missed her family but she couldn't dwell on it. She turned her smile to Matt. "It was a lot different then, anyways go and get washed up dinner should be on the table." She told him before grabbing the bundles of weeds, throwing one on her shoulder and then lugging the other. She moved off to the barn. Once it dried out it would be good food for the cows and horses in the winter time.