The Goodwills: Adventure in an Apocalyptic World

chapter four

The Goodwills sat in silence as they looked from one face to another. Questions upon questions heaped upon their minds as they sat.

A while later, Victor began “We all heard what the old man said and have processed it. I'll ask some questions after which any other person with questions should signify then ask. Alright?”

Everyone nodded in response as Victor looked around.

“Let's proceed, has anyone noticed a scar on their body?”

“Asides from the one that was there before, I haven't noticed a new one" one member of the Goodwill family said.

“Others?” Victor asked as he looked around.

The others shook their heads, faces tinted with regret.

"Okay that fine too. Let's keep being positive.” Victor in a bid to cheer them up said.

"Does anyone have any questions?“ he continued.

The Goodwills got deep in thought and did not respond for a while. Later, Robert raised his hand and loudly said “I have something!”

Victor gestured for him to proceed and he did.

Robert began, his rich baritone voice seemingly unaffected by the current situation.

“Going forward, we need clear decision makers. People with vision, wit and courage to navigate is through these times. Asides from Victor, we need two others. Any suggestions?”

“I nominate Katie” one Goodwill said

“Yeah Katie!” others said in support.

“Okay, Katie. Any other suggestions?” Robert responded.

“What about you?" Another Goodwill said

"Me!?” Robert said surprised.

"I thought you guys would want the younger generation to handle it.” He continued

"We want you!” Other Goodwills shouted.

"Okay okay!" Robert quickly responded to reduce the noise.

“Victor, Katie and I would be in charge of decision making for the Goodwill family. Let's hope for the best." Robert said.

Suddenly they heard a voice say, "Seems you guys are enjoying yourselves.”

The sound of footsteps approached the tent as the Goodwills got quiet.

The female commander was led into the tent with two guards following.

“That’s good. Keep up that energy, you'll need it.” She continued her eyes scanning each one of the Goodwills as they trembled.

She then continued walking to another part of the prison.

The Goodwills like wet cats shivered in the dispair her aura brought.

About two hours later she left the tent with one of her guards waiting behind.

“You will be sent out of the camp tomorrow morning, enjoy tonight.” the guard said then he sped up to catch up with the commander.

Silence was all that was left after they left the tent.

“Get some rest everyone, life starts again tomorrow." Robert said.

Still feeling gloomy, they took various positions of rest as they tried to regain and reserve energy.

The next morning came without so much suspense

"Get up!” The guard shouted as he came in.

Not fully accustomed to the new norm, the Goodwills struggled to wake up.

“Do you want to use all day to get up?! Move it!" The guard shouted again.

Everyone got up as fast as they could as the guard nudged them without remorse. Seeing that they were all up, the guard led them outside the tent. The day was just dawning, the sun was not out yet though the moon was nowhere to be found. The Goodwills moved sluggish as the guard led them out of the camp. As they walked, they noticed other smaller groups of people being led in the same direction as them. Assured that they won't get an answer from the guard, they kept quiet and continued walking.

At the entrance of the camp, the guard leading them stopped and handed them over to the patrols there.

Looking around, Victor estimated that they were over thirty people gathered and the Goodwills accounted for about a third of that number.

Due to the time of the day, a lot of those gathered were not as energetic hence the silence. The patorl, without the opportunity to show his authority, address those gathered.

“You all are guilty and worthy of death" he began

“But mercy has found you. The camp commander, young Miss Hannah, has decided to pardon your transgression while still being just. You all will be sent to the frontier where you will serve the rest of your sentence." He continued as he sounded morally superior.

The silence got heavier as he paused, the morning drowsiness doused the supposed dread.

Noticing this, the patrol lost interest and said “let's go".

They began their march towards the frontier on that note. Victor got closer to Robert and Katie as they walked.

"Frontier sounds like a battlefield, right?” Victor asked almost whispering.

"Yeah.” Katie responded her usual cheer still missing since they arrived in this world. With a solemn look in his eyes, Robert tugged forward with the rest, something obviously on his mind.

“Hasten up! We don't have all day." The patrol shouted from the front.

Everyone immediately increased their pace, not wanting to test the man's patience.

They continued on as the day brightened, the dim yellowish glow that characterised the morning abounded as nature awakened. Chirping of birds replaced the insect chatter, that's when Victor noticed some oversized trees.

The trees looked like eight fully grown men could go around it.

Not only were they wide, the were tall really tall. The crown of the tree was not visible. Victor thought to himself ‘some trees evolved while others didn't, is that the same for animals too?’.

Others excluding the Goodwills did not see the oversized trees as a spectacular view meaning it was a norm for them. Katie and some other Goodwills were awestruck as they took in the mesmerising view.

“Stay alert! This is area of the boaboa monkeys. Anyone that's left behind here will surely die.” The patrol said in a hushed voice.

Everyone subconsciously gathered around each other to feel more secure. The beauty of the scene suddenly felt like a trap, teeth stained with blood as she smiled beckoned to come.