Ch.6: New Members

Nicóle laid lazily across the bed with Lupus resting on her chest. She didn't know what happened last night, she was so deep in her sleep that she couldn't hear anyone. When she woke up, she noticed that Violet never came back to go to bed or for Lupus. Strange.

She sat up holding him close to her chest, then she sat at the edge of the bed, smiling softly at Lupus's little yawn. She practically adored Violet's little boy; probably because she missed her own so much. He fluttered his eyes open, looked around the room yet again, not to find his mother, but only Nicóle, again.

"Buenos días little one," she cooed, stroking his pale blonde hair that shone in the sunlight.

"Moma?" he looked over to the bed where Violet usually slept, seeing that she wasn't there.

"That's a good question, I don't know where your mamá is." She never came last night.

Fear and worry started to rush through as he frantically tried to escape from Nicóle's arms, "Moma! Mommy! Mommy!" he wailed, fighting off Nicóle's strength.

He's so worried about his mamá at this age, Nicóle thought with amazement, If he's this attached to her now, I'm worried about how much length he'll go to protect her when he's older.

"Shhh… calm down, mijo," she whispered, hugging him closely, "I'm going to go find her, but I'm going to have to leave you with someone until I do."

A second later, Vivian burst through making both Nicóle and Lupus jump. Her face was flooded with rage and anger as she found her on the bed and shot a glare at her. Frightened and confused, Nicóle held Lupus close to her and before she spoke, Vivian marched up to her and snatched Lupus from her arms.

"Vivian! What is wrong—"

She smacked her across the face then glared daggers down at her looking disgust. Nicóle hesitantly turned to look at the angry girl with wide, frightened eyes, she never saw Vivian this angry since she met her, or at all for that matter. Lupus cried out in desperation as he couldn't stand to see violent acts, especially when he's in the middle of them.

"You backstabbing bitch!" she growled, making Lupus even more scared, "After everything we've done for you!"

"What the hell are you talking about?!" Nicóle cried, confused and terrified.

"Don't play dumb, mate. I know you were the reason for that raid last night."

A raid? How could she of fallen asleep during a raid? She didn't know what fuck Vivian was talking about, but she wanted to know more about this raid.

"I knew nothing of a raid, Vivian, but can you tell me a little about it?"

This seemed to enrage her even more, "How could you not?! It can't be some damn coincidence that six assholes came last night, just a day after we found you, and found our place to be some goldmine that they just randomly found."

No, could it be? Nicóle consciously panicked, They couldn't have found me, they think I'm dead, unless…

"Did one of them say their name was Miguel?" oh how she prayed she'll say no.

"Shit if I know, Clem's supposed to be getting info out of 'em this mornin'."

She remained calm, taking deep breaths as she tried to not freak out then spoke with a sigh, "May I see them myself?"

This question made Vivian surprised and unexpected, "Uh… for what?"

"To find out myself," she hopped off the bed and marched her way to the door when she came to a halt when she grabbed the doorknob, contemplating something that lingered for a while, "but first, can you answer this?"

"What?"

"What happened to Violeta?"

*New Members*

Most of the group were still resting from the little fiasco that went on last night. Others had woken up from the darts, but still exhausted and tired from the smoke and fighting. Everybody was on edge, and they couldn't be blamed, especially Violet who hasn't even woken up yet from her injury. Something had to be done.

Clementine sat on the edge of her and Louis's bed where he still slept. She held Luke in her arms tightly as he clung to her neck. It's been a couple of hours since one of the raiders, Matthew, injected Hope with the antidote for her sickness. Matthew seemed to take huge pity for the brunette's daughter, he comforted her, fed her, and even told her that everything was going to be alright, it almost made her have second thoughts about him.

She looked over to the bed across from her, staring at her sleeping daughter. From the looks of it, the antidote seemed to make a huge improvement to Hope's state. She was less pale, her breathing softened, and Clem saw her beautiful golden eyes once more when she woke up. Her baby girl was going to live.

Beside Clem, Louis shifted a little, still sleeping from the dart. Last night scared her to death when Louis was shot with that dart, she thought it may have killed him right there in front of her eyes. Her world would fall apart without him by her side.

"I'm so glad you and Hope are going to make it," she whispered softly, kissing his forehead, "I don't know what I'll do without you."

With that, Louis's tired eyes fluttered open, groaning as he sat up a bit to look at Clem. He smiled at her and she returned the gesture. He held her close to his chest, rubbing her back softly and gently.

"Hey, beautiful," he said softly, kissing the top of her forehead.

"Hello to you too," she smiled widely, can't wait to tell him the good news.

"You look quite jubilant for a person who just fought in another raid."

She giggled, "I am happy, Lou. I'm actually great," For the most part.

"Why is that?"

"Because our little Hope is gonna live."

He raised his brow in confusion, "What are you talking about Clem?"

She hung her head down and sighed, "There was an antidote for the disease she had, and so I gave her a little dose this morning. It's almost like magic, she's already slacking up."

"That's great, Clem," he smiled at her, but it curled into a confused frown, "how did you get it?"

Her happiness soon turned to regret and pity, "That's… the part I wanna talk to you about."

"Alright, shoot."

"You already know about the raiders that attacked us last night, and probably know about the one that hurt you and Violet-"

"Violet's hurt?" he interrupted quickly, having a flash of worry in his eyes, "Is she fine?"

"I… honestly don't know," she confessed somberly.

"Shit, where are they now?"

"Down in the cellar, they won't be there for long."

"Good."

"It's not the way you think it is, Lou."

He looked confused, "Huh? What are you talking about, Clem?"

"Well… he was the one who had the antidote and for that… I had to give him and his family something in return."

His eyes widened as the realization hit him hard in the gut, "Clem, don't tell me…"

She nodded, "They're staying with us."

Violet sluggishly woke up to the sharp pain in her wrapped up shoulder. She winced at the blurry sight of the big blood stain and hissed as she tried to sit up on her pillow. She then touched herself and blushed brightly as she also realized she just had on her underwear. She reached out for the blanket as she tried to cover her chest if anyone walked in to check on her.

Bet that's already too late for that, she thought in embarrassment, God, I hope Clem didn't see me like this.

She sensed a little that she wasn't in her room, but most likely in the nurse's room by the way it looked and smelled. She may be blind, but she knew her way around this school like the back of her hand. The real question: where is everybody? She guessed Ruby was helping out with everyone and just left Violet to rest, but still, it was really quiet; too quiet.

She jumped to a knock at the door and frantically grabbed the covers on the bed then wrapped it around her.

"Come in," she called out. Then the door opened to see Randalynn walk in with a bowl of soup in her hands.

"Afternoon," she greeted walking towards her slowly, "I ain't know if you were awake or not, but Ruby told me to bring this to you just in case."

"Well… thanks, I guess," she grabbed it and sat the soup in her lap, "where is she anyway?"

"Meetin' like everyone else is," she said in a you-already-know tone, "Clem told me to get everyone that was up, and you happen to be up so put on some clothes and let's go."

"Wait, what about that… that raider?" Violet shivered, remembering his terrifyingly big and dark figure.

"If you're scared of him, he's down there in the basement with the rest of them. He can't hurt you again."

She sighed in relief, she hoped she'll have to encounter him again, "Okay, good, just let me slip on something and I'll be out there in a minute."

"Cool, see you in a bit," Randalynn left the room with no snarky or sarcastic joke or comment which left Violet a little confused and worried.

Last night really got to her, she seems a little off and quiet today, she thought.

Before she could say anything else, her eyes widened as she almost completely forgot that she left Lupus with Nicóle last night. Shit, she had to go see about him first, he was her priority.

Violet got out of bed and scrounged up some ripped jeans and a gray tank top, slipped them on Before hurriedly walking out the door.

"This is crazy!"

This is unjust!

"You saw what they did to us!"

"They'll never be welcomed!"

All the rants and hateful curses made Clementine's head hurt. She already knew this would happen but this her job to find the right choice, not the most popular one.

"Look, everyone, I know you guys are still on edge," she tried to calm them down, "but I talked to them this morning, they promised not to go against us if we found them a place to stay."

"That's not a good enough reason," someone argued from the crowd, "they attack us and now they seek shelter?"

"What have they ever done for us over the night they been here?"

Clem looked down shamefully, she knew she had to tell the group sooner or later about Hope.

"Guys, they… they did do something for us, well mainly for Louis and me."

At that, the group all stared at her in confusion wondering what in the world she meant by that. At least they might soften a little once they hear her reasoning.

"Our daughter was dying, we were running ideas of how to cure her and I just didn't know what to do," her voice cracking and Louis by her side squeezing her hand gently.

"In my interrogation with the raiders, their leader, Matthew, told me about this sickness that's been going around called 'Corpse Fever' and all the symptoms and how it spreads. Luckily it doesn't. But Hope had the same sickness he was talking about and had the one thing we needed the most: the cure."

Most of the group gasped while others looked in amazement. They listened now that she's told about Hope and the sickness. Then one spoke.

"But are you sure this is for the best?"

She nodded, "I'm very sure, it's the least we could do after they saved a life instead of taking it."

They sighed and shook their heads before Clem spoke again, "Don't think I've forgotten what they did last night. Trust me, they will work their asses off three times harder than anyone here. Actions come with consequences and if they're going to stay here, they're gonna have to pull their weight like the rest of us."

Everyone murmured in agreement and started to yell in acceptance of the new members. Louis smiled at her but she swore he could see the worriness in his eyes. Clem smiled back squeezing his hand.

"What's wrong, Lou?"

He sighed, "How will Violet take it?"

"Don't worry, I'll talk to her before she realizes what's going on. I'm sure she'll come around like the rest of us."

Hopefully...

Vivian and Nicóle were walking slowly down the basement/cellar to see the raiders themselves, mainly Nicóle. She prayed that these raiders weren't from her old group.

Lupus clung tightly to Vivian's neck while she held him close to her. She wished she hadn't hit Nicóle in front of him, he was very sensitive about those things. If Violet saw her doing that in front of him, she would hurt Vivian herself.

They stopped by shelves then Vivian glared at Nicóle, "Don't try anything, mate."

"Don't worry, I won't," she growled as they went around the corner.

As they did, they saw five of the raiders playing a card game while the other one sat in the car back corner smoking. No wonder it smells bad down there.

Vivian cleared her throat and then all the raiders looked up at her as some smiled while the rest glared at her in annoyance. Nicóle stared at them as she widened her eyes looking as if they're about to pop out, especially at the one in the car back corner.

"Hola," Sunny spoke first, "who are you? Did Clementine send you down here? And who's your—"

He gasped then dropped his cards as his eyes fell on Nicóle. The others looked up to see who he was looking at and they gave the same expression, some even looked in horror.

"N-N-Nicóle? You're alive?!" Olivia stuttered looking frightened, "How?!"

"No thanks to you assholes," she muttered angrily.

"Have you forgotten we're rogues, Nicóle?" Antonio growled, "We're only there for food and supplies, nothing else."

"Then why in the hell would you start a raid on these innocent people?!" retorted making Sunny and Santiago flinch.

"Because he cut us off after he killed our cousins and apparently you after you pissed him off again."

"You're lucky that we were able to get your knight and shining armor alive," Olivia added with Dixon looking away.

When Nicóle's eyes fell on Dixon, she marched towards him as rage bubbled inside her. She grabbed him by his shirt and pinned him to the nearest wall.

"You selfish bastard," she hissed, "you let him take my family away from me, you let him kill me, and worst of all, you let him take our son away from us. And you just stood there in the crowd and did nothing!"

Her hand moved towards his neck choking him in the process as his face started to turn blue. Sunny and Santiago rushed up towards him trying to stop her from killing him while Olivia and Antonio snickered under their breaths.

"N...Nicóle,... my… love," Dixon's words choking out, "there… there was… nothing...I could do…"

"NOTHING YOU COULD DO?!" she exclaimed furiously, choking him harder, "I would DIE for my Estéban! You should've done the same, but I guess I fell in love with nothing but a coward."

She let him go as he fell to the ground grabbing his neck gasping for air while Sunny and Santiago helped him up. Vivian just stood there in shock, this wasn't the frightened vulnerable girl Violet found in the woods, this was a vicious girl capable of killing her lover.

Lupus whimpered clinging onto Vivian's neck tightly as he could. Nicóle looked over to him and her expression softened. She walked up to Vivian as she was too scared to pull him away not knowing what she might do then pulled away from her as she held him close and hugged him tightly.

"Shh… I'm so sorry, my love, that you had to see that," she whispered softly, "I just have an idiot family."

Both Olivia and Antonio scoffed while the other three looked hurt. She gave Lupus back to Nicóle then turned her attention to the one in the back not phased by all the commotion. Matthew.

She pushed everyone that was in her way as she marched towards him. She towered over him while he was sitting in his same position not paying attention to her as he continued to smoke.

"Glad to see you alive," he said, not looking at her as he puffed out smoke.

"Stand. Up," she ordered not showing one little slither of fear as he stood up.

Now he was the one towering over her as she had to look up to glare at him. He just stood with a bored expression, but Vivian thought he was still terrifying. His many long dreadlocks that were tied up hung down like big black mambas slithering down almost to his waist. His eyes, or eye, were greener than fresh grass, almost like an acid green as if it was glowing in the dark. Vivian has never seen a taller person, a buff one at that which added to his scary appearance.

Out of nowhere as Matthew was about to take another puff of his cigar, she slapped his face so hard that she knocked his cigar out of his hand and made him stumble a bit. He caught himself though and stepped closer to Nicóle with a glare as she still gave the same expression.

"You were the fucking ring leader to all this shit," she growled, "you're a monster."

"We were desperate, Nicóle," explained calmly but still wearing the same expression, "I didn't want to have to resort to this."

"Well, the damage is done. And how does it feel that you might've murdered a girl? A mother at that!"

Then his expression surprisingly turned to regret, "That girl, I kept thinking about her all night and day, I… I never meant for her to die. I reacted without thinking."

He looked away and turned his head, "I attacked their leader, and I hated her for it at that time, she was only trying to protect her. God, I was still blinded by rage when I thought Miguel killed you."

"That's still no excuse for everything that you've done," she said coldly, "she was blind and a mother. Don't you know how that feels to lose a mother? Or have you forgotten about what happened to ours when we were younger."

'Ours'? Vivian thought confusingly, Does that mean…

"No matter how big, bad, and strong you get, you will always be my weak, soft little brother, Matéo."

"He's dead," he hissed quietly with venom in his tone, "he's been dead for years now after everyone and everything in my life left me. And it's Matthew by the way."

After that, the room fell silent. Vivian was lost for words, this was nothing but family drama and she already had enough of that with Randalynn on a daily basis.

Nicóle sighed heavily turning her back to him with a hurt expression, "I hope you realize one day of what you've become over the years. It kills me to see you like this."

Matthew turned away from her too as he didn't want to even look at her anymore. She then made her way up to the exit leaving her dysfunctional family behind with nothing else to say. Vivian looked back at them and smiled nervously.

"Uuuh… have a good afternoon," she then rushed upstairs closing the cellar's door by kicking them.

She wondered, what just happened?

I'm back, you guys! Sorry I haven't uploaded it in like more than five months. So much has been happening like with the virus and stuff, and me getting sick, it's just a mess. But now hopefully I start back writing and uploading like I'm supposed, this story's not dead, trust me, you're gonna learn some more juicy stuff throughout more chapters, it's gonna be awesome! Also, I have a new account on Wattpad called LazyLucario. When this story's finished, I will upload this story with a bit changes to it but it'll still be great, I promise!

Hope you guys are safe and well and I will see you in the next chapter, Wolfie out=D