What am I doing? Anna couldn't hold back that questioning thought from intruding on her mind. She was planning on having Greyson do all the talking; it was his friends they were looking for. Not someone she cares about or has met before. Yet here she is holding a now sleeping child in her arms. The little boy Zane had cried so much that he fell asleep. Anna held the sleeping child in the corner while watching Greyson talk to Mr. Charles.
"Greyson, glad to see you're alive as well." (Charles)
"You as well, So-" (Greyson)
Charles interrupted, speaking evenly.
"The Johnson boys are still alive; they are currently out to rescue a few more survivors." (Charles)
Greyson seemed to calm down visibly. Anna could guess that Charles knows them, so that is probably why he figured that is who Greyson was looking for. Charles turned his head while Greyson seemed to be in his head.
"So who might you be, young lady? Who's the little boy? You look too young to be his mother." (Charles)
"My name is Anna Anderson, just call me Anna. The little boy is Zane; yes, he is not my kid. He was here when we arrived, and I believe everything hit him immediately. I didn't feel right leaving him alone while he is in this state." (Anna)
"So he's one of the surviving children without any surviving family left..." (Charles)
"Sadly, that is what was surmised from what he has told others." (Anna)
Charles grunted, affirming her statement.
"I can find someone to take care of him when we get ready to leave. From discussions, we plan to leave for Old Man Yates' farm better than in a city where every blind spot is a death trap." (Charles)
"Is he alive to give you permission for that?" (Anna)
Charles shook his head, a look of loss in his eyes.
"He was one of the first few to be ambushed and died when everything started. Found his body on the first day... Coughs clearing his throat... What remained of him that is." (Charles)
So many dead and all I did was hide in my apartment till I had no choice but to leave.
"Have you or any others looked into the updates of the system... The screens messages?" (Anna)
"A little here and there, it's still difficult to accept what is going on." (Charles)
"If you're headed to Yates farm, you have to avoid the forest with the others somewhat." (Greyson)
Anna could tell what he was talking about.
"There was a giant spider larger than a full-grown adult that chased after us for a while. I shot at it with a shotgun, and the only thing to happen was that I blew off its leg." (Anna)
Charles had a complicated expression on his face.
"Was it alone?" (Charles)
"It was most likely female. Females are usually territorial and tend to consume intruders. We left her territory, so she stopped following. So yes, she was alone, but that also means that aggressive males will be around attempting to woo her and probably failing." (Anna)
"Why do you know so much about spiders?" (Charles)
"Documentaries. Also, no, I can't tell the genders apart, her behaviour was like that of a female who knows, maybe it was male." (Anna)
"Trust me, from our interaction, she is like a dictionary of random information." (Greyson)
"I'll take that as a compliment, seeing as how this information might be the difference between life and death." (Anna)
"So when will My Friends be back?" (Greyson)
"They should be back before dark or in an hour or so if they get more survivors." (Charles)
Zane stirred in Anna's arms, so she moved, placing him down on his feet as he groggily rubbed his eyes. Anna spoke in a gentle tone.
"Hey there, sleepy head." (Anna)
"h-hi." (Zane)
"You remember Mr. Charles who you helped point out?" (Anna)
Zane nodded his head.
"Well, he is going to find some adults to take care of you. Is that okay with you?" (Anna)
Zane seemed to wake up fully and hold onto Anna's sleeve.
"You're leaving me? Don't leave me, I don't want to be alone." (Zane)
Greyson had the look of what we do, but Anna kept calm, or outwardly calm.
"Zane, remember the man I arrived with?" (Anna)
Zane looked around before pointing at Greyson.
"Well, Zane, our goal is to fight back against the monsters. I promised to help. So let's make a promise." (Anna)
Zane's eyes were watering slightly, about ready to flow as tears.
"A promise?" (Zane)
"Yeah, A promise." (Anna)
Zane seemed to think about it before he nodded, wiping his eyes with his dirty sleeve, smearing dirt on his face. Anna couldn't help but chuckle and pull a hand towel out of her inventory and a bottle of water, wiping his face with the damp towel and cleaning the dirt, mud, and grime off his face.
"When you are big and strong, you can help us, but I will only allow you to join and help us after you grow up and stay with these nice people." (Anna)
Zane clenched his fists.
"Then promise me you'll come back." (Zane)
Oh dear, what is she doing? This is ridiculous, this isn't even her dead brother. Looking at him with a clean face, she knew that she was only thinking of her brother because, although they looked nothing alike, with the mud cleaned off his face. She might have a soft spot for young kids, but she doesn't want to see more die.
"I promise we will visit and check on you and everyone else. Although it won't be often, I don't know where we will go first, but when we are in the area, we will visit."(Anna)
Zane nodded and hugged Anna. Seriously, children are too trusting at times, but deep inside, Anna can admit that she would visit if she were in the area.
"Okay, stay by Mr. Charles, and he will find someone to take care of you, okay?" (Anna)
Nodding his head, Zane moved and stood by Charles.
"You're good with kids." (Greyson)
Greyson made it sound like a question, although it was more of a statement.
"I had a little brother who died around his age. It was a long time ago, though." (Anna)
"How did you make those items appear and disappear?" (Charles)
"Guessing you haven't looked at the updates?" (Anna)