Elijah and I talk most of the morning, after we burned off some energy. My jaw still aches where he swung at me. I’m impressed at what he’s built here considering everything that happened.

He says, “You know I want to help you, but I promised these people that I would let them have a voice in what happens. It would be one thing if you were just asking to stay. But you have trouble on your heels.”

Jeff says, “It’s not like we went looking for a fight. Those freaks are crazy.”

“I get that. But I can’t say we’ll fight for you. These people have to agree to it, too.”

I know this is hard for him and I can’t blame him.

I slap his good shoulder and reply, “And that’s all we can ask for, Eli. Let’s see what they have to say.”

Seeing Elijah’s mutilated shoulder was like getting punched in the gut. When he told me the man who injured him was dead, I was fucking glad.

We go to the cafeteria where several people sit. Elijah goes to the front of the room, Grey at his side.

“Thank you all for coming.”

A man up front says, “Not every day we get summoned like this.”

“You’re right, Andrews. As some of you know, we had visitors at the gate last night. It ended up being my brother, Dave, and his group.”

There are murmurs throughout the room.

“Dave and his group ran into some trouble east of Tulsa. That trouble has followed them here.”

A man stands in the back. “Is that what Marshall was talking about over the radio?”

“Yes, Amos, it is. This group is searching for Dave. I’ve been told they are hunting Dave’s group as a sport.”

A woman asks, “What did they do to the other group?”

“They didn’t do anything. Simply chose to cross a road instead of turning around. I know some of you who have been on tower duty have seen the other group out, searching. What are your thoughts?”

Grey clears his throat. “This group is different. They seem to thrive on hurting others. I watched them purposely wound a deer and leave it for the biters to kill.”

There are more whispers as people talk to each other. My gut is telling me this is hopeless, but I have to try.

I step forward. “My name is Dave. I know how this sounds to you and what we’re asking you to do. I never thought when I came to look for my brother that I would also bring trouble with me.” I meet the gazes of a few people in the front row. “We just want somewhere safe, where we can finally stop running.”

Nikki comes to my side, taking my hand. “Please, you’re our last hope.”

Elijah can barely look at me as he says, “I told you all when I came back that things would be different. Therefore, this isn’t my call. It’s your call. I won’t tell you to fight, but I’ll ask that you consider helping my brother.”

Daisy says, “He might not ask you to fight, but I will.”

There are a few gasps.

Daisy goes on, “Elijah has given a lot to this place, to you. And no, you don’t owe him anything, but you owe it to yourself to be a good person.” She pauses. “If we turn them out, who’s to say this group will leave? I believe they’re studying us, just as we’ve studied them. And, as we’ve learned, there’s only one way to take care of a problem.”

Daisy finishes by going to Nikki’s side, putting her arm around her shoulder. “I’m going to help these people. I hope you will, too.”

I’m blown away by her speech. I can tell by the look on Elijah’s face that he didn’t expect it.

He clears his throat. “All in favor of asking these guests to leave?”

A few hands lift.

“All in favor of helping them, even if it means fighting with this other group?”

The majority of the hands lift.

Grey grins. “Well shit. Would you look at that.”

Elijah says, “We need a plan. We won’t let them gain the upper hand on us.”

Daisy replies, “You’re not going to like my idea. I think we need to send a messenger out there to make contact. And I’d like to volunteer.”

The look on Eli’s face is downright scary. “Daisy-”

“Elijah, I said I wanted to help them and I’m not afraid. This might be the only way to see what they want.”

I say, “As much as I appreciate that, I can’t let you put yourself in danger. I’ll go out there and try to talk to them again.”

This time it’s Nikki who gasps. “Dave!”

But this is how it has to be.

Dave is scarce for the rest of the afternoon. Everyone seems to be fine with him putting his neck on the line. Everyone except for me.

I sit on the bed, next to Rocco. He’s taken a shower and looks better with all the filth washed away.

“You okay?”

“No. I’m not. How are you okay with this?”

He sighs. “Nik, I know it’s not what you want, but they’re right. Someone needs to try to reason with that group. If they can, this might blow over. If they can’t, we need to know.”

“But why does it have to be Dave?”

Dave enters, as if summoned.

“It has to be me, Nikki, because I’m the one who brought this danger here.”

“No. You’re not. We were all there.”

His eyes flash. “I won’t ask you to put yourself in danger!”

“But you’re not asking if I’m okay with you putting yourself in danger! How is that fucking fair?” My voice raises with each word.

“It’s not. None of this is fair.” His voice breaks. “But if something happens to me, I know you’ll be okay because the guys will be here to help you heal. If something happens to you-”

He can’t even finish speaking.

Jeff, who’s sitting on the floor, nods. “He’s right, Nikki. Let him do this without guilt on his soul.”

My eyes water as tears threaten to spill over. “I hate you all right now.”

Dave kisses me. “We love you, too.”

It’s the first time he’s said it out loud. I look into his eyes and see that he means it, that they all do.

I say, “I love you, too. All of you.”

There’s a knock on the door. I open it and find Daisy standing there.

She says, “Elijah would like to talk to everyone. Now.”

I fear they’ve changed their minds. Maybe they want us to leave? We follow her to the cafeteria, where a group of people wait.

Elijah says, “This is Marshall, who leads a nearby group. Next to him is Amos, Andrews, Norman, Grey, Kat, Jo, and, of course, Daisy.”

Dave asks, “Have you changed your mind?”

“No.” Elijah shakes his head. “We’ve been talking. This is only going to end one way.”

Dave nods. “I agree. What’s your plan?”

“War.”

“Thought as much.”

I shiver. War. But, they’re right. This is the only way.

Harper says, “Too bad we don’t have supplies.” At my curious look, he goes on, “If we had our military weapons we might be able to outpower them.”

Elijah’s eyes light up. He turns to Dave. “When we came back from Texas we swung through Lawton.”

Dave’s eyebrows lift. “Was it still there?”

“It’s been damaged, but you might be able to find things you can use.”

Jeff asks, “Care to fill us in?”

Dave grins. “There’s a base in Lawton.”

And just like that everything shifts.

“It’s going to be dangerous. Especially since we don’t want them to know what we’re up to.” Elijah warns.

Dave says, “We live for danger.”

Daisy shakes her head. “Well, if it’s not one thing it’s another.”

Grey glances at Kat before saying, “I’m in.”

Kat sighs. “I’m not happy about it, but I’m in, too.”

“Thank you for doing this for us,” I say.

Daisy smiles. “That’s what family is for, Nikki.”

I realize she’s right. Family in the apocalypse is what you make it. We started out alone, found each other, and now there are more of us than I can count.

Dave hugs me. “We’re going to get through this.”

I hug him back. “Yes. We are. All of us, together.”

Rule 17: The end is just the beginning.