The Ones Who Remain/Issue 13

This is a preview of issue 13 of The Ones Who Remain, entitled: Liars and Killers and Thieves (Oh my!).

Issue 13; Liars and Killers and Thieves (Oh my!)
Day 750 ~ 5:27 P.M.

“She was right here -- I swear it!” Brenda exclaimed, examining the scene from the day prior, the day that left Sherry wounded and gone. “I swear it…”

Emma stumbled behind her, holding onto her large stomach, in the comfort of Aras, the man who sang to Sherry and Emma the morning before. “So,” he started, breathing heavily, “Where could she have gone?”

“Without help nowhere…”

“What does that mean then?” Emma snapped at Brenda. “She’s gone, one way or another. Either the lurkers got her or another group did -- and from the state that you described her, the possibilities of her surviving are next to zero.”

“Hey,” Aras said, grabbing Emma’s shoulder. “Are you okay?”

“No--No I’m not!” she snapped, turning her head away from the two. “It’s Sherry -- she’s fucking gone, guys. We have no idea where she is or she’s even alive and--and--and…” she paused, placing her face in her hands. “What are we supposed to do? We can’t just leave her out here -- in the woods all alone, scared.”

“We can’t stay out here though.” Aras said, looking from girl to girl. “You’re due any day now, and our people are still out there. People we know for a fact are still alive. We need to make sure they’re safe too.”

“How can you even say that?” Emma muttered, a look of disapproval, or even in disgust at Aras. “It’ Sherry we’re talking about here. When Brenda last saw her she was terrified, weak -- we can’t lea--” In the midst of her rage, suddenly she felt herself get light-headed, before collapsing to her knees.

Spontaneously, Aras is beside her within seconds, on his knees, his face in front of hers, while Brenda just kinda shuffles along in the background, watching the two. “Are you okay?”

Emma just shook her head, trying to stand back up, brushing Aras off. “God -- I’m just so dizzy.”

Brenda finally makes her way over to the two, taking a small canteen out of her backpack, getting it ready for Emma, whose face was getting paler by the moment. “Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked, handing her the canteen.

Breathing heavily, as Emma leans her shoulders back, standing up straight, she drops the canteen and her face turns a ghostly white, grasping her stomach. “Oh God,” she moaned leaning up against the closest tree, while Brenda quickly grabbed onto her shoulders. “Not now -- any time but now.”

Brenda knew exactly what was going on. “Oh no, please don’t do this to us Emma.” she nearly pleaded, staring at Emma’s stomach. “Aras!”

Aras, who was standing close to Brenda, almost immediately grabs Emma by the arm, and started to pull her through the woods, Brenda close behind her.

“Where are we going?” Brenda nearly yelled, trying to hear herself over Emma’s breathing and shrieks.

“Somewhere safe--” Aras said, running head first through the bushes.