Infection Z Beswick, L. (books for 8th graders txt) 📖

in appearing from the hall, Noah huffs in response “sure Colonel" and just like that he’s gone.

“You okay?” he asks concern in his voice, “I’ll be fine" I sigh flipping down on my bed backwards, “I brought you something" he announces I look up to see him producing the letters he promised and something else in a decorative box, “ooh I get a present for training?” I ask he shakes his head, “actually this is something I was going to give you on your 15th birthday but I wasn’t there so call it a late birthday gift" he chuckles, I pull the ribbon on the box and open the lid, “ooh it’s a knife" I say enthusiastically, “I thought it would be helpful for tomorrow, I mean giving you of all people a weapon might be a mistake but if anyone asks you found it" he winks I smile back in appreciation and admire the shiny metal.

“I’ll leave these here for you, make sure to eat and drink plenty today for tomorrow" he says and starts walking to the door, “thanks for before" I mumble he turns towards me again  “ hmm?” he asks, “with Noah thanks for helping me out, I think you’re actually the only one not treating me differently after what I did” he takes a seat at my desk, “I don't judge people on what they can’t control, you show people respect so you should receive the same respect" he tells me, “I misjudged you" I tell him as he stands once again “it’s hard to judge something you don’t know” he says with a kind smile and then he’s gone again.

I spend the rest of the day reading the letters one by one, taking in everything he had to say and learning more of the father I never knew existed, a man I believed to be awful as he left our family and never looked back, but in reality a kind man doing what he thought was best for his family and not being allowed to see us by my mother, I start to question what would make her keep our father away from us, and why she never told us the truth of why he wasn’t with us, we never knew who he was or what he looked like, just that he wasn’t around and didn’t want to be.

The Colonel’s POV

I leave April’s room feeling more positive that we could have a relationship as father and daughter and catch up on all the years we lost, and hopefully soon I can start connecting with Damon too, I notice Noah as I walk back downstairs “Noah" I greet with a frown “Colonel" he greets back in the same manner, “I hope I don’t have to tell you how you spoke to me was rude earlier" he huffs with his arms crossed, I raise an eyebrow “and I hope I don’t have to tell you the way you were treating my daughter was very disrespectful especially after all she’s been through" I fire back trying hard to keep my anger inside, “this is my house I’ll speak to her however I like!” he shouts and I can no longer keep my composure I grab him by his shirt and slam him into the wall “watch your tone boy, you’re starting to sound very entitled, I’ll say this for the last time treat my daughter with the respect she deserves or-" I warn, “or what? You won’t do a thing old man" he interrupts with a smug smile, but a moment after he speaks, he regrets his words, I pull back my fist to land a punch to his eye.

“Shit!” he shouts clutching his eye, “I hear you speak to anyone like this again you won’t have a tongue to speak with" he just nods and scampers away, hopefully I knocked his ego a little bit so he can start showing respect.

April’s POV

The next morning much later than my usual wake up time myself and a few others get ready to head out, we meet in the kitchen to collect weapons for the journey, Sam, myself, Colonel, and a few people I haven’t got to know yet, a girl a similar age to myself, as well as a boy a little older and Noah who has a black eye which shocks me, I turn to the girl “what did he do to his eye?” I ask her “apparently he walked into a door" she laughs, “I’m Valerie by the way" she smiles, “April" I smile back, she seems sweet with her ginger curls and a dimple in her cheek wearing a sweet smile.

I can’t hide my smile at Noah’s black eye but find it bizarre a door could cause such an injury, I look to Colonel who is rubbing his fist and winks at me when he catches me looking his way, I bite my lip to stop myself from laughing, karma at its best.

We suit up with guns, knives and my trusty bat, with the Colonel’s signal we head out in a group, the morning air is refreshing after only breathing in stale air in the house, Sam appears beside me her normal happy self, “morning April" she greets with a smile, “yeah morning" I reply surprised of her cheery attitude, “Someone’s chipper today" I comment testing the waters “yeah sorry about the other day, I know I was harsh but I was worried about Damon” she explains “yeah it’s fine, I just wasn’t used to see you like that you’ve never acted like that before" she laughs in response, “don’t be silly no one can be happy all the time, everyone has bad days" she says, “yeah I guess, so we’re okay now?” I ask still feeling wary, “of course!” she exclaims wrapping her arms around me, I start to relax a little at the idea her behaviour was a one off.

We exit the