Mira looked at Jesse with serious features and said in a sharp voice: "I don't know which group you joined before, but that's not true. We have a good crop of food, so there are no famines. The only problem here is some diseases and the low population. We are just a group consisting of 52 people, most of them women and children, while the men categorically refuse to go out into the outside world, focusing all their strength on farming."
Jesse replied to her: "I agree with their point of view. Who would be foolish enough to want to wander outside the safe zones?"
Her features changed and became stricter: "Farming will not solve all your problems. If the situation worsens and a disease spreads, there will be no choice but to go out to search for medicine, in addition to other problems. But sending people who are not prepared for what is outside will only lead to their death. As for you, it is clear that you are used to it."
Jesse: "So I have to risk myself for people I don't know, and what will I get in return for all this?"
Mira: "In fact, you have a lot of benefits by doing that. Starting with security. Since the village was built 35 years ago, there have only been 5 attacks on the place and they were all stopped. Second, we have a good amount of food, so no need to worry about hunger anymore. Third, there are 52 citizens here, in addition to the fact that you will get housing and a stable salary, and you will only leave the walls rarely or in case of emergency (and of course, if there are no missions, you will work in farming)."
Jesse began scratching his head while thinking about her offer.
Silence fell over the place.
Everyone directed their focus toward Jesse, waiting for his answer. (Thinking) "Well, to be honest with myself, the offer is very tempting. I can secure my future and the boy's future without having to face danger on a daily basis. My previous experiences were bad, but I shouldn't waste such an opportunity without trying it. And if everything she said is a lie, the boy and I can simply escape."
Jesse made his decision and directed his gaze toward her with full confidence, saying: "Alright, your deal sounds good to me. I agree to join."
The black man followed him, saying: "Since you thought about the matter and found it good, I will join too."
A slight smile appeared on Mira's features and she said: "Thank you. I promise you that you will not regret this."
Mira looked toward the girl. The girl slowly averted her eyes from her and said to her in a hesitant tone: "I will join. No need to talk too much."
Mira turned around and headed toward one of the walls. She raised her hand upward and brought it down forcefully on it. The wall shattered, revealing a staircase leading upward behind it.
Everyone began climbing the stairs. Mira and the girl went first, followed by the black man and the boy. While Jesse remained last.
He headed toward the stairs and began climbing slowly upward until he gradually approached the end of the tunnel, while the sunlight continued to increase gradually. Until he reached the end of the tunnel and the sun's rays covered every part of his body.
Despite what Jesse had been through that day, the warmth of the sun's rays made Jesse feel relief and safety while looking toward the sky. But there was a strange sound that caught his attention. A sound he had not heard for many years.
He lowered his eyes to find himself in a place resembling a village where huts and shops existed in huge numbers and were crowded with people, surrounded by massive scrap walls enclosing the village.
His pupils widened, and the expressions on his face froze. He could not believe what he was seeing. "How much time has passed since I saw this many humans? 10 years? 20? I haven't seen this many people since I separated from my old group. This gives me a strange feeling."
The people passing in front of him looked at him with astonishment, and some of them changed direction, moving away from him.
After a while, the black man grabbed Jesse by the shoulder and shook him to bring him back to his senses. "Hey man, wake up. What happened to you? It's been two minutes and you've been staring at the people here like a madman."
Jesse regained his senses and apologized for his distracted focus. Mira began calling the village people to start gathering toward them. The sound of people's noise stopped and silence took over the place.
Mira looked with wide eyes and a slight smile: "Welcome, my dear people. I want to tell you that after months of searching, we have finally found other living people. And from what I saw of them, they are skilled in using guns and have experience living outside on their own."
Some of the citizens began talking among themselves and the sound of their speech spread around, while another part did not care. Some were talking to their friends and others were looking at the boy and the others with contempt.
One of the citizens stepped forward and spoke, saying: "Well, there are people who can use guns. That's not something special. Besides, are we in a position that allows us to bring more people to this village?"
Mira looked at him with a sarcastic smile on her face: "Not something special? These people managed to kill one of the Farigans easily."
The eyes of those present widened and the sound of their amazement filled the place. "What? Did these people kill a Farigan?" "Is this a joke, ma'am!" "Impossible! Even if 10 of us gathered, we wouldn't be able to kill it."
A slight smile appeared on the face of the man who had stepped forward earlier, and he lowered his head apologetically toward them. "Sorry for underestimating you and for my previous words."
A huge smile spread across the black man's face when he found the citizens impressed by him, while the boy continued to look in astonishment at that crowd of people.
Mira turned toward them, asking them to introduce themselves by name. The black man stepped forward first, with a small smile on his face, and began speaking: "My name is Nicholas Draco. Nice to meet you."
The citizens directed their gaze toward the girl, who felt a little embarrassed. She lowered her head and said in a fragile tone: "My name is Jenny Rose. Nice to meet you."
After she finished, Jesse stepped forward, placed his hand on his chest, and began speaking with a kind of enthusiasm in his voice: "My name is Jesse Thornfield. Glad to meet you."
After he finished, the eyes turned toward the boy who was looking curiously at one of the worms on the ground. Everyone remained astonished as to why he did not introduce himself.
Jesse took control of the situation and told them: "Sorry for this boy's behavior, but he is mute and cannot speak. However, his name is..."
Jesse paused for seconds, remembering that he too did not know this boy's name, and began to think. "Alright, I need to think of a name quickly so that others can call him by it and so they don't feel he is strange."
Jesse remained silent for several seconds, then slowly raised his gaze and smiled, inventing a new idea: "His name is Ethan Thornfield. He is my little brother."
Jesse took a deep breath while saying to himself: "It won't be bad to make them think he is my little brother."
Mira raised her hand to Jesse, saying: "Welcome to our group. I hope you like it here."
Jesse raised his hand and shook hers with a small smile on his face, saying: "I hope so."
(The End)