Its been a while since I left Arklay. There really wasn’t anything for me there but now I have someone I have to protect. Her name is Svenja shes still just a kid …she tells me not to call her that ..that shes 18 and an adult it makes me laugh. I always felt more comfortable in the woods i’m a what they used to call a “Crazy Survivalist Prepper” well I guess no one is laughing now..you know why because they are all dead. The woods is dangerous but over the years I have learned to be quiet and if you know what you are doing you can live out there pretty well. There was nothing that would prepare me for what I found in a small deserted cabin while I was scavenging. The door was locked but i noticed a small window was broken. The air coming from inside was stale seemed the place hadnt been used for a while but then I heard something. Someone or something was inside. I could have walked away but cabins like these are a rare find and you never know what will be inside of course I wasnt expecting a small skinny 18 year old girl trying to open a can of corn. I guess I must of scared her I mean how could she expect someone to climb through the window she broke to get in and confront her? She tried to get out but the door was dead bolted and I told her to calm down and opened the can for her sliding it across the small wooden table. After a minute she grabbed it and I slid a small plastic spoon to her . she ate the corn like it was the most delicious thing she ever had eaten I could tell she hadnt eaten in a while. Against my better judgement I gave her some water i had in my pack and deer jerky I was saving to sell. She smiled and told me her name was Svenja. We talked for a while she told me her story …I will admit I allowed myself to forget my rules of survival one being never forget what time it is . By time i realized it the sun had gone down . I told her I was going to use the cabin and I would leave in the morning. I was tired but I couldnt sleep with someone I dont know in the same room so I just rested and let her sleep.

After a few hours there was another sound..a sound I knew well the dead had followed her here. Maybe it was her smell or something cause there was a few dozen outside by my count. I woke her up told her we had to leave. Shaking her head I told her it was either come with me or stay and see what happens when those ..things break in. When a Window broke she jumped up and agreed. I grabbed my gear and a few cans of food that she left on the table and set started to set fire to the cabin. I broke the back door down and ran pulling the girl with me . She wasnt slow but I didnt want her killed Ive seen to many people killed and it would be my fault. Once back in the woods we saw the cabin burning ..that gave the zombies something to confuse them while we got to the rode. I know I should have just left but shes just a kid I mean 18 but really she doesnt have many skills that you could call useful. there was one thing about her kids lucky I mean she had to be she lost her family but she survived, she survived over 2 years and didnt starve and for the last few weeks I feel I am finding a lot more stuff with her with me.

I have to admit she isnt too annoying and learns fast. Ive taught her a few things like how to fish and shoot a bow, She even learned to scale a fish even if she has a hard time eating it raw. I dont like fires fires attract people and the dead so I refuse to light one even when its cold. Svenja is skinny and always cold ..well what can I do let her freeze? I share my body heat with her holding her while she sleeps. What can you do I mean im not too much older than the girl 8 years or so but she is a woman. It was harder back when the world was sane ..I think shes attached to me and I am to her. I cant help but want to protect her to keep her safe…its going to get me killed. I hope we get to Arklay soon she will be safe there at least safer than out here in the woods and these abandon towns. I need to rewrite my rules I think Rule #1 is dont get attached to anyone. Well guess its time to update rule #1.