Jim was sad to see that the girl had originally been scared of him. I mean, anyone who randomly pops out of a hole in the ground should be someone to watch. But nowadays the circumstances were different. Humans couldn’t even trust other humans anymore, and what would the surviving children grow up to be? Being raised in this cruel environment with so much violence, so few friends and family (if any), and never knowing whether they’ll still be alive the next day. Jim still continues to pretend as if nothing has happened, talking casually and trying to make the best of the situation. Now with the new company of a child, he’d hope the girl and her brothers would team up with Lex and him, and hopefully slowly bring back some joy to the world.
“Kat, eh?” He said. “Would that be y’er full name?” Jim asked her, a little glad that it turns out there was only one brother. At least if Kat’s brother didn’t take well to other humans there would only be one of them.
Jim laughed at the girl’s blunt question. “Maybe I am Santa!” He smiled, ruffling his beard as the young girl did her hair. “The name’s Jim, nice to meet ya. May I ask where y’er brother’s off too? Ima curious old man,” Before the girl would get a chance to answer, a whispering shout came from the other end of the alley.
“JIM! What are you doing out? I told you not to leave!”
Jim smiled at Lex as she ran down the pavement as if something was chasing her. “Al’! Meet my new friend Kat,” Jim spread his arm welcomingly towards Kat.
It only took 3 minutes for Lex to get back to the familiar alley, but that didn’t make her even safer. As she began the final run towards the wooden door, a figure slumped across the wall came to view. Ugh, Jim... She thought inwardly, annoyed that he hadn’t listened. After asking what he’d been doing out there, Jim extended his arm towards another figure that Lex hadn’t noticed. “A child?” She said, abruptly stopping a few steps away from them. “Doesn’t matter, we have to get in the cave. There was a whole bunch of them- 12 I think, and they’re heading this way.” Lex opened the wooden door and impatiently motioned for them to get in.