They are part of a group of sixteen people, almost all girls. Sarah, Naya, Clarissa and Petunia and Naya's father are alive. The group goes from town to town looking for safe shelter and food. They too wanted to reach Richard's farmhouse. There is a girl, two older women and a boy. Laëtitia is our age. The others are teenagers. Lilou ruins her mascara while whining. They are all very upset. They crack up with joy when they see the three of us. Belligerent groups wanted to enslave or kill them. I ask Lilou to tell me where the rest of the group is at the moment. Damien and Blaise are too nervous. Besides, some guys will scare the rest of the group if our friends aren't there.

There are eight of them here. I tell them to climb with the boys. They reassure their friends present that Blaise is Sarah's brother. Damien, Naya's boyfriend. Me, one of their best friends and a wonder woman. Me, one of the two girls who created the two guides they use. One of the two girls living at the shelter to be joined.

My gentleness towards the two Kawai and the tender look of Blaise and Damien relaxes the girls present. They all follow my two friends without hesitation, reassured by their friendly faces and the food they are handed. Unless it was the general mega-hug that took place shortly before. Laëtitia is still handcuffed. I hand her over to Damien and warn him. I get a van and head alone to the hideout. I'll meet her at the exit of the town in two hours.

I'm in front of the building in my teddy bear outfit. I head for the entrance.

- You're not one of us.

A woman in her forties is threatening me with a gun. She is aggressive. I speak loudly so that I can be heard inside.

- Yes and no. I am a friend of Lilou and Fleur. It was they who told me about your hideout. I understand your suspicion. Ask Sarah if she knows the outfit. Tell her that it's the grumpy half that's inside. She will reassure you of my peaceful intentions. Here is a little proof that only the sweet and gentle Sarah will understand.

I turn on the music on the car radio and start dancing robot-style to the specially chosen song. Thriller by Michael Jackson. Here I am, dancing in zombie mode dressed as a giant Pikachu. I do the whole thing, with arms in the air and jerky head movements, slippery steps and swaying. Sarah taught me the choreography after I begged her for days. If I had known at the time what was going to happen, I would have insisted even more.

( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kKSbdRoHIU )

The woman looks at me and doubts my sanity. She wonders what to do. I destabilise her and that's the point. I am sweating profusely, however, her grip on her rifle is less firm. I could disarm her easily. Besides, she doesn't see that under my teddy bear outfit I have a gun pointed in her direction. There are noises in the house. I am being watched. I mentally try to count the number of people. I hear a high-pitched hyena-like laugh and then I see a figure come out holding his ribs.

- FUCK the brat. You're really crazy. You're such a bad dancer. The others are pissing with laughter. I knew you'd be alive. You're a piece of shit like me.

Naya goes out and lowers the woman's gun with her hand. She gives her a sign that everything is fine. I take off my disguise. I'm burning up under there from being such a jerk. Naya hugs me. I explain the situation in her ear. Naya assures me that the group is benevolent. She confirms that there are sixteen people, all female except for a teenager and a man. Her father. Three girls capable of fighting. The woman. Laëtitia and Naya. The group is just very fearful after bad encounters, not at all belligerent. Naya asks me to help her group.

She wears my switchblade on her belt and tells me she had to use it, to protect her friends. She doesn't need to tell me more. The look in her eyes tells me that she doesn't want to think about it again. She has lived through difficult times and has done what was necessary for her survival and that of her family, terrible things. I know the look of those who have already killed. I see it in her eyes. She laughs when I tell her I mastered Laëtitia in a few seconds. I understand that between the two girls, the understanding is not very cordial. She lets me in.

Sarah comes and hugs me immediately. She hugs me until I choke. I stroke her back like a child. A reassuring gesture. She cries knowing that Professor Noguerra, Blaise, Mélia, Thibaut, Alex and Damien are alive. Clarissa and Petunia also come to embrace me. Naya's father is present. He cries at the thought of a safe haven full of food. Seeing me wanting and ready to rescue him brings tears to his eyes. He trusts me. My apparent good health reassures them all.

I present some data to the group. Reliable shelter with food. A presence of ten guys, five of whom are known by some of them. Surroundings almost clean and low danger. Fifteen days quarantine in prison mandatory, kill if infected. Participation in the tasks without exception. Total submission to the shelter's leaders. Me and Melia.

- And Damien accepts this without question? Besides, when did you start calling him Damien?

Naya is jealous. We get along too well. That's funny. I chuckle. I put on a suave voice and whisper in Naya's ear.

- He has no choice. I'm the one with the gun and the entry codes. I'm a real dictator with him too. I've called him Damien since I jumped on his neck when I saw him alive. I saw him in your guy's boxers. But before you throw a fit Miss Pimbêche, you should know that I hadn't seen a healthy human except for Melia in six months, that I had just saved her ten-man group's ass and that I kissed Thibaut and Blaise much harder. If you don't like it, I don't give a shit. Besides, Blaise is a thousand times hotter, Thibaut a thousand times nicer and Alex a thousand times less grumpy.

It's Naya's turn to laugh and call me bitch. She confirms to everyone that she has complete confidence in seven of the twelve people in my group. Eight of them have already followed Damien and Blaise. Sarah, her, her father, Clarissa and Petunia will join me. The woman, her sister and her thirteen-year-old son who was in hiding agree to follow us. They gather their things. Naya tells me that the woman is a doctor. They all get into the back of my van except for Naya and the woman who know how to shoot. They are in front.

At the meeting point, Sarah jumps on Blaise's neck. They both cry. Blaise says thank you. I have kept my promise to find his sister. Naya clings to Damien's lips. I laugh at him, saying that he will be quarantined too. He sticks his tongue out at me like a child, which surprises Naya, her friends and the Kawais. I quickly explain to the two guys in my group who the girls and the man are. This way, Laëtitia and the others can hear our deep friendship and trust again. Naya's father says that the two guides that have helped them survive so far are from me and my sister, from the shelter he told them about at the beginning of the war.

Blaise takes the time to explain our refuge and its functioning to our future recruits. He is naturally reassuring. He teases me about my military and leadership skills. Our complicity and the one I have with Damien and the two other guys make it easier to talk. Lilou snuggled up in my arms. Fleur and Sarah in Blaise's. Naya in Damien's. Naya's father, Petunia and Clarissa laugh at Blaise's jokes. We all explain in detail.

I demonstrate my combat skills by bickering with Damien. One of the guys makes fun of the number of weapons I conceal. Between knives and pistols, I have at least seven weapons at all times when I'm on the move. My Kawai offer to do some chores like cooking, cleaning or washing clothes. Naya and her father offer to take care of the animals, especially the horses. Naya takes the opportunity to explain to me where she has hidden the horses. I'll go and get them tomorrow. It is getting late. The group has to decide whether to follow us or not.

We only have five cells. There are sixteen of them. Seventeen with Damien. They will have to live together in trios or quartets. They have no problem understanding the principle of quarantine and surveillance. I give my word that this is not a trap. The boys explain that they have been there. Blaise shows his leg and his burn. He had been bitten. He should have died. He is alive, thanks to me and Mélia. The group agrees to join us on my terms. Blaise takes Sarah, Fleur, the little girl and the woman doctor with him. Damien takes Naya and her father as well as the doctor's sister and the son. One of the guys takes Clarissa, Petunia and another girl. The second guy carries all the equipment he can.