Day 2 Assignment:
Sam never rushes the first day. The recruits are still terrified and lost from exposure to our little piece of civilization.
"It'll take practice, but you can do this," she affirms to the shaking twig of girl before her; trembling, spattered with blood and greased in filth. Her breath racks her body, and her knuckles have turned white where she grips the axe.
"Just once more," Sam coaxes. "If you can do this, you can survive." The two women lock eyes, and the frail girl heaves the axe. She does not cry out when she swings. Instead she almost moans, a sound that draws the attention of the walker pinned at her feet. It looks at her with dead eyes even after the sickening impact of the axe. The expression never changes as the head rolls towards Sam's feet. It was already dead.
The girl exhales slowly and Sam smiles at her. "Okay," the girl wheezes, "what comes after this?"
Sam's smile slips. Everyone still remembers what it was like Before.
"This is it. We are what comes After."
