[u]Teri[/u]
Everyone put their weapons on the table, except for a tall blonde that disappeared. I stood next to the table and waited awkwardly for Jed. He sauntered back into the hall with a long sickle, a rake and a spade over one shoulder. He was holding his chin up and walked with confidence. Which made everyones eye's follow him. He walked up to the table and threw his items ontop, trying to make as much noise as possible. Head still down, staring at the pile of weapons he began to speak:

[b]"700 000. 700 000 people left in the world. Seven hundred thousand."[/b] He sounded out each syllable. The room was eerily silent and all eyes were on him. He turned around to face everyone:
[b]"The world population has gone from 7 Billion to a fraction of a percent of what it used to be. And by some stroke of luck, there's quite a few of us here in our little old Bari. I heard in New York, there's only one person."[/b]
[i]What are you doing Jed?[/i]
Then he rose his voice:
[b]"But I must admit I'm disappointed! It's been over a year and nobody in this room tried to help anyone else survive. No! You all sit here by yourselves, I have seen a total of five people talk to each other. We can't do this by ourselves people. It will destroy us all. 
I made the mistake of thinking I could do it alone. I thought I could save my family. I did everything: I cleaned, cooked, and cared for all eight people in my family. And all that happened is they got worse. I managed to make their going easier, but as they got worse my job got harder. The night they died, is the night I collapsed. The night I was too exhausted to continue. 
While I was out on the floor my friend Jake helped them. Thanks to him my family went without pain. He did what I could not.

Jake died two weeks ago, when there was not a doctor to help him bind his broken legs. Lack of blood, a severed artery is what killed my dear Jake. 
And you know what he said!"[/b]

Jed had tears in his eyes

[b]"He said, 'help them survive.' Help them survive Jed! Those were the last words my best friend gave me! When the world was burning, everything was lost, our homes, our family, our hope. Jake was there for me with his big goofy grin"[/b]

Jed began to sob.

[b]"And I intend to do the same."[/b]

Everyone watched him as he took a moment to compose himself. 

[b]"So I propose a group. A group that survives together. We have all survived this far. So let's survive to the end. 

I intend to bring food, shelter, safety and my love to this group. I want to restore the hope in the world. I also plan to find those that have been lost and help them. Who know's how many people, children. Are out there, scared. And alone. 

It has been a hard year, for everyone here. No point in denying that. But hope is not lost, you all being here is proof of that. You all came, hopeful for something. 

I would hold it dearly if you joined me. Tomorrow I intend to go out to a abandoned farm on the outskirts of Bari, there I am going to build a fortress for myself and everyone who come past. There will be fresh food, water and shelter all day everyday. Then when I find a successor for my fortress, I am going to travel the world and find everyone. And I'll bring them to my haven. But I cannot do this alone. So I ask you" 
he made eye contact with everyone in the room, his large dark eyes stirring something in everyone's soul. 
Will you join me, my friends?" [/b]

I gawped at Jed, my heart thumped in my throat. 

"I'll help you" at some point during his speech I sat down. Jed looked genuinely grateful and tears came to his eyes again as they made contact with mine. "Thank you" he croaked out a blocked throat. 
[i]What are you up to?[/i] I thought. [i]Why are you doing this, it's not your responsibility[/i]