Hope

I've been with this group for a few months and have gone through hell with them. They're nice people, especially Luke. He's a big softy. They take care of each other like a family and you don't see that much these days - I admire that. I made a friend the day I joined them. His name is Nick. He's.. not the smartest person, but he tries, so I made myself a promise - that I would always stick up for him when someone pushed him down. We stick together no matter what, he told me.

"Ugh..." I groaned, my eyes fluttering open in panic as a loud gunshot ringed in my ears. I bolted straight up and ran out of the room and outside to the patio. The group was gathered outside, hovering over something small. Luke was shouting wildly at everyone as he too seemed to only have gotten there a moment ago.

Looking over to Nick, I saw he was holding the rifle. I sighed at him, shaking my head. I only got a grunt as a response.

"You all better have a damn good explanation," I growled and pointed angrily at them. I stared coldly at the group, my eyes resting long over Nick. Then my eyes locked with auburn ones. It was a little girl around the age of 12. She had curly black hair and an adorable cap. She held her bloody arm up in the air to defend herself from the hostile group. She looked pleading at me with big eyes.

"That girl's bit!" Nick pointed accusing at the girl and then looked at me.

I looked at her, "What's your name?" She looked quite frightened but I could see in her eyes that she was tough as nails.

"My name is Clementine! I'm not bitten! I swear, cross my heart hope to die." Her hazel eyes shone with determination.

Rebecca gave me a skeptical look, "Are you seriously gonna believe her?" She had her arms crossed over her chest where she stood leaned against the porch rail. I shrugged. "Unbelievable," Rebecca muttered and stormed inside again with Alvin right behind her trying to calm her down.

I felt someone tap my shoulder. I looked over to meet Nick's sapphire eyes. "We'll lock her in the shed and then tomorrow we'll see if she turns or not."

Had he gone insane? "But that will kill her!" I shouted and pushed him away from me. "She's just a girl Nick!" I spun around towards Luke. He looked as mad as me. "We can't just leave her out there," I said to him as I crossed my arms, frowning. She looked so much like my sister. I couldn't let her die.

"The whole group's voting for it except you guys. We have to. I'm sorry, Hope, but this is what's going to happen."

I growled at them and stormed inside. Being younger than everyone else, except Sarah of course, made it quite difficult to make myself heard, even if all the other ideas were idiotic.

I leaned against the kitchen counter and sighed deeply. Sarah sat at the table, drawing a cute little puppy surrounded by small stars and a spaceship. In the corner, it said, 'space doggie'. She was different - like she was still a little girl on the inside. I guessed she must have had a condition. It would explain Carlos' protective nature of his daughter if she was more exposed than others.

Carlos barged in the door, "They're locking her in the shed tonight." I grunted at him and crossed my arms, "Hope, it's for your own safety. I know you want to help her, but we have to think about the group first."

"She's just a little girl!" I shouted, "What if it was Sarah?!" I wiped away the tear that fell down my cheek. "I'm sorry for yelling. I should go upstairs now." Without looking at him, I hurried up the stairs and slammed the door to the room shut. I fell to the floor, sobbing. 'This can't be happening... this can't be real' I thought to myself for the thousandth time. I began to shake and my breath caught in my throat. I tried to muffle my heavy screams with my hands. They turned to silent screams. Silent tears.

Someone walked up the stairs. Slowly, hesitating. Soft steps getting louder and louder. Like a ball bouncing around in a square room. Bonk bonk bonk

"Hope." It was Nick's soft voice. As soft as his movements. "Step away from the door... please."

I quietly crawled to the farthest corner, burying my head into the moist wall as he entered the room. "This isn't real... This is too fucked up to be real!" It felt like something was trying to crawl out of my brain and eat me alive. I felt someone embrace me, cold skin colliding with warm skin.

"It's okay. Everything's going to be okay. We're alive right now and we're gonna survive this." Nick ran a hand through my hair, hugging me tightly. "Shh... It's okay." He hushed and wiped away my tears with his thumb.

"Don't go... Stay, promise you'll stay with me." I whispered softly.

"I will," Nick murmured and smiled lightly. "I promise."

He stayed with me as I fell asleep. When I awoke he persuaded me to go downstairs and eat something. I reluctantly followed behind him with my eyes still red and puffy. As Nick went to get food, I noticed that Clementine and Luke were sitting at the table, chatting with each other. I was genuinely surprised to see Clementine there. 'They must've let her in while I slept..' My confused look soon turned into a smile as I sat down in front of her.

"They finally got the stick outta their asses? " I asked Luke jokingly when I saw the bandage on the girl's arm.

He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, "No.. Clementine patched herself up."

I raised my brow, "Really? You're hella tough then." I smiled as she looked up at me. I could see that she had been through a lot a kid shouldn't see, but the world was different now. A dead body walking around was more common than just a dead body.

Nick came back and brought me a bowl of some canned beans, sitting down beside me. He looked up at Clementine with a sad look in his eyes, "Hey, I'm sorry for.. you know. We had a bad experience once and.." His eyes fell to his hands on his knees.

I chewed slowly, watching Nick grow angry and sad. Luke saw it too and perked up, "He gets like that sometimes, don't hold it against him." Both of us exchanged a worried look as Nick exited the room. I quickly ate the rest of my food and hurried after him.

I knocked on the door to the room he and Luke shared and walked in, not bothering to wait for an answer. Nick was sitting on the edge of his bed on the floor, his head slouched down, his arms resting on his knees. I propped myself down beside him, saying, "Stop blaming yourself. It was not your fault."

His blue eyes met mine, "I could've done something. I could've.." His voice broke and he lowered his head again.

I wrapped my arm around his shoulder and drew him closer into a hug, not saying a word as he silently cried into my shoulder.