When the world is on fire, all some of us can do is sit there. Just sit there and watch it burn to the ground. Why do we do it? Some of us might do it because we feel like it deserves to burn, others, because they feel there's nothing they can do. But my reason… My reason is simple; I want to see how close I can get without catching fire myself.
Some may call it a death wish; others may think it to be plain psychotic- but in this hell of a world… Who isn't a little insane anymore?
The world was going to hell, I was well aware of that. The remaining members of my group did as well. Aside form me Kaeleb was the only one who had hope; despite his sister's illness. Her name was Tessa; they had been visiting from Ireland when the outbreak began, that's something I call bad timing.
Also in the group was Jack; the second youngest one we had next to Tessa, the poor kid was just starting his sophomore year as an Nursing student.
Besides Kaeleb, Tessa, and Jack there was Anton; the ex military buff. I couldn't stand the man but he did so a damn good job at keeping us alive.
Oh, right… There's also me. Plain, simple, average me. Born and raised in the mountains of Tennessee; working the moonshine business with my Mama and Daddy when I was younger. Daddy got sent to prison with his nephew; my cousin. Mama drank herself to death so by the time I was sixteen I was on my own. Well not completely on my own I guess, an aunt of mine decided to look after me, but the second I was eighteen she up and left. Aside from her I didn't have much of anyone but the few people in my town of 617 people. Well, that's a lie… I did have somebody, another cousin. He was just as alone as me most the time. We'd become rather close but had a falling out; but he's the reason I'm down here in good ol' Georgia. I know the chances of me finding him or anyone else is slim, but just maybe we'll make it.
I had been staring into the hot glowing embers of the campfire when I was shaken from my thoughts, "Ashlyn, you got a sec?"
Upon hearing my name I turned my head to see Kaeleb walking over to me form his tent where he and Tessa stayed. I smiled slightly, "always."
He smiled back but there was a clearly somber look on his face, I frowned at this as he sat next to me. I put my hand on his shoulder scooting closer to him, "what's wrong Kael? It's not Tessa is it?"
He hung his head before he finally looked up and straight into my eyes, with a nod he paused for a moment. "She's getting worse Ashlyn; I don't think we can help her much more…" His gaze was soft, he was a wreck inside and I could see it. I didn't know what else to do but embrace him; as I wrapped my arms around him he instantly returned the gesture. His sister was dying and the least I could do was be a shoulder to cry on.
"I promise, whatever happens, I'll make sure it's alright in the end," I whispered, "Tessa will get better, we'll go to that pharmacy in town tomorrow and it'll work out."
Kaeleb let out a sigh and looked me in the eyes, "what would I do without you?"
His words caused me to smile; I felt my face grow warm, I knew I was blushing but hoped he'd mistake it for the glow of the fire.
The next day the group met, minus Tessa who was too ill to leave her tent; she had been suffering from TB; or so Jack had diagnosed. Jack decided he would go into down with Kaeleb and me; he knew the medication needed to stabilize Tessa. Anton would stay back and keep watch over camp during our excursion.
But by the time we returned; it was too late. Walkers had come and caught Anton off guard; he was bitten but still alive for the time being. Tessa was dead, torn to pieces. I had been the one to find her. I forced Jack, Anton and Kaeleb to move on and go back into town to take refuge in an old diner. That's when we fell apart, all of us.
"What the fuck are we going to do now?" Jack shouted, shaking me by the shoulders, he was panicking and I didn't know what to say, "It's your god damned fault we left camp anyway!"
"Excuse me," I scoffed pushing him back, "if it weren't for me; we woulda been there when the fucking walkers came by!"
He slapped me, causing me to gasp; Kaeleb growled and took him by the shirt collar and shoved him into the nearest wall, "get your hands off of her! You pathetic piece of-" he was cut off by Anton smashing a glass on the table behind the counter.
"Stop this. NOW," he demanded in a powerful voice and he grabbed his shoulder in pain. "This isn't the time to turn on each other!"
I sunk to the floor, looking at the blood on my hands; or what remained. It was Tessa's, tears began to fall and I continued to listen to Anton, "we just lost one of our own. Someone that a few of us may have loved," he looked at Kael, "someone we may have wanted to save," he then looked to Jack, "someone we wanted to give hope to," he looked at me. "And god damnit, that person wouldn't have wanted us to act like savages. Now I don't know how much time I have left but…"
We heard a gun shot ring through the air; it was outside but near by. We stayed silent for a moment as we began to hear a couple more.
I stood up and walked cautiously towards the window to peak out the blinds, Kael followed. "What's out there?" he asked standing close, I could hear his heart pounding; we were all under too much stress, but that was how we had to live these days.
"Walkers… They followed us," I sighed.
"That doesn't explain the shots…" Jack mocked, I glared at him; his arrogance was a pain in my side that wouldn't die.
"Why don't you just shut your sorry mouth," Anton warned; Jack threw his hands up in defeat and walked towards the back.
"Screw you guys, I'm leaving this hell hole," he sneered as he opened the door. We just watched as he left with no effort to stop him. I don't know why the others didn't but I had my own reasons. I cringed when I heard him screaming, there was another shot form an unknown source- seeing as Jack didn't have a gun on him.
Anton, despite his pain led Kaeleb and me out the front door. The plan was for Kaeleb to run to the jeep nearby as Anton covered him; my job was to keep an eye out for the source of the gunshots.
Gripping my sawn off shot gun I slowly make my was to the corner of the building- careful not to make any noise but my cowboy boots clicked on the wooden floorboards of the porch. I heard a gun cock and froze. A voice followed, a man's voice, "now who might you be?"
My eyes widened and I turned around aiming my shotgun to see a pistol pointed in my face. Speechless I lowered my weapon.
The man that stood in front of me was tall and muscular; he had thick black hair and a defined nose. His structure reminded me of Anton, well built and obviously a man experienced in some sort of combat. My big blue eyes were filled with horror I'm sure, I was caught off guard and hadn't imagined this. The man lowered his gun, and tilted his head with a smirk, "there, I'm glad we reached an understanding… Now who are you?"
"Wouldn't you like to know," I recoiled, my eyes were narrow.
Suddenly another man appeared; he looked anxious and worn out, "Shane! Back off of her, what are you trying to pull," he ordered. I noticed this man was wearing a police uniform. He walked over to me and the man named Shane. I stood there, confused, scared, and worried about my fellow group members. "Don't worry, look I'm sorry if we scared you but we mean no harm…" the man said, gesturing to Shane.
"ASHLYN!" Kaeleb's worried voice rang. I saw him jump out of the jeep that he drove over, Anton followed; guns raised forcing Shane and the other man to raise their weapons as well, it was a stand off.
"Enough already!" I pleaded running and standing between them all, I figured that if I were to put myself in the line of fire that at least my group wouldn't shoot. "Can we put away the guns; it's obvious that none of us are walkers… And more gunshots would lure more in. Can we please me civil about this?"
The men lowered their weapons, I noticed Shane to be the most reluctant. "Your girl is right," the man in the police uniform sighed.
"Rick, the man's been bit," Shane pointed out, motioning to Anton.
We admitted that he was; Anton volunteered to stay back and shoot himself before he turned. Rick insisted that I go back to their camp; of course Kael wouldn't let me go alone. Shane wasn't ready to accept us into the group. In fact he appeared to be pissed off with no end; he didn't trust us, not in the least. Kael and I felt like we had no other choice though, we had no ammo left, hardly any supplies, all we had was each other. So we accepted Rick's offer and followed them back to their camp, unsure what to expect.