Chapter 4

Francis and Zoey ran as fast as their legs could take them. A large crashing noise erupted, and that only made them run faster, desperately hoping they survived, somehow. They turned down another street, which led in the direction the helicopter had plummeted. Four zombies were walking towards the direction of the crash, and Zoey quickly pulled out her pistols and shot them, directly in the head. She was impressed by the accuracy, but this was no time to boast. They quickly sprinted round another corner, into a car park. In the middle of it was the crashed helicopter engulfed in flames. Around it was the bodies of the survivors, which they had met only yesterday. Adrenaline pulsing. The only one not face down was the large man, his eyes were closed and he laid still. Without hesitation she sprinted as fast as she could to the closest person. Which happened to be suit. Zoey quickly turned him over, so he was now face up, and put her hand against his neck, looking for a pulse. She found one, and she let out of a sigh of relief. She looked up to see Francis at the females side, doing the same.

"We should get them away, in case it explodes or something" Zoey said, getting up and moving to the next person who was closest to her, which happened to be cap. Francis did the same, after feeling that the female had a pulse.

"Yeah just make sure they are all alive first" She nodded and knelt down next to young man. She gently put her hand on his neck, looking for his pulse. She noticed how soft his skin was, and the tingles that erupted in her hand as he touched him. She tried to ignore the feelings, as she searched. She finally felt it, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She looked up to see Francis carrying Coach away from the wreck and carefully laying him down, before heading back to get the lady. Zoey looked down at the southerner, wondering how she was going to pick him up, as she wasn't the strongest. Even though she had to do a lot of climbing and stuff, in order to not be killed by zombies.

She was carefully wrapping a arm around the back of his neck, as support for when she was about to pick him up, when his eyes fluttered open. He looked up at Zoey with a confused expression on his face. She looked down at his gorgeous green eyes as her cheeks flushed, out of sheer embarrassment.

"Whatcha doin'?" He asked grinning up at her, even though his cheeks were equally red.

"Um" She started extremely embarrassed, "A-attempting to carry you away from the burning helicopter?" Cap looked around and his eyes widened as they locked onto it.

"Shit" He muttered "Are the other's alright?" concern evident in his voice. Zoey nodded, and pointed over at the three that Francis had lined up at the other side of the car park. Standing over them with a gun, making sure no zombies came. He sighed out of relief and looked back at Zoey.

"Can you walk?" She asked, remembering her arm, which was still wrapped around the back of his neck.

"I think so" He said, slowly pulling himself up. Zoey removed her arm, and got up to.

"That hat looks awfully good on you by the way" He said nervously. That made Zoey blush more, as she remembered she was wearing it. She hastily took it off and handed it to him, smiling.

"Oh yeah sorry, I forgot I was wearing it" She apologised laughing out of embarrassment.

"Tis alright. But I meant what I said, it suits ya" He said, smiling brightly at her and rubbing the back of his neck. He has such a gorgeous smile. Zoey thought to herself as she smiled back.

"Should we get away from the burning vehicle, before it explodes or something" She said changing the subject out of embarrassment. He nodded chuckling and they both walked over together in silence to where Francis was standing, watching them with an amused expression.

"Hey there. What the hell happened to your helicopter?" Francis asked Cap as he reached him. Not even bothering to ask him if he was alright.

"I can't really remember, all I do remember is Nick shooting the pilot, and then us all jumping out before we crashed" Cap said. Zoey and Francis looked at each other both confused.

"Nick?" Francis asked looking back at the southerner. And he just pointed to the guy in the suit.

"Ohhh" Zoey and Francis said simultaneously.

"We never did have a proper introduction did we?" He said chuckling. And Francis and Zoey shook their heads.

"Well Y'all I'm Ellis" He said happily "The woman is Rochelle, she's a good egg. We just call her Ro. And the guy wearing the polo is Coach. And well y'all know Nick now."

"I'm Francis. Little lady here is Zoey, and the other guy is Louis." Francis said putting a hand on her head. Zoey swatted it away.

"Nice to meet y'all" Ellis said, beaming, and Zoey smiled back. "Where is Louis?"

"He stayed back at the safe room. He has a bad leg" Zoey answered before Francis had a chance.

"We should get these guys back, before any zombies come" Francis said, and young adults nodded.

Zoey got to carry Rochelle as she was the lightest as she not only was she not extremely strong, she had a injured hand, which disappointed Francis. Ellis had to carry Nick, and Francis got Coach, as he was the strongest. It took them a while to carry the three unconscious survivors back to the safe room, where Louis had remained. They all waited in a line as Zoey attempted to open the door with her elbow, as her arms were full. Francis and Ellis laughed at her as they watched amused. She shot them a joking glare before calling in to Louis.

"Hey, could you open the door? I've got my arms full." Louis let out a groan and got up from the sofa he was flopped on, trying to sleep. He leaned on the bookshelves next to the door, as he walked. To take pressure off of his leg, which was still extremely painful for him. He unbared the door and pulled it open, inwards, and hobbled back over to the sofa. To rest his leg. The other three walked in and laid the unconscious survivors on the mattress in the corner as it was the only place which would be comfortable for them, which was not taken. There was only just enough room for them all, which made Zoey worry about what the sleeping arrangements were going to be.

"What happened to you guys?" Louis asked looking at Ellis.

"Our helicopter crashed because Nick shot the pilot and it was hogwash did he know how to fly" Ellis said shaking his head at the man in the suit.

"Why did he do that?" Louis asked confused.

"He said the pilot was infected or somethin'" He replied chuckling "I didn't see no bite marks." Louis, Francis and Zoey all shot each other looks, remembering what the doctor had said, the last time they trusted CEDA. They were 'Carriers'. Ellis saw the looks and ignored it. He thought it was not his place to pry.

"So guys" Zoey said to the three "There is barely enough room for all of us. I think we should find a safe house" If they stayed there, it would mean them sleeping on the floor, and no one wanted that. The men nodded in agreement.

"Zoey and Ellis, you guys can go looking for a bigger place and some supplies, and I'll stay here and make sure these guys are okay" Francis said, knowing that they wouldn't mind spending time alone together, and he wanted to make sure he was there when Rochelle woke up. Zoey and Ellis both nodded and looked at each other smiling. They are like children. Francis thought to himself, chuckling.

"Well I'm ready" Zoey said. Ellis checked his pockets, everything was there, apart from he had somehow lost his gun in the crash. Zoey noticed and grabbed a machine gun from the pile and chucked it to him. He quickly caught it.

"Thank ya" He said and Zoey just nodded. They waved to the others as they left, and Ellis pulled his hat down tighter on his head. Both of them were nervous about being alone together. Francis blocked the door with an iron bar behind them and checked on the unconscious trio. Ellis looked at the ground trying to think of something to say to her. He was a bucket of nerves.

"So what did you do before all of this" He settled on.

"The apocalypse?" She confirmed and he nodded "I was a student at Aldrich at Philadelphia, studying film making" Ellis whistled, impressed. As he checked around making sure there was no zombies. It was clear.

"Was that expensive?"

"I had a scholarship" Zoey replied, as they walked down the road looking for a well blockaded building.

"Wow. Impressive." Ellis said watching her as she looked at the buildings.

"Thanks" She said laughing. "What did you do?"

"I was a mechanic in Savannah." He said happily.

"So that explains the car on your hat" Zoey said looking at it intently. Ellis nodded and watched her face as she studied it.

"Yeah. I loved working there. 'Cause I love cars ya see." He said his eyes twinkling at the memories flowing back.

"One time someone brought in a Ferrari. It was a beauty." He said surprised that Zoey didn't interrupt his chatting. She listened intently, actually interested in what he was saying. But keeping an eye out for zombies and buildings that they could use.

"After I fixed it up, I took it for a ride, to make sure it was working proper, of course." He said grinning cheekily "It was a beauty" Zoey smiled at him, and Ellis smiled back. Zoey glanced around, and saw a building coming up, which had bordered up windows. It looked like a house.

"Maybe that could do" Zoey said, pointing at it. Ellis nodded and they jogged over to it, shooting a pair of zombies which came round the streets corner, moaning away. Ellis pushed open this door to the building with the tip of his machine gun. Zoey shone her torch around the room with her spare hand which happened to be the injured one. They slowly made their way through into the first room, cautiously checking all corners of the room, and listening out for any zombie noises. They heard and saw none. The room was large and appeared to be a living room. It had a stair which faced the door, and a small hallway area, which led to two more rooms. They walked through the living room area in single file, Ellis going first. He was making sure if there was something in there, he would be the one to get attacked. He checked the first room which appeared on the right. It was a small bathroom, with a bath with a shower head above it and a toilet and sink. Ellis shut the door to the room, after making sure it was empty, and carried on down the hallway, as Zoey was shining her flashlight in. He cautiously walked forward and looked around. There was no zombies, and the room appeared to be a rather large kitchen, with a blocked of back door.

"Clear" He said glancing at Zoey. She nodded and she started to walk back down the hallway and back into the living room. She was about to head up the stairs when Ellis but his arm in front of her as a barrier.

"Let me go first. I don't want you to get hurt." Ellis said to her smiling.

"I'm perfectly fine Ellis, I have got gun" She replied, defiantly.

"Please. For me." He said looking at Zoey in the eyes, even though it was dark in the room she could make out the outline of his face. She sighed and moved out the way. He grinned happily and started to make his way up the staircase. Zoey wondered why Ellis was so worried about her safety, but silently followed him. The stairs led to a large landing which had 6 rooms leading of it. It turned out it was five bedrooms. Four had double beds in and one had a single bed. There was also a room which was the bathroom, which was bigger and also had a bath with a shower head above, a toilet and a sink. All rooms were clear from zombies which was a relief. The pair decided, that this house would do, especially seen as the front door was a strong one, which could also be barricaded. They also thought it wouldn't be such a big deal for some people to have to share. So they headed back to the safe room.

Zoey pushed open the door to the safe room, to see Coach, Rochelle and Nick was all awake. Ellis smiled widely as everyone in the room turned to face them. They were all standing around the sofa seeming to be disguising something, apart from Louis who was sat.

"Hey y'all! We found a place" He said cheerily. And Louis grinned.

"Awesome! We should head there before it gets dark" They all agreed. Coach and Francis helped Louis walk, while the others carried the supplies to the new place. The sun was only just setting so they hurried. Ellis was leading the way, and kicked the door open gently, as he was carrying a box of boat parts, so was unable to push it. The group all came in and Francis hastily barricaded the door, after setting down Louis.

"Only problem is guys, there is only five bedrooms" Zoey said looking at the group.

"I can stay on the sofa down here" Louis volunteered "It will be easier for me, so I don't have to go up and down stairs." The group nodded and thanked him.

"I bet Ellis and Zoey wouldn't mind sharing" Nick said teasingly, Zoey's mouth fell open and the pair glanced at each other before both blushing furiously. Zoey was regretting setting out the small battery power light, meaning the others could all see her beetroot cheeks.

"Okay that's settled" Coach said laughing. Nerves bubbled inside of Zoey. Sharing a bed with a guy? Not just a guy but an extremely attractive guy? She thought to herself. Well shit.