Chapter 7

A/N Hey guys, I am really sorry for how late this upload is, and I will try to make sure I upload more regularly. I doubt it will be once a day as it puts much pressure on me, and I don't normally have enough time. The uploads should be, once every two days? Is that how you say it? So I will upload, then have a day off, then I upload the next day. I also keep an update on my progress on my profile, underneath my current stories. So if you are interested on how far I am until I upload, you should check there. Anyway enjoy. Also I just want to say, I know nothing about boats. The only one I have been on which wasn't a ferry was a little speed boat so I am assuming you steer it like one of them.

Zoey opened her eyes to find herself laying down on seating area of the boat, facing Nick and Rochelle who were talking. The sun was shining in her eyes through the windows, and it appeared to be late morning. She had stayed up late last night listening to Ellis' stories. She had actually found them really interesting and didn't understand why the others always cut him off. The pair didn't notice her being awake and carried on their conversation.

"So do you think the island will be infected too?" Rochelle asked.

"Most probably. I hope not though." He replied.

"I hope it isn't too" Rochelle said, looking out at the sea through the window. Nick kept his eyes on her, thinking of what to say next.

"Do you think you will have kids one day?" He asked after a minuet silence. Rochelle let out a laugh.

"I would like too. Even though brining them into this world seems cruel. We have to keep out race going." She said thoughtfully "But only if we found somewhere safe." Nick nodded, thoughtfully.

"Do you want to have kids?" Rochelle asked. Doubting he would.

"Yeah. One day." Nick said, looking into her eyes.

"Really?" She said surprised. He nodded.

"Yeah. Like you said we have to keep our race going." He winked at her, and they both laughed.

"Plus it would be pretty cool teaching a son how to shoot." He looked at the ground grinning, picturing it. Him with a son, helping him position his pistol at the cans on the fence in front of them. Meanwhile his wife stood in the kitchen with his younger daughter, teaching her how to cook. He would tell his son to inhale, then exhale as he shot. It would miss, but he would praise him, saying how close it was. And the wife would watch from the kitchen window, smiling. Rochelle couldn't help but be impressed that Nick would consider being a family man. She found it really attractive. Zoey just watched the pair, as they thought, thinking how cute they would be. Footsteps interrupted the trios thoughts and they all looked to see who it was. It was Coach, who was emerging from the steering area.

"Hey Zoey?" She sat up and smiled.

"Yeah"

"It's your turn to steer, do you mind?" He asked and she shook her head excitedly. He smiled.

"Okay thanks." He said walking over to the bench and taking a seat "I'm exhausted." She got up and walked over to the steering area. Francis was currently steering and turned around and smiled when he saw her.

"Hey, is it your turn" She smiled back.

"Yeah. I'm not an expert of boats though." She said laughing, he laughed to.

"It's not that hard really. And it's Ellis' turn to help navigate anyway so he can help"

"Where is he anyway?" She asked, as she had not seen him since she had woken up.

"He was in the storage room the last time I saw him. With Louis." He replied "Coach should get him in a minute." She nodded, and he moved away from the wheel, gesturing to it. She walked up to it nervously and held on to it firmly.

"Yeah hold it like that. And if you need to turn, just push it gently, but make sure you have enough time to get around whatever it is." He instructed. She nodded. He sat down on the edge of the boat next to her and watched as she looked outside. She didn't take her eyes off the sea, in case something popped up. She was worried she would crash the boat or something.

"So what's going on with you and Ellis?" Francis asked, breaking the silence, curious.

"What do you mean?" Zoey replied embarrassed. Her heart started beating fast just by the mention of his name. She tried her best to ignore it.

"You guys have been getting pretty cosy lately" He said leaning his head in his hands, with his arms rested on his knees.

"Uh. He's a nice guy." She said, glancing at Francis for a second as her cheeks started to heat up.

"Just a nice guy? So you guys aren't like dating?" Zoey just shook her head in reply and Francis made a interested noise. There was footsteps, coming out of the building thing. Zoey quickly turned around to see a oblivious Ellis, who stood in the doorway smiling.

"Hey guys" He said happily.

"Hiya" Zoey replied and smiled back before turning back around, focusing on the sea. Francis noticed him and stood up, and left, knowing he was no longer needed. Ellis walked out and sat where Francis had moments ago and watched Zoey intently. Not knowing what to say, he took his hat of his head, paused before putting it on top of Zoey's.

"Captains hat" He said winking. Zoey grinned and readjusted it on her head. Ellis just loved the way she looked in the hat, and how she loved wearing it. For him it was a win win situation. They stayed silent for a minute, as Ellis didn't know what to say.

"I wonder how long it will take till we reach the island" Ellis finally said.

"I have no idea. It can't be that much further" Zoey replied, thinking. She was focusing on the sea when a group of grey triangular objects rose from the water. She squinted trying to work out what it could be. A grey dolphin flipped out of the water, and fell back in with a splash. Her eyes widened out of excitement.

"Look Ellis! Dolphins!" She exclaimed, pointing with one hand. He got up hurriedly and looked out at the sea, just as another jumped out of the water.

"Holy shit!" He said watching fascinated. They both watched in awe as the group of dolphins swam about avoiding the boat, and leaping out of the water before falling back in with a splash. The spray covered them both but neither of them minded.

"I've never seen them in the wild before" Zoey said not taking her eyes of them.

"Me neither!" Ellis said leaning as far as he could out to look closer. Zoey looked at him and chuckled. He touched the water with his fingers and the creatures let out a noise.

"They are so pretty" He said, smiling widely at her "Do you think we could tame one, and ride it?" This made Zoey smile at his childlike nature.

"Maybe" They looked back to see the group of dolphins swimming away. Ellis looked sadly at them. When she looked straight ahead again she noticed a green and yellow object far of in the distance.

"Is that land?" Ellis asked excitedly, they both looked at each other excitement in their eyes, before looking back. Zoey made the boat start to go faster. As they got closer they could make out it was in fact the largest island of where they were aiming.

"Thank the lord" Ellis said, jogging of to tell the others.

"We did it Bill" She muttered to herself, smiling. Feeling tears prick at her eyes.

Zoey slowed the boat as they arrived next to the pier. Everyone watched eagerly. The island they had arrived on was covered in bright green trees. It also for what they could see had a large yellow and white building which over looked the sea, it had a grey tiled roof. It also had palm trees in the front and what looked like a pool area in the back. It looked like a hotel. As far as they could see there was no signs of life so far, apart from sea creatures.

The boat jolted to a stop, causing everyone to grab onto the nearest person for stability. They all looked at each other not knowing what to say or do. Ellis looked at Zoey, who stood observing the scene, her eyes glistening with tears. He knew he had to do something funny, to make her smile. He grabbed his shotgun just in case, knowing he had already got everything else and jumped off the boat.

"Shit yeah!" He yelled, flailing his arms in the air and running of down the pier.

"Ellis!" Zoey called after him, worrying. She sighed, picking up her hunting rifle and was just about to jump of when Nick caught her arm.

"Hey you don't need to follow him. He'll be fine. He is one fiery motherfucker." He said.

"You would know that wouldn't you" Francis said wiggling his eyebrows at the ex con man. Zoey ignored this and jumped of the boat anyway, sprinting after him. She made her way over to the tree line and run through, pushing her way past shrubbery, and overgrown plants. There was a far of yell. She could clearly make out of whom it was. She held the southerners hat tighter on her head, as she sped up. She pushed the undergrowth out of her way as she ran, until she pushed her way out into a clearing. That's when she felt her feet fall from underneath her, and her start to fall down a hill. She screamed as she clawed at the earth trying to stop herself. She looked down to see where she was falling, to see a little pool, with a wet figure standing in, arms out stretched. She panicked, assuming it was a infected. The hill stopped and she just fell, and landed in the figures arms. It held onto her tightly as she kicked at it, and tried to push herself free, her eyes tightly shut.

"Hey darlin'? It's all right" The southerners sweet voice said, with a chuckle. Zoey opened one eye, confirming before opening the other.

"What did you think you were doing? I thought you were going to get yourself killed!" She said, as he set her down in the water. He smiled at her.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you worry or nothin'" He said unable to stop grinning. She tried to glare, but couldn't help but laugh. She felt on the top of her head, and eyes widened as she searched for the object. She looked to the floor and found what she was looking for floating on top of the water's surface. She picked up the hat, shaking it a bit to dry it, before putting it back on top of Ellis' shaggy hair. She started to look around for her gun as Ellis watched her amused, as he held it behind his back. As worry started to form on her face, he pulled it out and revealed it, with a laugh.

"God Ellis! You're such a pain" She said jokingly, taking the gun, and hoisting it over her shoulder, with its strap.

"That's why ya love me" He said winking causing them both to laugh, before picking her up and spinning her around. He set her back down and they looked into each other's green eyes. He started to lean in again, and Zoey did the same. Their lips were inches away. They both shut their eyes when Zoey felt something wrap around her waist and pull her away, just as a dreadful cough sounded. She screamed as her eyes flew open. Ellis did the same, and panic filled his body, as she was dragged off into the tree line. He grabbed his shotgun from the ground before charging after her. He pushed past the low hanging tree to find the smoker, with its tongue now around her neck, as she clawed at it. He aimed carefully and shot as far above her head as he could. The infected fell to the ground, producing a large cloud of smoke. Both coughed as Ellis made his way carefully through, searching for the female. She sat on the ground hands on her throat, coughing. He found her and carefully picked her up, bridal style. He was about to say something when Zoey spoke.

"It's not safe. Nowhere is safe." She said as she began to sob into his chest. Weakened again by his soft, caring personality.