So, like I said, new chapter on Wednesday!

Sorry about the length of this one. It's really short. But, on Sunday, we'll get a really long one!

Chapter Ten:

The Wait

Harristown, New Hampshire

Time since infection: 7 hours

Six hours had passed since Matt, Trent, and Shade had left to find the cure.

Joey was focusing all of his attention on Brian. He had developed a fever, and his skin was hot to the touch. It was getting steadily worse as the time passed.

"He's getting worse," Joey said to Ben. "They better get back here soon."

Ben was worried. Manchester wasn't really that far away. They were taking a long time to get back. It was possible they had run into some complications, but…

"If they don't get back soon… I don't know if they'll come back at all," said Ben.

Time since infection: 8 hours

Seven hours had passed.

Ben was willing to give it more time, but the horror of the situation was finally starting to sink in. They were stuck here, in a classroom, with their infected friend. Time was running out, and it was looking to him like the only people who might be able to help wouldn't be coming back.

"Joey…" he said. "They've been gone a while…"

"They'll be back," Joey insisted. "The laboratory must be big. They're having a hard time finding the cure, that's all."

Ben sighed. "Look," he said. "I know you don't want to lose Brian. But if they don't come back, there's nothing we can do. And there's nothing we can do to help them either. We are completely helpless right now." He paused, and then added, "I know that doesn't seem very comforting, but it's the truth."

"You know what?" Joey asked. "Go to hell. This is your fault. So shut the fuck up."

"You don't think I feel bad?!" Ben exclaimed. "I've felt nothing but guilt ever since the fire! But feeling bad isn't going to change any of this! It's all up to them now; if they don't get back, Brian's going to die! And if you won't accept that, then someone has too!"

With one movement, Joey pulled out his gun and cocked it, pointing it at Ben. "Oh yeah?" He said. "Well if Brian dies, his blood is on your hands. Give me one reason I shouldn't kill you."

Slowly, Ben lifted his hands above his head. "You wouldn't," he said.

"Try me."

Neither of them spoke a word for a minute. They stood there, staring at each other. Finally, Joey dropped his arm slightly and fired a bullet at the floor right between Ben's feet.

Ben jumped back, startled. "Jesus!" he yelled. "What the hell?!"

"Don't talk to me," Joey replied.

Time since infection: 9 hours

They're coming back, Joey thought. They have too… Brian can't die.

No matter how much he tried to convince himself, however, he couldn't shake the feeling that the others were in trouble.

Maybe Ben is right, he thought. He cast the thought away. No. He's wrong. He has to be. They'll be back…

"Look," said Ben, breaking the silence once more. "I'm starving. We need food and warmth. I'm going to go find some fire wood, okay?"

"Whatever," said Joey.

"If I'm not back in a half hour, I'm probably dead."

Time since infection: 10 hours

An hour later, the two of them were sitting around a roaring fire, eating sandwiches. They ate in silence; neither of them wanting to say what the other was thinking.

There could be no denying it now. Matt, Trent, and Shade weren't back yet. Most likely they wouldn't be coming back at all.

Joey was still holding on to the hope that they would return, but that they had just gotten sidetracked. But Ben wasn't fooling himself. He knew that it was getting more and more unlikely that they would return.

He didn't want to have to kill Brian; the thought sent pangs of anguish through him. But he knew it would have to be done.

God, I need a drink, he thought. He reached into his backpack and pulled out a bottle of beer. The only one that made it, he thought. I'll miss you when you're gone.

"Oh my God!" Joey exclaimed.

"What?" asked Ben.

"How can you possibly have more alcohol? Are you a wizard or something? Have you been conjuring alcohol?"

Ben couldn't help but chuckle a bit. "No," he replied. "Let's just say… I have my ways."

Joey smirked, and stared off into space. After a few moments, he said, "Look… I'm sorry I pointed my gun at you earlier. It's just… Brian's the only one left."

"It's okay," said Ben. "But that's not true. I'm still here."

Joey shook his head. "No," he said. "That's not what I mean. Me and Brian… We were part of a team. But the rest of us were killed off quickly. And if Brian dies, well… I'll be the only one left…"

Neither of them were sure what to say after that. Finally, Ben said, "It's getting late. You should rest. I'll keep watch, and wake you up in a couple of hours."

Time since infection: 18 hours and 45 minutes

"Ben… Ben…"

Ben opened his eyes to see Joey shaking him awake.

"What…?" he asked, groggily. He sat up in his sleeping bag and put his glasses on.

"I'm going to go get some more wood," he said. "It's breakfast time."

"Okay," said Ben. "Did the others come back yet?"

Joey froze. "No," he said, his voice cold. "If I'm not back in a half hour, you know what happened."

"Okay," said Ben.

Grief began working its way through his mind, taking over. It had been almost a whole day, nd the others weren't back yet. There was only one likely explanation; they weren't coming back, and that meant Brian was as good as dead.

He went over to Brian. The fever had gotten worse- much worse. He was pale and clammy, and he had lost weight overnight. He looked like a corpse, and the only thing that indicated anything different was the ragged, infrequent rise and fall of his chest.

"Ben!" Joey exclaimed behind him.

Ben jumped. Joey had startled him; he hadn't expected him back for another ten minutes at least.

"What?" he asked, gasping.

"You need to see this. It's bad. Really bad."

Joey led Ben out of the room. When Ben turned to block up the door behind them, Joey stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "We've got bigger problems right now," he said.

They got to the front of the school, and saw something that made Ben's blood run cold. In front of the school was a gigantic zombie horde.

"I don't know if they know we're here," said Joey. "But they seem alert. What should we do?"

Ben closed his eyes and took a deep breath, thinking. "We're going to search all the rooms for ammo. We need as much as we can get. Even if we have to go to the PAC and the middle school. Then, we're going to get Brian to a safe place." He paused for a moment, and then added, "Brace yourself. Shit's about to get real."

I think I'm actually going to keep this up... I've been putting this out really slowly, and we've got a lot of material to cover in this story. So, for now, expect new chapters on Wednesdays as well!

Anyway, let me know what you think! And see you on Sunday!