** (34)

Blood seeped from the bullet wound and mingled with the once blonde hair, now a dirty mess of red, matted and tangled around her lifeless body.

Hunter closed the lids, keeping the lifeless hollow stare masked. It was too late. He knew that look would be carved into his mind forever. He glanced over at Shawn who didn't seem to have moved an inch, his stare just as hollow as Rebecca's lifeless gaze had been.

As if things hadn't been bad enough for them already.

Careful to step over the bodies between the two of them, Hunter went to the corner where Shawn was. Silently he grabbed the other mans hand and lead him from the carriage.

Hunter took Shawn through to the drivers room and closed the door between the carriages even though the bullet holes were a stark reminder of what had happened.

Shawn still had hold of the gun and Hunter left him with it while he gathered the rest of their things. As Hunter grabbed the last of the bags, he startled at the sound of Shawn's voice. He turned to see Shawn aiming the gun at the outside door.

Hunter's initial thought was how incredibly dead they were being surrounded. But he soon realised that the people outside the train weren't infected, they were survivors like them.

There must have been two dozen people there, all frozen with the gun aimed at them.

A young woman stepped forward. The whole group had the rough edges that Shawn and Hunter displayed, having to survive however they could and scrapping through each situation. She held her hands up to show she wasn't holding any weapon and moved forward and opened the door. "We saw the train come in. We can help you. You're free to stay with us."

"We don't wanna stay, we just need somewhere to rest." Hunter said.

"You can have that too." She said. "We have a small food store as out base at the moment. It's not far from here. It's not great but there's food there and you can rest knowing that someone else is watching out. But we want something back from you."

"What?"

"It's trade. We give you safety and food, what can you give us?"

"That's fair." Hunter said. He put a bag down and started to root through it seeing if they'd picked anything up. "Have a heap of medical supplies. As long as I can keep enough for the two us of, you can have some."

The woman's eye lit up. "Yes! That'd be something useful for some of us."

"But, we get to get some food before you get our supplies." Hunter added.

"If that's how you want to do it. You've encountered more dishonest people I take it?"

Hunter sighed. "I'll just be happy if no one tries to kill us."

"Follow us then. You're friend might want to stop pointing his gun at us. It makes us nervous."

"Uh, yeah. Shawn? Want me to take the gun?" Hunter asked, as he put his hand on the gun to lower it and stop it being aimed at any one.

"Head back." The woman said. Hunter heard talk amoung the other people outside. There was more talk before the woman turned back to Hunter. "There's still infected on the train, they're trying to get out. We should go."

"Okay." Hunter agreed. He moved forwards trying to move Shawn along with him. The Texan wouldn't budge from his spot.

"I can't leave her." He said, making his way back to the next carriage.

"Shawn we gotta go." Hunter said. He could see the people outside getting anxious. They weren't willing to wait and Hunter knew that he couldn't give up the oppurtunity for them to get food and rest.

Shawn pushed Hunter back with violent force, his face twisted in rage. "You go." He spat.

Hunter straightened up as he watched Shawn disappear again. "I'm sorry." He said to the woman as he followed Shawn. He stopped at the doorway.

Shawn was croutched down next to Rebecca's body. He gently traced his fingers down her face, over her smooth skin. Her body was still warm, death not having taken it's cold claim yet. Shawn seemed mesmerised looking at the body and for the hunger that gnawned at him and the desperation Hunter felt to be somewhere safe, he couldn't bring himself to even try and tear Shawn away. He didn't even hear the sound of the footsteps as the woman came up beside him.

"The others have gone back. I'll stay with you a bit longer." She said.

"You don't have to." Hunter said.

"We really need those medical supplies." She said.

"Take them." Hunter said, pointing to the bag.

"And you really need the food. I can spare some time yet. Three people can get away easier than a big group. I'm Lucy, by the way."

"Hunter."

"That's an unusual name."

"It's not my real name, more a nickname."

"Okay. He knew her I take it." She said.

"Wife." Was all Hunter said. Shawn was not as far gone as Hunter had imagined. He looked round after he said wife, and stared silently. Hunter had the urge to keep the gun away from Shawn right then.

Shawn turned his attention back to Rebecca. He watched as Shawn searched her pockets. He pulled out Rebecca's phone.

"She has a signal. Call Steph." Shawn said, tossing the phone at Hunter.

"I'm not gonna call Steph, I...."

"Do it." Shawn snapped his tone harsher than anything Hunter had ever heard from him.

Hunter looked at the cell. The wallpaper stared back at him of Cheyenne and Cameron hugging and smiling for the picture and his mind turned to his own kids. He knew this was a chance to find something out about his own kids. He'd hardly thought about them in the last few days, not like he wanted to. He didn't want to set himself up to get hurt but the oppurtunity was right there in front of him. He looked down at Shawn, still hanging over Rebecca's body and he knew he didn't want to make the call while he was there, listening. What if he spoke to her and his kids were fine and safe, that'd be so much of a blow to Shawn that he didn't want to do that too him- inflict more damage.

Shawn turned Rebecca's head so she was facing away from him before getting up. He came over to Hunter but said nothing.

"Should we go? You can make your call at the store, it might be safer." Lucy said.

Hunter looked at Shawn. His head was down, eyes cast at the ground he said nothing. "Let's go."