CiralFox: Thanks for the review~ and I hope to be updating quickly the next couple of days

Lori ItsTWD: I told her not to do that -_-, but thanks for the review and the compliment about my writing style really helps 3

Everyone else: thanks for the support!


My head feels heavy and it hurts so much to breathe, my breaths feel slightly ragged. My face is burning up and my vision is hazy. The smell of vomit and coagulated blood stings my nostrils, and I move to a different position to not feel so stiff because of the aches in my muscles. Bad idea, I realize this when pain sears up my forearm.

I hissed through my teeth and looked down to my forearm with half lidded eyes and noticed it was bandaged tightly, with some blood stains peeking through. I was drifting in and out of consciousness, confused as to what happened. Where am I? How did I get here?

I hear some footsteps and I crane my neck to try to see past the darkness before me.

"She's awake! Luke, she's awake!" A distant and muffled voice stung my sensitive ears. I felt a firm grip on my shoulder as a somewhat recognizable face met mine, this figure also had a similar bandage to mine, but where her shoulder was. "Isabelle? Isabelle?" She shook me awake, "Isabelle?" She whispered, why was she trying to stay quiet? Why was the room so dim?

My throat was so dry that my response only sounded like a small croak, so I tried again, "J-Jane..?"

She laughed quietly and hugged me tightly, I could feel her tears soak into my shirt, "I thought you were gone…" Unsure of what to do I threw my arm around her backside and leaned into her touch. I knew this Jane; I had to for her to be interacting in this way towards me.

A taller figure walked into the room and knelt beside Jane with a small cup in his hand, to which he handed over to Jane. He leaned forward and pressed the back of his hand against my forehead, "She still has a fever, Jane." He turned his attention to me and handed me several pills, "Take these now."

I used my good arm to reach for the pills, but I kept missing each time. My hand eye coordination was way off.

"Here, give me them." Jane grabbed the pills and placed them by my mouth, so I opened my mouth and swallowed the pills. She cupped my cheek again to gently press the cup of water to my mouth, "They're antibiotics, don't worry." I was relieved feeling the liquid slide down my throat; I had been so parched, it was as if I haven't had water for weeks.

She noticed me eyeing her bandage and continued to speak, "Oh…that…I'm fine. Don't worry about me Isabelle, right now we have to take care of you." She spoke in the same tone a mother would to her child.

I felt safe.


I woke up again, but this time in the living room downstairs. My head felt a lot better and my memory was slowly, but surely, coming back. I didn't have a clear memory of what had caused my injuries, but I knew where I was and who was taking care of.

"Jane? Luke…?" I called out, only for Luke to rush in and cup my mouth.

"Shh! You'll lead them here!" He whispered hastily, lead who?

"Huh?"

"How do you feel?" He asked, ignoring my confused look from his previous warning.

"Okay," I sat up straighter to rub my temple, "And Jane?"

He broke off eye contact, "She…she's sick. She's going through the stage you went through earlier, only worse."

"Where is she?" I asked while feeling my heart sink to the floor, knowing it wasn't going to be pretty.

"She locked herself in the room by the kitchen, doesn't want anyone to see her." He sighed and felt my forehead like he did earlier, "Looks like the antibiotics are helping."

"Yeah they are…" I trailed off while trying to absorb in my surroundings. I was curious as to why all the windows had blankets covering them and the door was boarded with wooden planks…

His eyes followed mine, "I'm sure you want to know what's going on."

I gave a weak smile, "Heh, yeah. I do want to know."

"The reason I was gone this morning…was to get supplies to last us a while." He pointed to the pile of canned goods in the corner of the living room, along with other medical supplies. "I'm sorry, Isabelle," he placed his hand on mine and I prepared myself for bad news, "I don't think you'll be going home soon."

I straightened myself out, "Luke, stop fucking around. Tell me what's going on now!" I whispered, remembering his previous warnings.

"What do you remember?"

"This man bit Jane…and I tried to fight him off for her, and he bit me too…"

His eyes widened in horror, "Oh no…Isabelle, you were bit? Jane didn't tell me…"

His reaction was starting to scare me even more than before, "What? What is it?"

"Isabelle, I'm sorry. I need you to come with me."

As much as my legs ached, I got up off the couch and followed him to a small room, to where he led me to a room with a locked door. He pulled out a small key and unlocked it, and motioned me inside.

I turned to him, "Luke? What the fuck?"

"Just…" He couldn't even look at me, I knew this was hurting him too. "I'm sorry." It was the last thing he said before closing the door on me.

I turned slowly, not wanting to see what was in the empty space behind me. In the room was a very gaunt and sick Jane, her face pale and eyes sunken in.

I kneeled down beside her, tears welling up in my eyes, "Jane? What's wrong? What happened?" My voice began to creak but I couldn't give less of a shit.

I knew she was probably exhausted, but it didn't matter, as selfish as that sounds. I wanted to know what happened to know and I want to know how I can help her.

"Luke said…" she started but her voice was beginning to fade away, "bites turn you into them…that's why we're here.." She coughed some blood up and I tried my best to keep my composure but inside I was screaming, trying to wake myself up from this never ending nightmare, "I told him you weren't bitten so you wouldn't be locked in here with me…I didn't want you to be here when I turn…" Her breaths became more ragged and as much as I didn't want to admit it, she was losing her battle.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to prevent from breaking down and screaming in front of my best friend, I couldn't act selfish. Not when she's dying, but it was just so hard to keep it together. Seeing someone in front of you waste away, it was hard to stay calm.

"Jane…" I couldn't even make eye contact with her, there was no life behind her eyes. She was already dead. No fire or fight in her eyes, she'd given up.

"Please…go..don't stay here…" She said as her breaths slowed down completely and she stopped moving. I don't know what to do, I didn't even know what was going on. Nothing mattered anymore. This was my fault. I should've been quicker.

I couldn't do it anymore, I couldn't stay strong any longer. I could feel the tears building up and I started to shake as the sobs broke out, while trying my best to stay silent.

Why me? Why now?

I cried to myself for several more moments and then stared at the lifeless body before me, silently praying that she would just come back and I would just wake up like nothing happened.

I wiped the tears from my eyes and took several deep breaths to calm myself down. I then pulled the sheet over her face as a sign of respect, and then got up to go to the door.

I knocked lightly, but hard enough to get Luke's attention.

It was several moments and more knocking until he'd responded with a faint, "What?"

"Luke…she's gone. I'm so sorry…" I sniffled and my voice cracked more, as I pressed my forehead lightly against the wooden door, I didn't know how to say it either, making me feel even worse, how was I supposed to deliver the death of a loved one?

I heard quiet shuffling behind me, and turned to see the blanket move, stiff movements, but still…Jane was alive!

I gasped loudly and turned to the door, "Luke! She's alive! She's moving!"

That was when the door handle turned, and the door was swung open, where I was dragged out by Luke. He pushed me against the wall with one hand, and turned to lock the door.

I was on the edge of punching him in the face, why would he lock her in there? She's alive! She's not dead! Why lock away someone who is alive?

He checked my forehead once more and tilted his head in confusion, "You look…healthy. You should be dead."

I was disgusted at his actions and I reached for the door handle to try to open the door, but he firmly grabbed my wrist and tugged it away from the door, "What the hell are you doing, Luke?" I was beyond pissed now. "She's alive! I saw her move! Let me go you bastard!" I was struggling, and I finally was let go.

I rubbed at the soreness in my wrists and was hoping that the disgusted look I was giving him would kill him.

"I'm sorry, Isabelle, I suppose I should've explained better, I just couldn't take the risk." The guilt was written all over his face, I knew that he didn't want to do what he just did, but it was difficult to think straight in the position I was in.

"You're damn right you should've explained!" I hissed back to him, my breaths were quick and my heart pounding. I was so frustrated because no one was telling me anything!

He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose, "We need to talk, not here though. Somewhere safer, let's get the supplies and go upstairs first."

Whatever, I just wanted answers, so I did as I was told.

Luke led me to the kitchen to where he pointed to the backpacks there; it appeared that he'd already moved the food and water upstairs already. He picked up one backpack and handed it to me, "Here, Jane packed it for you." My heart ached at hearing her name, she was in a room, locked and by herself, she was alive.

I grabbed the backpack, not bothering to check the contents inside, and made my way upstairs to the master bedroom. He trailed behind me, with an axe in his hand, where he placed it at the top of the staircase.

"Isabelle, this is going to be a lot to take in." He spoke slowly as if I was an idiot, "But first…I need you to have an open mind when I tell you what's going on. Please, I'm so sorry for what I did earlier, you'll understand later." He pleaded, and it was hard to stay angry because of the desperate tone he had in his voice.

I ran my fingers through my hair and sighed, "Just tell me, Luke. Please," I couldn't help it, the tears began to fall down my cheeks again, "Just tell me."


Next chapter…well Isabelle will be finding out what's going on. I'm pretty satisfied with this chapter, let me know what you guys think! Thanks for reading!~~