4

Together

The undead passed the house without so much a second thought.

Alek knelt on the roof of the house with the group's sole pair of nightvision goggles, carefully watching as the horde of flesh eaters passed them by without so much a second thought. He kept Holstrom's Springfield M1903 Sniper Rifle rested on his lap, just in case the horde decided they liked the house and visit. He doubted it however as the undead don't bother anything that doesn't make noise. He found it helpful that the undead weren't completely invincible since a simple shot to the head killed the monster permanently. Especially since his blades, Greek Kopis, were meant for slashing and splitting.

The night bore a cold breeze, one that seemed to be colder than the night itself. The sky was clear and dark, with twinkling stars that were in far greater number than he remembered in Seattle where you were lucky to see a single one. The air sat clear and cleansing with each and every breath Alek took. He was grateful for the clearness of the night despite the death from earlier, he knew the corpses had been rotting since they were killed however he suspected the rats ate them and died.

He knew they had gotten unquestionably lucky today.

His team had gotten split up and driven into small groups with a horde passing through the center of town, dividing them apart. If they hadn't been so experienced with combat, he was confident they would have all been killed. However, Lance's sacrifice truly gave them all an escape together.

He winced at the fresh memory of Lance's death.

Lance had killed a significant amount of flesh eaters as well as making a tremendous amount of noise to draw the entire horde to his location in the center of the town square. Whether it was his intention or not, he had allowed everyone to run into each other and escape.

But what bothered Alek most was not that he sacrificed himself but that Alek willingly left him to die. It went against everything he ever stood for. His sole purpose was to get everyone to New England safely and swiftly, however he'd already failed twice… and many times during the Expedition days.

He still felt the stinging words Rin had said when she confronted him about his fleeing.

"You could have saved him dammit! I almost did but together WE might have!"

Alek had turned away from her giving her no excuse, no words to defend himself. He knew she was right and he wouldn't lie to save himself from something that was his fault.

That's why Holstrom gave him his sniper and Cassius his Night Vision goggles to keep an eye out and give him time to think. It was their way of helping him.

Alek swore.

After the last of the stragglers from the horde slipped past the house, Alek got up from his perch and carefully slide down the roof to the third story attic window, where the window itself was left open, and slipped inside quietly.

The attic still bore that musty smell of old junk and furniture that no one used except on that rare occasion where it was needed despite the window's attempt to suck the smell out of the room. The attic was small, as it held a couch, two arm chairs, an old lamp, a few boxes and a door that led downstairs into the 2nd level of the house.

Alek closed the window, making sure to lock it, and proceeded to the door that led down stairs.

As he turned the knob and stepped into the small stairwell, he could hear voices. He quietly went down the steps, crouching low as he did and stopped as the voices became clearer.

"I still can't believe he would run though," said a female voice that clearly sounded like Rin.

"I don't believe it. Alek would never run from one of his friends, no matter how many stood between him. It isn't like him to run," said a different female voice, which sounded younger and a bit higher.

Mae.

"He admitted it though Mae, he said he ran and I know he's ashamed of it but I can't make out what made him run. He literally cut through the undead to save me that same day. What's the difference between me and Lance?"

He could hear a girlish laugh come from Mae, "You don't think he's starting to like you eh?"

Rin immediately got defensive, "No, Alek and I are just friends, despite his flirtatious ways, he is clearly still mourning Katelin."

Alek felt his heart tug at the mention of Katelin.

Her death, it was his fault. He led her there. He let his guard down. He left alone…

He shook the memory away before it got too vivid and emotional and focused on Rin and Mae.

"Well I would be dying with happiness if he liked me. I mean yes he has a fatal way of showing who he likes. You know letting Lance die and all, but still, ALEK LIKES YOU?!"

He almost smiled as he imagined how Mae gets all squirmy when love is talked about. She was a hopeless romantic.

"Shh! He doesn't like me at all! Plus that's not why he didn't save Lance and saved me. I just… I don't know. I need some sleep, it's been a long day," Rin finished with a stifling yawn.

"Yeah I it has been huh? I'll see you in the morning. Night!" Mae said happily and he could hear her footsteps echo off as she went to her room.

He waited until he heard Mae's door shut, and slipped down the stairs and emerge into the hallway.

He turned and walked towards his room, eager to sleep and face the jury the next day on Lance's death when he saw Rin sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall with her knees drawn to her chest.

"Rin?" Alek said slowly as he stepped closer towards her.

Rin was wearing a white tanktop, some shorts, and was barefoot. Her long dark curly hair went down her back, creating an ocean of darkness across her back, while her white skin illuminated it brightly. Her brown eyes seemed deep in thought as she stared at the wall ahead.

Alek set the Springfield down, making sure it was on safety and sat next to her.

Neither said a word or moved as they both stared ahead, deep into their own thoughts.

After a few minutes, Rin laid her head on Alek's shoulder.

"You know I don't don't actually blame you for Lance's death right?" Rin said in a quiet whisper, her breath hitting his arm in a gentle wave.

Alek leaned his cheek against the top of her head, "You should. I ran instead of fighting. That makes me a coward."

He hated the word.

Coward.

Bah! To run instead of fight your foes was a sentence straight to hell in his book. Alek always faced his foes head on, without fear, determined to win no matter what. Yet this time, he ran without second thought. He ran instinctively despite the fact it was instinct for him to fight before fleeing. He couldn't make sense of it. But Lance's death was on him and only him.

Rin shook her head on his shoulder, "That's not true Alek and you know it. You are the bravest person in this entire group. Especially since you fight the undead face to face, seeing them up close and personal and killing them. Not hiding behind a gun, shooting them from far away. No, you fight them fearlessly to save those you love. You are so far from a coward that it shouldn't be atoned to you ever again."

Her words hit him deep.

He never knew she thought of him like that. Fearless? No. He was scared. Just like everyone else. The only thing that made him different was that he had a goal and he was hell bent on making it happen. He knew this, he accepted it. But to hear it from Rin made his chest hurt and his heart ache.

He didn't know what to say. His chest hurt, his heart yearned for her, as it always did. But he held it back. That desire. That lust.

Instead, he intertwined his fingers with hers.

Rin squeezed his hand before speaking again, "I almost got Lance out of the horde. I almost saved him."

Alek froze and tensed up hearing those words.

No. His death couldn't be on her. No he refused to allow it.

"Rin, he fell into the-"

Rin started shaking her head.

Alek was about to interject when he felt a liquid his his arm.

He looked down in surprise and saw tears hitting him with Rin's face held low.

She was crying.

"I… I grabbed him and ran him through the undead. I almost got him free but he didn't..." She broke off as she began to sob.

Alek immediately wrapped his arm her and pulled her head into his chest where she began to cry quietly into his shirt.

Alek rubbed her back gently, as he spoke, "You at least tried to save him. I ran away. You are far more fearless than I am Rin."

Rin cried a bit longer before looking up at him, her brown eyes now puffy and red.

"But I failed. He's dead because I wasn't strong enough."

Alek kissed her nose which shocked him and her collectively.

"We all made mistakes today. Everyone is at fault, not just me and you but everyone. Now let's get some sleep huh? We have a big day tomorrow."

Rin nodded and got up slowly as Alek helped her up.

Alek had just turned to head to his room when Rin said, "Alek?"

He stopped and turned.

Rin was looking down, her fingers playing with her hair, her stance clearly nervous, "Can… Can you sleep with me tonight? I don't want to be alone."

Alek gave her a small smile, "If you want," and proceeded into her room.

When Mom found them asleep together the next morning, Alek had gotten scolded of course but to be honest. It was the best night of sleep he'd had in a long time.

Chapter 4 sent away! Hope you all enjoyed this one! Sorry its a bit shorter but for whats coming up will take a lot more. REview! Spread the word! REVIEW DAMMIT! SPREAD THE WORD! *coughs nervously* uh… sorry… anger issues… jk do as you all wish! Love you all! For the two of you who havent seen your characters yet, don't worry they are coming i promise!

See ya peeps

-Jules Le Invicta