Yeah, I decided to update again bc I already had it written so... enjoy.

I am so sorry for this chapter. Just saying.

Disclaimer: I do not own R5, The Vamps or 5 Seconds Of Summer, all rights go to Hollywood, Mercury/Island & Capitol Records!

Chapter 23
A Sacrifice

"So... here we are." Rocky said with a sigh.

The five of them stood in the middle of a long deserted road with a city in a distance of them staring at them at the face, with the wind blowing around them a tiny bit. They looked around, seeing some hills in the back ground.

This was Utah.

They all seemed pretty depressed and nervous at the fact that they might not even make to the Escalante Desert where the base is, as they could already sense the feeling of them being watched by someone. Aka zombies. But they didn't know where.

It had took them longer to get from White Pine and into Utah as they decided to walk slower than usual, not really wanting this to end but wanting it too at the same time as they knew once they do this the apocalypse will be over and they won't have to suffer any more. Ellington turned his head and looked at Ross who was standing beside him "How long will it take us to get to the desert?" he asked.

Ross shrugged "From here it takes about half an hour by car to get to the train station we use to get dropped off at and it takes 30 to 45 minutes by foot to get from the train station to the base. So... I'm gonna say four hours at the max. But I don't know, there's a woodland bit after this city that we have to get through first. And depending on how and who gets out of it, it might take a little bit longer." he explained.

"Right then," Rocky said, shrugging his backpack back onto his shoulder as he felt it sliding off "better not waste any more time, right? Has everyone got something to defend themselves with? Cos this place is going to be crawling with zombies every where you turn."

Everyone nodded, holding up the weapon that they had which was either a gun or a plank of wood they had found along the way. "I haven't." Rydel said.

Rocky took off his backpack and went into it, digging around for something that she could use but there was nothing. "Ross, have you got something?" He asked.

Ross checked in his backpack and had a good look around, he shook his head "No. Nothing, sorry Rydel, you're gonna have to be extra careful or find something before we get into the city."

Rydel nodded and sighed, looking back towards the city "I'll be fine."

The others looked at her, being unsure about that. Even Rydel was unsure about that too but she didn't bother to show it. After standing there for what seemed like a long time, they began to make their way towards the city. Rydel kept her eyes on the floor in case there was a plank of wood like Ellington had or a metal pole but nothing was there but large rocks and she wasn't going to carry them with her.

She sighed, feeling useless right now. They all had something to protect themselves with and here she was with nothing, like a defenceless girl. That was not a good feeling. There had to be something she could do.

As they were practically about to enter the city, Rydel continued to walk forwards but was grabbed by the back of her shirt by Ellington and pulled back. "Whoa!" Rydel said, stumbling a little "what was that for?!" she asked, seeing how everyone had frozen.

Ellington pointed "Look, Rydel."

she turned her head and looked to the city where it was complete and utter hell. There were a crowd of zombies walking about, way too many for them to handle, along with over turned cars, things on fire, windows smashed. It looked like how everywhere looked when the apocalypse first started. "Oh my god." was all Rydel managed to let escape from her mouth.

"There's no way we're getting in that way." Rocky said.

"Rocky, there's no other way to get to the desert, though," Ross said "well there is, but that could take freaking weeks because that means walking around the outside of Utah till we get to the other side and I don't know my way around there. So we're going to have to go this way, or at least find a way."

"Guys," Rydel said, nudging Ellington and getting the boys attention "there." she said, pointing over to what looked like an alleyway between one of the first buildings you come to and another.

"Lead the way, Rydel." Rocky said.

Rydel nodded and began to lead the others carefully and discretely towards the alleyway, being careful to not make any sudden movement in case any of the zombies spotted them and made a B line for them. They all looked like a freaking heard of animals there were that many of them. She kept turning round to make sure nobody was doing anything stupid to get them noticed but they seemed to be being as careful as she was.

It took them a couple minutes but they reached the alleyway, sliding down it one by one. Seen as though there were no zombies down the alleyway, they could run down it till they reached the end. Rydel peered out from the side whilst Ross got on the other side of the wall and looked out too. "Now what?" Riker asked, whispering "where do we go now?" he asked.

Ross looked out in the opposite direction, seeing a couple of other zombies far down the road – but still enough to take all five of them out. He sighed "I don't know, this is fucking useless, we're never going to get out of here," he whispered in frustration "There's cars we can hide behind, but if we hide behind one side of the car, we'll get spotted by them zombies but if we hide on the other side we'll get spotted by the others. Either way, we're going to get spotted and mauled to death."

Rocky ran his hand through his hair in frustration "Well, we need to figure out something. We didn't come all this way for nothing." he whispered, agitated.

Rydel shrugged "What about a distraction?" she asked.

Ellington pointed at Rydel "Now that is a good idea." Ellington whispered. Rydel nodded with a small smile.

Ross looked at them both like they were crazy "What kind of distraction? If we throw something it won't distract them for long. So unless one of you are planning on being live bait I don't think so." he whispered harshly to them.

Rydel and Ellington glanced at each other and turned back to Ross who's face dropped "You're both fucking kidding me right." He said.

Ellington held up his hands "Hey! I never said I was gonna do it! I want to live!"

Ross nodded "Good. Because if someone does play live bait there is no way in hell you're coming out of it alive."

Everyone sighed, suddenly freezing in place as a zombie wondered by the opening of the alleyway. They stayed still for a couple seconds before it disappeared and they all took a deep breath. "Well, unless someone plays live bait, we've come all this way for nothing," Rocky whispered "besides. It doesn't matter if one us dies now, you know we're gonna come back."

Ross's mouth dropped open "Rocky shut up before you talk one of them into it," he went to go look back out of the alleyway but noticed something about Rydel's face "Rydel...?" he asked, she looked at him "for the love of god tell me you are not seriously thinking about doing it."

Rydel shrugged "Why not?" She asked "I haven't been much help anyway. And I don't have a weapon to defend myself with. I'm a fast runner, I'll be fine."

"Against about... 20, 30 or 40 zombies?" Ross asked, again Rydel shrugged. Ross scoffed "Yeah, screw off Rydel, you're not doing it."

Rydel glared at him "Why not?"

"Because you're just not."

"Yeah, but I bet if it was Riker or Ellington who offered you'd be willing to let them do it no problem," she snapped at him "you're only saying no because I'm a girl and think I'm defenceless."

Ross rolled his eyes "I'm not saying that at all, Rydel. I'm just saying.. no. To many have died in my life that I care about. Ashton, Brad, Luke, Will, my parents... Don't make it be another."

Rydel smiled sarcastically "Oh, how sweet, you care if I die or not," she said sarcastically "but c'mon, Ross. The world needs saving. Like Rocky said, I'll come back anyway if this Epoch machine works. What's one life compared to the rest of the humans around the world that are still alive and looking for some sort of hope?" she asked "because if I don't go and do this now... they're not going to get it."

Ellington sighed, putting his plank of wood down "Fuck it, I'll go instead." he said, about to launch himself out of the alleyway.

"NO!" Ross grabbed hold of him and threw him back harshly that he nearly fell on the floor, and if it wasn't for Riker and Rocky catching him he would have "Nobody is doing anything. We're staying here. And if it means jumping from roof to roof to get to the woods, then so be it. Nobody is playing live bait."

"You can't stop me." Rydel said.

Ross looked Rydel up and down. "Don't do it." he said.

Rydel sighed "Oh c'mon! What use have I even been this past week anyway?" She asked, sounding desperate "I've done nothing. Nothing at all that's helpful. The most I've done is either threatened you all, said you were my hostage, had you all at gun point, or yelled at you. I've done nothing but make you all feel bad and scared. This is the only way I'm going to make it up to you all, by doing this one thing. This one last and final thing. Sure, I'd have liked to have made it to the end and watch you all save the world... but that's jeopardized now just for the fact there's a crowd of zombies that can easily be distracted, but you won't let anybody do it. The chances are I might out run them all. You know? Climb up a ladder to the top of a building, hide inside somewhere until I know it's safe to come out and then I'll come find you guys. But if I don't make it... then even better. I saved you guys by sacrificing myself so you could save the world. And if I don't do it then you have to do it," she said, prodding Ross in the chest "and if you have to do it then that's bad because you know how the machine works, so does Rocky, but two heads would be better than one to use it. Heck, maybe even a third if you find someone along the way that use to work at the base – which is very doubtful at the moment. So c'mon Ross. Make your decision. You or me."

Ross stared at Rydel, contemplating in his mind what to do. He looked over to Riker, Rocky and Ellington who were waiting for one of them to make a decision before one of them run out and be the distraction. Slowly, Ross let his backpack slide off his shoulders "Fine then." Ross said

Rocky's eyes widened "Ross, what the fuck are you doing."

"No, no," Ross said, holding his hand up at Rocky "I'm gonna make a compromise. We both do it. If you don't agree to that Rydel, then nobody does it."

Rydel was taken back by that. She wasn't expecting Ross to actually offer to do it with her. She went to go say something but couldn't, she looked at Rocky as she didn't like the idea of him doing it herself. And by the look on Rocky's face he did not agree to it either. They needed both Ross and Rocky at the base to work the machine. Sure, one could do it. But two people would get it done and working faster. Which is why Ross needs to be there.

Rydel faced Ross again "Fine. We both do it."

Rocky almost yelled at Rydel before a thought came to his mind, and he had the strangest feeling Rydel had the same idea. She smiled at Ross weakly as tears glistened in her eyes and she could tell Ross was doing his best not to cry too. He didn't want to die like this. She put her hands on Ross's shoulders "Go on. Give your brother one last hug before you go. I know for a fact he's going to miss you and won't let go so easily." she said, making them three words stick out for Rocky to hear.

Luckily Ross can be oblivious sometimes and thought the only reason those words stuck out was because it looked like Rydel was going to cry and she was about to then. He nodded, turning to Rocky "I'm sorry, but... it's the only way, I hate to admit she's right but... she is. If one of us doesn't make a distraction then... we're doomed." he said.

Rocky nodded "I know. Just... come here..." he said, opening up his arms. Ross sighed, walking over to Rocky and giving him a hug. Rocky wrapped his arms around Ross tightly in the hug, holding him like it was the last time he was ever going to do so.

Rydel took a deep breath as Rocky looked over to her. Rocky shut his eyes and tightened his grip even more around Ross, he looked at both Riker and Ellington who knew exactly what Rocky and Rydel were planning from the moment Rocky tightened his grip. Rocky looked back at Rydel and nodded.

"Go."

without so much as another word said, Riker tossed Rydel his gun to defend herself and she took off out the alleyway to where the zombies were.

"What?" Ross asked, going to turn around but Rocky kept hold of him "RYDEL NO!" he said, wriggling through Rocky's grip. "RYDEL COME BACK!"

"GUYS HELP ME OUT HERE!" Rocky said, starting to lose his grip on Ross and he did.

Ross went to go run, after Rocky let go but Riker tripped him up and Ellington jumped on top of him to keep him down on the floor. "RYDEL!" Ross kept on screaming over and over again.

"RIKER HELP ME!" Ellington shouted. Riker came over and helped pin Ross down on the ground along with Rocky too.

Rydel ran out and out of sight of the others and reloaded the gun Riker gave to her with the bullets Rocky also give her earlier to hold onto for him. She looked both ways of where the zombies were, she took a deep breath before holding the gun up in the air and firing at least three bullets where she got their attention "Come on then boys!" Rydel shouted, looking both ways at them "come and get it..."

And soon enough both sides of the zombies came charging towards her. Rydel took a deep breath and looked at the sky, when she looked ahead of her again she saw another alleyway that looked like it would give her an escape. She laughed.

Someone up there still wanted her alive.

Before she knew it she took off towards the alley, firing the bullets behind her at the zombies that were gaining in on her. Luckily she didn't stumble once coming down the alleyway. She kicked trash cans over as well as bin bags in the zombies way and they still managed to get through them. She sighed, but she had a good head start away from them.

She quickly reloaded the gun again as she turned round the corner. She looked up from the gun to continue running but stopped.

She came to a dead end.

Rydel sighed and shut her eyes. He turned back round where she saw the other end of the alleyway and the other side was clear and there was no dead end.

She turned the wrong way.

Rydel cursed herself under her breath. As she went to go run for that end and escape, the zombies turned round the corner and spotted her. As they came towards her, Rydel fired and fired the gun at them, on the floor at their feet, and at their heads where she made a couple of hits. Eventually the zombies stopped coming at her and she smiled. "That's right," She said "stay back or I'll keep on firing," one zombie made a movement and she aimed it at her "aha, don't you dare. I will fire. I'm fully loaded." she went into her pocket to pull out some more bullets that Rocky had given to her earlier to hold onto .

Her dismay?

There were no bullets left in her pocket. "Oh no..." she whispered.

Now she had to hope for the best the gun still had bullets. Rydel took a deep breath and went to pull the trigger and nothing came out. The gun was empty. It had nothing in it. Rydel stomped on the floor and lowered the gun, looking up to the sky like something was going to fall down from it and help her. Turns out someone up there didn't want her alive.

Slowly, Rydel backed up until her back was against the wall and screamed her loudest when they all started coming at her. Eventually they got her.

And that was the end of Rydel.

It took a whole lot of effort and strength but they managed to get Ross up off the floor and drag him down the street before any more zombies made a reappearance without Ross going after Rydel. They hid down the street, went through a couple more alleyways without being caught, shot some zombies, and killed them before they ended up in the woods they were talking about.

That took longer than it should have done. It took them two hours because Ross was being stubborn and refused to move anywhere because of what Rocky did just so Rydel could go kill herself so they could go save the stupid world which resulted in an argument and Ellington slapping them both round the head, telling them to get over it and it'll be fine.

Still, Ross refused to go anywhere so Rocky threw him over his shoulder and got Riker to carry his backpack.

Now it's sunset and they're in the woods with a fire burning, keeping an eye out for some zombies. They keep thinking they're hearing footsteps and twigs snapping in the background but they know they are just being paranoid. After all, the whole city is swamped with zombies – what's to say the woods don't have a couple either.

Ross sat in a mood on the floor, staring at the fire whilst Rocky was trying to talk to him but Ross was having none of it. Ellington sighed, leaning backwards with his hands supporting him "Well, on the plus side, tonight's our last night together." he said, thinking they would have made it to the base by now. But no. if Ross never had his hissy fit with Rocky, they would be much closer and would have probably done it by now.

Riker laughed "You say that like it's a bad thing."

Ellington shrugged "Well... we could have been back home by now if Ross and Rocky do what they do at the base."

Riker turned to Rocky and Ross "Hey, couldn't have this have been done sooner by someone rather than having to wait a year and a half before you two came to your senses?" He asked.

Rocky nodded "Yeah, but the reason we waited was because it was so hectic and we thought someone would have done it by now," Rocky said to them "this is just taking the long way home."

Riker let out a small laugh "Long way home. Sounds like a song. Maybe you could write one, one day and call it that."

Rocky shook his head "Na. I was never that good with music, it would probably sound like a four year old wrote it." he joked, making Ellington and Riker laugh. Rocky sighed, looking at Ross "Listen. I know you didn't want her to sacrifice herself like that, but any one of us could have done it. It just so happened to be her. Besides, it's not like she's gone forever. Once we use the Epoch machine, she'll be back and good as new."

Ross shook his head "It's not the point Rocky."

"What is it then? What point am I not getting?" Rocky asked, starting to give up.

"We basically promised her she would make it to the end. After she said she thought she would never make it to the end and she didn't."

Ellington shrugged "Hey, she basically did make it to the end if you think about it. Utah is the end of the road. It's where we needed to be, so in a way she did make it to the end."

Ross looked at Ellington with sad eyes "Fuck you and your deep shit." he said, wiping his eyes. He hated how Ellington could be right in these ways.

Rocky cocked his head "C'mon, Ross. Say something to me that shows you still don't want to kill me. Please?" he asked.

Ross stared out into space "I need to pee."

"N-not exactly what I was expecting but, uh, okay."

Ross got up from the floor, taking his gun with him and made his way off into the distance to go pee. He was at a reasonable distance so the others knew what tree he was at, they weren't watching him though. That would be just weird and gay.

Riker sighed "I miss Rydel, I'm not gonna lie."

"Me too." Ellington said.

Rocky nodded, smiling slightly "Yeah, I miss her threatening Ellington and calling him her hostage."

Ellington rolled her eyes "Shut up. That was when we first met."

"She still treat you like one though." Riker said.

Rocky's head turned when he heard a twig snap in the distance, and he knew that he wasn't hallucinating or being paranoid because he's pretty sure Riker and Ellington heard it too – given the small pause they had before returning to talk.

"She did no-"

Snap.

Ellington jumped "Okay, what the fuck, I was hoping I was just hearing things." He said, getting up on his knees in fear.

Riker looked around, trying to figure out where the snaps were coming from. Rocky kept on staring at the same spot between the trees as he could barely make out a figure of a zombie – least he thinks it's a zombie. He picked up the gun off the floor and stood up slowly "I'll be right back.." He said, walking slowly towards the trees where he saw the outline.

Riker and Ellington watched, becoming slightly scared for him "Um... Rocky... be careful." Riker whispered.

Rocky nodded, getting to the first tree as he was pretty sure whoever it was,was stood behind it or somewhere near it "W-who is it?" Rocky asked. He rolled his eyes at himself "Oh who am I kidding. Zombies can't talk, I'll just shoot it now." he said, going to shoot it.

"NO DON'T SHOOT ME!"

Rocky screamed when it spoke, realising it wasn't a zombie it was an actual person and when the person stepped forwards and came into the light he screamed even more and louder – which caused Riker and Ellington to scream too. The person even screamed too as they weren't expecting to have the three boys shouting at them in fear.

Rocky bent over, stopping screaming along with Riker and Ellington. He held onto his heart "YOU GAVE ME A FUCKING HEART ATTACK YOU BASTARD!" Rocky shouted, breathing heavily.

The person laughed, looking down at Rocky "Oh, it's good to see you too Rocky."

Ellington held onto his chest, breathing heavily and laying down on the ground – Riker held onto his now rapidly beating heart too. Why must people do this too them?

Rocky took a deep breath and stood up straight, facing the person.

"YOU'RE A FUCKING ASS HOLE. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD."

So yeah... that happened. Um... The next few chapters are going to be fun ;)

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