Chapter 9: Weight on Me
Part I - Losses
-Day 480-
"How is your side feeling, Julian?" asks Dr. White as he's looking at JuJu's scar on his side, trying to remove the stitches.
"Feeling better honestly," JuJu replies. "It till kind of feels tight though, like when I make specific movements, it feels slightly uncomfortable."
"Okay, It was probably because you had them in too long. You should be fine as soon as I take them out."
He slowly cuts the wires and pulls them out, only leaving JuJu's scar left. It looked cleanly healed but the memory of the incident that caused it still lives inside him.
"Thanks, Doc," He sighs.
"No problem. Just take care of yourself."
"Yes, sir."
JuJu leaves the infirmary and glances at the front gates, remembering the small battle that happened just days ago with "The Oaks". He remembered the two people he killed who seemed to be not much older than him. As he continues walking, he meets up with Marcus.
"Yo J, everything good?"He asks.
"Yeah, I'm chillin'. What's up?"
"Have you seen Emmanuel and B?"
"Nah, why?"
"I haven't seen them since yesterday."
"You serious?"
"Yup, I thought you'd know. Since you be sneaking out with Lynn a lot."
"Shut up. Let's go look for them."
Marcus nods before he continues.
"We can't just go with just us two, Let's get some others to help."
"Fine," JuJu sighs. "I'll get Lynn and Von. I trust them the most. Meet back here in a bit."
Marcus nods again and walks away as JuJu goes off to find his other friends. After some time, he finds Lynn and Vonda, messing with their bows and quivers.
"'Sup, JuJu!" Lynn says with a smile as it slowly fades away."What's wrong?"
"I need you two for something really important and I trust you both the most. You got me?"
Lynn and Vonda look at each other confused.
"What are you talking about JuJu?" Questions Vonda.
"Emmanuel and Byron are missing. They snuck out the walls yesterday and never came back."
"Oh shit," says Lynn. "I'm with you. Von, you in?"
She hesitates before speaking.
"Uh, Y-yeah, I'm in."
"Thanks, guys. I owe y'all one, for real. Meet me and Marcus outside the infirmary in a bit."
"You got it," Lynn says.
Sometime later, JuJu and Marcus are outside the infirmary waiting for the others to arrive. Seconds later, They see Lynn and Vonda arrive with some others, Luan, Benny, and Hana.
"Hey guys," says Lynn. "I got us some help. Strength in numbers right?"
"Fine with me," says Marcus. Let's get going."
The seven of them exit the walls and head out into the wilderness. JuJu walks with Lynn as the rest walk in front of them. Lynn glances at JuJu, looking at his worried face.
"We'll find them JuJu," she says as she puts her hand on his shoulder. "We won't give up until we do. I picked these three to help for a reason, we'll find them."
"I sure hope so."
They all walk until Luan spots something lying next to a bush.
"Guys?" she says as she returns to the small group. I found something!"
In her hands, she has a blue baseball cap.
"Isn't that B's?" Says Marcus.
JuJu walks up to Luan and takes the hat from her hands.
"It is. It has blood splatter on it… Shit."
"They can't be far then right?" says Vonda.
As the group examines the baseball cap, JuJu's mind races with thoughts and worries. Seeing it sends a chill down his spine, intensifying his concern for Emmanuel and Byron's well-being.
"Yeah," JuJu replies. "They can't be too far if this is here. We need to move quickly and bring them back."
The group shares a determined nod, their expressions reflecting a mix of determination and worry. Lynn tightens her grip on her bow, Vonda adjusts her quiver, and Benny grips the handle of his sword. Ready for whatever lies ahead.
"Let's follow any signs or tracks we can find," Marcus suggests. "They might have left more clues behind."
JuJu puts the hat in his bag and continues walking with the others. Not that far from the location of the hat, there's a blood trail on the ground and it catches the attention of everyone.
"Oh no," says Luan.
As they go deeper into the woods, the blood trail leads them to a cave and it continues inside.
"We go inside?" Asks Hana.
"If it means we can find them, then yes," replies JuJu.
He unholsters his Honey Badger and cocks back the charging handle as he turns on the mounted flashlight on his weapon, Followed by Marcus and Luan Pulling out flashlights as well.
"We have to stay close," JuJu says. "We don't need anything else to happen. Follow my lead."
The cave is completely silent and nothing is heard but the echo of water droplets hitting the ground of the cavern. As they keep walking, the blood trail becomes more pronounced and the walls of the cave have scratches on them, indicating a struggle.
Suddenly, there's something that catches their attention. They hear a faint grunt in the distance.
"You guys hear that?" whispers Benny.
"Yeah," replies JuJu. "Sounded like it came from this way. The blood trail continues this way too."
-1 Day Earlier-
"Yo Byron!" Yells Emmanuel as he walks up to him. "You good bro?"
Byron was sitting on the porch of the house with a sad look.
"I'm fine. Just missing someone."
Emmanuel sits down next to him, feeling empathy.
"And who's that?"
"My friend CiCi. We've known each other since we were little. I never had any siblings, but she was like a sister to me."
Byron then looks in the distance seeing JuJu and Lynn hanging out, laughing, smiling, and enjoying each other's company.
"CiCi was in our group before it was just Me, JuJu, and Marcus. We never left each other's side."
"Damn, what happened to her?"
"She got badly hurt while we were going through a tunnel and we got ambushed by Rogues. They killed her right in front of us with no hesitation. It replays in my head every day bro."
Emmanuel looks at the floor regretting asking the question.
"Sorry for asking."
He gets no response.
"Look," continues Emmanuel. "I'm going outside the walls if you wanna come with me?"
"For what reason?" replies Byron.
"I'm kinda tired of stayin' inside here so long. JuJu, Marcus, Lynn, and others can go outside the walls all the time, why can't I?"
"Listen Em, Just because they can go outside doesn't mean you can. No offense, but they're more experienced than you are. I've seen the stuff they've done. They're real survivors."
"What? You don't think I can survive? I'm still here am I?"
"I'm not saying that. They're just… never mind. I'll go with you. Just so I can watch over you."
They both grab their weapons and head toward the front entrance and attempt to sneak out but there are people in the way blocking the exit.
"Why are we sneaking out?" asks Byron. "Can't we just let Marcus know or something?"
"Nah, we'll be fine. Let's just not get caught."
"Why do you want to be out there so bad? It's not something anyone wants to do. You think JuJu likes being out there?"
"Jesus, It's always "JuJu this, JuJu that". I don't care."
"Look, you know it's not the safest out there, right? Especially with what happened a couple days ago."
Emmanuel rolls his eyes, his impatience evident. "I've been through some shit too bruh, you know? I can handle myself."
"Then why ask me to come with?"
"Whatever. Wait for everyone to move out of the way, then we'll hit it."
The two hide behind a concrete barrier, waiting for the right moment to leave.
"Okay," says Emmanuel. "Get ready."
Byron nods but is still skeptical about the situation.
Emmanuel watches as the guards shift their attention momentarily, distracted by a commotion further away from the entrance.
"Now!" he whispers urgently, and the two slip out from behind the barrier, crouching low as they make their way toward the exit.
"See? It wasn't that bad," says Emmanuel as he taps Byron's shoulder.
They explore the surrounding area, walking through the woods and occasionally spotting signs of wildlife. The tension from earlier starts to fade as they immerse themselves in conversation, sharing stories, and talking about their lives before the outbreak.
After some time walking, they hear something rustling in the bushes.
"You heard that?" says Byron.
"Yeah, probably another animal."
As soon as that happened, a gun was shot near them and hit a tree in front of their eyes.
"Oh shit!" Yells Byron. "We gotta go now!"
The two start running deeper into the woods before another shot is fired and it hits Byron in his side. He falls over and screams in pain.
"AH!"
Emmanuel pulls out his pistol and starts firing randomly into the woods, hoping to hit someone but isn't successful. He turns back to Byron and looks at his shoulder. He grabs him from under his arm and drags him to a safer place behind a rock, leaving his hat behind. He glances down at Byron's white shirt and sees it covered in blood.
"Shit, shit, shit!" He yells.
Byron starts coughing blood as it leaks out of his mouth.
"Hey!" Emmanuel says as he slaps Byron's face softly. "Stay with me, bro. Come on."
Emmanuel's heart races as he desperately tries to figure out what to do next. The situation has escalated beyond his control, and he realizes the gravity of the danger they're in. He quickly surveys their surroundings, looking for any signs of the shooter or potential cover.
Byron's breathing is shallow, and his face has turned pale. Emmanuel's mind races as he tries to remember any first-aid knowledge he might have picked up over the years. He presses his hands against the wound, trying to slow down the bleeding as best as he can.
"We need to stop the bleeding, Byron," Emmanuel mutters to himself, his voice trembling with fear.
Byron grimaces in pain, his eyes partially closed. Emmanuel hastily rips a piece of cloth from his shirt and ties it tightly around Byron's wound, attempting to create a makeshift bandage. He's no expert, but he knows that time is of the essence.
"Em... I'm sorry," Byron manages to wheeze out, his voice barely audible.
"Shut up, man," Emmanuel replies, his voice quivering. "Just hang on. I'll think of something"
Emmanuel keeps an eye on the surroundings, his ears straining to catch any sounds that might indicate the shooter's presence. He grips his pistol tightly, ready to defend himself and Byron if the need arises. Panic courses through his veins, but he fights to stay focused.
"Fuck, come on," he says as he lifts Byron over his shoulder and continues going down the trail until they reach a cave as the Gunshots are being fired at them again. One bullet then grazes Emmanuel's leg and he stumbles into a limp. He lifts Byron again and limps inside the cave.
"Damn it," Emmanuel says to himself, sweating profusely.
He looks behind him, realizing that the both of them have left a blood trail, leading to their location.
Suddenly, Byron's weight gets too heavy for Emmanuel and he sets him down on the cave walls, appearing unresponsive.
"Byron?" Emmanuel says. "Yo, B? Hey!"
He then moves his head near his face and still hears breathing, but they're short breaths.
"I'm sorry Byron. I should've listened to you. This is my fuckin' fault!"
Growling is then heard in the cave and Emmanuel cocks his pistol back, ready to fight off anything that comes his way, for his life.
-Present Day-
Following the blood trail, JuJu and his group stay vigilant and look out for one another until they see something they thought they'd never see.
"B-byron?" Says JuJu."
He runs toward the silhouette lying against the cave wall and it is his friend. He was lying in a puddle of his blood as his shirt was no longer white and had another bullet hole in his head.
"Byron… Fuck!"
Lynn looks at Byron's lifeless body and back at JuJu, feeling bad for him.
Marcus walks toward JuJu and gets on one knee beside him as he says a prayer under his breath while gripping his gold cross-chain. JuJu looks at him and moves his right hand on his forehead, then down to his chest, then right, and left until he kisses his hand.
"You don't gotta suffer no more bro," whispers JuJu to Byron's lifeless body. "Vaya con Dios, hermano."
Marcus pats JuJu's back and they both stand up as Vonda calls out to them.
"Hey!" She yells. "I found something."
JuJu, Marcus, Lynn, Luan, Benny, and Hana all walk toward her and they see her standing next to another dead body with a semi-auto rifle lying next to it.
"You think Emmanuel did this?"
"I hope so," says Marcus. "I don't want to deal with more fuckers than we already do."
"Man, this guy got shot multiple times."
"Let's keep movin'," says JuJu. "We don't have time to waste."
The deeper they went into the cave, the more prominent the growls became.
"Uh, JuJu?" says Benny. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"
He turns around and looks at him.
"You can stay back if you want and keep watch, but I'm gonna keep going. I'm not gonna leave my friends behind. No matter what dumbass decision they make like this."
As they continue, they turn a corner and reach an open area with roamers limping and growling around the area. JuJu quickly aims his Honey Badger and takes out each roamer one by one.
"That was for B." He says as his voice breaks.
When they enter the area, the group sees that the floor is riddled with blood spots and bones as something catches their eyes with their flashlights. Emmanuel lying next to a rocky alcove, his breaths shallow and skin discolored from all the blood loss. His pistol lies a few feet away from him, forgotten and unable for him to reach.
"Emmanuel!" Yells Marcus as he runs toward his younger cousin.
Emmanuel stirs at the sound of his name, trying to open his eyes and focus his vision.
"M-marcus?" he says weakly as he coughs out more blood. "I-I'm sorry…"
"Nah, don't be sorry. We're getting you some help."
Marcus lifts him and looks at the group.
"Let's go. Can someone help me?."
Benny nods and walks up to help.
"Come on."
"Marcus, he's losing too much blood," says Luan. "I don't think he'll make it."
"He's gonna make it. We gotta go now!"
As Marcus and Benny carry him to the cave entrance, Emmanuel's steps are unsteady as his injuries take a toll on his strength. They pass through Byron's body after some time and Emmanuel glances at him, his vision blurry.
"We gotta do something for Byron at least," says Vonda. "We can't just leave him here and let him rot."
"I have idea," replies Hana.
She walks back to the body of the shooter and finds a short-neck shovel in their backpack as she walks ahead of everyone else.
After exiting the cave, the group is met with a dimming light of day as the atmosphere remains somber. The cloudy skies set the tone of what had transpired.
Hana begins to dig a shallow grave for Byron with determined and steady movements. The rest of the group watches her in silence, their faces somber, as they realize that this is the best they can do for their fallen friend in the midst of their current predicament.
As Hana finishes digging the grave, JuJu gently places Byron's lifeless body into it. He takes a moment to say a few words, a makeshift eulogy, for his friend. "Byron, you were like a brother to me. We've been through hell and back together, and I won't forget the sacrifices you made. Rest in peace, hermano."
With heavy hearts, the group helps Hana cover the grave with dirt, forming a makeshift mound. It's a small gesture, but it's all they can do for now. They take a moment to pay their respects, and then they continue their arduous journey out of the cave, carrying the injured Emmanuel with them.
JuJu walks behind everyone slowly as he clenches his fist in anger, seeing two good friends of his gone and in bad health. Lynn stops and waits for JuJu to catch up as they walk together side by side.
"Hey, you alright?" She asks.
JuJu unclenches his fist as if hearing Lynn's voice calms him.
"I-I'm fine. Let's keep going."
Sometime later, Emmanuel starts coughing hard as more blood comes out of his mouth and the rest of the group starts to increase their speed back to Houlton. As soon as they reach the front gates, they go through it and run toward the Infirmary as Marcus now carries him in his arms.
"My cousin's dying," says Marcus as he runs into the building. "Someone please help!"
It catches Haley and Dr. White's attention as they roll out a stretcher for Emmanuel. As they take him away, Marcus turns around and walks to a chair. He looks at his hands, covered in Emmanuel's blood, and sits in the chair while his leg is bouncing in stress.
JuJu sits beside him and pats his back.
"He's gonna be fine M, trust."
Hours pass, but feels like an eternity before Haley comes back to the group, now only just Lynn, JuJu, and Marcus as the others left.
"He's lost a lot of blood," she says. "But he's stable, for now."
"Can we see him?" says Marcus.
"Yeah, he's down there to your right."
Marcus stands up as JuJu goes to follow before Lynn grabs his arm.
"Let them talk for a bit, bro. I'll stay here with you until then."
Inside the room, Marcus pulls a chair and sits beside his cousin's bed. He sees his chest rise and lower slowly as he sheds a tear before Emmanuel opens his eyes.
"D-don't go all soft on me now, Cuz," He says weakly.
"You scared the shit outta me, you know that?" Chuckles Marcus, happy to see him talking. "If your Mama was here, she'd beat ya ass for that."
"Well, I can't let you get all the excitement."
Marcus's smile fades to a frown.
"Why did you sneak out? You know B's dead because of this right? What even happened?"
Emmanuel looks away, regretting his decision, causing the death of a fellow brother-in-arms."
"I-I know. And I'm sorry… I just wanted to go out of the walls and do what y'all have been doing. I haven't left the walls since I got here. B, tried talkin' me out of it, I was st-stubborn and ignored him, b-but he came with me anyway."
"I'm gonna be honest with you. That's gotta be the most retarded decision you've ever made. You know better. Don't let your ego take over, it could make things worse. I'm just glad you're still kickin'."
Back in the corridor, Lynn and JuJu are still seated together, as JuJu waits for Marcus and Lynn is there for another reason. For him. She turns her chair toward him and looks at the scar in his eye, showing the battles he's been in the past. She knows he has a tough exterior, but leaves his feelings trapped inside him to not show weakness.
"I can't believe Byron's gone," JuJu says.
"I know this isn't easy JuJu," Lynn says as she puts a hand on his shoulder and faces him. "You'll always have me, Marcus, my siblings, and others by your side."
"I know," JuJu replies. "Sometimes, I wonder if it's worth it anymore, ya know? Going out there, surviving, all just to lead to more pain? We're only teenagers and we're dealing with this?"
"I get it, but it's not just for survival, it's for the future. For hope."
"I'm gonna be honest with you, Lynn. Hope sucks. I don't know why it took me this long to realize. It's like being in a vortex, everything goes well then boom, it sucks you back in and repeats the process. Fuck that shit."
"You're right bro, but look what it brought us. Hope made my family take you in, hope made me survive when Richard stabbed me, Hope made you survive when you got stabbed, and lastly, hope made us closer."
"True, it did. I guess it's just the pain talking. Thanks for everything, for real."
"You have a good heart. You deserve it."
Lynn smiles as she licks her thumb and cleans a dirty smudge on JuJu's face before Marcus peeks out of the room and signals the two to come in.
"He's awake."
Lynn squeezes JuJu's forearm as they both walk together toward the room. When they enter, Emmanuel lets out a weak smile.
"Man, why don't you two just go out already?" He says in a raspy voice. "It's so obvious at this point."
Lynn quickly lets go of JuJu's arm and blushes hard as she clears her throat. JuJu on the other hand smiles awkwardly and pulls on one of his loose dreadlocks nervously.
"Shut the fuck up," JuJu mouths as Lynn laughs nervously.
The tension momentarily lifted as the group shared a lighthearted moment.
"You're lucky I'm not at a hundred percent right now, JuJu. Or else I woulda slapped the shit out of you," Emmanuel chuckles weakly as it turns into a horrible cough.
"Easy there, Cuz," says Marcus as he pats his back in concern. "Don't push yourself too hard."
"But real shit though," JuJu chimes in. "We're glad you're still kickin'."
"Thanks," replies Emmanuel. "And uh, sorry for bein' a pain in the ass."
"You've always been a pain in the ass, but you're our pain in the ass."
"Alright y'all," says Marcus. "We should give him some rest. We'll check in on you soon."
Emmanuel nods as the trio exits the room and out of the infirmary. Marcus drifts off on his own to the house as Lynn and JuJu are alone together once again.
"Hey, Lynn?" JuJu asks as he looks into her eyes.
"What's up JuJu?" She replies with a smile.
"I just… Wanted to say thanks again for you and Von helping find B and Em. I'm glad to have friends like you two."
"We're like a family bro. We got your back, you got ours, right?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Listen, It's getting kinda late, I'll see you later alright?"
JuJu nods as the two embrace for a hug before they split off and head to each other's homes. As JuJu gets into his home, he goes up the stairs and walks to what was Byron's room. He takes Byron's baseball cap out of his backpack and walks inside. He sets the cap on the bed and stands there for a while as Marcus enters the room as well.
"We gotta stay livin' for him bro," Marcus says. "He'd want us to. Brothers for life?"
He puts his hand out in front of JuJu and puts his hand out for a handshake into a hug.
"Brothers for life."
