The Walking Dead: Love And Survive

Chapter Two: New Faces

I've had my whole life going down in front of my eyes. I've thought this was it.. But it wasn't.
- FUCK YOU, MOTHER FUCKER! - Nick slammed the Walker's head that grabbed me with his bolt-action rifle's gun stock and shot him, meanwhile Pete got down the other off Bria, and shot the rest with Nick.
- NICK! - I jumped into his arms and kissed him.
- I get you guys missed each other and are really cute together, but we gotta hurry. The gun shots will drag other Walkers' attention to us. - Pete warned us.
- Yes, let's go. - Brian agreed.
We hurried to the street that they said was going to lead us "home". It was a bit more calm. At least, there were no Walkers in sight. Brian and Pete were walking next to each other in the front, while Nick and I behind them, close, holding my hand on his waist, and him his arm around my shoulders. I couldn't talk. I was crying all the time and looking into his eyes. I couldn't believe that he was there. He really was alive.
- Darling.. I.. Missed you so fucking insanely. I've thought I could never hold you again. - Nick pulled me closer and hugged me tight.
- I missed you, too. So much.. I couldn't imagine what would I do without you...
- Neither could I, sweetheart. - he kissed.
Whilst Nick and I were focused on each other, Pete and Brian had their conversation.
- God.. If you and Nick wouldn't have showed up... I cannot thank you enough, Pete...
- You know I do not like leaving people behind, especially family members.
- Still.. That Moment.. I thought this was it...
- Hey. You made it.. And home's right up.
We reached to a bigger, boarded house.
- Ladies first. - Pete opened the gate and I went in with Nick on my side.
All the windows were boarded, however, the house was in a pretty good shape, at least compared to other buildings...
It was huge and could hold a bigger group or two. It was protected well enough. From every side, tall, sharp iron fences surrounded it. Walkers hardly ever could get through it and if they did, they got stabbed.
- Mea. - Nick grabbed my hand gently.
I was about to answer, but my uncle was faster.
- Come in the house once you guys finish. - said Brian.
- Okay. - replied Nick.
And they gone inside.
- So.. - he held both of my hands.
- So? Hehe. - I giggled.
He stepped closer and leaned in for a slow kiss.
- Sweetheart, it has been the worst three years of my life.. Pete tried to boost me, but.. I was too down. I've really thought I could never see you again.. Losing you carved a hole in me. I've felt so empty without you. You were the meaning of my life... You STILL are...
- Nick... - I put one hand on his neck, the other on his cheek.
He bented his head into my palm. I've felt a tear flowing through the back of my hand...
He placed his hand on my waist and hugged me.
- I'll protect you at any cost. I'll never let anything happen to you. I'll guard you throughout my entire life...
I started crying again, but I just couldn't find my words. He made me speechless. I was so relieved and melted.
- Don't cry darling. I'm here now... And here forever.
- I just.. - he distracted.
- Shh.. I know... - he pulled me closer, holding by the waist, lifted my chin up with his other hand and kissed me gently. I put both of my hands around his back. We stood like this for a few minutes more, then decided to finally go in.
Nick opened the door and let me in first. For my surprise, the house looked pretty clean and was in a good condition from the innerside, too. All the rooms were connected. The kitchen, dining - and living room was in one. From the living room, three doors opened.
One to the stairs, that led up to an attic, a bedroom at another door and some other rooms. The other door led outside and the third was a short hallway to a glass-doored working office with a small library.
The living room was huge. It had two sofas and three armchairs in it. Pete and Brian took place in two of the armchairs, in the company of other survivors. An African-American family of three, a big guy with glasses and his short, curly haired wife and their baby. A spanish guy with his daughter, who wore red glasses and who seemed to be around the same age as me. And also Luke, next to the married couple.
As we stepped in, all the eyes pointed at me. The first thing that greeted me was Luke's voice.
- Mea..? I've thought you were already gone... - he shocked down. He got up from the sofa and came to me for a hug.
- Hey, Luke.. Long time no see...
- I'm glad you made it.
- Yeah.. Thanks...
He sat back. I looked through the faces. They could not deny, they were surprised about me just randomly showing up and about who I was, but aswell as, they gave me warm smiles as a welcome.
- Who's she? - asked the girl with glasses.
- Yes, honey. Why don't you and Nick sit down and talk a bit about yourself? - smiled the woman with the baby. She had a very calming voice...
Nick and I sat down on the sofa in front of them. He held my hand with his, that the others saw, too,but just didn't mention or ask about.
- So.. - I started. - Brian, my uncle and Pete are really old friends. And when he planned to move to Georgia, because Pete, Nick and their family lived there, too, I went with him.. Then, I met Nick and the whole family there, and of course, Luke, too. We used to hangout a lot together, sometimes with Nick's family, sometimes only two, three or the four of us... We know each other since childhood.
- And how about you and Nick? - asked the big guy impatiently.
- Alvin! - his wife looked at him.
- What? I am just curious.. I've never seen Nick holding anyone's hand, so...
- It's okay. Don't worry. - I laughed.
- So? What about you and him? Tell us already! - said the girl kinda suspiciously.
- She's my fiancè. - Nick answered.
- That's so cool... - said the girl, but not very satisfied.
- Damn, Nick. Why you never told us about her? - the woman asked  surprised.
- Well.. When this all started.. 3 years ago.. We got separated.. And.. I didn't know if I could ever see her again... It would have just make it harder to move over.
- So.. - the father of the girl tried to change the conversation. - How long have you been together?
Nick and I looked at each other the same time and smiled.
- 11 years, with 4 years engagement.
- Damn, I'm glad for you Nick. - Alvin smiled.
- Thanks. - Nick giggled. - So Darling, You already know Pete and Luke. This is Alvin and Rebecca, and their Baby, AJ. Alvin Junior for short.
- Hey, Rebecca, Alvin. I'm glad to meet you.
- So are we, dear. - she smiled.
- And this is Carlos, and his daughter, Sarah.
- Pleasure to meet you. - Carlos smiled as well.
- Pleasure is mine. - I smiled back.
- I still can't believe you were hiding this angel from us and never mentioned. - said Alvin.
- I know...
- Hey, don't feel bad. I'm just messing. But really, I'm happy for you, kid. - he smiled again.
I sighed deeply.
- What's bothers you, my love? - asked Nick.
- What's wrong, Honey? - asked Becca.
I teared up a little and looked at Nick.
- I wish I haven't lost my ring.. But I took it off before the apocalyps and forgot to take with me...
- Darling.. - he put his palm on my face. - As long as I have you, I do not care about a stupid jewelry. Your love and happiness are what matters for me.
- Ahw.. I love you so much. - I cuddled to his chest. - You know just what to say...
- Believe me.. Not as I do... I love you more than I could ever say... - he kissed my head and rubbed my back gently.
- You guys sure look beautiful. - said Rebecca.
- And kinda weird, too. I mean, seeing Nick like this. - Alvin added and laughed up.
- Hey, what do you mean? - Nick laughed, too.
- What's up, Pete? Never seen you smiling this much. - asked Carlos.
- You know, I'm just glad that he found such a good girl for himself and to see them together again. After all, she is the best Nick ever had. I mean, his father is a piece of shit and has never really been there for Nick.
- Thanks Pete... - I lifted my head up and smiled at him. He smiled back.
After a while we stopped hugging and the conversation began again.
- So, Mea.
- Yes, Luke?
- Did you have the guts to shoot a buck?
Everyone laughed up, especially Pete.
- Fuck you , Luke.
- I liked this one, Luke. - Carlos' serious face finally changed. His eyes were full of tears because of joy.
- Really? Finally. - Luke acted surprised.
- What do you mean finally?
- I mean, what was the last time you ever liked something, Carlos? - he continued laughing.
Pete cleared his throat. He looked sorta worried.
- What is wrong, Pete? - I asked.
- Guys, I hate to ruin the fun and that is why I did not mention this earlier, because I wanted you to rest, but.. We are low on supplies. The food is nearly gone and our medicine is low, too. We already have no antibiotics. So, anytime soon, a fewer of us would have to scavange and ransack the cities. And yeah, at least two people would have to check the fish traps by the river, down by the city.
- What's your plan? - Luke asked.
Pete brought a map out of a drawer and placed it on the smoking table in front of us. He pointed out the locations to go to and search at.
- Alvin and Carlos could check out the traps, while Brian and I will scavange the other side of the city, 'round the "shopping street".
- Pete, I could search through the buildings around the Bell Tower. It seemed sorta empty. I could run it down alone, so no others would have to risk their lives, then I could hurry back. It even has an old pharmacy nearby, so I could search for antibiotics, bandages and other kits.
- No. - Nick disagreed.
- But.. - I looked at him and shook my curls slowly. - Don't.. You trust me? I could really do it...
He took my hand and held it tight.
- Listen, I know you are tough and smart. I know you are faster and smarter than all of them. But what if you get hurt? Or what if bandits, or I don't know.. You encounter any kind of bad faces and they capture you or steal your stuff or.. And you only have a knife and.. I do not even fucking wanna know what else could happen to you. I'll go with you. I'm not letting you alone.
- Okay. Sarah, Luke and Rebecca, stay home with AJ.
- Okay, Pete. I will see if I can put some more protection around the house and fence.
- Good, Luke. - Pete nodded. - Well, that's a plan. If you listen to me people, you should rest now. It's already late and we have to go early, at dawn. Just to make sure things will be safe. And one more thing. Look for candles. The lights would eventually drag Walkers here and I don't wanna know how long this house would last, before they get in. Candles have less light, but enough for us to see.
- Roger that. - Brian answered. - Good night guys.
- 'Night.
- 'Nighty, Uncle Brian.
Brian laid down on the couch and the others spread, took places in other rooms. Nick and I got the room upstairs. We were heading into our room when we heard some noises, like scratching.
- What's that? A mouse? - I whispered.
- I don't know, babe. Wait! - we listened to the sound.
- Nick, it's coming from the attic.
We beetled to the trap door. Nick pulled its ladder down slowly. He went first and I after him. But what we found.. Was worse than our wildest dreams...
- Holy shit... - I froze down.
It was a kid, not any older than 8. He already turned into a Walker.. But what was horrific, is that he barely had skin on him.. He was dry bones, his body was deformed and his ribs were clearly seen... He tried to get up and walk to us, but he fell to the ground and could not get up.
- He must have tried to hide here.. But.. He starved to death... - I hanged my head down. Nick put his palm on my shoulder.
- I cannot stand him suffering.. I will get my gun and put him out of his misery. - he kissed my forehead and went downstairs to get his gun.
I crossed my arms and kept staring at the kid. He was not a heartwarming view. Seeing adults dying is a thing, too.. But seeing vulnerable children suffering and dying did, really make me feel pity and wished to do more for them.
- I'm back. - he petted my back and took a breath.
I turned away. I did not want to see it. I can't stand seeing kids in pain...
- It's over. - said Nick after a gunshot. - I'll bury him in the back yard. - he walked to the kid and lifted him up in his arms.
We got down. Luke has already been waiting in the livingroom. He heard the shot.
- Mea, what happened? I heard a - Oh, nevermind... - he saw Nick coming behind me.
- We found him in the attic.. Nick will make sure he is burried well...
- I'm sorry...
- It's fine...
- Anyone, open the door please, I don't wanna drop him.
- Sure. - Luke opened the door for him.
- Darling. - he looked into my eyes. - Go to bed, I will take care of him and follow you. You have already seen a lot...
- Okay... - I kissed him and he went outside.
- Good night, Luke.
- Good night.. And uh.. Get well.
- Yeah.. Thank you...
And I went upstairs again. Our room was kind of empty. It had just one bed, a few family pictures on the wall, wardrobes and a cupboard. Not like we needed more than that... I dropped myself on the bed and kept staring at the ceiling. Although I knew what I saw, I just did not want to believe it was true. I've kept thinking about what parents could feel seeing their children die or like that, or lose them and have no clues whether they are okay or alive at all... There is nothing worse than seeing your family turn into one of those things... Knowing you have to be the one ending them. I don't know if I would be able to kill Brian, Nick or any of them, if it comes to that moment... I knew I should not be this weak, because I had to be ready to pull that trigger, even if it's aimed at Nick...
- Hey...
- Hey, Nick.. Darling...
He sat down on the side of the bed.
- Is everything okay? - he pinched my cheeks.
- No, not really...
- What are you thinking about? - he lied down next to me and I turned to him.
- Witnessing a little boy dying like this.. Was already hard. But.. I was thinking and.. You need to promise me something.
- Yes?
- Please, promise me you will do what I ask.
- I will.
I sighed.
- Nick, if I ever get bitten.. Or if I'm about to turn in, please.. Shoot me. I do not even care if I am far from reanimation. In the moment I got bit, just end me. Please, I beg of you. I don't want to become one of those things. I don't want to experience the feeling of it.
Nick widened his eyes and looked down, then back at me. Then again down, and back at me. Then he finally spoke.
- I want to promise you.. But I'm not sure I could do this.. Not again. You not...
- Wait, what do you mean "again", baby?
- I had to kill my mum. - he took a little break and continued. - Sounds weird when I say it out loud, huh? - then closed his eyes. A teardropp left his left eye.
- Fuck.. I.. I am so fucking sorry... I did not know...
- Don't worry.. We found a cabin in the middle of a forest, bit further from here. That's where we spent our days. And.. We tried to take care of someone who got bit.. We thought we could handle it.. But when she turned.. My mum was next to her.. And.. - he was tearing more. - And I had to kill her. For mercy... She was about to turn, too. But I stopped her from that...
I pulled him close and hugged him.
- So anyway.. I hope you understand.
- I do.. I really do... I shouldn't have asked you for this...
- I'm not mad. Hey..Darling..
- Yes?
- I will protect you. You will not have to care or worry about turning. I will not let any bad happen to you. - he yawned.
He took off his cap and put it on the cupboard. He placed his head on my chest and been listening my heartbeat.. It calmed him down and made him to fall asleep. I kissed his head and shrugged his hair, then covered him and myself with the blanket, and I fell asleep, too.