A/N:: Hello people. Nie-mo here again, so sorry for the delay in updating, I did write a message explaining why. So I hope you are all still enjoying the story and not forgetting to vote and comment if you are enjoying it, I say this because I will not be updating until I get 5 votes and 5 comments. I am doing this because so many of you are silent readers and I don't know if you are truly enjoying the story so please, if you do like it and do want to read more, then take a few moments to vote and give a quick comment saying if you like it or not, should I do something different? I truly wanna know what you think. Be honest. Thank you, hope to hear from you soon. Nie-mo xox
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Chapter Five:
Ruby's P.O.V:
I was sat on the hood of my car feeling tiredness kicking, I felt myself beginning to nod off. So I slipped off the hood and decided to do a close perimeter check, anything to keep me occupied and awake. Satisfied the North area was clear I headed to the East then to the South. I turned to head back to the car when I near jumped out my skin.
'Rick don't go sneaking up on people like that.' I whisper yelled at him with a smack to his arm.
'Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you.'
'What are you doing up? Your not due to take over for another forty minutes.'
'Couldn't sleep figured I would keep you company.' A sharp nod as I slipped past him heading back toward the car. I didn't trust myself alone with him. He grabbed my arm pulling me back.
'Are you okay?'
'Apart from the gut wrenching guilt, I'm peachy.'
'You hate me now don't you?'
'No Rick, far from it, I hate myself, I have become a person I don;t recognise. Lori isn't my favourite person, we all know that, but she doesn't deserve us going behind her back the way that we did, oh and Kenzie knows, she figured it out.'
'What, how?'
'She caught me on a lie. Lori told her you crashed at mine, I told her I went home alone, she knew I would not lie unless I had a reason too, it doesn't take a genius to figure it out.' Deep breath, 'Look Rick as much as this pains me to say this, but we can never let anything like that happen again, you have a wife and a beautiful son and I just have to accept that and move on.' I looked to him, but he only stared at the ground. 'Listen since you claim not to be tired mind if I go sleep? I'm dead on my feet here.' Pause. 'So wrong phrase to use right now.'
'Yes on you go, go rest up.' Without another word I went and lay in the car next to Lori. She looked pale. I checked her pulse. It seemed normal I took the blanket from myself and wrapped it around her, she was a little cold to the touch. I checked on the kids, they were sound asleep. I lay back and closed my eyes but couldn't get Rick out of my head. Guilt twisted at my gut again and I struggled to ignore it.
Kenzie's P.O.V:
I woke to the sensation of being shaken. It was Shane, It was first light and we needed to get back on the road. Climbing out the car I stretched and tagged Ruby to come with me to the woods to pee before we grabbed a quick bite and hit the road again. Ruby insisted she was busy and got Carol to assist me, by assist me it was simply the fact that we agreed no one should go away from the group alone. I knew Ruby was avoiding being alone with me so she wouldn't have to deal with the fact I know about her little secret, but there will come a time we are alone.
'How are you holding up?' I asked Aunt Carol as we headed back to the car.
'I'm okay, how about you?'
'Well as okay as anyone can be in this crazy situation, I still can't believe this is really happening you know?'
'I know it all seems very surreal, like a huge world wide prank.'
'That's what I said to Shane.'
'Then again, the way the government screw around with all kinds of experiments it doesn't surprise me that something has screwed up and caused this.'
'What makes you sure the government is involved?'
'When are the government never involved?' I shrugged she had a point, I would be surprised if the government wasn't involved.
When we reached the cars Ruby handed us both a plate of beans.
'Eat up, we are hitting the road in twenty.' She told us and went back to check on Lori who was still not quite right. 'Rick Lori is burning up.' Ruby called. Rick placed his bowl on the ground and hurried over.
'Shit she is, she isn't looking to good, we need to find a hospital now.'
'Would be quicker to go back.' I suggested, we were only three hours out of town where as the next town was still a good six hour drive.
'We're going back.' Rick told us and started to pack things up.
We soon arrived back in Atlanta and we made our way to the hospital. We found it deserted. Shane and Rick found a way in but the place was crawling with zombies. Rick was determined to help Lori and fought his way through, but they were coming at us thick and fast. We ended up running into the operating theatres and barricading ourself in. Rick placed Lori down on the bed and aimlessly checked the room for anything that might help her. Ruby got a bowl of cold water and a cloth placing a cold compress on Lori's forehead. Carol kept an eye on the kids while Shane kept watch and I joined Rick in the search for something to help Lori.
'Here this will help, I hope.' I handed rick antibiotics. 'My guess is she may have an infection from her head wound, it's our best shot, I will do it. I filled the syringe to 8oz and pinged it a few times and pushed down gently to release any air bubbles, before inserting it into Lori's arm. Once that was done. IT was really a waiting game. Ruby continued with the cold compress to help keep her fever under control. I raided the cupboards for other supplies that might come in handy and put them in my bag. I came across some gauze and hydrogen peroxide.
'Here let me clean the wound and dress it.'I said. Ruby stepped aside and let me in to sterilize the wound then dress it. Lori made no reaction to the burn of the hydrogen peroxide. Finished with them I place them in my bag.
Now it really was just a waiting game.
