THE WALKING DEAD: AFTER HER

Chapter One: One Who Remains

Sarah kept looking back, in case anyone followed her, but she seemed to be safe. She was lucky to escape. Although Sarah guessed she was out of danger she did not stop running 'til the house.
- Sarah? What happened? Why are wheezing? Why did you come so late? And.. - Nick looked behind her. - Where's my girl?
Sarah was trying to catch her breath.
- We got attacked.
- What?! - Rebecca shocked.
- A man, in suit and four other guys with guns. We were surrounded. Then, in a sudden moment, she fought with them and told me to run. She saved me.. But.. But..
- But what?! Sarah, fucking speak. - Nick stood up and kept walking around in his nervosity.
- I could not see nothing, as I ran away.. But.. I heard a gun shot. And it was not Mea pulling the trigger.. They took her gun... - Sarah started crying.
- Oh my god. No.. No. That can't fucking. No. - Nick kept scratching his face.
- My niece.. No she cannot.. She cannot be gone. Oh my fucking.. - Brian grabbed on his heart. - I don't feel so good.
The air froze around them. None could believe their ears.. Neither Sarah... She and Rebecca kept crying painfully, Alvin hugged Luke, Pete was looking down and shaking his head, Carlos was scratching his chin and just staring in front of himself, Brian kept having pain in his heart and Nick was scratching his face and biting his nails.
- That can't fucking happen. - he hit the wall with his fist. - She can't die. She didn't. SHE DIDN'T DIE. - he hit the wall harder.
- Nick... - Pete stood up and hugged his nephew. Nick started crying.
- She didn't.. She didn't... That didn't happen. - his voice was thrilling. He let go off Pete's hug. - She wouldn't be gone that easy. Not my fiancé. - he took off his hat and ran his fingers through in his hair.
- Sarah.. What.. What did those guys look like? Those fuckers? Who.. Who.. I don't want to believe what did to my niece....
- I.. Don't remember the other four guys' faces, it happened so fast... I only remember one. He was probably the leader. He was wearing a brown suit with white shirt and black pants. His face was shaven and he was already graying. Oh and.. His eyes were turquoise. That's all... - she took her glasses off and cleaned her eyes.
Nick stormed out of the room. He returned with a gun in his hand and a rifle on his back.
- What are you doing? - Rebecca asked with a cracking, thrilling voice.
- I'm gonna find that mother fucker and HER. I'm not letting her.
- Nick, that's fucking suicide! Look.. I know.. I know Mea was -
- Luke, I don't even fucking care if I died, but she WILL return to the safety. I'll make sure of that. At ANY fucking cost. I'm going alone. It's not needed for any of you to risk your lives. - Nick looked through everyone, especially Pete and Brian.
- Please.. Take care. - Pete almost started crying and hugged Nick. - Although I still do not want you to go. At least not alone.
- And I do not want any of you to follow me. Just.. Stay safe. Because if anything would happen.. You know... BUT! I will come back with her. I will.
Pete hugged him tight again, for a longer while. He did not want to let his nephew go, but deep inside, he knew he cannot stop him.
- Sarah - Nick looked at her. - Where were you when it happened?
- In that quite street, next to the forest you guys go hunting sometimes. But.. I don't know which way they went after they kill -.. after I heard the shot.
- I'll figure that out on my own. That's good enough for me.
Everyone hugged him for one last time.
- I'll return with her in my arms. - he looked back at the others and left.
Nick soonly reached out to the place where Sarah and Mea were attacked. He found some red drops on the road. He squated down and touch it with the point of his fingers. The red thing was found out to be Mea's blood, nearly dry but not fully. Nick clenched his fist and stood up. He looked around and spotted a track of blood. Somewhat lighter, but enough to lead him somewhere. He followed it. After a while the drops turned into to lines, like they pulled her through on the ground like a ragdoll.. Or harmed her more...
Nick was following the blood for some time, but after like a seven miles he lost track. He started becoming hopeless and feeling like he was moving in circles. Roads seemed endless and he felt he was getting nowhere. The darkness just made it harder for Nick to get a clean path to follow. He crossed forest from forest, street to street. He had no idea where was he going to end up, but Nick did not want to give up, albeit he was becoming more and more desperate as hours were passing.
He began searching his fiancé at night and after hours and hours of unlucky finding, he spotted some light. He went after the source. Some steps after he spotted a wooden shanty. He beetled to the window and peeked in. There, he spotted Mea. She was alive.. But she didn't have much breath and she was unconscious. She was barely holding up. There were two chain-handcuffs hanging down from the wall, holding her hostaged. Her wrists were red and bloody from the cuffs.
Nick looked closer. She was shot in the face, a centimeter under her left eye, nearly blinding her. Both her upper arms were badly burnt. She had a huge cut from her left shoulder, 'til her neck. Her clothes were strongly bloody, too. Especially her T-Shirt. Her stomach seemed to be bleeding, like she was stabbed. Nick couldn't believe his eyes. He was highly shocked and frozed down. He wanted to get in, when he heard footsteps. The man in the suit came in, holding a blood knife in his hands. It was Mea's...
- So? Are you finally willing to speak? - he moved his finger through on the blade.
- Fuck.. You... - Mea breathed hardly.
- Alright. - he swinged his shoulders kicked in her. She coughed up some blood and started crying.
Nick did not want to wait more and let him harm her more. He slammed in the front door. One of the guys who attacked Mea and Sarah heard the crash and tracked him.
- You sure you thought this through? - a bigger, bald guy aimed a gun at him.
Nick grabbed his gun out and pointed at him.
- Faster finger wins? - he continued mocking Nick. - C'mon. Just pull that trigger. I won't bite. - he laughed.
Little did he know. Nick was waiting for him to continue mocking. The man started underestimating and laughing more at Nick. He lost focus. Nick used that moment and rushed to him, smashing him to the wall and finishing him off with a shot. The noise now dragged other three's attention on Nick. Two charged on him and held him down, meanwhile the third started punching him.
- You didn't really believe you'd get far, did you. - he hit Nick in the stomach.
Nick was franctically moving to get himself out of their grab. He headbutted the one holding him on the right and as he moved his head away, Nick headbutted him one more time, freeing his arm. As he poked both of the other guy's eyes with two fingers he let him go. Nick grabbed for his gone and shot the second one. The third, was punching him, tried to grab for a gun, but Nick was faster and finished him off, and the other, too. He headed to the room Mea was held in.
- And who are you then? - the man put his hands together and smiled at him evilly.
- The one that's gonna fuck you up. - he grabbed and pointed his rifle at him.
- Or actually... - he flashed a devilish grin.
Nick didn't see Lilly sneaking up behind him. She kicked out his knees and took the rifle from him and aimed it at his head.
- You... - Nick grinned madly.
- It's okay, Lilly. No need for this. - the man whisked.
- Fine, George... - she frowned.
Nick stood up.
- Since you can't understand what is going on. - he laughed. - Let me help you to understand. Friends are family. Family is important. And so was my friend. But you took his life, as you took my men's, too. So, I'll take your group's.
- Friend?
- William. William Carver. - he spelt the name slowly.
Nick's eyes widened.
- And because, she was not willing to the say a word. - he looked at Mea who was already unconscious. - I had to erm.. Use some different words.
- You mother fucker. - he grinned.
- Heh. Haven't your parents taught you to keep manners? Fine. Lilly. - he smiled devilish.
Lilly wanted to shot Nick, but he grabbed the rifle out of her hands and shot her. As George jumped on him and pulled him on the ground, the rifle fell out of his hands. Nick wanted to grab for his gun, that was on his side and finish him off, but George threw his gun away.
- JUST DIE! - George yelled and tried to stab him with Mea's knife, but Nick stopped him mid air.
He pushed George off himself and wanted grab for his gun, but he stabbed Nick's left palm. He screamed up in pain. George took the chance to end Nick's life. He ran for the rifle and let a bullet out, but he missed the shot. He hit Nick's neck. That won enough time for Nick. He wripped the knife off his palm. As Nick removed the knife from his palm, George kicked it off of Nick's hand and cut his left cheek through deeply with it.
- Why. Can't. You. Just. Be GONE! - George was losing his mind.
Nick collected as much power as he could have and pushed George to the wall and chocked him with bare hands. He fell to the ground like a sandbag.
Nick hurried to Mea. He put his finger tips on her artery and listened her heart. It was beating slowly.. Too slowly...
Nick checked the cuffs. They needed a key. He, just as fast as he could have, looked through the room for the keys.
- Please.. Please... - he said desparately as he searched through George's suit pocket. It had the key.
He unlocked the cuffs and lifted
Mea up in his arms and hurried out. The pain and heavy bleeding slowed him down.
Blood nearly fully painted his T-Shirt red.. The cut on his face and shot in his neck were bleeding too strongly.. And he could barely handle the stab in his palm, too. Nick was dizzy and the bloodloss weakened him... He saw everything around himself blurry.
He was just running. Nick didn't just worry a bit about himself, but about Mea making it.. He was panicked and feared that her heart would give it up on the way back, as she was getting colder and her heart was beating slower and slower, moment to moment...