fallen | ✓

Chapter 18: "Lookout"

Hazel's POV

"I'll take watch tonight." I announced. "No you won't." Zak looked up. "That's my job." "I never get to do it!" I whined. "Because it's my job." He frowned. "Well then you can't eat because that's her job." I scowled, pointing my finger at the little girl. Axe snorted as she squealed. Zak exhaled, looking at the fire. The stars where out and it was pitch black. The only thing I saw was his defeated face. "Fine." I smiled. "Girl fact number one little man..." I grinned. "Girls always win arguments."

~~~

I swung my legs over the roof and leaned on my knees, the bow in my hand, watching the surroundings. Occasionally checking on their sleep. Pretty soon, Zak was the only one awake and it pissed me off. "You need to sleep." I shout whispered. "Do you not think I'm capable of taking watch for one night?" He shook his head. "I'm afraid you'll fall asleep." I scowled and folded my arms. "Zak." I whined. "You said I could do it." "That's what you're doing now aren't you?" He grinned.

"You need to sleep." I growled again. "Fine." He chuckled, raising his hands in defeat. He laid on his side and closed his eyes, a smirk played on his lips. I shook my head and rolled my eyes, turning around towards the trees. That's when I heard it. A sharp clicking noise. It was coming from an alley. I closed my eyes and cursed under my breath, "Clicker.." I jumped off the roof and landed on my feet, flicking open my switchblade, keeping it away from my body. I heard stirring. I very well knew I could handle this on my own.

I slid behind the truck and peeked out as it twitched wildly, making clicks all over. I jerked behind the big semi again and ran out, stabbing it in the head. It shrieked and clawed, slowly fading. I lifted the knife again and violently stabbed it in its temple. I exhaled and turned to the group, half awake. Staring at me.

That's when it clicked again and slashed at me, still alive. I moved out of the way and screamed, kicking it. It skidded across the blacktop, twitching and clicking angrily. I pulled behind the semi, grabbing the group with me. Blake slipped in the puddle of thick blood and fell outside of the semi. I quickly inhaled as her mouth trembled. She opened her mouth.

Then the clicking started again. I froze when I heard it's feet shuffling rapidly, then running. Blake scrambled and got tackled in her side. My muscles snapped and I felt myself being pulled and hoisted on a shoulder. "No!" I screamed desperately, slamming my fist down on the person's back, squirming. That's when it happened. The Clicker bit down on Blake's throat, and she went still. The clicker twitched some more before running off, in search for another kill.

That's when I lost it. Kicking, screaming, and thrashing until the person put me down, grabbing my shoulders. It was Axe. "This hurts me a lot more then it hurts you." His eyes showed sympathy but his face was stone. "If we all didn't leave, we would've been next." The tears squeezed out of my eyes. He grabbed my arm and pulled me along. He was just as hurt as I was. But after all, he is stronger than me. Physically and mentally.

I splashed my face with cold water from the stream and the face of the clicker scraped across my mind. I jerked away from the stream and backed into a pair of legs. I lashed out and twisted, falling in the stream. I gargled for a moment before the figure pulled me out, laughing. "Zak!" I growled.

"Sorry. Thought you got over what happened earlier." He let go of my arm as I squeezed the water from my hair. "What." I bit out. "We're going to BigSpot. You should come." "Of course I'm coming." I stood up and shook my head like a wet dog, splashing him. He squealed and swatted at me, trying to get me to stop. When I did, my hair draped over my face as I laughed. He brushed off his vest as I rubbed his head, matting down his hair. "Come on, come on." He shook off the water, grabbing my arm and yanking me to a truck. I slid inside as he started the car. He pressed on the gas and headed for BigSpot. He then suddenly swerved, missing a tree. I gripped onto the seat and slowly reached for my seat-belt.

I clicked it in place and managed to shove out, "Watch it." "Oh, sorry Hazel. Forgot." He laughed. "Don't get car sick, now." I frowned a bit. "Yeah." I muttered.

When we got there, the whole group was waiting. They had everything boarded up and ready to go. Zak parked and hopped out, grabbing his hammer and moving a board out of the way, holding it there for a second and looking back. "You coming, Hazel?" He called. "Yeah!" I shouted back, stumbling and holding onto his arm for support, walking in. "You suck at driving." I winked at him. "Like you're any better." He countered. "At least I don't hit every bump on the road."

"I do not-" "Yes, you do." Snorted Kathryn. Zak pouted. "Don't deny it." She gave a dismissive wave. "You know you do." "Anyway." Axe coughed, changing the subject. "How about be discuss-" "I miss Blake." The little girl pouted. My chest tightened. "Never talk about her." He scowled a bit. "That bottle collecting bitc-" "Axe, stop." I gave him warning eyes.

"It doesn't matter anymore." He shook his head. "She's dea-" "STOP." I growled. He raised his hands in defeat. My shoulders dropped and I looked back. "We need to move." I huff. "Get some space."

"What do you mean space?" Kathryn piped up. "We got a whole goddamn store right there!" She cried. "Our own spaces-" Zak started. "I call the roof!" I perked up. "What??" The little girl growled. "I GET THE ROOF!" I screamed, running into the store. The little girl shrieked and ran after me. I jumped on a shelf and crawled on the roof through the hole. The little girl started to cry. I frowned. "Fine." I sighed. "We can share." "What about me?" Axe piped up.

"And me." Kathryn nodded. "Me too." Zak laughed. "Alright all of us can share." I laughed.