Element Z

Chapter 14: Sacrifice

Shining bright the sun's light beamed down onto us as we managed to find the town that we had went to the day before for supplies. "Not that I don't trust you, Zach. But if you knew about the airfield why didn't you say something sooner? We could have taken over it instead." Zach looked between buildings, you could feel his unease just by his energy. Getting to the airfield without running into an infected would be a difficult task. "I was not confident in being able to operate the military jet's and you seemed to have a good enough plan. But now we have no choice but to try and use it, or else we can't take the President down." As we approached the end of the town I felt a sigh of relief that we would be out of here, the lack of sound made the place nightmare fuel. Felt like no matter where we went that we were being watched, but maybe that was just the paranoia.

After we cleared the town Zach pulled us into a forest as military vehicles approached, hiding in bushes the vehicles stopped as they used binoculars to scope the town. "Looks clear, remember we are not allowed to leave until we have eliminated the targets or the President has been evacuated." Shortly after the solider said that the vehicles resumed moving and went towards the town. Once it was clear we stood up and continued our path but through the forest instead. "Wait but why is the President being evacuated? That makes our chances less likely if we can't get to the airfield in time." I said as my mind started getting the better of me, and the thought of failing to carry out the operation became more clear. "I think he is being evacuated because either they know we are still alive and probably assume we are going to attempt to take him out, or North Dakota has fallen to the infected and their sanctuary is no longer safe."

Zach picked up his pace until we came across a cabin and he turned towards Ethan. "Look we have not lost yet, we can still succeed but we have to drop dead weight here. Both so we can move faster but for your dog's safety, leave Blake here." Ethan laughed as his grip on his bag with Blake seemed to tighten. "There is no way in hell I am living him out here, it's not safe." Zach opened the door and tossed his bags in as I handed him mine. "Look Ethan, the infected only target us and if we are successful in getting the jet there are only two seats. Meaning that either you or Jake will have to stay behind, the last thing either of you would need to focus on is a dog. He is safer here, please trust me." 

Standing there in hesitation the breeze of wind blew by as bushes ruffled behind us, turning and aiming my gun there they stood. Three infected began approaching us as Zach pleaded with Ethan. "Shit, don't shoot that gun Jake. It will alert the military of our location. Ethan please leave Blake here, we have to go now." Ethan put Blake and his bags in the cabin a tear on his face as he kissed his dog on the head before Zach shut the door, running through the woods with nothing but our guns the infected only got closer. Thankfully though, Zach was right and the infected passed the cabin not going for the dog. Distracted by that fact however, Ethan tripped over a branch and as I aimed my gun ready to choose Ethan's life over our safety from the military. Ethan shouted out with tears in his eyes. "Don't do it, just go. I'll hold them off."

Once again I could feel everything slow down as my heart beat felt so heavy, I was once again in this situation. The choice was mine, I had to choose if we would leave Ethan or if I would save him. My mind was racing and before I could make a move Zach charged stabbing one of the infected with a pitchfork, grabbing Ethan's arm pulling him onto his feet as he ran forward grabbing my arm as well. "There is no way in hell either of you are going to die on me, you hear? We've sacrificed enough for this stupid hell of a world, I'm not losing either of you." By the time the adrenaline ran out we had lost the infected. Slowing down to catch our breath Ethan fell to his knees, wiping his tears. "Thank you for saving me." Zach panted as he leaned against a tree looking at Ethan. "Don't mention it, we have to stick together if we are going to survive. I meant it, neither of you are allowed to die. Don't forget I'm immune, I can fight them and they won't fight me back."

Taking time to catch our breath I sat down as I took a bit to get my thoughts together, we nearly lost Ethan and we hadn't even gotten to the airfield. After a few minutes passed we began our journey again making our way to the airfield as Ethan looked like the regret was getting to him. "I'm sorry, we wouldn't have run into that fiasco if I had just left Blake there right away." Zach smiled softly as the end of the forest could be seen. "It's fine Ethan, all that matters is we made it out alive." The stark difference between their expressions troubled me, Zach had a smile on his face and Ethan was starting to cry. "What's wrong, Ethan?" I asked him as Zach stopped at the end of the forest, the airfield in sight.

Ethan looked at Zach and then me, had the regret of letting people die hit him? Why was he crying all of a sudden? Blocking the sunlight, clouds covered the sky and droplets of rain began to fall. "Zach, for this plan to work you are going to have to use a jet. But the military won't let that happen, this plan which was dangerous in theory..the world you wanted to live with Jake. It's not going to work out.." I felt so confused what Ethan was going on about, did he doubt Zach being able to fly the jet? Before I could think on it Zach stepped towards Ethan, he was angry all of a sudden. "Ethan, don't say another word." Ethan cried as he looked over at me. "You can't hide the truth anymore, there's been enough lying or not admitting when something was wrong. You can't let Jake be blind during this operation."

"Not another word." Zach said as he put his hand over Ethan's mouth, I couldn't tell what had come over him but all of a sudden it felt like that wasn't Zach. "What....what is he talking about, Zach?.....What aren't you telling me?" Zach looked over at me in silence, as his expression went from anger to sad. Letting go of Ethan he sighed as he walked away before stopping and staring at the airfield. "Tell him, Ethan." Nothing but an uneasy feeling came over me as I looked at Zach's back and then Ethan, he wiped his tears as the rain began to pour and a storm began. "We have a 20% chance at taking out the President, in the event we succeed. Zach will have a 4% chance of surviving the military's defense. They will most likely shoot him down once he gets near sanctuary, in the event he is able to get close enough and bomb the President. I doubt he will be able to evade the military's missiles."

Tears ran down my face as I felt memories fly by me throughout this entire journey, out of instinct I just hugged Zach from behind as I smiled. He turned around confused looking at me and I looked up at him in the eyes. "Then I will go with you Zach." As expected he disagreed. "There's no way you are coming on the je-" Putting a finger on his lip I silenced him as I wiped my tears kissing him softly. "There is no way I am letting you die." Ethan seemed more happy for us finally sharing a kiss than I was as he cheered clapping. "You two are so cute together." For the first time I saw Zach blush, it was adorable to see the tough Leader show us his soft side.

After we crossed the field between us and the airbase we hid by a nearby truck as Ethan scoped out the area before coming back to us whispering. "There are only five soldiers here, we can take them out but we need to decide how we are going to do this. The jet is already on the run way too so we need to act now, Zach if you can take out the three by the jet with your assault rifle than Ethan should be able to take out the other two with his pis-, what's wrong Zach?" Looking at his face both Ethan and I felt terrified at his petrified look, he didn't say a word and only pointed. Turning to look we could see as military vehicles were approaching, we were out of time and luck.

"Damn it, new plan. I am going to draw them away and you two sprint as fast as you can to the jet. Give me your gun, Zach. I will take out as many as I can." Zach hesitated so Ethan took it from him as Zach looked him in the eyes. "But Ethan, they will kill you." I felt useless as all I could do was watch the two bicker, the military's vehicles getting closer to the base. Ethan smiled so bright as he hugged Zach and I. "I let so many people sacrifice or die for it to lead us here, we are out of time. There is no other way, thank you guys for letting me tag along, I couldn't have asked for better friends to make in the end of the world. Now for the Saviors of Humanity, for Sarah, and my sake. Make sure you kill the President, and don't forget about Blake. Take good care of him for me." Tears were running down my face as Zach tried to stop him, Ethan ran out shooting the three who were by the jet. As they shot him, Ethan managed to take out one of the last two remaining before they killed him. His body fell to the ground as the rain kept pouring, Zach hugged me tightly as we mourned the death of Ethan.