fallen | ✓

Chapter 22: "I Want You Back"

(Tagged Picture: Blake)

Hazel's POV

If insanity wouldn't kill me, I probably would. I've been suffering to the point I'm bleeding from all the wood. The voice in my head telling me it's my fault. It was all on me. Not on nature, or the rotters, or anything like that.

Just me.

And it ate me inside out. It was slowly killing me. One bullet is all it takes. But I would never do that to myself. I value my life too much to remove me from this Earth forever. One goodbye then nothing.

And I'm not strong enough to do that.

~~~

I dragged my hand across the stone wall and sloppily made my way toward the entrance of the prison. I wiped my brow and walked past, barely glancing at Kath as I brushed past her. "Hazel!" She barked, grabbing my arm.

"Hm?" I instantly replied, twisting out of her grasp.

"What's up with you? You've been like this for a long time.." Her face softened. My face contracted slightly. Pain is all I felt at the moment. She let go, pulling back slightly. She knew exactly why. "Want to help me get food?" She suggested, changing the subject. I nodded and threw my arm over her shoulder, walking out past the gates again. I took a deep breath through my nose.

"He was a good man." She spoke up. "He seemed to really care about you." My throat closed up. She noticed this and immediately stopped talking. "Sorry." Was the last thing she said before slipping her arm over mine, and guiding me into Big Spot.

"Find a bag and fill it up." She ordered, splitting and grabbing a random sack and flying within the shelves, grabbing cans. I swayed a bit before grabbing a bag and lingering for food. I grabbed lots of cans and dumped them inside. I avoided things like fruits and veggies. Mainly because they all looked infected and disgusting. Doing what I used to with the group uplifted my heart, making me feel better about this whole thing. I think I've finally reached acceptance.

I hoisted the bag over my shoulder and ran outside with her. We ran over the hill then back down, hopping over the stream and running back to the prison. We stopped at the entrance of the building and set down the bags, spotting Zak as he came out to greet us. "You guys went on a run?" He asked, glancing down.

"Yeah. We got lots of stuff, want to see?" Kath smirked. Zak stood there a little longer and nodded. She reached over and unzipped mine first. Cans and scattered ammunition here or there. She swiftly moved some stuff aside and to my surprise, there was a Scoped Sparrow on the bottom. "Hazel!" She gawked.

"Must've come with the bag." I laughed. She giggled in return, dumping out the rest.

"We got meals for days.." She said longingly. She then grabbed her bag and dumped out her stuff with mine. "Who wants to choose first?"

"I will," Zak said, crouching.

"You always were a selfish bitch weren't you Zak.." I heard a voice and whipped around, as did Zak and Kath. It was a tall lean man, not much taller than Zak. He had dark gray shades and a sarcastic smirk on his face. And I instantly hated him.

"Zeke!" Kath shouted, jumping up and giving him a hug. I glanced at Zak and he rolled his eyes, folding his arms. I then looked back at them again. "Where were you??" She laughed slightly.

"I've been around.. Just heard a bunch of voices and decided to see what was up." He said. His voice was deep and he was still smirking. Shivers crawled under my skin and I instantly just wanted to pick up that Sparrow and shoot his face off. I really dislike him... But he obviously made Kath overjoyed to his appearance. "Who are these delightful individuals?" He referred to us. I scowled.

"Zak, and Hazel." She gestured to us with her hands. Then the man stepped closer to me.

"This one's a bit sour." He said, staring down at me. I instantly received a shiver and took a step back.

"I try my best," I answered smoothly. His smirk twitched away a bit. I glanced at Kath as she reached forward and took his hand, leading him down the hill. Now it was my turn to smirk. Dick. I thought.

"I'm apparently delightful." I chuckled to Zak.

"That makes two of us." Zak shrugged. "I don't like him."

"Me neither. Let's go stalk their date." I grinned, tossing my thumb in their direction. He nodded and we got up silently, stalking over like ninjas. If we were ninjas, we'd be pretty kick-ass ones. We snuck over and listened. I peeked a bit and saw them sitting side by side.

"Thought you died," Kath said. Her voice made me jump. Then Zeke paused for a moment. Hesitation. It brought an eerie silence. I glanced at Zak and he was staring daggers in Zeke's direction.

"Almost did." Zeke finally admitted with a sigh. "But I'm here now aren't I?" I then looked to Kath. She nodded slightly with a shrug.

"That scares me." She replied, staring forward. More hesitation.

"Why?" Zeke asked. His fingers grazed over hers. She flinched and shifted, glancing at him sideways. She bit her lip and her eyes avoided his. I looked to Zak again. His eyes darted between them. His brow creased. The corner of my mouth twitched slightly as I looked back at Kath and Zeke. Kath swallowed.

"I really care about you." She admitted subtly. She kept her chin up and her eyes clothes. Then her fingers tangled in his and she sighed.

Then she turned and planted a small kiss on his lips. My jaw dropped and I almost fell backward. Zak ducked and ran. "Holy shit." I breathed, chuckling under my breath. He grabbed my forearm and dragged me with him. I put my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing. Busted. I thought with a grin.