When I Die

Ch.18

Perry

 I felt happiness, worry, and anger all at once. I had missed my best friend more then anything. I can't even begin to describe the relief I felt when I saw her. 

But, why was she with him? Why was she with them? The people who invaded our home, The people who killed our people?

I had so many questions to ask her but all I wanted to do in that very moment was run up to her and give her the most suffocating hug imaginable. I almost did but, for the first time ever, I feared the consequences. 

When we were in school, I always greeted her the same. I'd race through the halls, which earned me more then a few concerned glares, and jump onto her back. She'd giggle and I'd do the same. Then, afterwards, I would get the latest scoop on her love life and she'd get my latest spew on my parents and their craziness. It was our thing.

Now? Now I was afraid that she would take the handgun she was holding and lodge a bullet into my spine. I wouldn't get the privilege of hearing her contagious giggle or the drama in her life.

My chest felt tight.

"Per," I felt a warm hand on my shoulder and I looked to see Keith watching me with concerned eyes.

"What's the plan?" I wanted to avoid telling him about Sam. Whether it was for her sake or mine, I couldn't tell. 

Keith explained to me that the junkyard was a secret meetup spot for the men in the military. It was their backup plan for when our 'safe' compound inevitably failed. They had planned on leaving all civilians behind and coming here to escape.

A stash of assault rifles, handguns, and enough ammunition to probably end this whole outbreak thing was stored in a few of the cars here. Some had guns hidden inside of the seats, others had them taped to the underside. 

"How do you know about this stuff?" I asked as Keith handed me yet another assault rifle. At this point, we had found over 8 guns and nearly 300 rounds of ammo. 

"I just do." Keith shrugged it off and climbed out from underneath the 1987 white Porsche. Pre-outbreak I would have loved to have even seen this car in the flesh, but now I couldn't care less. It wont feed me.

"But how?" I pushed. There was no way he just knew about this. Either he bribed someone or slept with someone to find it out, there was no other way.

I stopped in my tracks as Keith turned towards me, "Drop it." His voice was low and for once, I might do as I'm told. 

He lead me to a few more vehicles and handed me even more supplies. Although this time it was food, water, and clothing. Women's clothing, to be exact. There was a hoodie, jeans, and a pair of sneakers.

"Go over there and change quick," Keith took the bags from me and gently placed the clothes into my hands. I didn't have the energy to argue or pry anymore after everything that happened today.

Making my way over to a secluded corner, I couldn't help but think of a million questions that I wanted to ask him. How did he know about this? Who told him? And why are there only female clothes?

I quickly changed into the jeans, which happened to be my exact size, and then the sneakers. I didn't hesitate to take my shirt and old bra off. I felt filthy in those things. Maybe it was because of everything that has happened today. I through the hoodie on and realized that it smelled familiar.

Was this Keith's? 

"Perry, Lets go! Losing daylight here." Keith called and I yelled a response. Could he have been planning to leave with the military?

I trudged back through the mud and over to Keith. Everything we had collected was now shoved into two different duffle bags and a backpack.

"Were you going to leave with them?" I asked, my voice breaking at the end. Why was I emotional about this? Twelve hours ago, he didn't give a crap about me and I didn't give one about him.

Keith must've realized that I was upset as he dropped the bags and in two quick struts he was in front of me and I was against his chest. God, this felt like home.

"The plan was to always leave with you." He whispered and pulled me closer. The butterflies I felt were indescribable but the skepticism I felt was. He was planning to leave before we even got here. How could I have ever been apart of the plan?

And then the warmth was gone and Keith was back to picking up the bags and playing leader.

"There's a vehicle a few miles down, Lets load up and get out of here." Keith nodded towards the entrance of the junkyard and I nodded.

Could I trust him?