Walking Among Everyone

017

"Yeah, of course."

I managed to reply as the glass door of the gym finally opened. I tried not to look everywhere as I was sure that I wont like what I would see. So I focused on Zion's hand in mine instead.

The ground, however, wasn't something I could ignore. It was littered with dirt and stains, that I tried to block out from my head.

"Over here," Sarah called from behind Daniel who had gotten into the jeep already. Whatever I had with me – which was the duffel bag that Daniel had brought that I now have to carry as my own – where all in the jeep.

There were more jeeps with the rest of the crew that were waiting. They had been outside for a while, making sure the area was still safe for us to move.

"Hey, what about your things?" I asked Zion, remembering he said he had a bag in his car filled with clothes.

It looked like Zion had just remembered about his things and nodded to me. He patted my head before he headed to Daniel, telling him that he was about to move.

"Wait in the jeep. I'll come back soon," and with that, Zion maneuver past the jeeps to get to the parking lot. I watched as he walked further away, my heart thumping in anxiety as I was worried the zombie will jumped out from the trees and attack him.

But thankfully nothing happened as Zion opened his car door and took out a bag from the backseat. It wasn't big, maybe enough to fit in two days worth of clean necessities, that unfortunately won't be useful for us.

Zion knew this, so he took a shirt and jeans that he planned to wear, out from the bag and began to strip out from the prom outfit he had.

Unconsciously, I blushed and turned away from his direction and that action had been noticed by Sarah who asked the question she had been wanting to ask a while now.

"Are you guys dating?" I choked on my saliva and looked at Sarah as she cleaned her gun and baseball bat. What can I reply? I mean Zion and I aren't dating but we aren't friends either. So what are we?

"Ah, shit, forget I asked," Sarah turned away from me when she noted that I took my time to reply. At this point, I know what was running through her mind: what's the point of dating in this situation when everyone's gonna either die or betray each other?

Was that why she thought I didn't reply? That I was scared Zion will betray me?

I was at lost of words but I nodded. Daniel had been strangely quiet but I knew he was thinking the same thing as his friend. At this point, I think everyone else was thinking the same thing as the lot became void of any chattering.

That was when I noted how eerily quiet the town had become. There were no birds chirping or any vehicles. No wind was even swaying the tress and rustling the fallen leaves. It felt as though the world had stopped moving.

"I'm back," Zion's voice broke the silence and when he felt the tension, he looked at me. "Something wrong?"

I gulped down the saliva I had been collecting and looked at him with a small smile.

"Nah, it's all fine."

Though I know "fine" wasn't really a word we can use right now.

"Right, let's get going then," he tapped Daniel's seat and just like that it felt like the world started moving again.

I took one last look behind me, at the gym where many other students were left behind. I prayed for their safety though I know all of them are swearing at me, wishing I would die. Especially Amanda.

I chuckled darkly at her last words before I held onto Zion.

"You are going to cause lots of problem for Zion." She paused, hands crossed on her chest before she said something that crushed me. "You're weak. You know that too."

And I did know that. I remember how long I had held in my crush for Brandon. How long it took me to finally try to make him notice me but it didn't work out at all. How I had wished I had followed my friends who were saved by the army.

Thinking of this caused me to tear up. I felt my heart breaking. Strong and brave? That was a lie. I wasn't strong or brave. I just did things selfishly. And in the end, I ran away, leaving the rest of the people behind.

I leaned against Zion's shoulder, trying to hide my tears and trembling hands from him but to no avail. He grabbed both my hands and squeezed them tight. I was sure he could feel my shaking body against him as my tears fell harder.

"Don't think so much. Sleep. I'll be here to protect you."

And with those comforting words, I fell asleep, dreaming about the green meadows that were as green as Zion's eyes. With him laying down on the grass beside me, looking up at the blue sky while trying to trace our fingers on the clouds. The butterflies flying around us.

Ah, I wish this serenity can last forever.

Don't worry, it will.

How can you be so sure, Zion?

Anything is possible for you, Ashley.

×××

Author's note:
Omg, back to posting this again. Did I say I would drop this? Haha, don't be ridiculous, I said no such thing, right? 😉

I'm kidding. But here's an update to my AN on the previous chapter: I will not drop this story BUT I can't update asap. I still haven't think of the plot. Yet, but the ending has been settled. So let's see how this will flow.

Thanks for reading. See you in the next chapter!