Oblivion {n.h.}

Chapter 20.

"Go go go." Josh orders in a harsh whisper as we all crouch down and run towards the sound.

We get to the edge of the trees, still hearing Jesy's fearful screams piercing the air.

"JESY, GET IN THE CAR." I can now see the man who is hassling poor Jesy. She begins to cry and I can see the features of who seems to be 'Jacob.'

Brown shaved hair and a freckled face, crooked eyebrows and a strong body. I couldn't help but think of Luke when I saw the boy before me.

The building was a small grey shack, that they must have been staying in.

Before I knew it, Jesy was nearly in the car before Steven has fired at Jacob. Being such a great shot, it was odd that Steven had missed Jacob; breaking the car windshield instead.

"JESY!" Perrie steps out of the brush calling for her best friend.

Jacob being distracted, Jesy wriggles out of his grip and makes a run for the trees. As soon as she makes it to the tree line we all take off, not even caring how quiet we're being anymore.

Several stumbles and ducks from tree branches occur for the whole group, and I have to slice a few walkers who were drawn to Jesy's screaming. Two walkers being notably familiar, I slice half of a dead guys skull off, his green and red bandana hooked to the end of my machete before it's easily shaken off; Jacob's men who had been bit were now turned and hungry for flesh instead of women.

I let Jackson take care of the chubbier one on the other side, still running towards where our van stays parked at the ammunition shop.

A few more yards of trees stand in our way and as the brush gets thicker I have to slice our way through. I can now see the white of the van between the trees and pick up the pace just a bit more.

No sign of Jacob can be heard or seen just yet, but I can only imagine his fury that we just fired up behind his eyes.

I turn around as Josh throws me the keys to the van, I hit the unlock button, gaining two quick beeps of consultancy and quickly pull up the back of the truck. Throwing the keys back to Josh just in time as he runs past so he can go start the engine and get the hell out of here.

I decide to hop into the back, but before I'm even up all the way, I hear a car engine pull up just a few feet away from our large van. I pull Louis forward and into the van, Perrie lifting herself inside on her own.

"Stop." Jacob yells at us, pointing a beretta 36 hand gun at our group.

Niall hops in after Perrie and turns to block me just a bit, so I can still see Jacob. Jackson and Steven slowly climb in, and Steven grabs Jesy's waist, not pulling her in just yet in fear that Jacob may fire.

"Leave her. She's mine now." He calls back again at us, and Jesy begins to whimper.

Josh revs the engine, indicating for us to do something, and I reach a hand down next to Jesy, and one up to the top of the shutter, moving it slowly into my palm for better grip.

"Jesy." I whisper at her, but still keeping my eyes trained on Jacob. "On the count of three you're going to jump in as fast as you can, and I'm going to shut the crate okay?" I whisper again.

She nods, and I begin to count. As I get to three, Jacob is oblivious to whatever is going on and takes a lucky shot just before the crate shuts quickly.

Joshua speeds off like lightning, making me slide to the corner of the dark crate, only little specs of sunlight making their way into the area.

I smile slowly, looking down at Jesy only to have the happiness wiped right off of my face like the sweat that drenches it. Joshua had steadily hit Jesy straight through the back of her chest.

"No..." I trail off, trying to keep the tears out of my eyes. Josh took off, not knowing anything that just happened, but getting the hell away from it.

Jesy lay there in Steven's grip; once a strong girl now falling lifeless on the cold metal. Perrie crawls over to where her friend lies in Steven's arms, her hands coming up to wipe the sides of her face.

"Jesy, Jesy listen to me please." He whimpers, but Jesy only lets out a small grunt from the back of her throat, shutting her eyes slowly. "Jesy, stay with us Jesy!" Perrie raises her voice, backing away on her palms, tears now flowing steadily down her face.

The blonde girl stutters out, 'no' after 'no', and I look between all of the dark faces, expressions low and facing at their laps. Over at Niall he's looking between all people too, and his eyes shine bright within the black area, and he turns so they can search me as well.

We don't say a word, only look with our eyes and listen to the sobs that escape our mouths. Steven gorily drives his pocket knife through the side of Jesy's temple, preventing her from what would happen if he hadn't.

The entire ride is silent. Looking between each other, the metal below us, and Jesy's lifeless body.

The van comes to a stop, indicating that we've made it back safely, and Jackson opens the back of the truck, allowing everyone to get out.

As I hop out, Niall puts a hand on my back and I know there was nothing I could do to save her. Steven carries Jesy's body out, and hands her body to Josh, who immediately takes her and purses his lips together in a line.

I rub the sweat off my forehead and wait for Niall to push the button to contact everyone in the house.

Greg opens the gate for us, as he and Zayn jog down to where we now walk in.

Nothing can be described of how the whole group reacted. Screams, fights between what we could have done, cries and sobs towards the sky, pure agony came over us, and I knew-

Jesy was going to leave a permanent mark on this group; permanent, and there truly was, nothing we could do about it.