Risen from the Grave

Without you I've got no hand to hold

title from 'Sad Song'

A/N: bit of a long one, warning there are some pretty disturbing descriptions, so please be aware of that

"I think I'm in love with you,"I admitted, almost scared to look Luke in the eyes.

"Good,"he replied. I finally looked up at him, and he was smiling at me. "Because I'm in love with you too." I smiled back.

"So, what does that make us?"I asked, pushing him further.

"Boyfriends,"he casually replied, going back to his food. I almost laughed.

"Do you have any idea how long it took me to build up the courage to tell you that? And you just reply so casually?"I said, grinning. Luke smiled back, holding back a laugh.

"Robert, I knew you're in love with me, you were just to scared to admit it. I know damn well you were gonna kiss me that night at the prison."

"But I didn't, since we were rudely interrupted."

"Want to make up for it now?" Silence. "Crap, sorry, is that too much?"

"No, no!"I replied, standing up. Luke stood up too, trying to remain level with my eyeline. "I want to kiss you I just... I just didn't want to push with everything going on." Luke nodded, then made his way around the table towards me. He'd dug out his gloves from the bag of stuff Willie collected, and now wore them almost all the time, including in this moment. I met him halfway, and he put his hands on my shoulders, careful not to let his arms touch mine. I smiled at his awareness and placed my hands on his hips, rubbing gentle circles. I leaned down towards him and he leaned upwards, and I could feel his breath and I thought, 'Finally... finally after all the tries I can kiss him'. Right as our lips were about to touch, a blood-curdling scream echoed around the cul de sac, grabbing our attention.

We rushed outside to find the fire had been put out, and a group of people were raiding the houses we'd cleared out, threatening us with knives and taking out belongings. Somebody had even dug up Reggie's body, mutilating it beyond recognition and destroying the memorabilia we'd left there. I shielded Luke from the sight and pulled him back into the house, locking the door. "Stay in here, okay?"I told him, handing him my gun.

"What are you doing?"he asked, gently touching my arm with his gloved hand.

"I'm gonna go find everyone else and bring them here. If anyone out of our group tries to come in, you shoot them, understand?" Luke nodded and I quickly left, making my way through the chaos. Objects were being thrown, fires were being lit and the infected were getting in. A group had congregated around Reggie's remains and were eating it, his blood and guts scattered around. I first made my way to where Dad, Julie and Caleb were, helping Dad get Caleb to our house safely while Julie kept watch. It seemed the group were more interested in destroying things than killing us. Once Caleb was safely inside with Luke, Dad, Julie and I made our way to Alex's, which seemed to have been attacked the most. Infected guts were chucked at the windows, bricks thrown the shatter the glass and someone even threw a stick on fire through a broken one. I spotted Alex, Willie and Owen escaping through the back and making their way into the forest. I sent Dad and Julie home then went after them.

I eventually caught up with them, and I grabbed Alex's attention by calling his name. The three of them came over to me. "Everyone's at my place,"I told them. "You should-"

"I need to leave,"Alex interrupted. "Take Owen and Willie, I need to go. I can't be here, if I stay you'll all get killed." I looked at him, confused.

"Do you know them?"I asked.