Survive - Zalfie (BOOK 1)

17. The truth

Chapter 17 - The truth

The next day we headed through the forest on our way to London. It had turned out that William was a really nice person. I liked Tanya too but she was very shy. I almost hadn't talked to her.

The two of them were now walking in front, leading the way with their map. I was walking next to Thomas and Jim. I really had to talk to them about what happened.

"Guys," I started, "What happened really, to Megan?"

I could see the two of them switch looks. Thomas was the one who talked first. "We lied about it."

"No shit, Sherlock," I snapped. "Tell me now."

"She tried to steal the girl's food but only because I told her to," Jim admitted.

"What?!" I yelled out. "How could you-" I saw Tanya and William look at us so I lowered my voice. "How could you do that? Why was that a reason to send her away?"

"You've always known how much I disliked her," said Jim. "This was my chance."

"And you knew?" I asked Thomas angrily.

"At first I didn't," he told me. "Otherwise I wouldn't have agreed on it. I found out when Jim came back with that nose bleed."

"Yeah what was that about? I know you didn't fall, Jim."

"It was Megan," he admitted. "She was kind of pissed."

"So she was there?" I still had so many questions. "Where is she now?"

"We don't know," said Thomas. "Honestly," he added when he saw my suspicious look.

"I'm so sorry, Zoe," Jim told me. "I knew it was wrong but once I had lied to Thomas and you I couldn't possibly get out of it anymore."

"If she came back, would you let her join us again?" I asked.

"Of course," he said. "I even would apologize."

"But now you tell us," said Thomas, "Why did you leave me alone with him?" He pointed at Jim and made a face.

I giggled as I saw Jim glare at him. "I was furious that you lied to me and wouldn't say what was going on. So I wanted to scare you. It was a stupid idea."

I told them everything about the dead, the river and the mysterious person who tried to save me and gave me the blanket.

"Well," Thomas started, "It could be Megan. She cared about you the most so she might've followed you."

How could I not have thought about that before? Could she still be following us? I had a look around but I could see nothing but trees.

Suddenly William and Tanya headed back our way. "We might have a little problem," William whispered pointing at something in the distance.

The woods seemed to end there. All that I could see were a lot of fields. But if I looked closer I could see something on the fields. My eyes widened as I realised that there were a lot of dead people wandering around.

"I think you can use my help on that," a very familiar voice said from behind me. I smiled as I saw it was Megan. "Spare your apologies for later, we need to solve this."

"Who is she?" William asked confused.

"Long story," I told him. "But she's the best survivor I know."

"Sounds good to me," he smiled at Megan.

Megan pulled us all closer to her so we were standing in a small circle. She whispered to us that we had to go in pairs. Apparently they wouldn't notice us if we stayed silent. In pairs we would stand a bigger chance. She told us how she had been studying those death creatures and that it was very important to follow her instructions.

"William and Tanya you guys should go first. Then I'll follow you with Jim," Megan explained.

"No bloody way," Jim hissed.

"I trust Thomas more with Zoe. I don't want you to run off on your own again," she hissed back, giving him a nasty glare.

"Thomas, you have to pay attention at how long I wait until I follow William and Tanya. We have to stay close, but not too close, all right?"

Thomas nodded agreeing. I felt nauseous at the thought that I had to be alone with him again. He had a really strange effect on me that was starting to scare me.

"Can't you go first?" William asked.

"No," Megan answered firmly. "Please trust me on this, it's important."

Megan explained to William and Tanya which path they had to follow to get past the horde. Jim looked really pissed. I tried to see the funny bit in all of this but for some reason I couldn't keep my mind away from Thomas. I really hoped he wouldn't try anything on me again.

I loved Alfie dearly, but what Thomas did to me was very strange. I didn't love him or anything but sometimes it felt like I was a piece of metal and he was the magnet.

By now William and Tanya had left. Megan was now explaining Thomas what he had to do when Megan and Jim were going. Before I knew it they were leaving too and I was left alone with him. I swallowed a big lump in my throat away. Thomas looked at me and smiled. God, why was he still so attractive at his age?

A/N: The picture is Avan Jogia as William! I'm amazed by the amount of reads and votes this story has gotten so far! 100 votes!! Thank you all SO much. Please leave some comments too, I like to see what you think will happen next! Have a great day xx