Interluding journey

Log Day 5; Home

We returned home, with Rilee's body. The drive home was quiet and smooth. As soon as we got inside the house Phoenix ran up to me and Alex, hugging us tightly. "You two are okay!" They chirped, Dad held Rilee's body, covered in a tarp he had in the trunk. "What's that...?" Sam asked, walking up to us four. After seeing my expression he went quiet and looked up to Dad for confirmation. "Oh..." Phoenix gaped softly, and grabbed my hand, brushing the back of it with their thumb. "I'm sorry-" In a quick reaction, I yank my hand from them. "I'm going to be burying her in the morning. And I'm on night guard duty. Dad your sleeping in your room. Phoenix and Alex, in mine. Nana and Charlette your in Nana's room. Boys your in dads room." I commanded with a strict tone. Dad grabbed my wrist and I stared up at him with a glare. "Don't touch me." I growled, yanking my hand from his grasp. "I'll get the air mattresses from dads shed. I'll only be a second." I mutter as I walk out of the kitchen and to the backyard.

Phoenix watched as their friend walked away, they looked at Alex and opened their mouth to speak. "What happened out there?" They asked, Sitting Alex down on the couch and sitting down beside her. "Rilee- saved him-" She muttered, moving her dark hair from her face. Phoenix let out a gasp, their eyes half-lidded. "Will Azzy be okay?" They asked, Sam sighed and he looked toward the direction. "I'll go check on him." He muttered, leaving the room, and taking a gun with him for safety.
Once he got outside he saw Azzy outside, staring at the body of his old friend. He was quietly. Deadly quiet. "How you holding up-?"
What a stupid question to ask. He walked up to Azzy who was standing in front of the fence. A 6 feet hole dug in front of him. He dug that up quickly. "How... am I holding up? WHAT DO YOU MEAN HOW AM I HOLDING UP!?" He yelled, turning to Sam angrily. "Azrael, I take back my question. I'm sorry. Do you wanna talk about it...?"
Azrael sucked in a breath, obviously trying to calm himself down. "I'm- I'm sorry I yelled- I'm just- she-"
The boy began to break down into tears. Slamming his eyes shut he crouched to the ground, grabbing his dead friends hand. "I tried- I tried to save her! She was right there!"
He cried out, Sam crouched down beside his friend and wrapped a comforting arm around his shoulders. "I know... I know you tried your best..."
He whispered his greenish blue eyes on the hole. Azrael continued to cry for many minutes, which had only felt like an eternity. After a few moments, of consoling and comfort, Sam brought Azrael back into the house after placing Rilee's body into the hole. Deciding to cover it in the morning.
Azrael sat down on the couch, holding the shotgun by his chest tightly. "You lot go to bed-" he muttered, "Sam will be with me tonight." Sam nodded in agreement and everyone headed to their designated rooms.
"Azrael. You're definitely worth it. You are one of the strongest people I know. And even if you've been through something you know how to keep fighting. You are so brave and you are so strong. You have no idea. We look up to you. We wouldn't have done anything if it weren't for you Az... Rilee would've said the same thing. No one could possibly be this brave in this situation and yet here you are."
Azrael sucked in a breath. "She would... wouldn't she." His breath shook as he spoke. "Before she died- she told me to- Find Emilio and kill him- so they can be-" He exhaled stressfully. "So they can be- together again-" He muttered, finally being able to explain. Sam nodded, taking in the very tense and upset words from his friend. "Anything else she said?" He asked, only for Azrael to shake his head. The night carried on with the two chatting, reminiscing on the past, when a knock came from the front door. Instantly quiet, Azrael prepared the shotgun, Sam grabbed the nearby metal bat and looked at Azrael, as if wondering if his friend had heard it too. "Someone help! I know you're in there! I'm Vincent, I live across the street from Sarah- We met before?"
Azrael gestured to the door, telling Sam to open it. Sam was hesitant but did as he was told, nervously pulling the door open, that's when Azrael put the barrel of the gun at a tall, slightly tanned mans head. "Who are you? Why are you here? Are you infected? You have 40 seconds before I blow your head in." he threatened, the man was caught off guard and gasped, it's not every day being held at gunpoint. "30 seconds." Azrael reminded, Sam stood behind him, anxiety seeping into him. "I'm Vincent Clark- An-And I seek hospitality-" He grunted when the teenager jabbed at his head. "I-I'm not infected." Azrael nodded, looking over the mans shoulder. "Were you followed?" The man shook his head. "How'd you survive. It's been five days since the wave hit." Azrael gestured for Vincent to sit down with his gun. Vincent obeyed and looked around quietly. "I suppose you were one of the hiders?" Azrael asked, looking down at the man. He nodded and let out a relieved sigh. "Yes, I'm not sure if anyone else survived. I was hiding in my house in the crawl space." Azrael rolled his eyes and shut the front door. "Alright. You may stay, but. If you do something that remotely gets either one of us killed, I'll tear you apart, and feed you to those things. Do you understand?" He hissed, Sam was caught off guard at the threat, and Vincent nodded, "Yes sir."