𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬 | Tyler Hernandez x Reader

| Ep 86 |

We all stare blankly at the woman before us, wary of the gun she so carelessly handles in her hand. Her eyes are a sweet chocolate that could fool anyone.

It is almost horrifying how innocent she looked, despite knowing what she was capable of.

I feel a hand reach for mine, but once I see it's Tyler's, I feel my body reject his touch. I wanted to let him, but I did not appreciate the way he was handling me like a fragile porcelain doll. Everyone was.

Some of them haven't even had the courtesy to speak to me since I—well, you know...

Charlie backs up with a pale face, raising his hands up and waving them around like a crazed man, "Wait! I was just tagging along for fun! I'm not actually with—"

I flinch when the gun in the woman's hand goes off, barely missing Charlie's face. The shot could have just been a warning so I back up, stumbling right into Tyler. I was too startled to protest his arms securing themselves around me and pulling me away.

Charlie ducks down and shouts, "HELP!!"

The psycho-bitch with the weapon speaks in a smooth, controlled voice, "I didn't ask and I don't really care. I'm just trying to decide if I should kill you both, or let Maverick use you for the infected. So shut up while I—"

Several shots fly right past Tyler and I and hit the woman several times. She sucks in a sharp breath, trying to stay on her feet.

I turn around—at least as much as Ty would allow—and find Logan's gun raised, wearing the coldest look I've ever seen. Not an ounce of regret or anxiety in his bones.

We lock eyes and I notice his blue ones soften enough to say a million words at once. I scan his face for a long while, wondering if I wore the same one when I took my dad's life.

"That..." He begins, his breath sounding shaky, which did not match his body language.

Ashlyn steps forward, "It's her. The lady from Savannah..."

She only says it loud enough for the group of us to hear. Ryan is eyeing us suspiciously, on the brink of making a run for it. Anyone can understand why he'd want to when they look at Logan.

He has not once lowered the gun or allowed his aim to waver, and I was afraid he might just blow her brains out.

Everyone around me holds their breath, including Ryan and Charlie, who aren't even sure if we are worth trusting at this point. My eyes hover over to Charlie, who's kneeling on the floor.

Tyler's hold on my arms tightens. I lean back to whisper, "Should we stop him...?"

He does not dip his head down to meet my gaze, instead keeping his hard stare on Logan. He looks like he's ready to drop everything the moment things go wrong for our friend.

As soon as I turn my attention back to Charlie, I notice him reach his hand behind his back and I open my mouth to warn everybody. He's looking right at his target.

Logan.

BANG!

It all happens in a matter of seconds. Ryan is suddenly in front of us and takes the bullet not meant for him right into his stomach. Tyler's hold loosens long enough for me to break free of him. It feels selfish to feel relieved that Logan didn't take the hit.

Ryan hunches over, pressing his large hand against the fresh wound. Taylor reaches him first, calling out to him as she rushes to his side.

"Ryan!"

"Don't bother," He coughs out, squeezing his eyes shut and waving us away, "You kids need to leave while she's distracted. Charlie, help the kids get out."

"What?!" Charlie's eyes widen, inching close to offer to clean up the mess he caused.

I shoot a glare and step in front of Ryan, "You asshole!! You were going to shoot my friend?!"

Several heads turn in my direction and Aiden mutters out a quick, "Huh?"

"That shot was for Logan. Not Ryan." I explain, never allowing my eyes to break contact with Charlie's.

I watch his Adam's apple bob nervously and it only angers me more that he isn't owning up to it.

"I—That's not—"

"I swear, I'm gonna kill you!" I shout, shoving him away from Ryan. His back slams against the cold wall and he lets out a pained grunt.

"Y/N—" Ashlyn latches onto my shirt, yanking me away before I could get a good blow in, "—He isn't worth the effort. We should listen to Ryan. Besides, throwing punches will just re-open your chest wound."

When I turn back around, I find Charlie slinging Ryan's heavy arm around his shoulder to help him up.

"Look," He begins, "I'll take care of Ryan, don't worry about him."

"Tch, like hell we'll leave him with you." Tyler says through a clenched jaw.

"Get outta here." Charlie orders.

His authoritative tone gives me the urge to steal Logan's gun and shut the guy up with a shot to his face. That mere thought alone sends eerie shivers up my spine.

What the hell is wrong with me?

"C'mon—" Aiden raises his voice and grabs ahold of Ashlyn's hand, "Let's go."

I glared daggers at Charlie, but Tyler's hand slipping in mine pulls me out of my thoughts. We all sprint down the hall before anyone else can catch up to us.

---

The night before...

I am sat on the floor with my back against the stiff sofa. Across from me is Tyler, who's resting against the wooden coffee table. I fidget with the friendship bracelet on Ty's wrist as we all listen to Mrs. Banner explain our escape plan.

"...Then you'll make for New York."

Aiden, who was sat beside Lilly to our far right, pipes up, "New York?"

Mrs. Banner nods, keeping her attention on the braid she was forming in Lilly's hair, "Yeah. That's where the facility's main location is according to their documents."

She sighs and spares us all careful, individual glances, "But, the communication between their headquarters and this place is full of contradictions and false reports."

Tyler places a hand over the one playing with his bracelet charms. I feel his thumb brush over my knuckles but when I meet his eyes, he's got his undivided attention on Ashlyn's mom.

"The higher-ups here have been trying to create an army with the infected, using them as weapons and selling the idea to the government."

I feel Ben and Logan's eyes fall on me for a moment, reminding me of the darkness that is my father. Oh, how I hope to never see him again...

"But they've been sending reports out that they've been making progress on reversing the effects of the infected instead. Which means, they've gone off script from the original plan of helping the coma patients and that the parent organization in New York is unaware of this."

"I don't get it," Taylor speaks from where she was lying flat on her back, staring up at the ceiling, "Does that make them good and bad?"

Mrs. Banner shrugs, "...They could potentially be the good guys and your only possible allies in taking this place down. So, when you kids get out, start heading to that location."