Me Vs Zombies [Book 1 & 2]

[Book 2] Chapter 22

[Charlotte's POV]

Demi and I huddled close together, I felt tears stream down Demi's face and soak my shirt as the door slowly opened, late afternoon sun light streamed in.

I pulled my legs close as the door opened fully, for a moment no one appeared, Demi and I just sat there pressed against each other, our hearts beating 500 miles an hour.

When, as if by magic,

By beautiful, powerful magic.

A familiar face stepped around the door, her hounds on her lips, her hair and clothes were stained with blood and mud, I even noticed a slight limp in her walk.

Demi and I gasped as we lent forward whilst the face lit up like Christmas lights and laughed.

'Bonjour.' Payton whispered as she jumped into the van, she ran at us and fell to her knees in front of us, pulling us close and into her tight embrace.

She held us tightly and I felt my own tears slip out in the process.

'I'm so sorry this happened.' Payton whispered into our hair. 'But this pain is just start of what I'm going to tell you... and I'm sorry but you're going to hate it.'

 The two of us pulled away in confusion. 

'What do you mean?' Charlotte asked. 'How much worse can this get?'

'I don't know if you saw...' Payton began, she sank down onto her bottom and crossed her legs before looking to both of us in turn. 'But... the group got overrun.'

'Yes we saw.' Demi muttered. 'We just hoped it wasn't true.'

'Speak for yourself.' I mumbled. 'You were wanting out of their before we even reached the gate you stup-'

'Charlotte.' Payton exhaled. 'Only three people managed to get out... barely. Eugene and Daryl got out the house ok but little Luke jumped out of a building, he survived and they got him into the back-up car they kept and escaped when they found us.'

'Everyone.'

'I'm sorry.' Payton whispered. 'If only Ben and I hadn't been so stupid to get caught we probably would've left and got back in time to stop it... or at least help.'

'No, it's not your fau- How the hell did you and Ben get out and WHY THE HELL ARE YOU HERE NOW?!' I suddenly screamed as I pointed an accusing finger at Payton.

Payton smiled weakly as she scratched behind her left ear. 'It's kind of a long story, come inside, have a wash, get some fresh clothes, I'll explain everything then.'

For a second, I saw something at the back of Payton's eye, I didn't know what it was, I didn't recognise it as it was something I'd never seen before which was strange because I'd seen every one of Payton's layers.

We survived together for months, for god sake, I had to deal with things that two friends shouldn't have to.

It wasn't a positive emotion, that's all I could tell.

It somehow resembled disgust, sadness, fear, betrayal... It was like a mix of all of them, and the way she kept scratching her body and twisting her hands together in knots.

Payton was anxious.

She was restless.

'So tell me, Payton,' I whispered. 'Have we met our time of death yet?'

[Payton's POV]

Charlotte and Demi were distant to say the least, when I led them inside the building it was like I'd suddenly grown sharp fangs and claws and the girls were quick to step back and cling to each other for support.