Death do us part

nonstop

                      Melody

  I got to the bottom platform and readied my knife, as Taylor landed on the platform behind me.

  "Lower me down, and I'll take em' out." I whispered and he took my wrists as I readied my knife. I allowed one foot to hang, then put down the other. Taylor gripped my wrists as he lowered me to where my feet were about a foot or two from the ground. I nodded and Taylor let go.

  When I hit the ground, my feet started to sting from the impact. I got up anyway and ran to the nearest freak, stabbing it. I then ran behind the second and took it down. I stood over he bodies in shock at what I'd done.

  I motioned for Taylor to come down, as I looked at the buildings above us. Chunks of most of the buildings still standing had been taken out. Fires dwindled as daylight shone on the dead city. Debris cover the streets and bodies lined sidewalks. Some dead from the outbreak and others not fortunate enough to have cleared the streets before the air strike.

  Once Taylor was down, I stood up and headed for the outskirts of Atlanta.

  I would find him.

***

  I ran behind Taylor from the freaks that were close behind. They had run us out of Atlanta and we were forced into the mountains. The smokey city stood silent in our view behind us. We had been on the road for a few days and freaks picked up on us as we traveled.

  The ammo in my bag rattled as I ran. I tried desperately to keep my body from collapsing.

  I ran ahead Taylor, then turned around and held up my gun, shooting as many as I could. At that point there were only about four left.

  I took my knife out of the side pocket of my backpack, and stabbed three of them, Taylor got the last one.

  I hunched over panting and put my hands on my knees. I examined my dirt covered legs and felt sweat drip down my face. My hair had become a long braid down my back and my makeup stained my cheeks in black streaks. We got to the bottom of a steep hill and I questioned how much further I could go. Still, I started up the mountain with Taylor. It was silent the whole time, until I smelled a fire. I ran to the top of the steep road and froze.

  Live people. I stared in awe as I watched them work. Some doing laundry, others tending a fire and some just sitting. Taylor saw I was frozen and a couple of people turned to look. An old man walked up and a blonde girl came after him.

  "Who are you?" She asked.

  "I-I'm Melody." I said, tears brimming my eyes.

  "She's someone that shouldn't be here." A man said angrily. He stomped towards Taylor and I.

  While Taylor stepped back, I stood my ground. A lady with a bandana on her head followed him, as if she was scared of what he'd do if she didn't.

  "You gotta leave." He said.

  "Ed, don't." The lady said.

  "I ain't a threat." I spat.

  "Melody?" I heard someone shout from behind the crowd.

  A couple of people moved and I saw her.

  "Lori!" I shouted, as she ran towards me crying. Tears flooded my eyes as I sprinted forward. We met in a grateful hug, both of us in shock.

  We parted and Carl ran up. I cried more as I hugged him, then stood up. I looked around, finally meeting eyes with Lori, who sadly shook her head no.

I looked down and tears brimmed my eyes. I noticed that people were staring and it felt like the ground was caving in. The last of my family was dead. I walked away quickly towards the woods and stopped at the nearest tree, leaning onto it and hyperventilating. The world spun around me and I squeezed my eyes shut. I looked up to try to dry my tears because I had just left Taylor out there alone and I didn't want people to think I had just run off. I steadied my breathing and walked back to Lori. She put a hand on my shoulder and I kept my head down.

  "Uhm... Is there a uh, a place we could stay?" I asked, motioning to Taylor and I. Lori nodded and pointed to a tent. I wiped the last of my tears away and sighed.

  I nodded in thanks and went to the tent, letting my fall off my shoulder. Taylor took his off too. The tent was pretty big and it had two cots.

  "You okay?" Taylor asked.

  " 'M fine." I muttered.

  "You sure?" He asked.

  I nodded, biting my lip, so I wouldn't cry. I failed.

  "C'mere." He said, opening his.arms. I watched him and an uneasy feeling erupted in my chest. I instead hugged myself and sat down. Taylor looked down as if he were offended, but the expression didn't last long.

  Taylor sat beside me and put his arm around my shoulders, despite my rejection. It felt so wrong. I opted on not saying anything and I shut my eyes, allowing myself to feel the pain of losing my brother.

  The world around me slipped from my mind as I fell deeper into the darkness of my own mind. The sound of the tent opening up pulled my from my silence. My eyes shot open and I didn't see Taylor, but I saw Dallas. I stood up, away from his touch and a guilty feeling erupted in my chest. My arms didn't move from their position around my body as I continued to hug myself.

  I glanced at the entrance and a redneck man with a crossbow stood there uncomfortable.
The man turned to me and avoided looking at Taylor. I squirmed at the feeling of his gaze on me and his face hardened.

  "I just came to tell you that we're havin' dinner." He said, then walked out. Taylor turned to me and winked.

  "Let's go." He said, grabbing my hand against my better judgement and leading me out.

***

ILY

-Kenzie