Walking Amongst the Dead (A One Direction Fan Fiction)

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

In a split second, both Harry and I are sprinting down the path towards the village at full speed.  My feet carry me at a speed that before I would have not thought I could have accomplished.  Within moments, we already have the village in sight, and we can tell people are scrambling to get to the platforms where safety lies.

I glance at Harry and a silent message passes between us. Harry nods and speeds off to find our families. I take a different direction, heading for the stream to find River. Even though Harry and I both know Travis would surely save her, I have to be sure. The one who was bitten could very well be one of them.

I reach the stream and look around for any sign of the two. They aren't there, and the laundry is still at the bank. All at once, a hand grabbed my shoulder from behind and pulled me back. I let out an ear splitting scream, thinking the worst had happened.

"Keep your voice down!" River hisses into my ear. I relax, finding my friend's words rather soothing. I let her drag me to a nearby willow tree where she lets me go and starts to climb up. I stare at her in confusion.

"What are you doing? We are supposed to meet Harry at the platforms!" I remind her, but she just keeps climbing.

"We won't make it. The platforms are already almost filled. By the time we get there, we'll be stranded." I sigh, knowing she's right. I grab a hold of a branch and hoist myself up next to her. She leans against the tree trunk and gazes out at the now panicking town.

"Harry's going to be worried," I mutter softly, sitting on a sturdy branch.

"Why do you care?" I furrow my eyebrows, studying her. She's giving me the look she normally gives Anissa, which is one that I have never gotten.

"He's my best friend," I say slowly. "And yours, too."

River snorts, looking back at the village. Most of the platforms already have their ladders raised, and now people are scrambling to find a new source of safety. I study the villagers carefully, just hoping to catch a glimpse of my family or Harry. But with all the panic and confusion, I can't even tell who is who.

Fear slowly starts to take it's course through my veins. We've been trained to not be scared during these situations, but I can't help it. Dread that my family could have been bitten pumps my heart faster. The pressure of my grip on the branch slowly increases as an image of my little sister as one of Them drifts into my mind.

I whimper and look back over at River. Her blue and green eyes are concentrated on the village. Her ginger hair is pulled back into her signature ponytail and her free hand is combing through it. Her other hand is loosely holding onto another branch for stability. She looks so calm, so relaxed. She doesn't have any family to lose, of course, but she still looks almost too calm.

 "Do you know who it is?" I croak out. River's eyes meet mine for a second before concentrating back on the village.

"No, I don't." She pauses. "But I do have an idea."

I nod, not pressing it any further. We sit there in silence, listening to the alarm until it comes to a stop. We wait a few moments until we realize the platforms are being unloaded. I nod at River and we climb down the tree and bolt towards the village. There's confusion and still a thread of panic throughout the people, but my mind is set on only one thing.

By the time I've reached my house, I've already lost River to the crowd. I don't mind, after all she probably went back to her own home. I step inside the small house, the door creaking and moaning as I open and close it. I glance about the barren house in search of my siblings and mother, but they are nowhere to be found.

I'm caught off guard when the front door swings open and Harry and Maxine step inside. I don't say anything, just rush over to my little sister and embrace her into a hug. Once she's calmed down and her tears have slowed, I look back at Harry.

"Darren and Mum?" I ask hopefully.

"Darren went back to check the fences with the other guards. I don't know about your mum, though."

"Do you know who it was?"

Harry opens his mouth to speak, but there is a knock at the door. I sigh and open it up to see Darren and another guard. I glance uneasily between the two, Darren's expression being grim. Before I get a chance to ask, he's already talking.

"Alice, I'm so sorry, but..." He pauses and takes a deep breath. "It was Mum."

Sorry that was so short. The next few chapters should be quite long, though, so yay.

I hope you enjoyed. Please comment what you thought, and vote if you liked it. It really does help.

~El