Silent Sniper

Chapter SEVEN

I awake screaming and then I hear Colton's cry. I pass him to Doc and jump out of the car and into the woods. I run and stop when I am at this lake type place. I sink down to my knees and cry my heart out screaming and pounding at the grass. I grab grabs and rip out chunk after chunk and chuck it into the water. I hear Z's coming and I draw my cutlass. I kill both of the Zombies and then start stabbing the crap out of them.

I feel arms go around me and take the weapons out of my hands, I start to panic but am turned around. 10k is in my sights and I melt down again. The rest of the group come out and Addy takes me from 10k.

I cry into her chest.

"I know how you feel. The world is crashing down. I went through the same thing. Tobias took me too. He scared me and put me up as bait. Cassandra was Sunshine. And she saved me, that's what I meant by we went through something. I'm sorry this happened, but you have to get it together. If you don't then you will end up doing what I did, lashing out. I killed a man. I shot him in the chest and left him to eat his buddies. I left Mack for a group that barely lasted a few months of me being there. You need to be strong for Colton. He needs you. 10k needs you more. So get it together. Before you do something you regret."

I felt ridiculous. I went through something, but I shouldn't have runaway. People could have died. I walk back silently. I grab Colton form doc and pick up my outlaws, putting it back in its sheath. I walk back fast to the truck and get and grab all of my stuff and Colton's. I then start walking.

"Wait, where are you going?" 10k asks catching up.

"Leaving. All I am doing is slowing you down. Bye 10k."

I walk faster and he grabs my arm. "No. You can't leave, we need you here. Who else am I going to talk to when everybody else is sleeping?" He asks.

"I don't know. But it won't be me. I just need time."

"I'll go with you." He says.

"No. They need you here. I'll be fine."

He stops and the I go into the woods heading west now. I would catch up with them eventually.

Two months later
I am walking along a road and see a store. I walk in and put 5 month old Colton in my wrap. He is secure, resting on my breast. He is asleep and I only go in places when he is asleep. I hear shuffling and get my slingshot out. I aim and turn the corner.

"Well I'll be darned if it isn't you." Doc says.

"Doc? Oh my goodness I missed you!" I say I walk to him and hug him gently, being careful of Colton.

"Where is my Godson?" He says. I take Colton, who was now awake and hand him to Doc.

"I missed you mini man!!" Doc says holding him.

"Where is the group?" I ask crossing my arms.

"Come on. 10k missed you. Hasn't said a word since......"

"Since what? I left?" I ask confused.

"No. It's Not my place to tell."

I continue walking and we finally get to the truck.

"Look what I found!" Doc said walking forward and everybody sees me. Addy runs up and gives me a hug.

"We missed you." Addy said.

"Well look what the cat dragged in." Murphy said. I roll my eyes and proceed to look around.

"Where is 10k?" I ask.

Their smiles falter. "He's.....He's uh out." Warren says. I nod.

"Where is Serina?" I ask Murphy. He goes quiet and his smile completely disappears. Warren looks to me and shakes her head.

I put my head down.

"The baby? Is it ok?" I ask. I look at Murphy and he holds the baby up. "Her name is Lucy." He says smiling down.

"Can I hold her?" I ask. He hesitates but hands her to me. I look at her. Was a blue baby with razor sharp teeth. I smile down. She looks exactly like her father.

"She's beautiful." I hand her back and Murphy smiles. "Thanks."

I look around and I falter again.

"Where's Cassandra?" I asked my mood getting worse. But before anybody answers I hear rustling.

"Ash?" I hear 10k say. I turn and smile but he keeps his face blank.

"Why are you back?" He asks clenching his jaw.

My smile goes away. He's upset.

"I'm sorry-"

"Don't. Just don't."

He walks past me bumping into my shoulder. I stumble a bit but regain my balance. I turn and his fish carrying figure hops into the truck.

"Can I come with you? I have some baby food that you can feed Lucy?" I say hoping they will take me back.

"Sure. Come on Ash. Let's get to California."

I smile and head to the back. I sit on the front of the bed while 10k was in the back of the bed, next to the hood of the car.

I sigh and enjoy the wind going through my hair.

I see Addy and she looks pretty sad. Mack wants there.

"Addy. Mack.......What happened?"

She bites her lip. "We where a.......Looking for Murphy. In this town. People came after us. We got separated. And he was taken by the zombies. I gave him mercy and that was that." A silent tear rolls down her cheek. I give her a hug and she hugs back with just as much strength.

"I'm gonna get some shut eye." She says laying back. Mack is gone, Cassandra, Serina. So now the population of the truck bed, is three.

I go and stand by 10k.

"Your angry."
He scoffs. "Angry would be an understatement. I am a bunch of things. Sad. Angry. Confused. Heartbroken. Guilty. I'm still here though. I didn't leave." He says stoic.

"I needed to work some things out. I needed to be able to rely on my own for a while. If people coddled me I would have become weak. And would have no purpose in the group. I needed to rely on myself, so if I wanted to go scream......I could. I could be by myself and deal with things, without slowing any of you down." I finish.

"First you left. A few days later I almost died. That same day i got sick, Addy did too, then Serina died. A few weeks ago, guess what? Murphy ran off with Lucy, Warren was captured by Zeros but managed to escape, and the person that helped her died, plus she was shot.

Me? We needed to find Murphy. But Murphy ordered Cassandra to make sure no one left. So they ran and I stayed to fight her. She tried to kill me. So, I DoD what I had to do. I killed her. Or should I say killed it." He ends.

I felt bad. I left and then all this happens. I turn to him.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know but that was not my fault. And if you are blaming this on me then shame on you. I wasn't there. I needed time. In case you hadn't remembered I left because of what happened with Tobias. Here's a pat on the back for being stronger than i was but we know your the most emotionally controlled in the group. Doc is still hoarding drugs, Warren had drunk herself away, Addy went Crazy, Mack, went crazy , Murphy left with a baby. I left with a baby. But you? You stayed. You took all your emotions out on a few Z's. We all have different cope methods. Mine was being on my own." I finish. He looks at me.

"10k, it's ok to rash out some times. To cry your eyes out. But if you don't want to. That's fine. But remember this.

'Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.'

I then sit down a few a foot away from 10k.

"Just tell me when your ready 10k."