Side-by-Side

Chapter 8

The clicking sound of Jake's gun let me release a breath I didn't know was there. As he continued to click the trigger, but nothing but the sound of an empty chamber could be heard, I swung my arm out and hit him in the side of the head.

As Jake fell to the ground, holding his head in agony, his group raised their guns again.

"Look, we don't need it to be this way," Glenn stated. "We can just walk away from each other and pretend that nothing like this had happened."

Unfortunately for Glenn, no one from Jake's group listened, and cocked their guns that were aimed at me.

"Seriously?" I asked with my arms in the air. "You guys want to shoot me when in the back of your heads you are protesting against yourself?" They looked upon one another and took a glance back at me.

"Do you really want to go into war? Do you really want blood to spill? I mean, if you do... By all means, shoot me." I said as I held my arms up and ready to feel the bullets pierce me.

Only, nothing came.

There was an eerie silence and no one bothered to break it. Everyone looked around to their team to see who wanted to do what. Someone stepped up. Someone who wasn't there when I was part of the group.

"My name is Collin. I didn't know that these men were capable of doing such sinful things. I don't want to fight... I only kill when it is needed to protect my family and I. I see that you are not a threat. Unfortunately, my wife and son are gone. They have been taken from this world in a brutal way, and I don't think you deserve that either."

I eyed the man speaking. He has gone through so much in such little timing that I couldn't image what he was feeling. My heart was aching from his story. The story of the lost of his wife and child. Something that he probably didn't deserve. I watched as he wiped his eyes to rid it from the tears washing his face as he spoke again.

"I know that they are watching over me. I know that they are praying for me to make the right decision and if we go through with the plans Jake has illustrated, then I have failed them." He spoke, setting his gun onto the floor. "I wish not to partake in this bloodbath, but to make peace with you all and be on our way. Despite the fact that my wife and son are no longer here, I need to be a roll model to him, and the same person she fell in love with." She turned to his group.

"Lower your weapons. If they were to hurt us, they would've a long time ago. The only person to die today, is the man on the ground. The sinful man who commanded you all to do the sinful things you have committed."

With the last of Collin's words, the group dropped their weapons. They placed the safety on them all and awaited my instructions.

"I believe you deserve to do the honours." Jeffery, a man who never looked at me the wrong way spoke as he gestured to Jake. "You deserve to take out your demon."

With that, I kneeled to the ground and threw my fist at Jake. My fist connected with his face over and over again. My adrenaline rising once again, and my breathing was picking up. I know that he deserved to die, but I couldn't pull through with it. I know Daryl would like to have a go with him so I got off of him.

"Carly?" Daryl's worried voice spoke.

"I can't kill him. But I think you want a go at him. Just don't kill him, I have other plans."

With that, I walked backwards from the groaning man on the floor and watched as Daryl walked forward. He kicked him a few times, no doubt breaking a couple of ribs. He kicked his face a few times, breaking his nose and giving him a very bad concussion. As Daryl backed away I took my gun from the truck and raised it into the air.

Cocking the gun, I fired four shots into the air, before my group began to head to the trucks. I took a step forward.

"Those shots alerted walkers within a mile radius, you should all leave now. Get back to your group in safety." I said. Most began to run and I turned back to run to the truck when I heard a voice.

"Carly?" I turned around to see Ronny, a man who did touch me. "I'm sorry."

"Apology accepted. Now go!" I yelled as I saw a few walkers coming from the trees. "Take side roads, stand clear of them." I yelled from the window only to see they were getting into trucks.

I nodded my head at them once more before Merle stepped on the gas and we skidded out of the lot.

"Sorry I didn't listen to ye." Merle said as he kept his eyes trained on the road.

"It's fine. But when I say to keep going, you keep going. Understood?" I said.

"Understood." Merle agreed as he turned the radio on and popped in a CD.

Hey guys!! I am so sorry!!!

I am moving houses and I have been busy with packing. I have also been catching up with school work and with my instrument classes. I had written this chapter the other week, and was saving it to be posted three days ago, but I just haven't had the time and completely forgot.

I'm sorry.
But at least it is here now!!

I hope you all enjoyed it.