Dead End [#Wattys2016]

CHAPTER 5

I was sat lazily against the rough bark of an oak tree, letting my body relax dangerously. My gaze was fixed on the ever changing multi-coloured sky, the golden sun gently laying on the distant hills. The blush of pink dominating most of my vision but the occasional snatches of deep blue and coral red and crisp oranges caught my attention. It was one of the most beautiful sunsets I had ever seen. It was a bit ironic seeing as how most of the world had turned grotesque with all the cannibalistic monsters that roamed on it.

I was lost in my own labyrinth of thoughts as my fingers unconsciously plucked at the dew ridden grass.

"BWAUGH!" A loud voice shouted from behind me, two strong arms wrapping around my waist. I let out a high pitched scream in a mixture of surprise and fright only for a large palm to cover my dried out mouth.

"Hey, shh, don't want to go attracting any attention now, do we?" I recognised that deep voice.

Just like that I had stopped my muffled screams hidden by the hand. When he was sure I wasn't going to make any more sounds he cautiously let me free of his strong hold. My body turned around to face my attacker so fast I was sure I was a blur to anyone that saw me. Just as I had suspected, my brother, James, towered over me in all his glory.

My eyes narrowed into thin, poisonous slits as I saw him bending over in silent laughter.

"Y-you... Shou-ould have s-s-seen your f-f-a-ace, a-and your s-scre-eam!" He managed to wheeze out of his cracked, pink lips, panting heavily in between some words. His light brown hair swaying with his massive amount of movement, in the tired sun his hair cast a golden blond glow in some angles. His tan skin looking more bronze with the harsh amount of looming shadows and blinding light. There was no denying that most people would describe him as handsome.

He didn't stop laughing as I stood with anger seeping out of me, patiently waiting for him to quit mocking me.

"WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?" I cried. Okay, not so patiently.

When he finally sobered up enough to speak to me properly he wore an expression of sombreness.

"What's wrong with me?"He asked incredulously. "What's wrong with you? You need to be more alert, what if it wasn't me? What if it was a zombie, or even another person? You know how dangerous people are these days, almost as dangerous as the dead beings that want to eat us alive and can infect us with a single scratch."

I bowed my head down, ashamed about how perilous my actions were and how much trouble they could have caused.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking- I was thinking- I just didn't think-" I was stumbling over my words, trying to find a reasonable explanation for my behaviour.

I was cut out of my pathetic apology by two warm fingers carefully lifting my chin up so I was staring right into James' intense blue eyes that had grey flecks dotted around them.

"Don't be sorry, I'm sorry for laying that all on you, I am just worried that something might happen to you and I won't be with you to help. I just want you to be as safe as you can be."

His caring tone warmed my heart so much so that it was swelling within my chest. My eyes stung with the unwelcome presence of warm tears. The corners of my lips curled upwards as a salty substance trailed down the slope of my pale cheek. The first of many others. I had pent up so many emotions along the journey of this messed up world that his heartfelt words towards me made my fortress of feelings tumble over.

Soon my face had blushed a crimson red and was flooded with my harsh tears, running down my face in apace a lot faster than I could comprehend.