The Rift

Chapter Twenty-Three: Exile

(Evan POV)

"Are you out of your goddamn mind?!", Lauren shouts at Eli as Anna, Bella and I stand near them right near the south gate, which is wide open.

"Are you?!", Eli shoots back, pointing his finger, "Did you really think it was the right thing to do to execute an innocent teenage boy?!"
"He was not innocent!-"
"Yes he was! He told the truth and you chose not to listen, because you're such a good leader."
"You want to go out there too?", Lauren angrily asks Eli, pointing towards the open road. Three walkers approach the gateway.
"As a matter of fact, I am in a week."

"What the hell are you talking about, Eli?"

"How about you hold that goddamn thought", Eli says, pulling out a knife from his back pocket and approaching the incoming walkers.
Anna does the same and walks beside him. The two of them sink their blades into the skulls of the walking corpses

"You have no idea what you've done to this community now that you've helped him escape", Lauren raises her voice as Eli turns his back towards her, finishing off the last walker.
"Community?", he asks, turning around with a few spots of blood showing in his long black hair and growing beard, "You call this place a community? Because of your shitty leadership, David was going to be killed! I couldn't just stand by and let it happen!"

That's it!", Lauren shouts at Eli, "I gave you a chance and you blew it! You're now under house arrest. A guard will be stationed on your porch and will check on you regularly and if even think about stepping out of that house then you'll be out there with David before you can even blink. Is. That. Clear?"

Eli's face flares in pure anger, but instead of slapping the shit out of Lauren, he walks away.
"Anna, I believe that you still have some discipline in you, so I'm letting you off with a warning", Lauten tells Anna.
Anna slowly nods and walks away from us, giving me a glance before heading down the street.

"And as for you two", Lauren turns to me and Bella, "As far I see it, you're both involved in David's escape. But I'll let it slide this one time since you don't exactly have family here. So I suggest you go on home."

I awkwardly clear my throat, and then Bella and I turn around and walk down the street to the apartment building.
"What do you think is gonna happen to David out there?", Bella asks me on our walk.

I shake my head and answer, "I don't know."

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I keep driving down the road for maybe ten minutes, heading past oceans of towering trees. A gloomy sky hangs above the world. In the passenger seat, my dark gray jacket sits on the seat in a crumpled heap under the backpack.

Approaching a downward slope, I slow to a stop while driving and pull the Camry over to the side of the road next to a steep ditch.

Gravel and twigs crunch below the tires as I park the vehicle next to the woods. I turn off the engine and sit back in the driver's seat.

I then slam my hands on the steering wheel, letting out a scream of rage and anguish.

With the windows rolled up, I doubt my cries of anger will draw attention.

I continue to scream at nothing until my throat aches, then I collapse onto the steering wheel as the tears come.

"I messed up Grace...I messed up bad", I sob with my forehead resting on my arm.
I feel an emptiness inside my chest grow, rooting itself to my internal organs.