An Era Of Zombies

Part 27: The Beginning of a New Road

"You're not sneaking me off to your tent are you Wade?" Darcy asked mischievously.

"Yes I am," Wade said in a very manly voice.

Darcy laughed, "Then I must decline my lord," she said in a southern accent. "I'd prefer to keep my flower."

He laughed and in a normal voice said, "We're here."

They ducked into Wade's tent. They had danced until Darcy's feet hurt and Wade had suggested going back to his tent.

"How unfair!" Darcy whined.

"What?"

"You're tent is bigger than mine," she said. It was bigger, but not by that much, "Who's your tent buddy?"

"No one, I sleep alone in here. I'm my mother's favorite," he said with a wink.

She laid down on the tent beside him, "I'm so exhausted."

"Same."

Darcy got up on one of her elbows and turned towards him, "Tell me a story."

"A story?" Wade asked, amused.

"Yes, like with a plot and everything."

He laughed, "What kind of story?"

"One with a happy but not cheesy ending please," she said and laid back down.

"So not realistic fiction then?"

"Honestly, I can't tell the difference between reality and dreams anymore."

"That''s how you make me feel Darcy," Wade said.

"Same," she said with a smile, "Now tell me a story."

"Once upon a time..."

Darcy listened as Wade told his story. But he kept fumbling for words and Darcy could barely understand what he was saying, which caused her to laugh a lot. He was still jabbering on when Darcy fell asleep.

«»«»«»

"Where are we going?" Asia asked Will. They'd been walking for a while now, but probably only five minutes.

"We're almost there," he said quietly.

"Are we going to another one of your secret hideouts?" She asked with a smile.

He laughed quietly, "I suppose."

Asia shivered, the sky was darkening and she could feel it getting colder. "It's gonna be autumn soon won't it? How long have I been here anyways?"

"A month or two," he said.

"Feels longer," Asia said.

"A lot has happened," he said.

She leaned in towards Will for warmth. He smells like -like. "Cinnamon?"

He laughed, "Do you like it?"

"I love cinnamon," she smiled against him.

"We're here," he said. They had arrived at a bridge that overlooked a small river. The waters were actually clean and it glistened in the night. She moved closer to the edge of the bridge. There was a fence to make sure no one fell into the water.

"It's lovely," Asia said. 

"I thought you might like it," he said.

She turned to face him, "Let's start over."

"Prince Fitzwilliam Delancey the 2nd at your service," he said and bowed.

She giggled, "Asia Simone Slade."

"Simone?"

She winked, "I like the sound of it."

"My middle name is Jared. Fitzwilliam Jared Delancey."

Asia wished that they could start over, but a part of her wouldn't give up these last few weeks for anything. She smiled, "We need to talk."

"I know," he sighed.

"When were you planning on telling me the truth?" She asked him. She'd been wondering it ever since she found out. "Or were you never going to tell me?"

"I wanted to tell you Asia, but I worried that you might be scared of me. Or worse, you'd try to make me believe I was human, that I was safe. But I'm not, I didn't want to hurt you."

"But you did hurt me." It was true. Asia had felt betrayed when she'd realized the truth.

"I know, and I'm sorry."

"But were you going to tell me at all?"

"I was planning on telling you that I was half zombie the day after we went scouting together. But-"

"Were you going to tell me that you were a prince?"

He sighed, "No."

"Why?" She asked him.

"Because I'm not a prince!" He shouted, "I was in hiding while my planet went into chaos. My people turned against each other, I shouldn't have let that happen. I am no true prince Asia, and I'll never be one."

"Actually, you'd be a king," Asia added, trying to lessen the tensions.

"I don't want to be king of Earth," he said glumly.  She could tell that he was distressed and sad.

Asia walked over to him and slipped her hand in his, "Fine, don't be king. But, these are still your people Will. We'll save the world, together.

«»«»«»

Will saw the hope in her eyes, she was looking at him as if he were her salvation. But he was no hero, he was a coward, one who had abandoned his people in a time of need.

"Say my name," he said to her. She had never called him by his full name before and for some reason, Will wanted to hear her speak it.

She leaned towards his ear and whispered in his ear, "Fitzwilliam Jared Delancey."

Her voice was like soft caramel. Will wanted her so badly right then. He wanted to connect with her, to do what people in love did. But instead, Will reached for Asia and kissed her, with all his passion, and all his shame. She relaxed and there they stood, two star-cross lovers, just kissing on a bridge. But that wasn't what they were, they were Will and Asia.

She pulled away first after a while, "We will save the world Will. Promise."

"I only need one promise from you."

"What?"

"Promise me that no matter what happens next, that you will live. I would let myself burn in hell before seeing a tear of pain fall from your eyes. Promise me that you'll be with me, till the very end."

Asia looked up at him and he looked down at her. Her beautiful purple eyes were shining when she said, "I cannot promise to survive the future, but I promise that I will stay with you till the end Will."

"And here I was, thinking that we'd reached the end of a road," he said.

"No, here we stand, at the beginning of a new road. A new era, one of hope and joy, and life."