The Beginning of the End (EDITING)

Chapter 3 - Choices To Be Made

Jen and Demi were awake when I made it back downstairs. Jen was still so scared, you could see it in every inch of her face. She hasn't even moved from the spot she is in, not once.

"Jen? Sweetie, talk to us. We're all so worried about you." Demi informed from her place next to Jen.

I crouched in front of them, placing my hand on Jens' knee.

"Jen, Demi's right. You're scaring us, just let us know you're alright." I pleaded with her.

Jen turned her head towards me and you could see it. The damage she was suffering from.

Scott must've told her that her dad left her for no reason, that her dad didn't want her, that her Dad didn't care about her. Damn him. He was making this worse for her than it already was. Her Mom left her when she was only nine and now Scott is filling her head with the idea that her Dad left her too.

"Jen, your father loves you. I promise you that." I told her sincerely.

Her eyes just stared at me blankly. Our Jen was slowly slipping away.

"Come on Jen, let's get you showered up and-"

"No." she spoke firmly. What was with people interupting me?

I sighed,"Je-"

"Amy I said no." she cut me off again. Her eyes were angry and sad.

"What happened to you?" I whispered, regretting it immediately. I knew what happened, because it happened to all of us.

"The world ended Amy. That's what happened."

My friend was no more. This girl sitting in front of me was the complete opposite of the Jen Daniels I knew. That Jen, was gone. I stood up and turned toward the stairs, where Scott was just coming down. He was still drying his hair with a towel. when I spoke.

"You filled her head with lies Scott. YOU did this to her. What do we do with someone who has completely given up, Scott?" I asked him angrily. I needed to wake up. I needed for this to all be a dream. A nightmare.

"Like hell I did. All I did was state the truth. Our parents left, with full intentions of protecting their chicken asses Amy. Defend all you want, YOUR parents left too. I watched you chase after them, screaming for some sign that they cared enough to stop. NOBODY cared enough to stop. We are alone Amy." Scott finished icily.

We were pretty close now. During his rant he had walked directly in front of me.

He was an asshole. He had some nerve. How DARE he speak about my parents that way? I raised my hand to slap him as anger flared through me. An inch from his face, he caught my wrist in his hand and held it there.

"What happened Scott? You used to be so close to our family." I spit the question out at him, knowing full well why he stopped talking to us. He glared at me, his fingers tightening on my wrist for a mere second before he dropped it, stepping away from me.

He sat down next to Jen and simply stared at me. I crossed my arms over my chest.

"What?" I asked rudely, fed up with Scott Walters already.

He raised a brow and snorted.

"YOU'RE the one who wanted to talk to us all about something." He reminded me sarcastically.

Then I remembered.

Demi was staring down at my wrist, still in shock at the anger Scott and I had displayed toward one another. I tried to smile then took a deep breath, dragging my fingers through my tangled hair before speaking.

"I think, that ALL of our parents are out there. Somewhere. We have to go find them."

They just looked at me. Even Jen turned to stare at me like I was one of the zombies outside. I sighed and kept going.

"Guys, there has to be some sort of military safety base or something for survivors. I mean...all those men and soldiers out there? It's a sign, we have to try."

Demi cleared her throat.

"Amy, what if we risk it all and we find that there is nothing out there except them and us?'

I answered her then, with words I didn't want to offer.

"You guys don't have to come. You can stay, I won't be mad or upset or anything because I'm making the choice to go. There may be nothing, like you guys are saying, but I can't just sit in the house and lose the days that I could be using to find my family. I've lost family before," I paused here, locking eyes with Scott who looked away almost immediately so I continued," and I can't again. All I'm really asking is that you guys help me gather supplies and a decent vehicle. I'll have to be gone during the midde of the day sometime, when they are most widely spread out."

Scott seemed to be deep in thought and Jen chewed on her lip thoughtfully. Demi kind of glanced at each of us nervously but seemed to actually be contemplating my crazy idea.

I smiled hopefully at them and Demi met my eyes.

"I'm in Amy. Where you go, I go." she murmured and I nodded. Jen nodded also.

"Alright Amy." she complied softly.

Then we all looked at Scott who rolled his eyes and stood up,"Fine. I'm in."

Authors Note: Lucy Hale? yeah, Jen.