Infected.

Chapter Nineteen

 "I don't know man. She looks a little dead."

"Poke her and find out then." Shuffling. Grumbling. And now, prodding. I jolt up with a start.

What. The. Hell! I take a moment to take detail of my new surroundings. No dead bodies. No screaming. No ashes or burnt skin flying along with the wind. Just people- lots of people. The air is cloudy, a strong smell of alcohol burns my nostrils.

"What happened?" I ask.

"Dude, you were perfectly fine. Next thing we know, Jaime here is catching you mid fall. You've been out for a while now..." Jaime? What?!

"Wh- who?"

"Jaime. Mexican with spikey hair and a lovable attitude." The guy speaking nods his head, and another guy with spikey hair comes into view. Jaime.

"You're.. Jaime?"

"Yes ma'am!" He thrust his bottle of beer in the air and gave an award winning smile. This is all so surreal. Five minutes ago, I was dead. I was killing Keller. And....  I was seeing what Keller is feeling. She's so alone. Her closest people have died, and she's so afraid of losing us.

"Thank you, Jaime. And you are-?" I spoke to the guy with a labret and lower lip piercing.

"Mike." I smiled quickly before further questions arose.

"Have you guys seen Keller?" They seemed confused.

"Danny? Vics' cousin? Keller is the girl that always hangs around him. They're really close." I blab on, not knowing what would help them catch on.

"Oh yeah!" A third guy strides to us. I'm still sitting on a large bed with tan covers, still neatly made (surprisingly). This guy has huge plugs, and a ton of tattoos. But I must say, his smile can melt ice in less time than fire.

"You mean Miss Lady?" The guy with the cute smile said in a funny way. I giggled and nodded. "Well, I saw her not too long ago takin' a walk down to the lake behind the house with Danny."

"Oh no." I took a look around and ran from the room. Thundering footsteps followed behind me, the guys screaming in confusion and curiosity. The saddened willow tree sways and reflects beautifully in the moonlight. Of course, he isn't there. Right at the peak of the hill, I spot two figures close together. They're not Keller and Danny.

  No one is behind me yet, I actually think I lost the boys a bit back. Being as stealthy as possible, I manage to get closer and see who it is. Sammie and the guy she cheated on Danny with. The guy was holding something. A glint revealed its shiny exterior. A gun. He aimed it down the hill, no doubt where Keller and Danny are. Flashes of my nightmare..whatever it was, pops up. He's going to shoot Danny.

  I hear Vic and Mike screaming in the distance. No time to wait, it's my day to be the hero. I lunge for the guy and still hear the gun shot ringing in my ears. I hear glass shattering.

"You motherfucker!" I'm on top of this guy, choking him. It gives him mere seconds before he gains control again and gets on top of me. The evil glare in his eyes are clear, he punches me once, twice, and as he tries for a third, he disappears. I wipe the blood from my brow and struggle to see Ash wailing on him. "Ash! Don't waste time on that piece of shit. He still fired the gun, we have to go make sure they're okay."

  She stands gracefully and spits in his face. Sammie is running the other way, but Ash pays no mind. We run as fast as we can without tripping and rolling down the hill. Vic is on his knees at the piers edge, Kellin, Jaime, and Tony knee deep in the water; searching desperately for something. Mike is on the phone, frantically giving out information.

"....yeah, he got hit. It's bad, he's barely moving. Please hurry! Okay. It's umm..... 54882 Crescent Lane." He hung up the phone and dropped down next to Vic.

"Keller!" Tony is spazzing out, tearing away at the water. Kellin says something and they all rush deeper in the lake. Kellin is heaving Keller out of the depths and onto the sand. She coughs and heaves, taking a while to catch her breath.

"Kellin," she gasps, "Kellin, please...I need to help him!" Her voice cracks and she attempts to crawl to Danny. Jaime is awkwardly standing there, not sure what to do. He turns and walks over to me.

"You look pretty even when your face is all bloodied up." I let out my breath and grin.

Keller is at Danny's side, crying and begging for him not to leave her. I can't do anything but watch, and it feels wrong. I look back at Jaime and nod my head the other way, trying to give them some privacy.

****Keller****

"Danny! Goddess, please don't let him leave me!" I beg with all that's in me. He coughs up blood and gingerly grips my hand. I bring it to rest over my heart. Tears and pond water soak him as I do so.

"I'll never leave you." He takes in a ragged breath and points to my heart. "Always; i'll always...be here." Danny's eyes drifted to our clasped hands; and he let out one last breath.

  Vic hugged me from behind as my life fell apart; nothing but worthless shit now.

"No! Danny, stop fucking around! I can't lose you...not like this, not right now!" I sob. How pathetic of me, crying like this in front of all these people. But Danny, my Caramelo  Mexican...is- is dead.

"C'mon. The ambulance is here, you need to get checked out." Tony hoisted me up effortlessly. He rubbed my shoulders and carried me bridal style up the hill.

  All I want to do is get away from everyone and see Danny again- alive. Flashing red and blue lights blind me. Ash is talking to a female cop, Chey is getting her head checked out, Jaime standing at her side worriedly. No doubt, Vic and Mike were still by Danny.