All My Fault [The Walking Dead fanfic]

The boy, the girl, the city

"Oh my god! Ben, your alive!" Elise gasped, pulling him into her arms.

"Yeah. It took me a while to get here." Ben said, leaving Elise's hug.

"I'm glad your alright, Ben." I say from behind Elise.

"Logan! Your here too!" Ben said, happily.

"Yeah." I said as I nudged his side.

"Have you guys been listening to the radio?" Ben asked us.

"No. Why?" Elise said.

"I heard something about a safe spot. I think it was Atlanta." Ben stated.

"But how are we going to get there? None of us know how to drive." Elise asked.

"I know how." Ben said, unexpectedly.

"What! How?" I asked him.

"Books... Lots and lots of books..."

"Good enough for me." Elise smiled. Her smile was so heart-warming.

We all walked out to Elise's parents truck. Ben used the key to start it and we sped down the driveway and towards Atlanta. Elise was looking at a map, telling him where to go. I just stared out the window as dozens of walkers trailed behind us. At this rate, it'll take two days to get to Atlanta.

***********************************************

Night fell. Elise slept peacefully in the truck while Ben and I sat in the field we parked in.

"I'm glad you read those books. If you hadn't we'd still be back in Elise's house." I chuckled.

"Yeah. I want to tell you something... You have to promise not to tell Elise." Ben said.

"I promise." I say, honestly.

"I think I love her. I hadn't realised it until now... Or maybe I've always known but I didnt want to admit it. But I can't stop thinking about her." Ben said.

This news shocked me. Ben loves Elise? What will she think?

"Will you tell her?" I ask him.

"Maybe in a few days. But I think we need a little rest." Ben said.

"Yeah." I say.

"Goodnight." He said.

"Yeah." I mumbled.

***********************************************

I slept outside the truck in the field. I felt an icy cold breeze and I opened my eyes. The sun was beginning to rise. I looked out into the distance and saw a dark figure running towards us. I knocked on the glass of the window to wake Sam and Ben up.

"What's going on?" Elise wondered.

"I thought you said those things can't run." I say.

"They can't." She replied.

When the figure got closer, I knew it was a person. I couldn't really tell wether or not it was a walker. The being looked quite large at a closer distance.

"Is that a walker?" I ask.

"I don't think so." Ben said.

I jumped high into the air and waved my arms to catch the attention of the figure. It paused and ran to us. I realised it wasn't a walker... But a girl. She was tall, like me, with long brown hair that went a little past her shoulders. She was quite chubby, also like me. Some features were similar, others not so much.

"What are you doing out here?" I ask her.

"I was being chased by those things... I have no idea what's going on." She explained.

"Are they still chasing you?" Ben asked her.

"I don't think so. But I can't go back." she said.

"You can come with us." I say.

"No!" Ben snapped.

"Why not?" Elise asked Ben.

"We don't know who this girl is." Ben stated.

"Please... I don't know what to do." She pleaded.

"Ben, it's not your say wether or not she comes with us." I said firmly.

"It's not yours either." Ben said.

"I think she should come with us." Elise said with a small smile.

Her smile never disappoints. I think that's when Ben gave in.

"Fine." He said, still unsatisfied.

"Thank you so much." She said happily.

We all jumped into the truck and began the drive.

"So, what's your name?" Elise asked her.

"Jordan." She said awkwardly.

"Nice to meet you, Jordan. I'm Elise. That's Logan and Ben." Elise said.

And so begins a strong friendship with a total stranger...

***********************************************

By night we were in a lineup into Atlanta. Nobody in the line knew what was going on. Nobody really just sat in their cars but us.

"Just remember: were unsafe no matter where we are." I say.

"So it's best to just stay in here." Ben added.

Elise and Jordan were in the back seat giggling. Nothing dampens Elise's spirit. Despite the wait, she seemed quite happy to meet Jordan. They got along quite nicely.

"Ugh, this is so boring." Jordan complained.

"I know. And I'm hungry." Elise said.

"I'll go ask some people if they will share some things. I'll be right back." I said.

I stepped out of the truck and onto the road. The road was crowded with vehicles and people. Several people pushed pass me and I pushed pass some others.

"Hey!" A woman called to me.

"Yes?"

"Where are your parents?" She asked me.

"I don't know. I'm here with some other people." I replied.

"Do you need something?" She asked.

"Just a little food and water." I said.

"Here." She reached into her car where a man was listening to a radio and pulled out a bottle of water and some chips.

"Thank you." I said and returned to the truck.

I handed Elise and Jordan the chips and water.

"Where did you get this?" Jordan asked.

"Some woman gave them to me." I said.

Without any more words they ate the chips and drank the water.

"That was satisfying." Jordan laughed.

Suddenly, I heard screams from outside. Ben, Elise, Jordan and I ran out and looked towards the city. Helicopters hovered above the city and dropped explosives into the cities streets. Screams of the people within the city were heard from a great distance. It felt like all hope was lost at that moment.

"Oh god!" Elise gasped and fell into my arms. From a few meters away, Ben stared at me with hatred.

Is nowhere safe?