Blackout • NH

Chapter 25

Niall's POV

Marion and Louis were tending to the horse that was hit by Elliot's bullet. It didn't majorly affect him. It just grazed him but didn't go into him. We just put some antibiotics on the wound to help it heal. Thank god nobody in the group was hit.

Jodie...

She was gone. Just like that.

I collapsed onto my knees and put my hands to my face. Jodie was taken, but she was also infected. I may never see her again. All of this was too much. I felt a tear running down my cheek.

"Hey man. We'll get her back." Liam said patting my back.

"Liam." Aiden says. A bit upset.

"We may not get her back."

"What do you mean!" I ask furiously. I stood up quickly, not caring that I was still crying.

"She was cut by a glazer Niall. She's infected. You saw the cut on her arm. Everyone turns within 24 hours."

"She can't turn, she's strong! I know she won't turn!" I begin to argue back.

"Niall, we can do nothing about it. All we can do is mourn and remember her for the great person she was."

That was it for me.

"So that's it, we are all just giving up! Why can't we find her now and save her! We still have time!" I yell out, louder than I have ever yelled before.

Suddenly a small frail voice speaks up.

"Niall, Aiden is right. This isn't some fairy tale we are going to wake up from. This is real life. My sister was infected by a glazer. There's nothing we can do. By the time we find her, she'll be shot dead or turned into one of those things." Ellen said, crying along with me.

"Niall we all are very upset about this. We just have to keep moving." Harry spoke up.

I looked down at my feet before speaking up.

"I loved her. So fucking much. You have no idea what it's like losing the one you love with all of your heart. Losing a soul mate is the worst feeling ever. None of you understand what it's like." I said, bringing my hands to my face, wiping the tears. I was shaking and my breathing was unsteady.

The group left me alone for a bit to cope with this sudden loss. There's no way she could be gone. Jodie is a fighter. She always had something special about her. I could never point it out but she was different in a good way. Jodie would fight.

It's still dark out. The sounds of the summer cicadas and crickets chirped in the distance. Fireflies lit up here and there.

I look up to the sky and stare at the stars. Before speaking up,

"Please let her be okay. Someone, anyone please let my Jodie be okay." I looked back down to the ground and played with a dried leaf, crumbling it between my hands.

I look back up to the stars. Watching them shine in the desolate darkness. I pull out the geode stone from my pocket and stared at the crystals reflecting from the moonlight. I smiled, remembering the memories behind when I found this geode.

From the time I saved her in the cave, to our first cuddles, to our first kiss, to only a few hours ago when we made love. That was it for me. I broke down, crying harder than I ever had. Crying loudly, not caring that I could attract glazers or a group passing by. Not caring if this made me less masculine.

"I failed you Jodie. I promised to protect you and I failed. I've lost everything I loved. You were my last hope in this fucked up world. What's the point of fighting for survival when I don't have any reason to fight anymore?" I said, although nobody could here me.

I ran my fingers over the crystals. Feeling the texture of them. I put the crystal back in my pocket and stared in front of me to the last place I saw her. Still letting the tears fall.

I saw something dark sitting on the ground a few yards ahead. I got up and made my way to the object. Jodie's sweater.

I quickly grabbed it and held it in my hands. I continued to cry as I held the sweater close to my chest. It smelled just like her.

I slowly made my way back to our campsite to get warm. It was chilly out.

When I got there, the group started talking to me but I ignored them and went straight into my tent and zipped the door closed.

Her clothes and belongings were still on her side of the tent. Memories from last night came rushing back to me. I smiled, although tears were still running down my face. I laid down, holding her sweater to my face.

Suddenly I felt this weird presence come over me. It gave me a good feeling. I don't know why but it was like a presence was trying to tell me that good things will come. I decided to ignore it and continue to cry myself to sleep. Letting the scent of her sweater lure me to sleep.