Beginning of the End

VIII

     "You know, I've been saving these for a good time." I smiled as I leaned up out of bed. Gripping the sheets around my naked body. Aysa leaned up.

    "What is it?" He asked, curious. I leaned over to my night stand, opened the drawer, and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. He laughed, "And here I thought you quit. Well, this just in. Not even the apocalypse can separate Jade and nicotine." He laughed as he stood up, putting his pants back on.

    "Shut up." I smiled as I packed them. Suddenly, there was fast paced knocking on my door.

    "Jade. We have a fucking problem!" I heard Tanner's voice. I threw on a pair of black leggings and a baggy shirt as Aysa went to answer the door, "Oh..." I heard Tanner say, "Sorry to interrupt, but... You need to come. Bring Edge." Tanner turned off and ran to the Front Gate.

    "I don't have a gun!" Aysa looked around. I walked over to my China Cabinet, pulled out my Glock 37, then handed it to him, "Why do you have this?" He asked as he checked to make sure it's loaded.

    "Just in case," I grabbed Edge. Aysa and I walked out, then over to the Front Gate. The closer we got, I saw two men standing on the other side of the gate. When we got about 10 feet away, my heart stopped. I stopped right in my tracks. Aysa turned back and looked at me.

    "What is it?" He walked over to me.

    "Is that... Is that him?" I nodded my head towards the Gate. Aysa looked over, then inhaled sharply.
    "Holy fuck." He sighed. We started to walk over to the Gate again.

    "What the fuck do you both want?" I said. Then, the blonde turned towards me.

    "We want what-" He stopped as soon as he realized who I was, "Holy fuck..." He smirked, "Jade.You're the leader here?" I looked over at the other man. It was my cousin, CJ. He nodded at me. I looked back over to Alek.

    "Yes. Now leave." If looks could kill, he'd be one of those walking dead fucks.

    "Now, now..." He walked to the Gate, gripping through the chain links, "That's no way to treat guests, is it?" He smiled. My blood ran cold at the sight of his smile. I closed my eyes.

    "Alek, stop." CJ shook his head. Alek turned to him.

    "I think they'll want to see her. Don't you?" He smiled. I turned and looked at CJ.

    "Chris and Lisa... They rule a little section of town. Over by Fallon." CJ explained as I looked at my men.

    "I think they'll like this place." Alek looked over the buildings.

    "Go to hell." I said through gritted teeth.

    "You're so cute when you get mad," He winked at me. I swung Edge at the fence, but Alek moved, "Fine, We're leaving. But, we'll be back." He blew a kiss to me as they walked off.

    "FUCK O-!" I screamed after him, but Aysa covered my mouth.

    "Walkers, Jade. Calm down." I shoved him off me.

    "Making my life hell before this wasn't fucking good enough for him, was it?" I felt tears in my eyes as I leaned against the Front Gate.

    "Uh, Jade?" Tanner stepped forward. I looked up at him, "Who was that?" I could hear the hesitation in his voice.

    "Her cousin and ex..." Lamar sighed as he looked down at me.

    "No. Not ex. We were never together." I corrected as I stood up.

    "You might as well have been." Aysa mumbled as he walked off. I looked out at him.

    "What?" I asked. He turned back.

    "You loved him. A lot. He broke you. He's the reason you love no one but yourself." Aysa turned and walked off towards his house.

    "Excuse me?" I grabbed Edge and stood up, "What did you say?" I ran over to him, and swung the sledgehammer at him, but he moved. Causing the head of Edge to get stuck in the ground.

    "Are you fucking serious?" Aysa looked shocked. Lamar ran over, and stepped in between Aysa and I.

    "I fucking loved you," I looked at Aysa, "Don't you dare. And you really think a fucking bitch like him is gonna make a difference now? He's a fucking asshole. Even more than he already was. And he's working for my fucking parents. My parents didn't even fucking wait for me. But they took him in?" My breathing hitched. I kneeled down and clutched my chest. It was tightening.

    "Are you okay?" Tanner ran over to me and knelt beside me.

    "She's having a panic attack," Aysa walked over to me, picked me up bridal style, "I'm taking her to Medical. Someone get Leanne," Aysa walked over to the Medical Center. I couldn't catch my breath. I held on to Aysa, he looked down at me, "It's gonna be okay."

When Leanne arrived, she gave me a breathing treatment. Thank god Lamar and Khalil found this a month ago. Between me and Audrey having asthma, it really came in handy today.

    "What brought on the panic attack?" Leanne asked. Aysa looked at me and I nodded.    

    "There's another group..." Aysa sighed. Leanne looked extremely scared.

    "It's my parents'." I leaned up in the bed we stole from a hospital. Leanne looked down at me.

    "Are we safe?" She whispered. Scared of the answer.

    "Yes. The only one I worry about is Alek." I stood up. I walked over to the cabinet and grabbed a bottle of water.

    "Who's that?" She looked at Aysa, then me.

    "Someone she used to love." Aysa answered. Leanne looked back at him.

    "Oh... So. This is gonna be interesting..." She shook her head. Nodded at us, then walked out. I looked over at Aysa.

    "I'm sorry..." I said, walking up to him.

    "Don't be," He wrapped his arms around me, "I'm sorry. I just... I really don't like that bastard." I hugged him back.

    "It's gonna be okay." I pulled away. We walked back to my house, walking in, and laid down together. I curled up next to him.

    "We're gonna have to assemble a meeting tomorrow and tell then that some people are stopping by." Aysa played with my hair.

    "Yeah. I know..." I looked up at him, "I'm gonna be the one that ends Alek. I can already feel it." Aysa looked down at me.

    "You're better than that. Don't think like that." He kissed my forehead and laid his head back.

    "Yeah..." I closed my eyes and dozed off.