The Dead and The Damned

Part 17

I'm forced to snap back to attention when two hands entangle themselves around my waist, pulling me to my feet. Harry is standing in front of me, his eyes gleaming and dark bags underneath them. He sighs, pulling me into his arms.

"You okay, angel?" he asks. I don't even look at him, just keep my gaze fixed on Bella who fights against Liam's grasp. She glares at me, her usually big brown eyes narrowed into slits. Harry snaps his fingers in front of my face. I glance over at him, my hands shaking by my sides. Bella works for Drew. Bella is going to try and kill me, or kidnap me, or do something terrible. Tears well up in my eyes, and I open my mouth to admit everything I had just found out, tell all of it to somebody, when a clatter near the lockers makes everyone freeze. A handful of zombies round the hallway corner, shuffling and clambering over one another to get to us. Harry grabs my arm, yanking me behind him and back near the classroom, Liam and Bella following close behind. I can hear the walkers snarling behind us. They're eager to get their hands on something to eat, and I'm not about to let that be me. I tear my arm away from Harry, diving into the classroom, and searching around quickly for some kind of weapon. A long, silver dagger is lying next to Madison's bed, and I pick it up quickly, accidentally slicing the palm of my hand in the process.

I wince as blood starts to trickle down the length of my arm. I hear Harry suck in a breath behind me, and I know he's seen the blood too. Who the fuck cares? I can bleed. I'm going to die anyways, whether it be by Bella or the walkers.

Bella. She's the one who deserves pain, not me. No, I didn't deserve any of this.

Jesus, I've gone insane.

My mind is still reeling from learning about Bella and Drew's alliance, and without thinking or processing any of my actions, I whip around and drive the knife through Bella's shoulder, barely missing her chest. She screams, gripping at the knife and crumbling to her knees. Both Sam and Harry grab my arms, pulling me close to them, everyone yelling at once. Bella's black t-shirt is soaked in blood as it drips down her shoulder, her screaming with the knife still buried in her skin.

"What the fuck did you just do?" Sam yells. Madison is crouched down beside Bella now, trying to say something but not quite getting the words out. Liam yanks the knife out of Bella's shoulder. Crimson liquid drips down the smooth silver; a strange contrast. Bile rises in my throat as realization of my actions dawns on me.

"I..I-I.." I choke out. I feel myself break, crumple, and my knees go weak. Luckily Harry and Sam have a good grasp on my arms, and they catch me before I can hit the ground. But they can't stop my consciousness from leaking away, and soon everything is black.

I wake up with a start, my head pounding, my arms aching. When my eyes adjust to the light, I look around, trying to regain my bearings. I'm in a classroom. I'm sitting near my backpack. Harry is sitting on a desk, smirking at me. I groan, burying my face back in the tattered blanket covering my body.

"Piss off." I mutter. Harry laughs, hopping off the desk and walking over to where I'm sprawled out across the floor.

"Come on, angel, we have to leave. Everyone is already in the cars." he says. I sigh and turn over, squinting up at him through the light streaming through the windows on the side of the room. And then I remember. Bella and Drew's alliance, the zombies, the knife. I gasp and sit up quickly, making black spots explode in my vision.

"The zombies. A-and Bella, I stabbed her in the shoulder. Oh god I'm going to throw up oh god oh shit." I throw the blanket off of me, stumbling to my feet, and grabbing onto Harry's arm as I almost topple over. Harry laughs again, a low, breathy laugh that sends a warm ache burning through my stomach.

"Easy there. You're going to knock yourself out." he teases. I glare at him, fighting the urge to slap his perfect, sharp jawline and tan skin - fuck Sophie stop it.