Innocent Death.

Chapter 12:Cracked

The forest was widely spread out,and almost bright colored with its leaves and scenery.The group ran faster and farther into the forest.They soon stopped,the place looking just like the rest, spread out and silent.

After a few breaths Zoe ran off,as if she kept going.Max called her name,but she ignored her.He went to chase after her,but Sierra pulled him back by his shoulder.

"Where is she going?!",Max asked,his voice raised.

Sierra took a breath,hesitating to tell him."To scream," she said,"You'll hear it.It helps her get rid of sorrow and regret."

Max shook his head,almost denying and refusing her to do such thing.He looked in the direction where Zoe ran off,not seeing her anymore.He just kept staring,waiting for her to scream.

And then, he heard it.

Zoe had screamed her sorrows and rage out.It wasn't a terrifying scream,more like a scream that made you want to break down in tears.It pierced through his mind.Sierra sat down on the ground,resting her elbows on her knees.She stared at the forest floor,a blank expression on her face as she listened to Zoe scream in the distance.It didn't bother her anymore like it did Max.Sierra was used to Zoe's screams.She did it all of the time,even before the apocalypse.

The screams would pause from time to time,volume raised then faded,then rose again.Max looked to Sierra,then back in the direction of Zoe's screams.He didn't know what to do.He slowly began walking towards Zoe and her screams.

"Don't," Sierra said,not budging in movement and her voice firm,"She just needs some time to get her screams over with."

"I don't care,"Max said,his voice also firm,"I'm going."

Max then ignored Sierra's sigh,walking deeper into the woods towards Zoe's direction.He used her screams to find his way to her.

. . .

It took quite a while to find her,but he saw her.Her hands clawing her head,her head lowered as she was somewhat crouched down.Her eyes were tightly closed,and her cheeks were wet from her tears. Her screams started to become quieter,as she started losing her voice.She began to cry,as she didn't know Max was facing her.Zoe's face was now buried in her hands.Without saying a word,Max walked up to her,and wrapped his arms into her tightly.She immediately fell into his arms,after lifting her face from her hands and recognizing his bloody red shirt.He lowered his head onto her shoulder,hugging her tight and she faintly cried.

"Poor...Abbey..." Zoe said,her voice pausing and cracking underneath her cries.

"It's ok," Max said softly,"She was scared of this place anyway.Shes safer now.So is Alec.They're both still on our sides,just not visible."

Zoe sniffled,trying to breathe.Max just kept holding her.Soon,nothing but gasps of Zoe catching her breath.She was trembling.

. . .

Meanwhile,Sierra hasn't budged from her spot.She thought about everything.

"I left him...I could've saved him...I could've helped in some way...Instead of just watching him die...it was only a blade..annoying bastard....yet I think I loved him...he tried to help us...he was so nice...", her mind raced,"Alec...Alec....I left you behind...I'm so sorry...so sorry...sorry.."

She looked in the direction of Zoe and Max.She was curious as to why her screaming suddenly stopped.Usually it lasts for hours.

What did Max do?

A single tear dropped down Sierra's eye.Her thoughts had gotten the best of her this time.

"Abbey...what a horrible death..watched herself get torn apart...how couldn't we have saved her?",her thoughts told her.