Beginning of the End

XXXIII

(Alek's point of view)

I stared at Lamar, who stared at, who was, Brittany. I glanced back at her as she slowly hobbled over to us.

    "Lamar..." Khalil whispered. I looked back at Lamar, who had tears forming in his eyes. He pulled his gun off him, handing it to me.

    "I have to be the one to do this." He held his hand out. I looked down at my waist where my bowie knife was, which was hers. I pulled it out the holster and handed it to him. I watched as he slowly walked over, his hand holding the knife was visibly shaking. I turned back to the others, who all nodded, watching him. I turned back and watched as he approached her.

    "Britt..." He called, voice shaking, "I'm so sorry..." She lunged at him. He put his forearm up, under her chin. He shook his head and stuck the knife deep in her head, behind her ear. Her body fell limp and he pulled the knife out, grabbing her. He fell to the ground, holding her body close to him. I looked out behind him, seeing the other walkers turn and notice him.

    "Guys!" I said, looking at them. We all nodded and moved in, pulling their knives out. I ran passed Lamar, grabbing my knife. We ran up and starting stabbing the dead in the heads, dropping body after body. I killed about 3, the others getting around the same. After we all looked around to make sure they were all gone, we turned to Lamar. I walked over to him, the others following me.

    "Boss..." Tyler said softly. Lamar looked up, tears in his eyes

    "I can't leave her here. We have to bury her." He sniffled.

    "Where?" Nick asked.

    "Elmwood," I spoke up, "Tyler, try to find something we can use as a shovel," I turned to Khalil and Nick, "Help me with her." I walked over, timidly. Lamar nodded and helped hand over Brittany. We picked her up, hoisting her over our shoulders. We all made our way to Elmwood Park. As we turned into the entrance, I see Tyler turn into the side, holding a shovel.

    "Found this by the train tracks." He said, answering my unspoken question. I nodded, then turned to Lamar.

    "Pick a location." I said. He scanned the area, then pointed on top of the hill, where a rock formation was.

    "There." He wiped his face quickly.

    "Come on guys." We all carried her up the hill. We gently set her down as Tyler began to dig. I turned to Lamar, who turned to me.

    "I know what you're gonna say, and don't," He sighed, "It's not your fault." He looked down at her body. I walked over, doing the same. I scanned, looking for a bite mark. I didn't see one. I glanced up to her neck, where I saw what looked like a decaying bullet wound near her jugular. I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply.

    "But it is..." I shook my head, opening my eyes to look at him, "I'm sorry..." He looked up at me.

    "Alek, I don't blame you. I don't. So don't blame yourself." He patted my shoulder. I gave him a weak smile then turned to Tyler, who had finished digging. He looked at me and nodded. We all picked up the body, placing it in the grave.

    "Any words?" Khalil asked, stepping back. I shook my head, looking to Lamar. He nodded.

    "I, uh," He cleared his throat, "I guess I can just say, I'm grateful you don't have to live in this world anymore. I know how much it scared you. I'm glad you don't have to be scared anymore," He wiped a tear off his face, "And I'm sorry things had to be the way they were." He sighed and back up. I nodded at Tyler, who started to shovel the dirt back on top of her body. Lamar turned and walked away. I turned and followed him.

    "You okay?" I asked, then closing my eyes and grimacing at how stupid of a question that was.

    "I know there's a bar around here somewhere." He sighed. I nodded.

    "Yeah, let's grab the guys and go," I turned and waved them over. I looked at Lamar and handed him his gun, "You're gonna need this." He smiled softly and took it.

    "At least you can come visit whenever you want." Nick patted Lamar on the back.

    "Yeah, that's a silver lining, I guess." We all stood in silence for a moment, then I nodded.

    "Alright guys, let's go," We all began to walk back towards Campbell. I turned down an alley and looked back at the guys, "This is a little bit of a back way, that way we can avoid those fucks." They all nodded. We continued down the alley, turning onto the next road. There were tons of cars just abandoned on the road. I turned and looked around, nodding. We made our way, silently, to Sidewinders, a local bar. I slowly opened the door. We all quietly stepped in, closing the door behind us. It was deserted and dead quiet. Khalil held a finger up to his lips. We stood and listened for a moment. Nothing.

    "Well," Tyler slung his gun behind his back, "What'll ya have, guys?" He jumped behind the bar, looking at the alcohol selection. All of us walk up and take a seat at the bar. Something moves and catches my eye.

    "TYLER! MOVE!" Nick yells, grabbing his gun. Tyler turns and a walker lunges, he pulls his arm up to shield him. Nick fires a shot in the walker's head as it bites down on his forearm. The walker falls to the ground.

    "Fuck!" Tyler screams.

    "KITCHEN! MOVE!" Khalil jumps over and grabs Tyler, pulling him into the kitchen. We all run in. I frantically look around the kitchen, spotting a butcher's knife. I grabbed it.

    "HIS BELT!" I yell. Nick pulls his belt off, tying it at the elbow of the bitten arm. Lamar sits on the ground, pulling Tyler into his lap, holding a wooden spoon in his mouth. Khalil holds Tyler's hand down to the ground, as Nick holds the other one down. I kneeled down onto his legs, looking up at him, "Sorry." I brought the knife up above my head, and flung it down, cutting clean through his arm. He bit down hard through his screams. Nick jumped up, seeing a pan. He walked over and placed it on the gas stove, lighting it.

    "We gotta cauterize it somehow." He says, impatiently. I look down at Tyler, who has passed out from shock. I look at Khalil.

    "Try to find the first aid kit. Some gauze, a random apron, anything." He nods at me, walking off. Nick walks over, holding the pan.

    "Hold it up." He says to me. I grab Tyler's arm and hold it up. Nick places the red hot pan bottom on his arm. The smell of burning flesh quickly overcomes the room.

    "Son of a bitch." Lamar covers his nose with his shirt. Nick removes it to reveal the brown cooked skin on the nub of his arm. Nick and I nod at each other. Khalil walks in with an apron.

    "Here..." He hands it to me. I begin to wrap it around the stub. After tying it off, we all just sat there. Staring.