The End is Near

Chapter Fourteen

~Keith's POV~

     I wake up with a smile on my face, excited to finally get to see Cassie again. I look over and see Karson waking up, as well. He smiles and we both start getting ready. After we're done getting ready, I look around to see everyone already awake and gathering their packs. John looks at everyone.

     "Is everyone ready?" We all nod and John looks to me and Karson. "Ok, so we're thinking that you're girl is going to want to get away from this town, so we'll go the direction you were going when we ran into each other. So we'll start there, that sound good?" I nod and he smiles. "Ok, then, let's go." We all pile out of the house and start walking to the prison. I walk in front with John and Karson, talking about what to say.

     "I think we should just ask to join them. It'd be safer in a big group." I say, looking at John. John nods, contemplating it.

     "Yeah, I guess that could work, but if it doesn't, we'll have to come up with something that will convince them that we'll be good as a group." I nod.

     "Yeah, I guess it's up to the leader." I say. Karson nods, taking a deep breath. He must be as nervous as I am. What if she doesn't want us there? What if they don't let us join? I shake my head, getting rid of those thoughts. Having doubts right now will only make things worse.

     It takes us about 20 minutes to get to where we first met and we talk to the whole time about what we could say to get them to let us join. I guess they need them as much as we do. We all fall silent when we hear the faint whisper of voices coming from the trees. My heart skips a beat, we've found them. I take a deep breath and look at Karson, a nervous smile forming on my face. We all stop as the voices get louder, then we see the first of them coming through the trees. My heart drops when I see who comes out of the trees first, Cassie. She's looking around, cautiously, then her gaze lands on us. Her eyes narrow and her weapons raise, she can't see us, we're in the back of the group, hidden by everyone. 

     "Who are you?" Her voice rings out.

     "We mean you no harm, we only want help and to help you." John says, putting his gun down. I look between some shoulders to see what happens and see Cassie relax a little, but stays tense.

     "How could you help us?" She asks.

     "We think that we would all be stronger as one group. And we have some people with us that we think you'll be happy to see." Her eyes narrow. Then she looks around the group, she still can't see us, though. Karson and I push past the group and stand in front, staring at her. Her eyes widen and her weapons lower.

     "Keith? Karson?" She whispers, staring at us. We both smile and nod. Her sword falls to the ground and she runs forward, tackling me in a hug and wrapping her legs around me, burrowing her face in my chest. I bury my face in her hair and breath in, smiling. She pulls away and runs to Karson, hugging him as well. I smile, happy that she's happy to see us. "How?" She asks, staring at us in confusion. I go to answer, but she holds up a hand and looks at the group behind us. "You say you want to join my group?" My eyes widen. Her group? I smile, I knew she'd be a leader. 

     "Yes, we do." John answers.

     "Ok, I have some questions to ask you, if you'll follow me." She picks her sword up and walks a ways down the road, waiting for John to follow her. He follows, picking up his gun. I look at her group, waiting for them to come back. A boy, about my age, walks forward, I recognize him from the first day they had met Cassie.

     "Hey, I'm Cody, nice to meet you." He seems nice enough. I extend my hand for him to shake.

     "Keith, this is Karson." I say, gesturing to Carson, who nods at him. Cody smiles and nods.

     "So how do you know Cassie? She seemed really happy to see you, and that's saying a lot. She hasn't smiled once since I've met her." I raise an eyebrow.

     "Really? I met her the day this all started, we went to the same college and had a date planned for later that day, it never happened." I chuckle. "We had planned to travel together, but she wanted to go after family, and I didn't think it was safe. We ended up going after her anyway." Cody nods, thinking.

     "Do you have any idea why she's so sad?" I look to Karson and shake my head, telling him not to say anything. He nods a little and I turn back to Cody.

     "I think that's for her to say when she feels the time is right." Cody nods, seeming a little annoyed, but shakes it off quickly and smiles again.

     "Yeah, I guess that makes sense. They're coming back." I look to the right and see them coming back.

     "So how'd it go?" I ask John when he stands next to me. He looks over and smiles at me.

     "I have no idea, we're about to find out." Cassie steps up.

     "Ok, so I have questioned John, now I want to question all of you." She scans the group, stopping briefly on Karson and I, then moving on. "If you are to join this group, you fall under my lead, does anyone object to that?" Everyone falls silent, Jessica rolls her eyes. Cassie looks at her and raises an eyebrow, narrowing her eyes. She steps forward until she's right in front of Jessica. "Does anyone object?" She asks again, lowering her voice dangerously. Jessica's eyes widen in fear and she hastily shakes her head. She looks around the group to see if anyone else is showing disagreement. When everyone is silent, she nods. "Good. Next question, will you fully accept the new group, they will be your new family, is everyone willing to do that?" Everyone immediately nods and Cassie does too. "Ok, good, welcome to your new group." Everyone sighs in relief and I smile, thankful that she let us join. Now I've just got to make her happy.