Beginning of the End

XXXV

(Alek's point of view)

"We can't keep going," Lamar said, "Not with Tyler like this." I looked over at Tyler, who laid on a cot we found. His arm wrapped in an apron still.

"I know..." I sighed, then turned back to Lamar, "Maybe we can take him back, pick up someone else and try it again?" I shrug.

"I think we all need to go back, and take a few days. This trip was extremely fucked up mentally." Khalil said, looking through the window, watching walkers walk by.

"Yeah..." Nick sighed, "Khalil is right. Tyler needs medical attention. Jade isn't going to want us out here after this and the, uh, Brittany moment." Nick scratched his neck. I ran my hand through my hair.

"How are we gonna get back to the van?" I looked around at all of them, "Tyler is in shock, dehydrated, and dead weight. We can't carry him and beat off walkers." I shook my head.

"No, but," Lamar cleared his throat, "One of us could distract them."

"HA!" I laugh, "If you think I'm gonna be the bait." I shook my head.

"No, Alek," Khalil sighed, "He means himself." I turned and looked at Lamar.

"You're fucking crazy if you think I'm gonna let you do that. Because Jade would murder all of us if she found out we let you."

"Then we won't tell her." Lamar smiled as he stood up.

"You think we're just not gonna tell her?" Khalil looked at him, dumbfounded.

"I mean, you could, and face her wrath," Lamar grabbed his gun, "Or you can let me do it and we all make it out of here alive."

"Goddammit, Lamar." Nick sighed.

"Fine, what's your idea?" I regretted asking, immediately.

About an hour later, Khalil and Nick managed to kill a walker and drag his body into the bar. Lamar proceeded to gut this undead body and rab the guts all over himself.

"You fucking reek." I say, covering my nose and mouth.

"That's the point," Lamar takes his gun, pulling the strap over his shoulder, "Alright, so, everyone got the plan?"

"Yeah, boss." Khalil sighs.

"So, you out the back, you're gonna make some loud ass noise, then we're all gonna book it to the van?" Nick asks, verifying the plan.

"Yep," Lamar walks off out the back of the kitchen, "You'll know the queue." He disappeared out the back door. Khalil, Nick, and I all grabbed part of the cot, lifting Tyler up.

"Jesus Christ." Khalil inhales deeply.

"How is it possible to gain weight during the apocalypse?" Nick chuckles.

"Jade's dad does feed us well." I joke. Then, we heard a loud crash.

"That's the queue." Khalil nods. We all walk to the door, watching the walkers go off towards the noise. As soon as they were out of sight, we opened the door and began to sprint as fast as we could manage while carrying the cot. We turned the corner and see no walkers. We sprint up by Elmwood and off towards Elm. I look behind us and see the walkers are all swarmed around one single point. I begin to slow down, my mind wandering to the worst scenario.

"Guys..." I say.

"What?" They say, in unison, a bit annoyed.

"What if..." I turn to face them, "What if he didn't make it?" I ask.

"Let's get Tyler to the van, and we'll drive through them to find out." Nick said. I nodded and we began our trek back to the van. We turn onto Elm from Williamson and see the van.

"Thank god." Khalil sighs. We make our way to it. We set Tyler down, carefully. We turned to see Lamar walk up to us.

"What took you so long?" Khalil chuckled. Lamar pulled a bottle of Jack Daniels out of the messenger bag on his hip.

"Had to go back for Jade." He smiled. Khalil threw him his bag, and LAmar began to change, throwing the soiled clothes to the side. We laid the back seat down flat, hoisting Tyler up. Nick sat in the back, keeping an eye on him.

"Let's get home." I sighed, climbing into the front seat, starting the van.