Never The End (Sequel to 'What Keeps You Alive')

Chapter 11: Everybody's Gotta Die Sometime

--------Chapter 11: Everybody's Gotta Die Sometime----

Ashley slowed his pace, really needing to breathe a bit.

He'd been running non-stop for what felt like forever; he hadn't even looked back the way he'd come until now. He doubled over, dropping the backpack to the ground as he tried to get his breath back a bit; he'd continue on in a few minutes once he was able to.

He straightened up a bit and looked back the way he'd come, seeing nothing but the trees and a few birds; there was no sign of Gates or anyone.

It was very quiet.

Ashley shook his head, grabbing the backpack up off the ground again before putting it over his shoulders, planning on turning back the way he believed the road was; hopefully he'd find the road and be back on the right path.

With one last look back the way he'd come and seeing no-one and nothing, Ashley just switched the way he was going, heading back the way to where he hoped the road was.

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"You know," Shawn said, watching Matt as he moved a few things around, looking like he was trying to do something to keep his mind active while they waited. "You can go inside once in a while; it's not illegal."

"Nothing's illegal anymore Shawn," was Matt's response as he moved a piece of scrap timber aside. "There's no-one to stop anything anymore."

"That's very true," Shawn said as Mike appeared from the front of the house; Shawn and Matt were once again around the back. "Hey Mike; what's news?"

"Ashley's just stumbled out of the woods," Mike rushed, Matt dropping what he was doing immediately. "He's by himself."

Before he could say another thing, Matt had disappeared around to the front of the house, Shawn and Mike quickly following.

Ashley was doubled over, trying to breathe as Matt came to a halt, Shawn and Mike not far behind.

"Where the fuck's Brian?" Matt asked him straight out, Ashley signalling for him to hold up a second. "Where is he?"

Ashley just shook his head, not able to say anything; Matt took that as an indication that Gates wasn't coming. He frowned, seeing the backpack at Ashley's feet.

"The hell did you do Ashley?" Matt asked harshly, Andy and Vic appearing at the door. "Brian had that when you guys left; the fuck did you do?"

"Matt, I didn't do anything," Ashley managed, standing up straight, clearly having his breath back. "There were complications."

"Like what?" Matt snapped, clearly far from happy to have only one person showing up. "Where the hell is he?"

"I don't know!" Ashley insisted; Matt looked ready to hurt him. "We got pushed further and further off the road and we couldn't find the intersection because of it and then we ran into a couple people-."

"You ran into someone?" Shawn interrupted, Ashley looking to him as Matt ran his hands down his face, feeling the effects of a long day.

Ashley nodded. "Yeah; we were trying to find our position and they jumped us; wann'ed our supplies."

"Well you clearly didn't hand them over," Mike said, making sure Matt couldn't step in. "What happened?"

"Gates wouldn't hand them over," Ashley explained, Matt looking down now. "The guy insisted pretty hard; Gates indicated for me to go, so I just took off. I did what I was told; I waited for a few minutes a way down, but he never showed. There was a gunshot a minute or two after I left."