The End is Near

Chapter Twenty

~Keith's POV~

     Leaving Cassie in that building was the last thing I wanted to do. But I know all too well how well she can handle herself in dangerous situations. Watching her for all those weeks without being able to talk to her was hard enough, but watching her put herself into those kind of situations was even harder.

     "What do you think they're doing in there?" I ask Karson quietly. He shakes his head, shrugging as he keeps his stare locked on the gate ahead of us. The rest of our group leave their cars and start toward the gate, waiting for us.

     "I don't know, but I hope she's ok." He stops me before we get to the gate, looking back at the building. "Was that the first time she smiled?" He asks quietly, looking over at me. I smile, shaking my head.

     "No, this morning was the first time." He smiles, nodding.

     "What did you say to her?"

     "I told her that it wasn't a crime to be happy, that Julia would want her happy." He nods, pulling open the gate. As soon as we're through, we're crowded by the rest of the group, all talking at once. "Calm down! I can't hear a word any of you are saying!" I shout, getting them to quiet down. Walter steps out from the crowd.

     "Where's Cassie?" He asks, worry evident in his voice. I turn to look back at the building.

     "She's still in there. We ran into someone on the second level, he asked to speak to her alone. She made us leave." Murmurs rise from the group.

     "You just left her in there with a stranger?!" Cody exclaims, pushing his way to the front, glaring at me. I glare back.

     "She made us leave, we didn't leave her in there. Cassie can take care of herself, she's been taking care of all of you for months now." His eyes narrow and he takes another step forward.

     "She has not taken care us of, we can take care of ourselves just fine." I raise an eyebrow.

     "Really? Tell me then, since you can take care of yourself so well, why you can't even shoot a gun." He clenches his jaw.

     "I wouldn't of left her there." I laugh, rolling my eyes.

     "She would have thrown you down the stairs and even you know she would. You don't lead the group, she does, you don't question her judgement. If she tells you to do something, you do it, no questions asked." His glare deepens and he turns and stalks away, back to the car. I roll my eyes and turn to the rest of the group, all staring at me with wide eyes. "Cassie will be back soon, don't worry." Is all I say before turning and keeping my eyes on the building.

     She comes back about a half hour later, with the man by her side. They walk towards us, both faces cold, showing no emotion. I watch Cassie curiously as they reach the gate, walking through and stopping, watching us. Then she looks to the guy next to her and nods.

     "Guys, this is Wyatt, he's joining us. We talked and he's cool, he'll be a good asset to have. He's good with his weapons and can help teach all of you with me. He passed the test." Everyone nods, smiling at Wyatt. She gestures for Wyatt to step forward. I can practically see Jessica drooling over him. I roll my eyes.

     "I'm Wyatt, as Cassie said. I'll do everything I can to help her keep you safe and help teach you guys. I hope we'll all be friends." He says, looking around. He doesn't smile, nor does he show any emotions. He's just like Cassie.

~Cassie's POV~

     Walking towards my group with Wyatt by my side, the only thing running through my head is if I've taught them well enough to know not to trust someone immediately, this is the perfect test. I still don't even fully trust him, he hasn't proven himself yet. I open the gate and walk through, watching my group. I don't say anything for a minute, then nod to Wyatt.

     "Guys, this is Wyatt, he's joining us. We talked and he's cool, he'll be a good asset to have. He's good with weapons and can help teach all of you with me. He passed the test." Everyone nods, smiling at him. I sigh, disappointment coursing through me, they haven't learned anything. I turn to Wyatt, nodding my head. He steps forward.

     "I'm Wyatt, as Cassie said. I'll do everything I can to help her keep you safe and help teach you guys. I hope we will all be friends." He says, using the same voice I use every day. I raise an eyebrow, a smirk raising my lip. Maybe I finally found someone like me, someone I can really be friends with in this place. My gaze travels to Keith and Wyatt's words enter my head. He loves you. I can see it in his eyes. Could he really love me? I sigh, looking away. Why would someone like him love someone like me? It's probably best I don't let my feelings get too far. Too late, a small voice says in the back of my mind. I sigh again, knowing it's right. I love him, I don't know how, we've only known each other for a small amount of time and I already have these intense feelings for him. Not many things scare me, hardly anything does, but love has scared me ever since Drake. I don't even remember how it all started. I had met Drake my sophomore year of high school in our math class. We had first become friends, then he asked me out. He was so nice at the beginning, buying me flowers and chocolates, taking me out on romantic dates. But then he showed up at my house on weekend, completely drunk. My parents weren't home and Charlotte was at school, so I was alone. I couldn't stop him. He shoved his way into my house and started yelling. When yelling wasn't enough anymore, he started throwing things. Then, for the first time, he hit me, he had gotten in my face while he was yelling, and I yelled back. I screamed at him to stop and get out of my house, and that was his breaking point. He had slapped me so hard I flew into the wall. Then he raped me. He had carried me up to my room while my head was still spinning from the slap, and I couldn't stop him. He ruined me. It went on for three years, he abused me and then used me. I couldn't get away from him, even if I tried. Every time I'd try to break up with him, he go on a rampage and beat me so bad I almost had to go to the hospital. I couldn't get away. He made me who I am today.

     Jolting out of my dark thoughts, I look around to everyone standing by their cars, looking to me for orders. I look at the sky, looking for the sun. It's almost dark. I turn to Wyatt.

     "It's almost dark, how safe is that building?" I ask, nodding to the old hospital. He looks at it with me.

     "Safe enough that I could stay there since it started. I only ran into a few walkers." I raise an eyebrow.

     "You call them walkers?" He nods, looking over at me.

     "I don't like calling them zombies, so I call them walkers." I smirk.

     "That's what I've been calling them since the first day." He raises an eyebrow, smirking back at me.

     "Who knew that we'd be so alike." I nod.

     "It's like we were meant to be best friends." He almost laughs, but holds it in, only shaking his head and smirking, amused. I turn back to my group.

     "We're staying here for the night, I'll open the gate and you all drive your car through, it'll be safer in there." They all nod, getting in while Wyatt and I walk to the gate, opening it as wide as it can go, and wait for all the cars to go in. Once the last one is in, we close the gate and lock it with a chain we found on the ground next to it. I lead everyone inside and take them to the main room on the first floor. "We'll stay in here, I'm going to go see if I can find anything anywhere else." I say, leaving them in the room to sit. Wyatt, Keith, and Karson all follow me as I walk to the second level. Together, we search all the rooms Wyatt never went into. I stand aside in one of the rooms, looking at my friends. My gaze lingers on Keith as one thought spins around in my mind. How did I manage to get such great friends?