The End is Near

Chapter Twenty-Three

~Keith's POV~

     She loves me. I can't believe she actually loves me back. I sigh, happily, watching her sleep peacefully. The nightmare she had must have been horrible for her to cry. She hasn't cried since Julia. I don't know when I should tell her that I was with her this whole time. She'd be so angry. I don't want to lose her, I just got her. I need to tell her, soon, I just don't know when the time will be right. I sigh, shaking my head. I'll just have to tell her at the best time.

     "Keith? What time is it?" I hear Cassie's voice from beside me. I look over at her, smiling.

     "You've only been asleep for an hour, Cass." I say, quietly. "It's still dark out." She takes a deep breath, nodding, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

     "I don't think I can fall asleep again. Do you need to sleep?" I shake my head.

     "No, I'll stay up with you." She smiles, nodding.

     "Ok." She says, leaning against my chest. I wrap my arms around her, pulling her closer. "Keith?"

     "Yeah?"

     "Where did you go when we split up?" I freeze, my heart dropping to my toes. I guess this is the best time.

     "If I tell you, will you promise not to freak out?" She slowly turns to look up at me, looking confused.

     "Ok..." She trails off, looking uncertain.

     "Ok, we did really plan to go off on our own, but as soon as you were out of sight, we rethought it all and decided to go after you. We followed you, you just never knew we were there." She frowns, her eyebrows furrowing.

     "What?" She whispers. I take a deep breath.

     "We finally caught up to you when we saw Julia running into the forest and you being attacked by the horde of walkers." She freezes, sitting up to look at me fully.

     "What are you saying, Keith?" She says quietly, standing up. I close my eyes, inhaling deeply, and stand with her.

     "We were there when Julia died. We just didn't know she died until we saw you break down." She looks up at me, her eyes wide.

     "You were there, you saw it all, and you didn't do anything?"

     "We didn't want risk distracting you and you getting hurt." Her eyes narrow.

     "And you didn't go after Julia?" She says, struggling to keep her voice quiet. "You could have saved her! Why didn't you?!" Her voice is rising and she lowers it. "Why would you just let her die?" Her voice cracks and I reach out for her, wanting to comfort her. But she pulls away, looking up at me with wide eyes full of unshed tears.

     "Karson held me back, I tried to help, I promise, but he wouldn't let me. He said it'd distract you and wouldn't let me go. Please, Cassie, believe me, I wanted to help." Tears form in my eyes, no matter how hard I try to push them back. She looks at me, tears streaking down her face. Then, letting out a quiet sob, she jumps forward, putting her arms around my waist and hugging me tightly. I sigh, pulling her closer to me, and bury my face in her hair, inhaling deeply. "I'm so sorry, Cassie." I whisper, holding her closer.

     "It's ok, Keith, it wasn't your fault." We sit there in silence, holding each other until Cassie speaks again. "So you were there the whole time? Why didn't you join me?"

     "Karson thought you would be angry with us and maybe try to kill us." She laughs, shaking her head.

     "I would've been angry, anyone would have. But I would've gotten over it. I don't even think I can be angry at you for long, I certainly wasn't just now." I smile, pulling her closer to me.