No Mercy (Re-written)

19: Fire

"The scariest part about hunters?" Joseph said as he tossed his smoke into the fire. "They have all the supplies they need. They kill and take. Survival of the fittest." He said.

"They don't give a shit. About us. About who they work with. About who they are. What they do." The fire glowed in Joseph's eyes. "We've all had experiences with hunters." Joseph cleared his throat. "I'm just gonna come clean." He said. "This was before I even met Erik, Carson and Dalton." He said. "I considered joining the hunters. I was all alone. I thought it was the only way. But I'm glad I didn't." He said.

The group nodded. "If I did, then maybe I'd end up just as fucked up as they are." He said. "You're not a hunter. You're a good man." Will said to him. "Hopefully those bastards get what's coming to them." Will added. "We're not like them. We never will. They're all terrible people. Every single one of them." Carson said. "We don't roll the way they do. Never." He added. "Damn straight." Will said. Joseph nodded.

"Makes me sick." Joseph said. "Just thinking what this lurker infested world can do to us." He added. "Turns us into psychopaths. Survivors. Blood hungry killers." He said. "That's what makes it so hard to trust others. But so far, we've been good with one another." Joseph looked up at everyone with a slight smile. "And I hope it stays that way." He said. Everyone slightly smiled. Even Hudson cracked a small grin.

Joseph nodded and cleared his throat. "Well, I think that's enough group bondin' for one night." He said. "Yeah, time to turn in." Will said. "Think I'll stay up for a bit longer." Hudson said. Will nodded at him.

"You're not sleeping?" Hudson asked as he noticed Kendra still sitting beside him. "Nah. Not yet." She said. The fire illuminating off of her light face. "Listen, Kendra. I've been wanting to talk to you about..." He said. She nodded. "Me too." She said. "I want to give it a shot." He said. Kendra looked at him. "Really?" He nodded. "I understand that you had a boyfriend before we met. I won't try to replace him. I just want you to be happy." Kendra reached for his hand. "Hudson, I think I'm ready to move on." She said.

"Jake, died a few months ago. And, I think I've finally found the strength to move on from him." She sighed. "For the longest time, I was afraid to let him go. Afraid to accept the fact that he's dead. Because I loved him. So much." Kendra talked about how Jake was an aggressive, angry man. But to her, he was a soft and loving person.

"Jake meant a lot to me. And even though I still miss him, I think I'm finally ready to move on." Kendra looked at Hudson. "With you..." 

Hudson smiled at her. Looking into her light blue eyes. He, hesitantly, leaned forward and kissed her. Kendra wrapped her arms around the back of his neck. He leaned his forehead against hers.

"I love you." He said. "I love you too." She told him.