The End is Near

Chapter Twenty-Four

~Blake's POV~

     They're so stupid, they think they are safe, but really, they have no idea that we've been following them the entire time. Cassie is the one person that can stop this apocalypse, and nothing is going to stop me from getting her, even if it means I have to kill her little group. I have to admit, she is an exceptional leader, but Keith is an idiot, that much I already know, and I've barely talked to the guy. They have no idea what's coming. I'm going get a partner, someone to help bring Cassie in. Hold tight, Cassie, a very bumpy road is coming your way. I'll be seeing you real soon.

~Cassie's POV~

     We're only an hour away from California, and I can't be more relieved. It's been a long journey, and I can't wait to get it over with. Once in California, we're going to find and clear out the best yacht we can find and set sail, I want to get as far away from shore as possible. I look up at the sky and sigh, it's getting dark, and there aren't any towns in sight.

     "We have to stop." I sigh, pulling over onto the side of the road. I don't want to stop in a place as open as this, no trees in sight, no towns, no protection. The group follows us to the side of the road and we all part in a circle, making it a little more safe than just being out in the open. "I don't like this." I say, looking over at Keith. He grabs my hand, drawing comforting circles on the top of it with his thumb.

     "I don't either, but it isn't safe to travel at night. This is our only option." He sighs, stepping out of the car and looking around cautiously. I copy his actions, as do the rest of our group. We all meet up in the middle of the circle, some still looking around, me included.

     "Ok, here's how tonight is going to work. I'm keeping watch, one of you will wake up every two hours to keep watch with me. Who's going first?" Keith steps forward and takes my hand.

     "I'll help. Everyone get some rest." They all smile and set their stuff down, lying on the ground and quickly falling asleep. "Come on." Keith tugs my hand and we walk over to the tallest truck, climbing to the top and sitting down. We have a good view around the circle. "Are you alright, Cass? You seem distant. What are you thinking about?" I sigh, looking over at him.

     "You were there when Blake showed up, right?" He nods. "Did you get a bad feeling about him, too?" He nods, seeming to close in on himself, I raise an eyebrow. "Do you know something about him?"

~Keith's POV~

     I freeze at her words, remembering the day I followed Blake when he met up with his 'team'. I don't want to worry her, I don't think I should tell her. It'd just put her on more edge than she usually is. I don't think I should tell her about when he talked to us at the car.

     "No, I just didn't like him when I saw him, I didn't trust her." I tell her, watching as she nods, believing my words. Guilt hits me, but I push it away with the thought that I'm protecting her. She can't have more to worry about than she already does. I sigh, pushing all those thoughts away.

     "Do you have anything else you want to ask me?" She nods, leaning her head on my shoulder.

     "When did you start following us?" I chuckle, shaking my head.

     "We never really split up, as soon as I saw you walk away, I knew I wouldn't be able to live knowing you're out there, possibly hurt or in trouble, I had to follow you." She laughs, shaking her head.

     "Why didn't you just tell us that you didn't want to split up anymore? Things could have been much easier if you did." I laugh, nodding.

     "Yeah, but we didn't want you to think that we just didn't want to hurt yourselves, at the time, that's probably what you would've thought at the time." She nods, sighing.

     "Yeah, probably, I'm pretty stubborn." I laugh, nodding. "So were you always with me? Or were there times when you'd stay back for something?"

     "There were times when you were too fast for us. After Julia died, we lost you for about two weeks before we found you again. Then sometimes you'd just disappear for a week at a time, and we'd look everywhere for you." She laughs.

     "You're too slow for me." She teases, playfully glaring at me. I laugh, pulling her closer to me.

     "Maybe you just like running." I say, playfully. She laughs and opens her mouth to answer when a loud yell fills the air. We both instantly jump up, scanning the area around our circle. I'm starting to think it was too far when I see the shape of someone running, too aware of where they're going to be a walker. "Cassie, over there." I say, pointing in the direction of the running person. By the look of the silhouette, it's a man. She narrows her eyes and grabs her flashlight. I start to warn her not to turn it on, but she's flashing the beam of light in the direction of the man. Her eyes widen and I turn to look. When I find what she's looking at, my eyes widen too. Blake. But he's not alone. He's running for a horde of walkers. A big horde. Cassie turns to me, her eyes wide and full of shock.

     "We have to help him, I may not like him, but I'd never want anyone to suffer through that." I nod, and we both jump down from the truck, quickly hopping inside and starting it. I make a space big enough for him to jump through, and immediately move it back when he's through. I step out and narrow my eyes at him, Cassie following behind me.

     "What are you doing here?" She growls, glaring at him. He raises his hands in surrender.

     "I'll talk all you want, but after we get rid of that horde that's gathering around us." At his words, a terrifyingly loud growl sounds from behind the cars, waking the rest of the group, the ones that hadn't woken up when we let Blake.

     "Everyone grab your weapons! It's time to fight!" They all scatter up and grab their guns, looking to Cassie for orders. "Stay on top of the cars! No one goes onto the ground, no matter what!" They all nod and climb the cars while Cassie turns to Blake with narrowed eyes. "You. You are with Keith and I. I still don't trust you." He nods, pulling his gun out and climbs onto the truck with us.

~Cassie's POV~

     I can't believe he'd come here. I don't even know how we found us. I sigh in annoyance and look out at the horde he had led to us and grow even more annoyed.

     "How did you manage to bring such a big horde with you?" I exclaim, turning to look at him. He shrugs, having the dignity to look embarrassed.

     "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to have them follow me. I couldn't stop them." He says, shooting one. I shake my head and turn my attention back to the walkers. I pull out my gun and shoot several in the head quickly. Keith chuckles next to me.

     "Is there anything you can't do?" I laugh, shrugging my shoulders.

     "I've yet to find something I can't." I say, shooting another one. He shakes his head, shooting one that got to close to the truck. There's too many of them, we'll never kill them all without someone getting hurt or bit. Someone's got to distract them, get them away from the cars. I look around, trying to find somewhere I can sneak off. They're all near the front, the entire back is free. I take a deep breath, and sneak a look at Keith. He's so focused on the walkers that he doesn't even notice when I leave. No one does.

     I jump over the truck in the back and land on the ground without a sound. Quietly, I walk around the circle and to the back of the horde. They're all to focused on getting to my group that they don't notice me walking behind them. I look around before I make any noise and decide to run down the road we have been. I look back and catch Keith's eye. His eyes widen in shock and fear.

     "I love you." I mouth to him as he shakes his head and motions for me to come back. But he stops when he knows I'm not going back.

     "Come back." I shake my head and his shoulders droop. "Please. I love you." He mouths, staring at me in sadness.

      "I'm sorry, I love you." Then I raise my gun in the air and fire one shot into the air. The walkers all stop and while they're paused, I yell at my group. "Don't come after me! Stay here! I'll find you! You're to follow Keith's orders now! I love you, Keith!" Then the walkers start running and I run, sprinting down the road as the yells of my group follow me. But it's the one yell that will always haunt me that makes tears spring to my eyes.

     "Cassie, please! I love you!" Keith's shout follows me longer than any of the others, and it rings in my ears as I run.