Maybe

Chapter 15

"Took you long enough." The woman said

Everyone, loaded with guns, started to pile out of the house. I looked back at Ethan questioning what I should do next.

"Just follow them, we don't want to draw too much attention to ourselves." He said

I followed the group of filthy survivors out the door and past the fence to the ranch. We hiked for what seemed like hours before we made it to the base of a massive mountain. Everyone carried on like normal and started to hike up. I turned back to Ethan.

"They expect us to hike up this?" I asked bewildered

"I guess." Ethan said

We hiked for almost another hour before we had made it about ¾ of the way up the mountain. We were on a trail that dropped drastically on one side. It was a 100-foot drop and if one of us slipped, we would die instantly. I was getting scared and annoyed. I decided to ask the group what we were even doing all the way up here.

"Will someone tell us where we are even going?" I yelled

Everyone stopped in their tracks and turned to me in shock even Ethan.

"Excuse me?" One of the men asked

"What are we doing up here?" I asked

The man walked up to me until he was so close that I could smell his rancid breath.

"We are searching." He said

"Searching for what?" I asked

"Survivors. We need food." He said

"So we are looking for survivors to kill so we can take their food?" I asked

"Yes, do you have a problem with that?" He asked

"Yeah actually, I do. Why are you trying to kill off the entire human race? Aren't we supposed to be working together to get past this?" I asked

Something sparked on his face. I was just taking a chance, but now I knew that this was the same guy that was in the kitchen last night, the guy that wanted to kill everyone just to get revenge.

"What did you just say?" He asked in a whisper through gritted teeth

"Nothing! She didn't say anything." Ethan said as he stepped in between me and the man, "Right Olivia?"

I stared the man down as I contemplated my next move. Ethan was right; I shouldn't be trying to start something when we were in the middle of our escape plan.

"Yeah, whatever." I said

"Good. Don't ever question me again." He said as he started to turn back around

"Well, don't be an idiot again." I mumbled under my breath just loud enough for him to hear

Next thing I know, I am in a headlock trying to get traction on the slippery cliff ledge. I claw at the arms on my throat as I struggle to breath.

"Olivia!" I heard Ethan yell

If he dropped me now, I was dead. I could feel my face turning red and my legs losing feeling as the oxygen left my body. Even if he let go of me now, I wouldn't have the strength in my lower body to catch myself and I would be goner. Ethan would be left alone and my dad's promise would be nothing.

"Don't you ever speak to me like that again." He said into my ear

I tried to speak but instead a sputtering cough left my mouth. His arms tightened around my throat.

I could hear Ethan struggling to get to me from behind the man, but the group was probably holding him back, not letting my partner come to my safety.

"I could kill you right now without batting an eye." He whispered

"Come on Will, just let her go." I heard the woman say

"With pleasure." He said

His grip loosened on me and I could feel myself start to fall. Suddenly, I felt Ethan's strong arms wrap around my waist and pull me away from the edge and into his chest. He spun me around so that I was facing his chest and pulled me into a hug. He dragged me as close as he could to the side of the mountain and leaned against the rock. I could hear him sigh in relief.

"Thank God." He said as he rested his chin on the top of my head "I thought I told you not to do anything stupid!"

"Sorry, I couldn't help it." I said

The group had decided to turn around after not finding anything interesting and we were on our way back to the ranch.

"We could easily just run away now." I said

"Well, I don't know about easily. We don't have any of our guns and they would find us right away." Ethan said

"Yeah, I guess." I said

"So what was that all about?" He asked

"What?" I asked

"That man did not like something you said." He said hinting at the whole human race comment

"I think he was one of the men in the kitchen last night. The other man said that exactly and he responded by saying he doesn't care who he kills to get revenge." I said

"I don't get why they wouldn't just kill us right away if they thought we were guilty." He said

"I think it's their sick idea of fun. Carry us along until all of a sudden they turn on us." I said

"And who did they say was the one that could identify us?" He asked

"I don't know, some guy named Gray? I don't think he's here though, I haven't heard his name once." I said

"Gray? That's an interesting name." Ethan said

"Yeah, I guess." I said

By this time we had made it back to the ranch and it was dark. I went up to my room without saying a word and closed the door behind me. A few minutes later Ethan walked in with cans of food in his arms.

"I grabbed everything I could." Ethan said as he tossed me a can

We both ate on the bed as we started to plan our escape.

"Ok, I doubt they are going to let us on any more expeditions so anything involving that is out." I said

"Well when I was in the kitchen I heard that they were planning a search for next week. That might be our best time to make a break for it." Ethan said

"They have guards all over this place searching for walkers, we wouldn't make it out alive." I said

"I guess you're right." Ethan said

I wracked my brain for a plan before Ethan spoke.

"I have a plan." He said, "It's dangerous and risky, but it's a plan."

"Everything is dangerous in this world." I said