Beginning of the End

XLI

I woke up curled next to Alek's body as the sun rose across the horizon. He was stiff and cold. I stood up, looking down on him. I hadn't noticed, but he had a smirk on his face. He didn't even know it was coming... I breathed in deep and turned to walk to Lamar's. I got up to the door and knocked. I heard shuffling and then the door opened.

"Morning, Ziggles." He said, softly.

"I need you, Nick, and Khalil to help me with digging a new grave and everything." I sighed. He pulled me into a hug.

"I know it's rough, believe me. But, we are all here for you and we are all going to fight this." He pulled away, looking into my eyes.

"Good. Because this is going to take time, and very diligent planning." I stepped in passed him, making my way down the hall to Alek's room. I opened the door and stepped in. I walked over and sat on the bed, looking around his room. I felt a tear roll down my cheek. Lamar tapped on the door and walked in.

"I was gonna let you go through everything." He sat next to me, rubbing my back.

"God, why the fuck was I so stupid?" I put my head in my hands, "How did I not know Aysa was meeting with them?"

"You're not stupid. No one saw it coming," Lamar stood up and walked to the door, "I'll let you look through everything." He walked out. I turned and looked around. He had a makeshift desk made of milk crates, a rundown dresser, and a chair. I stood up and walked over to the dresser, opening the top drawer. I took all his shirts out, folding them right, then placing then on his bed. I took the last one out and something dropped on the floor. I bent over to pick it up and realized it was a picture. It was one from my photo album. The one of me in a sweater and beanie, and his head on my shoulder as he hugged me from behind. I felt the tears roll down my cheek. I tucked it into my back pocket, and walked out the room. Lamar, Nick, and Khalil were sitting on the couch.

"Hey," Khalil hopped up and walked over, "You need help?" I shook my head and sat down in his spot.

"That's gonna take a minute. It's hard right now," I turned to Lamar, "And you may have to take over for awhile." Lamar looked at me in confusion.
"You can't just step down. That's what they want." Lamar tried pleading.

"You just need to take over while I have a week or two to myself," I stood up, "The only person I've ever loved in about to be buried in our backyard. I think I need it." I patted his knee and walked out.


We all gathered around the grave that was freshly dug. My dad right beside me, arm around me. I fidgeted with the ring on my finger. Lamar stepped up and cleared his throat.

"I honestly have no words for this. This was probably the hardest hit we've taken as a group," He looked down into the grave, "Alek chose to be here. He risked his life to come into these walls. He was willing to fight tooth and nail for every single one of you," He looked at me, "Because he loved her... He loved her so much, he risked everything to prove it to her." Tyler walked up.

"He didn't have to save me when I lost my arm. He didn't have to help save me, but he did." I covered my face as I let the tears fall. I stepped forward, sniffled and cleared my throat.

"You all have made this a lot easier to deal with, but what you don't understand if that this war just got worse because of how we felt about each other. Aysa did this out of jealousy. Alek is dead because of me." I turned and walked to my house.