Don't Be Afraid

Chapter 22

Issac's POV

I slow to a jog. I'm getting close. I can feel it. I turn down another path, following the footprints. They've dried and I can barely see them, but if I pay very close attention I can see the outline of where a footprint use to be. The concentrating thing is hurting my eyes and giving me a major headache, but this is all for Linda.

I pause and examine a piece of dirt. Clearly there was once a footprint here, but I need to take a break. Two minutes tops. I let my face fall against the dirt and welcome the feeling of my head pounding against my skull. It reminds me that I'm still alive. That this is all real. The sweat on my forehead is causing the dirt to stick. That's my cue to get going.

I push myself off the ground and into a crouching position. It takes all of my strength, but I manage to stand back up.

I walk along the path for a few minutes. Up ahead I see tents and.... and people! I start sprinting toward the camp, determined to get some answers, but stop a few feet away, disgusted by what I see.

In front of me there are women and children, all female, working, being tossed around, or fighting in a small, makeshift arena. I scan the place for a minute and my eyes land on a slumped figure in a cage, eyes closed, and pale skin. Linda. The blood in my veins runs cold, making me shiver even though it's almost 80 degrees outside.

Right now there's a little girl, probably about twelve, fighting against two zombies. She only has a stick with a pointed tip to defend herself with. My first instinct is to run in there and bash the zombies heads in and save the girl, but I know that wouldn't be smart on my part. No. I need to, have to, come up with a smart, foolproof plan. I have to save these women and girls and....and Linda. It's my duty now. I'm their only chance. I feel my heart speed up and pound against my ribcage. So much pressure and only one chance. One chance.

I take one last look and fall in line with the shadows of the trees, disappearing out of sight, with a heavy heart.

I walked about a mile away from the camp, just to be safe. If I am to think of a plan I can't get caught. I need something that will be fast and thorough. Something that can't have any holes they can poke through. I rack through my brain having idea after idea, but they have holes in them, disastrous endings, or numerous deaths.

I pace back and fourth. What can I, only one guy, do to save a bunch of women and children without getting killed or captured? "C'mon c'mon c'mon! Think!" I hit the side of my head. It's pounding, threatening to break my skull, but I continue to hit it hoping the pain will help me think of something.

After a few minutes of nothing, something snaps. Like literally snaps. I turn around, wide eyed, searching for the source of the sound. Emerging from behind the tree is a girl. I pull my knife from my belt loop, poised to throw it if necessary.

She puts her hands up in a calming gesture. "Please. I am not a danger. Please don't hurt me." Slowly I lower my knife, but keep it in my hand in case she tries anything.

"What are you doing out here?"

She takes a step toward me, hands still raised. "I've been scouting that camp for ages trying to find a weak spot, but no matter how hard I look, there's nothing."

"You're trying to break into that camp?"

"Yes. They took my sister. I have to get her back. She's all I have left in this world." Tears threaten to spill over, but she furiously wipes them away.

"I'm sorry. They took my-" My what? What are me and Linda exactly? I take a deep breath. "They took my girlfriend."

The girl gets closer and closer until we're only five feet away. She puts a hand over her heart. "I'm sorry. I know how it feels, but we will get them back."

"We?"

"Yes we. We have a common enemy and a common goal. Together we can accomplish it." I didn't think about that. Maybe she can help me and I can help her.

"Okay. Deal. But I haven't come up with any plans."

She smiles. "Leave that to me." With that she extends her hand. After a moments hesitation I take it.

"Issac."

"Sam."

Linda's POV

I slam myself up against the side of the cage. "How did you get in there! I thought-I thought you were-"

"In charge? Yeah. So did I." I look at him closely. For the first time he looks like he's lost. Like he doesn't know what to do anymore, but that doesn't stop the anger residing in me.

"Hunter. I have no reason to feel sorry for you, but..." I bite my lip. "But we both want to get out of here and-"

"And you want to work together? How sweet. I almost thought you didn't like me anymore." He smirks and I roll my eyes, my hands in fists at my sides.

"I never liked you."

"Sure. And I never swam naked in the fountain at the mall."

I shake my head. "What?"

"You heard me."

I sigh in annoyance. "Are you going to help me or not?"

He puts his hand under his chin and pretends to think about it. After what feels like a millennium he leans forward, craning his neck so his head doesn't hit the top of the cage, and smiles. "If I help you, what's in it for me?"

I gasp. "What's in it for you! I don't know, maybe freedom! Movement! Space!" He clicks his tongue and shakes his head no.

"I want something else."

I gawk at him for a few seconds. "What else could you possibly want?"

"You."

I jump forward, as much as I can, hitting my head on the top of the cage, and put my arms through the holes, trying to strangle him, but failing miserably. I scream at him through clenched teeth. "You. Will. Never. Have. Me!"

He laughs and scoots back, resting his head against the cage. "Well then. You better get comfy. You're gonna be here a while."

"You're...you're wrong!" My voice cracks and he smiles even more.

"Believe what you want, but deep down in your heart, you know I'm right." He closes his eyes and a few minutes later I hear light snores escaping his mouth. I let my head fall back and hit the metal cage, a lump forming in my throat. He is right. I'm never gonna get out of here. None of us are. I close my eyes and let a single tear fall. "Please Issac. Please don't give up on me."