"Jax?" I called in a panic. "JAX?"
No response. He was gone.
"What's up?" Abigail asked, running over. She squinted. "Where did Jax go?"
"That's the thing," I said worriedly. "I'm not sure."
The rest of the group comes over.
"Jax is missing," Abigail reported quickly. "Jax?"
"Jax?" we called out together.
No answer.
Our voices carried over the plains.
"Where did he go?" Sterling asked.
"I don't see him," I answered. Abigail nodded.
"Let's go," James said, defeated. "He's not anywhere to be seen. Maybe we can search for him tomorrow. Why did he go without us?" he added.
"I don't know!" I said, throwing up my hands.
"Well, it's getting dark," Abigail said wisely. "We should go. Unless you want to be eaten by the zombies or something. Or freeze. And I don't know about you, but I don't want to do any of those things."
"What about Jax?" James said.
Sterling looked towards the valley.
"Guys, don't you think.." he said shakily, his voice soft and dark. "He didn't join in the conversation about the ZK. And then, he ran off through the night."
"Yeah?" Abigail pressed.
"I don't know.." James said uncertainty. "What are you getting at?"
"Yeah," I chirped.
Sterling looked at us, his face in shadow. "Don't you think he's the ZK?"
"He can't!" James cried. "Our brother isn't like that! Abigail?"
Abigail stood still, like she was still comprehending Sterling's words.
Finally, she jumped. "What? Jax? The Zombie King?" She pointed a finger at Sterling. "No! You're ridiculous! Just because he's moody-" she glared at him. "No! Just no! What's wrong with you?"
She ran off; James started to follow her. Sterling looked helplessly at me.
"Let's go." I said. "We have to go with them."
"Right," Sterling said as he unsheathed his sword. "Let's go."
YOU ARE READING
Despair
ActionA zombie apocalypse that is overturning, killing and ultimately destroying the world shouldn't be something that kids (teens) should need to handle. Yet that is exactly what Evan, a young 12-year-old with his life ahead of him needs to face. But no...
