Haunted

Chapter 15

I look over at Ellie. "All packed?" I ask. She rolls her eyes.

"Duh, not like I have much to pack anyway," she says.

"Well soooorry. Not my fault the world went to shit," I say jokingly.

"Yes it is. Remember that time when you spilled chemicals all over the table in science class? That's probably what caused the outbreak," she says with a grin.

I laugh. "Yeah, right, cause something that I did 4 years ago totally caused the apocalypse."

"It might've, you don't know. No one does for sure."

"Oh shut up," I say with a laugh.

"Okay," she says with a frown.

I roll my eyes and check my backpack to make sure everything's accounted for again.

"All good?" Shane asks from right behind us suddenly. I jump. Ellie laughs.

I shoot Ellie a tiny death glare and pick up my backpack. "Yup," I tell Shane. We're the last two to get in the RV.

"Where's Daryl?" a quiet voice asks. Ella.

"Oh shit, let's not forget him," Andrea says.

Soon enough, Daryl emerges from the woods with his crossbow over his shoulder.

"Hurry up!" I shout. He jogs to the RV.

Daryl looks around at everyone in the RV. "Where's Merle?" he asks.

I shoot an aggravated look at Rick. It was his fault that he was left behind, after all. T-Dog looks at Rick warily before getting up to confront Daryl. Rick stands up himself before T-Dog gets a chance to say anything. "Look Daryl, your brother was a danger to the group," Rick starts.

"Wha's tha' supposed ta mean?" Daryl asks. No one answers.

I sigh. "My god guys, it's not that difficult to answer a question. We left him on a roof because the keys to his cuffs were dropped," I say flatly.

"You CUFFED my brutha to a ROOF?!" Daryl exclaims.

"That's what I JUST said. What are you, deaf? Jesus," I say.

Daryl looks like he's about to hit someone. Everyone's looking at me with a 'what have you done' expression. I guess no one else has had the guts to stand up to him. Oh well, he doesn't scare me one bit.

Shane and Rick manage to wrestle Daryl to the ground before he can hurt anyone.

"Ready to talk peacefully?" Rick asks.

Daryl says nothing, so Rick continues.

"T-Dog padlocked the door. Nothing could get in. We can go back and get him, right guys?" Rick asks, looking at Glenn, Andrea, T-Dog, and I.

"Oh no, I'm not going back into there and risking my life for Merle of all people. Count me out," Andrea says.

"I dropped the keys, it's my fault he's still up there. I'm going," T-Dog states.

"I'm the only one who knows how to get in and out safely. I'm coming," Glenn says with a sigh.

"My bow is much quieter than your guns. I'll go, for backup," I say.

"No! You're not risking your life out there again! You're staying," Finnick says firmly.

"I'm going, and you can't stop me," I say somewhat angrily.

"No way. As much as I hate to admit it, he's right," Ellie says, "you're staying or I'm coming with you."

I sigh. I really don't want Ellie in that hellhole of a city, even though most of the infected are probably in the sewer by now. There's still a high chance that she could get bitten. "Fine." I roll my eyes and sit back down, crossing my arms like a little kid that didn't get their way.

"It's settled then. When should we leave?" Rick asks.

"Right now," Daryl says, heading over to the truck.

"Alright then," Rick says, and goes over to his family. "I WILL be back. I promise," he tells them firmly. I can tell Carl's trying to hold back tears. Rick gets in the truck and they drive off.

About an hour later

"I'm bored," I complain with a sigh. Finnick laughs. We're currently in the woods, hunting of course.

"I can fix that," he says seductively with a wink. I know he's joking, but I smack him when he gets close anyway. He frowns.

"Oh shut up," I mumble, gazing into his eyes. My bow drops to the ground, momentarily forgotten. I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him. His arms wrap around my waist, and he pulls me closer while kissing me back. There is no space left between us. I have to break away for air eventually. He smiles and I find myself smiling as well.

"What?" he asks, still smiling.

"Finnick Odair, you're going to be the death of me," I say with a laugh. I pick up my bow and we continue our hunt. We don't find anything except for a few infected, unfortunately. On the way back, I feel something warm slide down my arm. It was Finnick's hand, of course. His fingers interlock with mine. I smile. We reach camp, and he lets go of my hand, knowing Ellie generally hates love.

"Catch anything?" Shane asks as we approach the RV. I shake my head and smile apologetically. I sit next to Ellie again.

"Well you seem happy, what happened out there?" Ellie asks.

"Nothing," I say with a smile.

She laughs, not buying it. "Why are you so smiley then?" I try to stop smiling, but can't. And I know exactly why I'm unable to stop.

Finnick Odair has stolen my heart all over again, and I'm perfectly fine with it.