A Zombie's Heart

Chapter 21

     Taehyung walks quickly to the camp without saying a word to me. I follow him. 

     "Taehyung! Can we please talk?" 

     He stops in front of the tent and turn around to face me. "I don't want to talk to you!" He opens the tent and walks in. He sits on a bed and wipes away tears. 

     "Taehyung, I'm sorry. I just-" "Get out," he whispers. "Taehyung, please." 

     He looks at me angrily. "I said get out! I don't want to talk! I actually found someone I loved and you took her from me! There's nothing to talk about!" He looks away from me. 

     "Yeah, well she tried killing me multiple times! She ruined my life since we were younger. She's always hated me and it seems like everyone always takes her side! They don't see how I might feel!"

      Taehyung looks back up at me, this time with a sad expression. "Please Celeste. Just go." He looks away again and I step out of the tent. Everyone else is by the fire, staring at me. 

     Jungkook stands up and walks over to me. "What happened? You're injured."

      Addi stands up as well. "Are you okay? Wait, where's Kiersten?" Abbi looks at me with a worried expression. 

     "She um... Well, we were encountered by a group of zombies, and we were cornered. She wanted to kill me, so I..." I sigh."Kiersten...died." 

     Abbi walks up to me. "You killed my cousin!? How could you Celeste!? I hate you!" She storms off and Yoongi follows her to one of the tents. Everyone else looks at me like they're also disappointed. 

    "Come here," Says Jungkook. "Let's get you taken care of." 

     He walks me over to the truck and I sit on the tailgate. He wraps my stab wound tightly after cleaning it. He pours some alcohol on a cloth and dabs my cut gently. I wince as it stings my cheek. Neither of us speak the entire time. He puts everything away when he finishes. 

     "That should be good for now... Are you going to go in the tent?" 

     I shake my head slowly. "I think I'll sleep out here. I'm pretty sure no one wants me near them right now..." 

     Jungkook leaves for a minutes and comes out of the tent, carrying a bundle of blankets. We set them up in the bed of the truck and lay down on them, looking up at the sky. 

      "Are you sleeping in the tent tonight Jungkook?" 

     "No, I'm going to stay up and keep watch just in case. If there's zombies near, then at least one of us should probably be ready." 

     "Okay... I'm going to sleep. Goodnight Jungkook." 

     "Goodnight."

***

     I dream that night, where I'm crying, and I don't know why. Maybe it's from regret, or stress, or even my past, but I'm sitting in a dark room crying. Someone takes my hands and helps me up, pulling me into a hug. I feel warm, as if I'm wrapped in a blanket. I lean my head against their chest and can hear a soft heartbeat. The person puts their hands on each side of my face and I look up at them. I stare into Taehyung's eyes and he smiles at me then kisses my forehead. It's like he's telling me that it will be okay, without saying anything. I hear that phrase often now. It feels different, better, when being told without any words.

***

     I wake up and stretch. Jungkook is sitting by a campfire and notices me when I jump out of the bed. 

     "Hey, how did you sleep?" 

     "Well, other than the cold, I slept pretty good." He smiles and looks at the fire. "Hey Jungkook, I'm walking to the city to pick up a few things just to let you know."

      He nods and I walk away. After picking up food and first aid supplies I start walking back to the camp. Suddenly a group of zombies come out and I'm surrounded. I struggle to get my knife out of my pocket. The zombies start closing in on me when all of a sudden, there's gunshots and one by one the zombies fall. I look over to see Abbi standing there with a gun in her hand. 

      "Abbi? What are you doing here?" 

      She walks up to me. "Hunting the zombies who took Kiersten." 

     "Why did you help me if you hate me so much?"

      "You're my cousin Celeste. We've been best friends since we were babies. I can't just one day hate you all of a sudden." 

     I smile and hug her. She takes some bags of food and walks with me back to the camp. We get back and I see Taehyung look at me before turning and going back to the tent. I let out a sigh and Hoseok looks at me. 

     "Are you okay?" he asks while taking the bags from me. 

     "Is he going to hate me forever?" I whisper. "I hate myself so much for hurting him. I just wish he would understand...."

      "Hey, I know him, You just need to give him time. He'll get over it. I promise."

      He walks away and I whisper to myself, "I hope so..."