Living After: Book Two

Chapter Thirteen: Nick

  The gang of survivors walked five in a row with Tasha's tall figure in the center, down the dark road towards their settlement that was near in their sights. The walk home from finding Tasha and discovering Madison's plan had been long and weary, terrifying at moments as they cleared stray dead from their path. Nick could hear Elyza to the left of him, going on about taking Blake back to pick up a motorcycle she had spotted.
  Nick couldn't bother with paying attention, his fragile mind was fueled with thought. He believed in his heart, that if they hadn't of gone after the two of them, Tasha would be dead. Madison would have left her as bait for walkers, and never came back. He shivered in the dark, praying that this theory wasn't true. Pleading with a higher power he never believed in that her note was sincere. Nick had lived many a times before without his mother, and there was no way being separated from her just a little bit longer would worry him now knowing that she was safe with Walker. He became detached from her during his addiction, when he needed her, she came running in fear that she would lose him again. It had been an awful, guilty cycle he wanted to break. He felt pain leaving her and his sister after Celia, but also felt the need to distance himself when their opinions on life differed. He wanted to protect his mother, and her heart, that meant sparing her of his views on moralities. He knew she made the right decision, he just had to live with it. Nick looked out into the horizon and watched a shooting star fly in the distance.
  "Almost home," Troy said, stirring Nick out of thought.
  "It's so dark out here. Everyone's alive, you're my good luck charm," Nick answered somberly.
  Troy laughed, his voice filling the darkness, "I don't think luck is the right word. Team effort."
  "Team, I like that word," Tasha said, clearly listening in on their conversation, feeling left out by Elyza's rambling to Alicia. Troy glanced over to her and she continued as they walked down the road, "I'm with you guys. Till the end of the line. I wanna earn my keep. Plus, you're fun."
  Nick nodded in agreement, "The more the merrier, right?"
  "Right," Troy agreed, something Nick never thought he'd hear. Troy agreeing to more people?
  "As long as I get to hear the juicy, Blake details," Nick joked, trying to make her at ease before thanking her for dealing with Madison alone, for over twenty four hours. He cleared his throat, "Listen, thanks for watching out for my mom, for believing her."
  "She sure as hell doesn't need it," Tasha shook her head, her hair flowing in the deep light, "Had me scared there for awhile, I really thought there was some deep, dark plan to cast me out."
  Troy laughed abruptly and Nick knew what he was remembering, so long ago, but still a fresh wound in his mind. Scars like that took ages to go away, being deserted in the wasteland alone does things to you. Nick and Troy knew that.
  The conversation changed to Elyza taking volunteers for a run to get that bike. She sounded eager and excited to grow the settlement with promises of new people from Madison. Normally paranoid and unsure, Elyza seemed content and at ease walking in the dark with them. Nick felt happy listening to her go on about things as they made their way back to the gates.
  Blake was waiting for them with a flashlight and his large rifle.
  "Tasha,"  Blake stammered her name out of his lips as he fiddled with the gate's lock, "You're all alive. Elyza, I'm so glad to see you. Things have been quiet here - no dead. Tasha, thank god."
  Nick kicked dirt and held onto Troy's strong hand in the dark, "I can't wait to lye down."
  "Hurry the shit up B, we're tired," Elyza said. He watched the lock unlatch, Blake ran to Tasha and hugged her as if they'd all been gone weeks, not days. The two of them backed off awkwardly after realizing how close they were.
  "Ahh, it feels like a miracle to see you," Tasha said to Blake in a tone Nick had never heard her speak in. He could see her long smile in the moonlight. Everyone watched the short interaction quietly, knowing they were safe was a freeing feeling. There was time to dwell on little moments. Nick impatiently wanted to go inside and speak with Victor.
  "Where in the world is Madison?" Blake wondered.
  Elyza ushered the group through the gates in the dark, "We'll explain everything."