A Zombie's Heart

Chapter 38

A week passes and we have been staying at a small campsite at a park. We planned on taking time to heal and rest before going out to find Kyras dad. I slowly open my eyes early in the morning. I look out the window and see a black car coming down the road towards us. I sigh and gather my hair into a high ponytail before getting out of the truck. Nate, who was already up before me, stands up and walks toward the vehicle and I join. The car comes to a quick stop and I immediately halt when the driver gets out. 

Taehyung is alive. He pulls a gun from his pocket, storms over to Nate, and shoots him in the shoulder, waking everybody up. Nate yells loudly and grasps his shoulder, kneeling to the floor. Everyone rushes outside to see what happened and are surprised to see Taehyung holding a gun to Nate's head. 

"Tae stop!" Shouts Namjoon. 

Taehyung looks at Namjoon then back at Nate before pulling the gun away. He looks over at me, a wide smile spreading across his face. I stumble over to him, jumping into his arms, hugging him as if I would never let go. Tears fall from my eyes uncontrollably as I bury my face in his shoulder. He sets me down but I don't release my arms from around him yet. He rests his chin on my head. After a few short moments, he lifts my chin so that I'm looking into his eyes. After wiping away my tears he slowly kisses my lips. The other boys run over to us. 

"Hey, we were worried too, let us have a moment!" laughs Jimin as they all get into a group hug. 

For the first time in weeks, everybody is happy. They all joke and laugh and shed a few tears of joy. I smile and glance at Nate who still sitting on the ground in pain. Addi is by his side. I drop the smile and look over at Taehyung. 

"Taehyung, why we're you trying to kill Nate?" I ask him.

 Everyone backs away from Taehyung to give him space to explain. He furrows his eyebrows and looks at the injured Nate sitting on the ground. 

"Because he left me to die. I was running from a group of zombies as you drove past. He looked right at me but kept driving."

 I pull out a dagger and march over to Nate. Just as I'm about to force the knife into his chest, jungkook grabs my arm. 

"Celeste don't! It's not going to do anything!" 

He lets go of my arm and I take a long breath before throwing the knife at the ground between his legs. I turn and walk away without another word.

***I dream of nothing but complete darkness. I can hear a faint heartbeat growing louder and louder. Theres a loud scream and I force my eyes open. I gasp loudly. There are zombies everywhere, at least a hundred.
 

"Celeste!!" Taehyung runs to me and grabs my hands, pulling me onto my feet. "We have to run!" 

"Taehyung, my leg! I can't run!" 

He looks at my wrapped leg and nods. He takes my arms, pulling me onto his back, and starts to run. 

"Tae, where is everyone?" 

"They're ahead of us. Do you have your dagger?" 

I feel my belt loop where the cold metal blade is strung through. 

"Yeah. I have it. Why?" He sets me down. "I need to run back and grab something. Stay here and wait for me." 

Before I can object he turns and runs back. I hear a laugh and notice Kyra standing on the opposite side of the road I'm standing on. 

"He just left you like that. He probably gave up on you and went to kill himself. I wouldn't wait up for him if I were you." 

She walks up to me and is about to say something when she suddenly falls to the floor after a loud crack. I look at her face, her nose pouring out the familiar deep red blood. I glance down and my aching hand. My knuckles are clenched tightly and are trickling blood. I had punched her hard enough to have broken her nose. I crouch down next to her as she tries to stop the bleeding, using her shirt sleeve. I pull out my dagger and press it against her throat. Blood seeps out of the cut. She looks deep into my flaring eyes and I can see she is terrified and in pain. 

She forces a smile. "You won't do it. You're weak." 

At those words, I press the knife harder and slide it the across her neck. I drop the dagger and back up quickly, falling backwards. Her body collapses to the ground and a pool of dark blood surrounds her. Someone's hand grabs my shoulder and I turn and punch them. 

"Celeste! What the heck!?" Taehyung stands in front of me with blood on his cheek, left from my knuckles. 

"Taehyung I'm so sorry! I thought you were Adam or someone else!"

 Taehyung shakes his head. "It's okay. We have to go. Hurry." Once I'm on his back again he turns and looks at Kyras dead body. "What...nevermind. Let's go."