A Zombie's Heart

Chapter 39

Taehyung catches up to everyone. They all wait anxiously on the curb and gather us into a group hug when we get there. 

"We have to go. Come on." Says Namjoon hurriedly. 

Kayla sits down. "I don't want to! We run too much let me catch my breath!"

 We all quickly walk away. There is a loud gunshot and Kayla screams. 

"F***!!! HOLY SH**!!!" 

We look at her and realize her left arm had been blown off and is gushing out blood. Karissa screams. Jimin glares at an oncoming zombie with clenched fists. 

"How dare you!!" He runs to the zombie and swings a punch but the zombie grips his arm. 

"No!! Don't you dare!!" 

Kayla gets up and runs to them and shoves Jimin out of the way. The zombie tears into her shoulder. She falls to the ground with a loud thud. Hoseok shoots at the zombie causing it to fall. We run over to them and Karissa pulls out a knife. She kneels beside the zombie and starts violently stabbing it in the head while yelling. Her eyes are filled with tears. Me and Abbi sit next to Kayla calmly talking to her. Karissa joins us, blood of the zombie smeared on her face. She wipes away her tears. 

"Kayla, you have to fight it!" Jimin shouts as he runs to us. 

She twitches as her eyes turn a blank white. Abbi sighs and sniffles and then slowly pulls out a loaded pistol. Jimin looks at the gun and then at Kayla, then back at Abbi. 

"No...no!" 

"I'm sorry..." Says Abbi slowly. 

She rests the gun against the twitching Kayla's head, between her eyes and pulls the trigger with a deafening bang.

***
We run until we reach an abandoned train and we all climb into an open cart, gasping to catch out breath. We hide behind the wall so that we're out of view from the slowly passing zombies. When they pass, we're finally able to relax a little bit. Namjoon is in one of the corners of the cart with Karissa, tying to comfort her. Addi and Nate are by one of the walls whispering under their breath, probably about us. Abbi and Suga sit with their legs hanging off of the edge of the cart. I overhear Nate. 

"We could've avoided it if we left instead of having a reunion." 

"I know" Addi agrees. 

"Don't you dare blame us Nate!" I snap at him. 

Everyone looks at us and I feel tension rising in the small space. I let out a sharp breath and turn to jump out of the cart, leaving everyone in silence.

***
I find another empty cart a long distance away from where everyone else is. I sit facing the open door that reveals a brilliant orange sunset through the thick clouds. My arms wrap around my knees and my thoughts wander to my family. All our memories of camping trips and nights full of conversation. Then I think about Kayla. We had been friends since 9th grade and always hung out after school with Karissa. We always laughed and joked around...at least we did until I got into a relationship. I left them for what I thought was love. I hear a familiar, deep voice from behind me. 

"There you are. I've been looking all over for you." 

I hear his footsteps cross the floor and Taehyung takes a seat next to me. He puts his arm around my shoulders and I lay my head on his shoulder. He breaks the silence between us.

"I had to get out of there. Addi was getting aggressive." He laughs as I stay quiet. He sighs. "Celeste, don't stay upset that he left me. Be glad that I'm still here." 

"How many people are going to keep dying..." I ask quietly. 

"I don't know... But I do know that we need to be stronger if we all want to survive. I know that I won't ever let anything happen to you again. I will put my self in harms way if it means you'll be safe." 

The quiet is back. I suck in the cool air and let out a dragging breath. 

"Will things ever get better?" I ask Taehyung with a trembling voice. 

He doesn't answer, but instead lifts his hand and points at something. I glance over at a dead tree that he's pointing towards. Sitting on the top branch is a small bird chirping. I haven't heard that sound in a long time that I've almost forgotten how much joy I felt when listening. Tae laces his fingers between mine and tightly grips my hand. I smile down at out joined hands and close my eyes with my mind finally at ease.