A Zombie's Heart

Chapter 41

*Taehyung POV*

I wake up laying on the ground, Celeste resting her head on my arm. She breathes slowly as she sleeps. I smile and stroke her smooth hair and she slowly opens her eyes and smiles at me as we gaze at each other. Although she looks happy, I can tell that she is scared. The door swings open making us both jump. A few soldiers march in and grab my arms, taking me away. Celeste stands up abruptly and rushes towards me, but another soldier pushes her back. 

"Taehyung!" she calls. I want to fight to be with her, but compared to the men holding me, along with their own guns, I wouldn't stand a chance.

*Celeste POV*
I slam my hands on the cold metal door as I scream Taehyungs name. I sink to the ground and cry as I lean my head against the door. I don't know what they're doing with him. They could kill him or turn him into one of the zombies. I don't know. I hear footsteps outside and then an unfamiliar voice followed by Marcus'. 

"Sir, almost everyone else has been captured. They're being kept outside." 

"What do you mean almost everyone." 

I hear the soldier pause for a minute. 

"Two of them...tried to run away. We shot them sir..." 

I hear the sound of a hard punch and a yell. "I told you I needed them ALL alive! Which ones were they." 

The now shaky voice replies. "We believe they went by Hoseok and Jimin." 

"Get out of here. Now!" 

I hear footsteps quickly leave and Marcus lets out a cold breath before also leaving. Tears cloud my vision and I stand up and walk to the middle of the room, facing away from the door as I sit and sob into my hands.

*Taehyung POV*
I'm led into a room with two white leather chairs across from each other. Marcus is sitting in one and smiles when I enter the room. He gestures to the chair in front of him. 

"Take a seat. We need to talk." 

I hesitantly walked over to him and sat in the cold seat and draw in a deep breath. Marcus chuckles. 

"Relax. Aren't you supposed to be a man? Anyway, I need to talk to you." 

"T-talk about what?" I stutter. 

"Your girlfriend. She's uh...not too bright is she?" 

"Leave Celeste out of this, Marcus." 

He smiles grimly. "You seem to care a lot about her don't you?" I nod slowly. He sighs. "How about a deal between us then?" 

"What kind of deal?" 

He stands up and walks over to a window. "I can let her go unharmed. But only if you commit to working for me." 

"But, what about everyone else?" 

Marcus stares coldly at me. "They don't matter. Your choice is either you both die, or she goes unharmed and you work for me.... The choice is yours Taehyung."

*Celeste POV*
The door behind me opens and shuts quickly. Footsteps get closer and closer to me, until I feel a pair of warm arms wrap around me. Taehyung sits behind me and pulls me close to him, resting his chin on my shoulder. He cradles me, but neither of us speak. 

"Taehyung? Why did they take you?" 

"I don't want to talk. I just want to hold you in my arms right now." 

I nod slowly. "I was so scared that they were going to kill you." 

I turn around and wrap my arms and legs around him, burying my face in his chest. He lifts my chin up and wipes my tear soaked cheeks. He places his hands behind my head and presses his lips against mine. Before I know it, I'm sucked in as if I'm under a spell. He kisses me roughly as I entangle my fingers into his smooth hair. His hands hold both sides of my face and I never want this moment to end. He slowly pulls away and I gaze into his deep brown eyes, as he stares into mine. 

"How did I get so lucky to be one of the last people on earth with you?" He says as he strokes my hair one last time. 

I wrap my arms around his neck as he hugs me tightly. The door swings open and a soldier grabs my shoulders, forcing me onto my feet. Taehyung stands up and grabs my hands. 

"Tae? What's going on?" 

He looks down and I see that he in almost in tears. "Celeste, I made a deal with Marcus." 

"You what!?" 

"You need to to get out of here. Leave Maine and find safety." 

I place my hand on his cheek and stare into his eyes. "Taehyung, I can't leave you. What was the deal? What's going to happen to me? To you, to us." 

He gently removes my hand and shakes his head. "Nothing will happen to us. I need you to leave the state now. Don't turn back or we will die along with everyone else. And never come back." 

My voice shakes when I now speak. "Taehyung, I- I cant." 

He lifts my hand up and I look at the ring that I'm wearing. "Remember me by this ring. I promise we will end up together again no matter how long it takes." 

The soldier yanks my arms. 

"Taehyung please! I need you!" 

He slowly let's my hands go and wipes away his tears. "I love you Celeste. Always remember that. Think of me everytime you look at that ring. Now leave so you don't get hurt. Get far away and stay alive...for me." 

Another soldier comes in and helps drag me out of the room as I fight to get out of their grips. They throw me out, outside of the gates and I run as fast as i can away from the building. After a few miles, I collapse to the ground and gasp desperately for air. Once I catch my breath, I stand up on shaky legs and continue walking quickly. I come across a black truck that looks familiar. It's one of marcus' soldiers truck. I creep up to it, cautious about any soldiers around. The truck is empty, but the keys are in the ignition. I get in and start the truck and drive forward. I notice a soldier running towards me, arm flailing in the air. I slam on the gas pedal and close my eyes until there's something that slams against the front of the vehicle. I open my eyes and scream when my entire windshield is covered in thick blood. I turn on the wipers and they smear the blood away. I drive until I reach the sign that welcomes visitors to Maine and I hit the brakes hard and climb out. I get to the top of the truck and at the top of my lungs, I yell. I fall to my knees and hold my promise ring tightly in my hands. 

"Taehyung..." I sob. "I will survive for you. I won't stop fighting until I'm with you again."