Survivors (One Direction/Zombie)

Chapter 31

Niall

Too be completely honest, it was scary to see the group so broken. Viv was fire, her eyes still held a certain pained fogginess, but nothing was slowing her down. She ventured much farther than the group as we walked the emptied streets in search of Lauren. I could tell Winnie was worried for her friend, I tried to stay by her side because I knew that although I wasn't the person she really wanted to talk to right now, she was still my ally.

More than my ally by this point I think.

And even if it may have been the absolute worst time to admit it to myself, I thought of her as much more than a friend as well.

I think I confirmed it at Wal-Mart, before the entire Penny situation. I knew that she was fine on her own, but the need to check on her and stay with her was overpowering. I definitely knew she could handle herself, but I still felt that I had to be there to catch her in case of any stumble.

This right now, was quite the stumble.

She was battling within herself, that much was certain. I could tell by her slouch, arms wrapped around her waist and the tips of two fingers brushing the holster of her gun she was trying to comfort her nervousness.

"Viv, do you have any idea where your father could have taken her?" Win asked softy, attempting not to disturb her very delicate friend.

"Not my father." She snapped immediately, tightening the grip on her throwing knives. Viv seemed to have caught herself, but she still spoke grudgingly. "Not the house, it would be too exposed, but I have a good guess where he's hiding."

"Is guessing really good enough at a time like this?" Josh muttered under his breath, still quietly raging at the head of the group, but keeping a distance away from Viv.

Apparerntly Viv heard his comment and stopped dead in her tracks, causing him to crash into her back.

She turned to face him with angry eyes, and I saw Liam take a step forward from the corner of my eyes.

"Hagid Research Facility, it held a detaining and observation level for unstable human test subjects. Not strong enough for Grayies, but for Lauren it should do the trick."

Josh's eyes widened at this information, and I could tell the whole group stopped for a moment.

We were going back to the source of the infection?

"Is it safe?" Harry asked from the back. His tall frame towered over everyone and from an outside point of view it looked like he should have been the leader. He was more muscular and manly looking. With a gun strapped to his belt and the faded hoodie he wore flattening out his curls he looked like he belonged in an action movie.

However when Viv replied no, all the manly expression on his face was replaced with fear.

I knew that he was brave, it wasn't he who had cried when surrounded by girls and trapped in a taxi after all, but everyone had a fear and after seeing so much death I don't blame the tremble of his fingers as he held his gun.

Louis looked more focused on Scarlett. It wasn't the protecting and determined look I just knew I had on my face as I watched Winnie, but a look of confusion and frustration. I think he was trying to figure out something and after just waking up from a nervous breakdown I am left wondering how he mustered up the strength to come on this mission with us.

I observed everyone's face quietly, trying not to look too obvious as I made deductions.

So far I calculated that Liam and Viv shared a moment whilst alone together in the woods, and Zayn and Carrie were stuck to the hip. That may have been more of a friendship than anything else but it was nice to see Zayn opening up to someone. He had been very closed off since this entire thing started.