zombie apocalypse | the fallen (book One) [REWRITING]

chapter 23

⚠️TW: slight mention of self harm⚠️

It was the middle of the night. You shut Preston out of your room and told him you needed to be alone. Although it was the half truth you wanted to be the one to kill Garnet. You were making a plan. You've started drawing a map of your wing. You observed the walls and ceilings for vents. There was one you might be able to squeeze in but there's no way of telling if it leads to his office without going in, and there's a chance you get stuck.

" first door on the right...." you think out loud as your hands moves all over the map. A knock comes from the door. You roll your eyes and hide your map under your mattress. You make your way to the door. "what" you say coldly.

"just warning you people know about her. So if you leave at all people will probably tell you they're sorry or something" Preston says in hardly a whisper. He won't even look at you because he knows you'll probably go off. "okay" you go to close the door the jacket sleeve slipping upward.

'uh oh' you think to yourself and put your arm down. Switching to the other. Preston's foot appears in the doorway. "show me" his voice is cracking. "show you what?" your voice trembling indicating you're gonna cry if he doesn't leave now. "Don't play dumb zo, you know exactly what." you look down at your feet and say nothing.

"zoe, Don't hide this kind of thing from me" his voice is calm. You feel like yelling about how it doesn't involve him but at the same time you want his help. You want to just be held in his arms like all is right in the world. "fine" you say quietly and roll up your sleeve.

"Zo... Why didn't you just tell me? Are you really still afraid that I'll leave you if you do?" you nod your head slowly, ashamed of how you feel. "I'm not going anywhere. No matter what happens. I'm not leaving you"

"That's hard to believe considering that's what my mom and sister said. Look at them now. That's what my dad said and he's fucking six feet under too. Any of my friends to ever say that have left me. Any of my past relationships where someone has said that fucked up everything. How can i believe you won't leave too?" " you can't. But i can show you i won't." "how?" "by not leaving." Before you could think you threw your arms around him and hid your face in his neck. He hugs you back tightly and you stay that way for a while.

After a little while preston leaves to go to sleep. You rip your map out from under the bed and slam it on the table, quietly, beside it and sit down. " his guards leave around 1:47pm everyday. He leaves 30 seconds after. I'd have to get through the vents quickly or else im fucked."

You plan for a few more minutes. You look at the clock and it's now 4:15am. "guess i should sleep. I'll need the energy to put up a fight if anything goes wrong." you shut your lights off and let the darkness take over.

You wake up to banging on your door. You roll onto the floor and inch your way to the door. When you stand up and open it Elaine's there. "Im um- im sorry about isabella. And i know you didn't mean to lash out and do what you did. Im sorry that i set you off. None of this would of occured if i shut up."

"Damn right. My only sister is dead now because of it" you say harshly. "Look, i dis- can i come in so we can talk? The cameras out here pick up everything" elaine whispers hoarsely. "i guess" you step to the side to let her in. "as i was saying, i dislike Garnet as much as you. You don't have to believe me. I know you probably dont-" "I do. Isabella told me you wanted to save her but you were afraid you'd die too."

"All i wanted was to know somebody was willing to." "I've seen you roaming the hall. Watching the camera movements, Observing the vents to see if you can fit through. I can get the guards to leave sooner. Tell them a problem is happening in the cafeteria again. No-brains broke in. If you let me help. That way you'll have more time to get in and get out. Stage it as a suicide."

"can you get me a screw driver and gloves?" "yeah. I'll get the keys to the supply room from erin." "Then you can help." "Great! If you ever have second thoughts on if you trust me or not, i want you to know he killed my daughter, and my husband. I've wanted revenge since but with him constantly ordering me around i didn't have time nor did i have help because nobody understood." Tears filled her eyes as she spoke.

" Now you do. Sorry if you take that last part the wrong way." "it's okay Elaine. I get it" you weakly smile and fill her in on the original plan. "Does preston know?" "nope. I'd like to keep it that way if we can" "Of course, zoe." "what day were you planning to do it?" "Today" "Then I'll go get the gloves and screwdriver now. I'll see you at lunch and we can leave early." "Okay. See you then." with that Elaine leaves. 'how do i really know she won't tell Garnet?' you think to yourself. The thing is, you don't.