A Zombie's Heart

Chapter 43

Addi wakes up and stretches and looks at me as I sit on the counter. "You look awful! Have you been crying or something?" "Your baby kept me up all night." She laughs and picks up Von. "He does look like Jin, doesn't he? He's so handsome." She nuzzles his face and I jump off the counter. "Let's go!" Addi stops nuzzling Von and looks up at me. "Where?" "You're taking me to Marcus." "Are you crazy Celeste? They'll kill you!" I unlock the doors. "I don't care." "Celeste, being all alone for that long has turned you into a pabo." I shake my head. "Well I can't just leave them all to die." "They're all going to die anyway." I look at the ring that Taehyung had given me. "Addi, please. I have to find them. I can't go on living if its you I have to deal with everyday for the rest of my life. I can't lose any of them. And I need to find Tae. Please addi, you have to help me." She throws her head back and groans. "Ugh! Fine! But it's way too far to walk. We have to drive." "No, really? I have the truck parked outside." Addi gets to her feet, hugging Von against her chest, and follows me out the door. ***After three days of driving and taking rest stops, we finally make it to Maine. Addi gives me the directions to where Marcus is. It's night time and a few lights glow from inside the small brick building. I gulp nervously and addi glances sideways at me. "Thinking about turning back? It's not too late Celeste." I shake my head and open my door. "I have to do this addi. Besides, I can't help but get anxious knowing that within just a few minutes, I get to see my boyfriend again after eight months of separation." Addi smiles and pats my shoulder. "Go get your man then. I'll park a little farther away." I return the smile and slowly climb out of the truck, hesitant to walk up to the building. I get through the fence surrounding the property and I'm a little shocked at how much security there is. There's only two soldiers walking around, holding guns. There must be more inside. The building is two stories tall and the bricks are blood-stained and dark where people must've been shot against it. I stay out of view from the soldiers and I hear an old door squeak open. I duck behind a truck parked near by and watch as Marcus steps out from a cellar. I hear someone sobbing from inside and recognise it as karissa. I quickly run over to the door and open it and climb down the dusty stairs. I'm afraid to turn the corner in fear of what I might see. When I do, I see a large cell with everyone inside. Jin sits on the ground, his head resting against the stone wall, Namjoon stands in the corner with karissa, trying to comfort her, Abbi rests her head on Yoongis lap. Jungkook looks up at me weakly and jumps to his feet, grabbing the bars. "Celeste!?" I put my finger against my lips, signaling him to be quiet. "What are you doing here Celeste?" He whispers when I get to them. "I'm getting you guys out of here." Jungkook shakes his head. "Marcus has the keys. You need to get out of here before you get caught." I look at each of them as they stare at me. They've all lost so much weight and look weak. I look back at jungkook. "I have to help you guys. I can't just leave you to die." He sighs heavily and holds one hand out through the bars and I hold it tightly. "Please be careful Celeste. Weve lost Kayla, jimin, hoseok, addi, and even taehyung. We can't lose you too." I nod my head slowly. He releases my hand as I turn away. I fight back tears, but some escape. I try not to let any of them see me cry. They're all counting on me and I can't let them see me weaken. But seeing them in such bad shape hurts so much. I have no idea what Marcus has been doing to neglect them and that scares me. I climb up the stairs and open the door, forgetting to be cautious. I'm striked hard in the face without warning and I move downward (drop) to the ground. I lightly touch my aching cheek, grimacing at the pain. I look up to see Adam standing above me, looking at me threateningly. He harshly grabs my wrist and drags me to my feet. "Ow! Adam you're hurting me! Let go you jerk!" He drags me outside of the fence and away from the building and throws me to the ground. "I should've gotten rid of you a long time ago!" "What did I do to you Adam!?" I scream back at him. He crouches in front of me, grabs the back of my hair and yanks it down,, thinking about who he's talking about. I look up at him and noticed tears welling up in his eyes. "Ellie Celeste! You killed Ellie, my girlfriend!" "She tried to kill me Adam! What was I supposed to do!?" He wipes some tears away, smearing blood on his face. "I'm going to make you pay!" I try to get up, but his foot suddenly slams into my side, knocking me down as I scream in agonizing pain. He kicks me again in the side and the stomach. I wish Taehyung would come save me now and hold me in a tight embrace, comforting me and telling me that everything was okay. Suddenly I hear a crash and loud yelling. I weakly open my eyes and see Adam being crushed between a wall and the truck. Addi had run him over and just in time too. She gets out and stoops down next to me. She places one of my arms across her shoulders, wraps her arm around my waist, and helps me to my feet. She assists me to the truck and I climb into the passenger seat. Addi gets in, taking Von into her lap. "Are you okay Celeste?" "Yeah... I guess." I struggle to say from the discomfort in my sides and stomach. Addi puts the truck in reverse and starts to pull away when I remember noticing something about Adam. "Addi wait." I open the door and she comes to a stop. I get out and hobble over to Adam, who is now on the ground lifeless. I lift his shirt a little and find a key attached to his belt loop. I quickly yank it off then quickly get back to the truck. "Take me over there." I point to the fence opening." "Celeste, you just about died! Why the heck do you want to go back now!" I hold the key up to show her. "This might be the key to help everyone get out." I get out near the entrance and she drives away. I take a deep breath and open the gate. A soldier stands there, pointing a gun at me. I quickly thrust my dagger into his chest and yank it down. He falls to the ground and I take his gun, then run to the cellar entrance. Luckily no one is in there. I get to the bars and unlock it. Everyone smiles widely and jungkook sprints to me and hugs me tightly. "We have to get out of here now." I lead them all up the stairs and slightly open the door. When I see that the yard is clear of any soldiers, we walk out and run for the truck. I gasp when I see addi standing above a dead nate with a dagger in her hand. She's sees us and drops the knife and smiles. She looks down at Nate, then back at us. "He uh...he tried taking Von, and my motherly instincts got the best of me." She says, picking Von up from inside the truck. I laugh and tightly hug her. Abbi and karissa join us. Addis laughter stops shortly and we all back away. Jin walks up to her weakly, staring at the baby in her arms. "Is that..." Addi smiles and nods. "He's your baby. His name is von. He looks just like you, doesn't he?" He drops to the ground in tears and addi sits on the ground next to him, handing him the small baby. He cradles von closely while addi leans her head on his shoulder. He takes her hand and looks at her pleadingly. "Addi I've missed you so much. Ever since you left me I haven't felt the same like I was missing something. And now we have a son and.... Addi, can we please start things over and-" Addi kisses him and he places one hand behind her head. I look up at abbi who's watching them. "Cute," she says, staring at the couple. Yoongi pulls her close to him and slowly kisses her. Namjoon embraces karissa and I turn away from everyone and look up at the building. Jungkook walks up to me and puts his arm around my shoulders. "What's going on in your mind now?" I sigh and continue looking away. "Seeing everyone as a couple now just makes me miss Taehyung so much." "Celeste-" I turn to jungkook sharply. "I have to find him jungkook." He looks down at the ground and nods slowly. "Just be careful. I don't know if you can trust him anymore." I hug him. "I'll be careful. Thank you for being such an amazing friend. You've always been like a brother to me. I love you." He smiles and kisses my forehead. "I love you too. Now go get him. Maybe you can knock some sense back into him." I turn away and start running towards the gate entrance.