The Plague

Chapter thirteen

Lucy left her eyes closed when she regained consciousness. Her head throbbed from the pain and she reached out for it, wincing. She opened her eyes slowly and found her self on cold floorboards.

She looked round her surroundings and saw Dave and Ruby sitting on a bench in front of her, staring. Brad was sleeping at the far end of the room, his back resting on the wooden wall and his head falling sideways. Tyler knelt down beside her, worried.

When their eyes met, relief washed over his face and he reached out to her

"Lucy..." but she didn't pay attention to him, she tried to find Emily until the past event came back to her.

"You..." she snarled at Dave, she tried to get up but a huge headache suddenly overcame her.

"Be careful Emily" Tyler tried to hold her hand but she pushed his away

"Where's Emily?" she said, furious. They all stared at her then Tyler looked away, unable to face her. "I can't believe this" she said and forced herself to get up.

"Will you sit down Lucy" Ruby said getting up " where do think you are going, she was a liability and now she's gone"

"She didn't deserve to be left alone" she spat, just then Brad woke up and groaned in pain

" What's going on?" he asked and Lucy turned away to the wooden door of the unusually small room.

"You guys are unbelievable" she walked towards the door and Tyler called out to her

"Lucy wait!" she ignored him and opened the door only to almost fall out. She quickly recoiled and looked down to see the zombies raking their fingers on the bottom of the tree, their shrieks and snarls suddenly becoming much louder.

She hid her shock and climbed out of the tree house, finding her way to the top just to get away from them, careful not to slip.

Tyler climbed after her, calling out her name.

"Leave me alone Tyler" she said coldly and he froze for a moment, this was a side of her he'd never seen.

"I'm sorry Lucy but I wasn't really given a choice" she acted like she didn't care as she kept on climbing.

Tyler followed after her, almost slipping a few times.

"At least, let me explain" he pleaded and he finally caught up to her. She walked on a long sturdy branch, using the one above her to steady herself.

"I don't want to hear what you want to say Tyler" she said, her voice cracking. He held her arm but she tried to push him, slipping in the process.

Before she could fall, he quickly grabbed her wrist and steadied her.

Her heat skipped a beat, she was shocked, scared, but when she saw his face, anger and disappointment clouded her judgement. She turned away and sat down, Tyler followed suit.

"When I knew what was happening, I wanted to go after her, but the zombies were just too much. I needed help but you were unconscious, Dave and Ruby were not going to help. Only Brad and I were no match, we just had to let her go. Please, you have to believe me"

He was desperate, he didn't want to hurt her but her silence was not helping matters.

"Say something or I'll lose my mind" he brought her face towards his and was shocked to see the tears in her eyes.

"I'm not mad at you Tyler, well not anymore" she sniffed and laid her head on his shoulder. He brought her closer to him and caressed her head " we were already becoming friends you know?, I'm sad to see a friend die"