A Road Less Traveled.

2 Kids

2 kids. I had to help drag two innocent children's dead corpses out front to rot. This was the world we live in now. A world outside the walls. Danny and I had finished placing the bodies outside, and now Danny was helping Lexus go through the food, rationing what we could bring with us, and what we should eat tonight, as I attended to Danny's wound.

"I don't know much about cleaning this wound. I know the bullet went straight through, which is good, and I found some alcohol and bandages to clean the wound, but I don't know if that's enough", I told him, seeing him wince, as I poured on the alcohol.

"I'm sure it's fine. I trust you to keep an eye on it", he reassured me, even though I should be the one reassuring him.

I sighed and grabbed the gauze. "Yeah well I wouldn't put too much trust in me", I told him, continuing to wrap the gauze around his chest and up around his shoulder. I never really paid much attention to how built Devon was. I mean, he worked out often in Westward, but I never looked at him and saw how....

"Rainy", Danny called coming into the living room, where Devon and I sat on the dirty brown couch.

"What's up"? I turned to him to see he had a box of some type of sweets, and Lexus holding onto his hand. "We're gonna go get some rest in the room. The one without the decaying smell", he told me with a scrunched nose, remembering the smell.

I nodded my head. "Okay. I'll keep a watch for now", I responded back.

"If you need me just holler. I'll switch off with you so you can get some rest later".

I shook my head. "Uh-uh. Go sleep Danny", even though I knew he wasn't going to do much sleeping... "I can handle it tonight". Frankly I just wanted some alone time.

"I'll stay up with you", Devon intruded. There goes my alone time. Not that I minded spending the night with Devon. I remembered back in Westward when things got tough or I felt alone, Devon and I would climb to the rooftop of the highest building in Westward and just lay there for hours and talk and dream about a world outside of the hell hole we were living in.

Danny retired to the back room with Lexus following behind him as always, and as they entered the door shut, leaving me and a shirtless and wounded Devon sitting in a comfortable silence. "You should get some rest", I told him, grabbing the blanket from over the arm of the couch and placing it over him. He spread the blanket indicating for me to climb in with him. "I'm okay devon", I stood, heading towards the kitchen.

"Come on Rainy. You haven't taken a second to just relax yet. No one has slept in twenty four hours and I think we'll be okay for the night", he responded calmly.

I looked through the food and grabbed a bag of chips and headed back to the couch where he laid. I crawled back under the blanket and smiled handing him the chips. "Just thought we could use some food".

He chuckled and took the chips opening the bag. "So. Should we talk about the elephant in the room"? He asked, clearly knowing what I was feeling so uncomfortable about.

"I... I don't know what to say. I mean... I shot your.."

He held up a hand and stopped me. "You did what you had to do. She was going to kill you and your brother. She probably would have killed me, knowing her", he explained. "Besides it was only on her shoulder. Pretty similar to mine. She's probably just wounded. All you did was slow her down, and helped us create some distance. When she's healed, she'll be coming after us ten times stronger than she is now".

I sighed and shook my head. "I know that, but she's your aunt. Don't you feel anything for her. I mean, she was your only family". Was I trying to turn him against me? I needed him on my side, but I didn't sit right with what I did, and i couldn't understand how calm he was. I never wanted to take another person's life. Another human, no matter who, is too precious in the world we live in.

"I mean, I never saw her as my family. My mother died in Westward after the world went to shit. My aunt constantly reminded me of how weak she was, and told me I would be the same way. That's why I worked so hard to prove her wrong". Devon stared right into my eyes as he opened up to me. I remembered his mother. She was a kind women and very caring, but she died early on as Westwards walls weren't as sturdy and still building up. He told me how his aunt thought he was weak, but now he was just pouring out his emotions. "There was so much corruption in Westward, Rainy. You wouldn't even know", he spoke in dismay, holding his head down.

I knitted my eyes listening closely. "What do you mean"? I asked. I knew there was corruption considering my father ran away and told me to trust no one, but what exactly was he talking about?

Devon looked back up to me and let out a breath. "My aunt... she just ran that place so wrong. Westward would have better off without her. I actually never knew her that well before the infected rose, and you know that", he told me. I did know this, but I thought three years would build a bond of some type.

"So... you're not mad"? I asked, hoping he would say no. I would never live with myself if he wasn't on my side.

Devon leaned closer to me and rested a hand on my cheek. I felt so comfortable on my arms. I felt like he would never lie to me and always have my back. "Rainy, I came with you because I know finding your dad is important to you. I know that this could lead to something bigger than anything Westward had in mind. And I couldn't live with myself if I knew you were out here in danger without me here to protect you". I stopped, my breath hitching in my throat. Devon was truly always there for me. And I was glad he came with me. Without him, I doubt we would have made it out of Westward alive.

"Devon I..." What was I going to say. His hand still held my cheek caressing my skin. I leaned down in the couch resting my head, as he moved his hand. It hit me how sleepy I actually was. I was just so exhausted from all this running and hiding. If I just rested my eyes... rested them for just one second....

"AHHHHHHH"!!!