TWDG\\II-South State

TWENTY-THREE

Gabe
I snuck through the quiet and warm hallways, the bottom floor containing an office area of some sort. I held my knife in one hand, and my gun in the other.
I've got to reunite my friends. I did a shit job with my family, I can't mess this up!
I snuck outside the office, and crept low, my legs cramping and heart beating. I heard voices next door. I listened in closely.
"—Please! Stop! Leave him alone!" AJ cried. I bit my lip angrily, and burst into the room.
I saw blood. Blood everywhere. A man, recognisable as Jerome, held Louis by his jacket, beating his face. His eyes were swollen and bruised. His nose was bleeding, and every hit encourage more blood on the ground. AJ was tied to the chair, his face bleeding; a deliberate cut that spread from his left eyebrow all the way down to the chin line would leave a permanent scar.
Jerome stopped, and shot a hostile red glare at me. He dropped Louis, who let out a stifled, pained cry. I didn't feel intimidated at Jerome walked toward me.
"Gabe." He said. I remembered the face that let me into Austin with a warm smile. Before he used his mind games to hurt and kill others. "A shame you showed up at a bad time. Just teaching these boys a lesson."
He was so close. I quickly drew my knife into his cheek. Jerome let out a scream, and dove forward, pinning me to the ground, my back taking harsh impact. He placed his hands around my neck, a look of determination on his face. My breathing began to faint, but I clawed at his wrists to stop. I used my free leg to kick him in between the legs, and push him off of me. I took out my shotgun, and med it at him.
"It's over, Jerome!" I said, dizzy due to the lack of oxygen. "It's over!"
Jerome angrily gripped his stomach as he lay on the ground, my knife on the floor with his blood in crested onto it. I left a gaping wound near his eye, his right eye closed possibly due to the attack.
"C'mon Gabe." He choked. "Kill me."
Louis then shared a horrid look with me. He must've tried to kill Jerome, but couldn't. Didn't get the right chance.
"Don't you want revenge for your uncle." He said, and I saw red. How dare he. How dare he. "I'm the one that—"
The gun went off without the consciousness that I squeezed the trigger. Jerome fell on the ground, the colour of crimson spilling over the floor. I dropped the gun, and turned around.
"We gotta go." I said, rushed as I dashed to the air vent to release Louis. He looked at me, damage stricken all over his face. I couldn't get the chains off, so I yanked the chains off, the air dent breaking as I did. I didn't think I could ever do that..I looked around, and grabbed the emergency axe that was position behind Jerome's desk. Convenient.
I turned to Louis.
"I just gotta get these chains off." I said, and Louis nodded, moving the chain away from his foot. I lifted the axe, sweat building up in my palms at a bad time. I bought the axe down, and with a loud clink, the chain broke. Louis shakily stood, and used me for support as I leaned him against he wall. I handed him the axe, for protection, and went to free AJ.
AJ, was quiet. His eyes were closed. Like he was super tired, I guess. I untied his limps, first his legs then his hands which were tied behind him.
AJ oped his dark brown eyes, and smiled. He leaned forward, and wrapped his arms around my neck.
I was embraced with another feeling; another feeling that I often felt when I was with my family. I hugged back, and pulled away.
I inspected his wound, and AJ shrugged me off.
"It's fine." He said. "Let's go."
I smile,and help him up.
"Come on Louis." I spoke. "Someone move heard all of this. Clem, Vi and Ethan are at the garage.
And with that, all three of us fled into the cold night.
And I finally felt appeased that I had my revenge against the man that killed the last of my family.
For now.

Violet
"Where the fuck are they?" I hissed. Someone was definitely going to find us if they didn't hurry up. I piled the last of the supplies into the back of the truck, and shut the back. I hopped in. And used the bandages I had found to keep pressure against Ethan's wound. He squirmed in pain as I did. Clementine laid in the back, probably worried for AJ. I looked over and saw that she was nervously biting her fingernails.
Ethan lay across my lap, his hands plastered with blood. As I looked at this young boy, I felt guilt. Guilt that I was so horrible when we first met.
"Hey." I said, and he opened his eyes slightly. "I'm...I'm sorry for when we first met. You know, how I was a bitch."
Ethan just relaxed, and groaned. "Don't be. It's fine. If I were you, I would've been a bitch too."
I nodded, and lifted his shirt once more to distract myself. Shit, this wound was deep...
"It's just..." I sighed. "You remind me of a boy I used to look after. He was...he was quiet. Like you, sometimes. And he was friends with AJ."
Ethan listened as I spoke.
"His name was Tennessee. He was...a broken boy. And he had so much hope for everyone." I said, my voice and heart aching at the mention of Tenn..
"He died." Ethan said weakly. I nodded.
"Yeah, he uh..." I sighed. "AJ took a risk. To save me."
"AJ..." Ethan's eyes dropped close again. "I'm sorry..."
"Are you okay?" I asked, worried. Tears were begging to pour on his wound.
"Can I...maybe lay on the ground...outside." Ethan requested. "There's not enough room in this truck for me to lay down."
I stepped outside the tuck, and opened the door on his side, and carefully took him out of the car, and placed him on the ground.
Ethan moaned when I laced him down, and I saw tears on his face. I was crying too.
"I'm sorry." He said again. "My parents..my brothers..."
"They're gone?" I questioned sadly. Ethan nodded.
"I had one job...one job..." he said faintly. "I just needed to look after my sister.."
"I'm sorry." I said, not knowing how to address his situation.
"She's alive. Somewhere." Ethan said. "A camp. She's being looked after. She'll survive."
It was quiet after that.
"I won't..." Ethan spoke, and I sobbed.
"Hey, you'll be fine." I said. "I'm sure."
Ethan's face was grim, and he gripped my hand so tight it hurt. His knuckles went pale, and his eyes clung onto me for so long.
Before he shut his eyes, and released his grip.