Living Among the Dead

Jayce - Trust Issues

Day 50

"This damn thing." Joe mumbles, flinging a hunting rifle over his shoulder and holding on tightly to the strap it had connected to it. Along with that he had a backpack on, which seemed to be filled with all sorts of stuff. Jayce fixed the bag on his back and looked at the ground, noticing his hair was beginning to cover part of his sight. Stubble had began to cover the rest of his face since he hadn't been able to shave recently. Thomas walked ahead of the two, following a path that seemed to be created by the two survivors while they were out looking for more people.

"You two slowpokes need a second?" Thomas called back to them. Jayce shook his head, continuing to watch his feet as he walked. He heard the panting of Bonnie and Clyde on either side of him and sighed.

"Slowing down?" Joe asked, looking back to see that Jayce had stopped walking. Jayce nodded his head, slowly lowering onto one knee. He took his bag off of his back and opened it up, pulling out an empty cup and a bottle of water.

"Aw. The poor doggies. Man up." Thomas teased, shaking his head as he continued walking down the path. Joe shook his head at the obnoxious man and walked over to Jayce.

"Ignore him, just like you have been." Joe lectured. "He's just trying to show off his 'masculinity'."

"Will do." Jayce mumbled, pouring the bottle of water into the cup and holding it out to Bonnie. She began to lick up the water, while Clyde moved around Jayce and stood next to his female counterpart.

"Like I said before, cute dogs. I don't mind them." Joe said, slowly lowering himself into a seated position on the ground. He sighed, closing his eyes and lifting his head up towards the sky. "My old bones can't keep doing these walks. It's just too much."

"Shouldn't have been watching me then." Jayce said, giving Joe a side glance. Joe smirked, letting out a small chuckle.

"That's more than three words! Looks like someone is finally loosening up. Wanna finally tell me your name?" Joe asked.

"Jayce." he responded quietly.

"Holy shit. You do have a name!" Joe joked, clapping his hands together. "Maybe in two more days you'll tell me your favorite color too."

"Nah." Jayce said, shaking his head. He moved his hand towards Clyde know who began to lap his tongue at the water.

"Well I got something out of you. That's a start." Joe said with a shrug. He looked towards Jayce and noticed something shining in his bag. Tilting his head slightly he could make out a picture frame, which was quickly covered up as Jayce zipped the bag closed.

"Let's go." Jayce mumbled, standing up. Joe raised an eyebrow, placing his bare hands into the cold, snow covered ground and wincing. He lifted himself up slowly and took a deep breath.

"These old bones are becoming useless." Joe said, shaking his head. He began to walk down the same path Thomas had gone with Jayce, Bonnie, and Clyde right behind him.

. . .

Jayce sat awake, resting his back against a tree with his knees close to his chest. Joe and Thomas laid on their sleeping bags with a fire in the middle of the three that was slowly dying down. He turned his head and looked at Bonnie and Clyde. Bonnie was asleep while Clyde laid next to her, keeping his head raised and looking all over to keep her as well as him safe. Jayce smirked, before looking back towards the fire. The rifle Joe had been carrying was laid off to the side, and Jayce turned his attention towards it.

"What the hell." Jayce said quietly to himself. He stood up slowly, making sure to not make too much noise. He took a few steps towards the rifle, his boots and the snow below them made a crunching noise that caused Clyde's ears to twitch. Slowly he bent down and picked up the rifle. Jayce took a moment to feel the gun in his hand and turned around. Not wanting the others to wake up and question him, he remained quiet as he stepped away from the campfire, moving deeper into the woods then they already were.