I'm Not the Only One

Chapter Tweleve: Back to the Beginning

That's Jade at the top. Just imagine her eyes to be green instead of blue (: ps with all of my other books (once I start them) I'm gonna do this with the characters

If I'd been in this situation five years earlier the police would be looking for me along with search parties. I'd be getting weekly (or something) treatment for my head injury and I wouldn't be waking up to the sound of sobbing.

My eyes flew open. I could feel myself moving up and down like I was on horseback. Obviously not, but I could tell that I was laying on something hard. My eyes involuntarily moved around to first see what looked like the inside of a traincar. Traincar? No. Oh my God no. It was real. All of it was real! Rylie found me! I started to panic internally before I saw my entire group with me. They were all lined up against the walls. Just like me. I could hear small sobs maybe ten feet away. The sound maximized since sounds were bouncing off the traincar. The sobs were no doubt coming from Sasha. Bob was probably comforting her.

Everyone was mostly quiet. With mumbles of plans and thumb war games here and there, but most of them were sleeping. I looked around with a new innocence since I had barely had to endure the wrath of Rylie's group recently. The others however, looked like pieces of horse shit. Everyone was sporting new bruises and cuts. It seemed that dry blood was everywhere.

No one had noticed I was up yet. I looked around one more time with just my eyes and then tried to speak. All that came out was a quiet, low croak that made me wince. The ones who were awake jumped to my aid. Daryl scooped me up in a second and held me like a baby. Once again my head hurt like a bee had stung my brain. I heard murmurs as the others were woken up.

I knew I was mad at him. I was furious, damn straight I was. But I couldn't help myself. I needed him.

"Carl..." I moaned longingly and gripping Daryl in pain.

Why was it hurt so much this time? It's never hurt this much before. I felt tears well up in my eyes then flow out as it they were a faucet. My ears were ringing and I just needed to scream.

I heard a lot more noise and felt the presence of other people. The crowding me which did not help. I felt a hand on the back of my head and my left bicep.

"Jade," Sheriff's voice cracked. "I'm so sorry. For eveything."

I wanted to respond. But I couldn't. I felt like I was literally going to die. I was going to die. For the second time in my life I felt death strectching its elongated, freezing fingers towards me. I didn't want to go. I couldn't go.

"Scream, Jade. Let it out," Tom voiced. So I did as I was told. I leaned closer to Daryl so I could muffle the sound, then I screamed as loud as I could. Letting out as much pain through the scream as I could manage. After it the pain subdued, but still lingered.

"W-why?" I managed to get out before letting more tears escape. Carl gripped my hand.

"Rylie," Carol said with regret. "When you passed out at the house he kicked your head in frustration because he was asking you questions and trying to get you to wake up."

"What an ass-asshole," I panted and gained a few chuckles. I attempted to support myself without relying solely on Daryl. I was able to do as I thought and smiled inwardly at my mini accomplishment.

Maggie handed me a water so I gulped the entire thing down. "How long have I-?" I regained most of my ability to speak normally.

"Two days," Tom said in a worried tone.

I thought about it for a second... "But that means we're not going to -"

"Zone Seventy-Four?" Rick filled it in for me. We were alone a few hours away from ZSF at the house. "We think that they changed where ZSF is or something. We won't know until we get there."