Don't Be Afraid

Chapter 30

A/N

Hey guys! I hope you don't hate me too much about Wain. It hurt to kill him off.  Sorry... I hope you enjoy this chapter though!

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The ride back was slow and dreadful. First off, we barely got supplies and secondly, we lost a person to get those few supplies. We're already short on adults. When we pulled up, Sam was the first one over. The look on her face was like a punch to the stomach. I couldn't look her in the eyes.

Issac jumped out of the truck and walked with her. I could hear him retelling everything, but before he could get to the part about Wain, I slammed the door and stalked off into the woods. As soon as I got far enough I fell to my knees and started tearing the grass up by the roots. Violent sobs raked throughout my whole body and I let them. I didn't feel like being strong any more. For once I wanted to be the weak one. I wanted to be a kid again and run into my parent's arms and nuzzle my face into their chests, but I can't. They're dead. David's dead. Megan's dead. And now Wain, who I barely knew, is dead. The list of dead people keeps getting longer and no matter how hard I try it's going to continue getting longer. I can't do this anymore. I wrap my arms around myself, afraid that if I let go I'll just fall apart completely.

The sobs stop after a while. I'm just sitting on my knees, surrounded by torn grass, and staring off into the distance. Anyone walking by would assume I was one of the dead and kill me on the spot, but they'd just be doing me a favor.

"Linda?" I hear footsteps behind me. For a second I thought it was David, but that's impossible. Hunter sits beside me, but he doesn't say anything for a while. Finally, he speaks up. "Stop beating yourself up. It's not your fault."

My voice is hoarse and it hurts to speak after all of the crying, but I manage. "It is. Every thing's my fault."

"You don't know what you're talking about-" Just like that all of my problems and bottled up feelings come pouring out.

"Yes it is! Don't deny it! Before and after his burial and on the way back I could see it in your eyes! You think it's my fault and you're right. I killed him! His blood is on my hands!" I wipe away a tear. "I got Megan killed. Everyone I love is dead. Every day I wake up and prep myself in fear that Issac will die. You don't understand how hard that is. No one understands!"

Hunter starts to rub my back. "Trust me. I understand what you're going through better than anyone." I look up at Hunter and for the first time I can truly see him. He's just like everyone else. He's not the cold hearted man I saw at the camp, but he's also not the sweet man I met at the town. He's just someone looking for a way out. He's just someone trying to survive.

"I'm sorry, Hunter." My apology doesn't just pertain to Wain's death. It's an apology for everything. For what he's had to do, for everyone he's also lost, and for how the world is. As if he could read my thoughts, he apologizes too.

"I'm sorry too, Linda." I lay my head on his shoulder and we just sit there staring off into space, imagining what could've been.

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A/N

I hope you enjoyed! Vote and follow! Oh! Question of the day: Who do you ship more; Lissac or Hinda? Let me know down in the comments! Okay bye :)