When August Ends

Say What?

"Amazing grace how can it be?"

Stevo's P.O.V.

 "Say what?" I ask Troy with my eyebrows raised. This guy just told me he wan'ts me to stand guard outside with the girls.

"It'll be fine Stevo it's just a precaution." Troy says.

"Nah I ain't doin' it. I'm goin' in there with Rachel and the rest!" I object. I'm not about to stay ut here on my own.

"Why Rachel in specific?" Troy grins at me annoyingly.

"Shut it Troy." I argue but I know I'm blushing even if it can't be seen on my skin.

"Alright fine, maybe we don't need another look out. Just keep your eyes open, help Mace out." he tells me. I nod and then walk to the right with my group.

"Maybe we don't need another look out," I mimmick Troy mockingly as I walk. "Help Mace out," I continue pretending to talk like him. He's so bossy. Suddenly I notice Rachel lagging behind the group on her own. I walk up to her and she smiles at me but sadly.

"Hey," she says with a smile and I smile back.

"How are you doin'?" I ask her.

"I miss Chey," she says sadly, and I feel a pang in my chest when she mentions her.

"I miss her too," I explain. I truly do. I really did like Chey. She was a great girl.

"She was my best friend you know." Rachel sighs heavily.

"I know," I mutter. "She was a good girl."

"She really was." Rachel smile. She really has a pretty smile.

"I hope there aren't any infecteds in here I'm sick of seein' those things everywhere." I mutter.

"So am I. Especially when their familiar." Rachel replies.

***

     We walk for a good hour, only having encountered one infected which Mace quickly decapitated with a swing of his axe. I don't like to see that kind of thing. The heads falling from the bodies. It's just unpleasant and gross. Rachel didn't seem to flinch when we walked past the chattering head that Mace finished with a finalizing bash of his weapon. Mace was always the quiet one but seemed to have a lot more spunk than many of us in our group. He has the nerve to do things I will only do with no other option. I'm not afraid to fight but I enjoy peace. Everything in this school is empty and quiet but not the good kind of quiet. The type of silence that could be interrupted at any moment by something unwanted. I want nothing more than to be out of here, but this is one enormous highschool and I have a feeling we will be exploring for at least another hour. I am walking behind the group, keeping tabs while Mace leads. Everything is quiet aside from the ringing of our footsteps. There is barely any light which makes everything even creepier. I wonder what kids used to walk through these halls and in these class rooms. What teachers gave out referals and what they taught. I remember how just a few months ago I walked through the halls of my old highschool. I miss those days of oblivious peace. I hear a noise from behind me and I turn, searching the darkness but see nothing. I carry on walking but hear another noise. I turn once again but do not see anything. The sound is suddenly more prominent and I recognize it as the melody of something being very lazily dragged across the broken tile ground. Suddenly something grabs my shoulder and I shout  turning around to see Rachel. "You okay?" she asks in amusement.

"What- yeah yeah!" I say disjointedly glancing behind me again.

"Did you see something?" she asks me quietly with her hand now holding my arm gently.

"I-I," I begin and pause. She really has beautiful eyes. And that's when a gorey hand clamps around Rachels regal neck.