Chapter 15 (The Hard Truth)

Chapter 15: The Hard Truth

Arwen Swanter

Unknown, 2029

About 7 years after outbreak

Miami Outskirts

Season 3

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"Just a little further now and it should be up ahead," Blake searched in front of us, keeping an eye on the walls and ceiling for a way out. I wanted to tell Maverick how I wasn't okay with him telling Blake and Kingsley about where we're going but he kept walking faster, hovering over Blake like he was his shadow.

Kingsley's eyes almost looked dead, like she had every possible thought on her mind. I wondered who she had lost. During those moments she reminded me of Aspen.

Blake found the ladder around a half an hour later and celebrated with a quiet chuckle as he took the bars into his hands. The metal was completely rusted, it looked dangerously close to breaking, but still, everyone followed behind Blake without speculation. Even Andie squealed with excitement.

The beating sun burned down on me the second I stepped onto the pavement. With only glancing around as my eyes adjusted to the harsh light, I could see the heart of Miami close but past us. We were out of the city and after spending the last week in the sewers the smell of fresh air felt like heaven. I know the freedom should have made me feel some sort of happiness and the anticipation of finding a place where we could potentially spend the rest of our lives should have been more than enough for that too but I couldn't feel anything but guilt. The harder I tried the more I realized I wasn't even close to being ready to leave Florida.

"Are you okay?" Kingsley asked softly, catching me off guard, before I could even answer she took my hand gently into hers. "I lost my brother." I stared blankly at Blake and Maverick as they walked ahead. I let Kinglsey's words linger in my mind before turning back to face her, letting the single tear I had held back fall, she squeezed my hand tighter.

"I lost my Valentine."

"Blake, I think there's something wrong with your backpack," I heard Maverick say. Kingsley and I got closer as Maverick slowly reached out a hand to the zipper of the largest pocket. Blake got defensive and without a word jumped back avoiding Maverick's touch. "Blake, what's in there?" Maverick was becoming frustrated, Blake stayed silent.

"Look," Kingsley tugged lightly on my hand to point out eight or nine of the dead slowly approaching us from behind. Blake continued to move away from us. Without breaking eye contact with him, Maverick slowly brought his hand into his pocket, enclosing his pistol carefully in his grip without anyone but me realizing. He brought the gun out swiftly, pointing it directly at Blake's chest. His eyes were kind and understanding, his finger didn't touch the trigger.

"Just show us what's in the bag, Blake," he moved closer to him, almost slower than the dead. Blake began to panic, his hands shook violently as brought his backpack off of his shoulders and tossed it in front of himself, backing away to hug the wall behind him as Maverick brought the gun back into his pocket. He knelt on the ground in front of the bag, Kingsley let go of my hand and fought off the dead that had gotten too close for comfort. I stood still, my eyes glued on the bag and Maverick's hand as he opened it with caution. He reached inside, gagging as the smell got worse. As Blake fell to the ground with tears streaming down his face, Maverick pulled something out of the bag that made me feel my heart in my throat.

"Don't touch her."