Charlie ran towards the side standing in front of the gate-wide. She trembled in sight, waiting for anybody to appeared. You can do this. This isn't the worst. She had been terrified of bees and fly's her whole life. She was thinking. What if it's a bee? She took a deep breath trying to control her temper, when she was thrown into the floor by heavy weight. She groaned in pain, Joel is on top of her. "What the hell?" She gasped.

"You're not going to get yourself killed!" He spoke. She roll her eyes turning him to the side, she was now on top of him. "Joel, who said I'm going to get killed?" She laughed. Charlie began to get up only for Joel to bring her down to the floor. She groaned in pain, loudly. She felt strong pair of arms around her, somebody carried her. She was soon thrown into the room, she heard whispers, mumbling. She widened her eyes, clearly. She could see everybody surrounding her. "No!"

"Where is Joel?" She asked.

"He is outside. He said he couldn't let you die."

"God. Damnit!" She yelled looking around for a knife, or machete. She found her machete near the side, in the floor. She got up grabbing it, began to make her way to the door.

"No! Charlie!" They all began to screamed. She began to make her way outside ignoring all the screams. She slowly made her way to the sewer gate. She gasped, took some breaths. Suddenly, she could hear sounds, of agony. She turned to the side, walking slowly.

She saw Joel staring right into the creature eyes. Joel you should have stayed back. God Damnit! You fool. She ran towards the creature, slicing the eye, as it fell right off. "Joel! Duck down!" She screamed trying to get his attention. Joel! Suddenly, the creature flipped her to the side, causing her to yelped as she went flying across the room.

"Charlie!"

She open her eyes to see blank. Everything was going blank. She got herself up trying to run towards Joel and the disgusting creature. She could see bits, her vision began to blur. She found herself carrying a crossbow. "Come here, you filthy animal! There is delicious fresh meat, right here!" The monster began to launched himself after her, running at fast pace. She could see bits, she pointed her arrow, straightening herself in narrow view, than quickly she took her hand back, as the arrow launched.

She heard liquid hit the ground.  Charlie opened her eyes to see, yellow liquid and blood surrounded her. She began to moved around clumsy. She heard her name being called out. Charlie.

She fell onto the floor. She felt someone touched her hand began to hover over her. "You saved me?" He spoke, softly. "Joel?" She questioned.

"Yes! I'm so sorry. I did this. Forgive me?" He spoke, softly.

"You're forgiven. Please, don't freeze next time." She closed her eyes now seeing all blank.

It's been two hours, Charlie woke up, stretching her arms. She found Joel staring right at her. "Jesus! Joel! You sure scared the hell out of me!" She laughed.

Joel shrugged his shoulders. "I'm sorry."

"You keep saying sorry? For what? You didn't do anything?" She questioned trying to move around. She felt a pain, blasted within her back. "For that?" Joel answered.

"I'm fine. I've always been fine." Charlie answered truthfully. She had gotten hurt plenty of times, this was nothing. I'm fine. Joel touched her hand, he stayed there for long moment.

"Do you ever think of Billy?" He asked. Charlie immediately widened her eyes, she thought of Billy couple of times. "What about him?"

"Do you ever think of him?"

"Joel, this isn't the time to talk about our past."  She answered trying to get up from her bed. "I've been thinking a lot of . . Aimee."

"Jesus! Joel? You realized it's been years.  Not everything is the same. She probably move on." She truthfully blurted out. He took a breath backing away. "That's not her. She isn't like that."

"Oh, please. Everybody is like that."

"Really? So Billy left you? Is that what you're trying to say?" Joel asked, getting up.

Charlie roll her eyes. "I don't care anymore. You know what I care? Joel, I still have a family. My mom and dad. My brothers. Their alive! Joel! I care about that. I'm not like you. I've stop searching for love long ago, I just want my family back."

Joel stared at her wide-eyed. "Right! Your family. So I am nothing." Charlie immediately realized what she said. "No! Joel, forgive me. Forgive me. I didn't mean it like that."

"You meant that? Admit it. I'm not family to you. This whole time, I've thought of you as my family, the one person, I could trust and care for. You're my family. You're the one person, I care for. I couldn't watched you killed your self." Joel admitted leaving Charlie speechless.

"You ran back to me because, I was your only family left?" Charlie asked, taking some breaths. Joel nodded. Charlie took some breaths launching herself towards him pulling for a hug. "Jesus, Joel. You give me such heart attacks all the time." She felt Joel wrapped his arms around her, as they held each other for long time. If only he knew the truth? She loves him. She always had and will.

It's been a week. She found herself sitting trying to get the connection over the radio. "This is 7045. Come in, 3022. I repeat, come in, 3022. Over," Charlie said, her eyes flickering over the map in front of her where Joel had 'X's marked everywhere except for the circle around their bunker and 3022.  Jesus, Joel. Joel was sure brilliant.

"This is 3022. What is it now, Ray?" a voice replied over the radio making her sit up a bit more.  "Hey, Janice. No, it's actually. . .It's, Charlie," she told her waiting.

There was a long moment of silence before the woman chuckled, "Charlie, hun! Let me get your father or mother here."

"Thanks, Janice."

"Charlie? Is that you?" Charlie felt such a light beam into her. "Dad?"

"Yes. I'm so glad to hear you. I've missed you, sweetie." Charlie smiled, she laughed. "Oh god, I've missed you. Mom and of course, my annoying brothers." Charlie heard some gasps in the back. "That's not true!" Someone yelled. "Charlie, everybody is here. Not your mom. She went to do something."

"I missed her." She felt tears falling down her cheeks. "I've missed you." Charlie spoke. "We missed you." She heard everybody say it. She closed her eyes trying to hold anger. What she would do? To be there with them. "Someday we're going to be together. We will be a family, again." She smiled really hard trying to hold her smile.

"Hun? I'm sorry. There is someone here who wants to talk to you?" She lifted her head up, trying to hear what he said. Bad connection.

"Charlie?"

"Oh god, Billy?" She questioned. "Yes. I'm so glad to hear your voice. I've missed you." Charlie kept her voice down looking around to see if Joel is around.

"I've missed you, everybody." She spoke, softly. "It's so good to hear you. I'm so glad to see hear you. I needed to hear your voice."

"Same," she repeated. She than heard giggling, she turned around to see Joel laughing. She knew this would happen. Joel would think she is weak. "Jesus, why are you here?" She questioned. Joel smiled faltered. "It's my turn to talk to Aimee."

She rolls her eyes. "I love you, Charlie. I will always loved you." Immediately her eyes widened, Joel looked shocked by his confession. "Billy, just pass the radio to Aimee. I have to go." Immediately, she began to walked outside the room leaving everybody dumbfounded including Billy, who confessed his feelings. He never said those three words.

They all gathered around the table, she was sitting down already, thinking. Billy said those words to her. "Hey," someone whispered. She looked to see Joel siting beside her.

"You okay?" He asked.

"I'm dandy."

She was getting tired. Always staying behind. She wanted to be with her family. Than, Joel. He is left alone.

"Joel," she whispered. He turned to look at her. "How far-fetching would you think, if we leave this place?"

"What?" Joel asked. "Be rational."

"I am. I'm ready for this. I want to leave if all behind." Joel couldn't comprehend what she was trying to say. He knew one thing. If she is thinking this. She is gonna leave.

The whole colony was there, the discussion about how the monster had gotten in finally being brought up after giving everyone enough time to mourn. She sat there listening, but she couldn't move. She wanted to leave but she stuck here. There is whole world out there, she isn't there. Her family.

"How far away is Aimee's colony?" Joel spoke up, his voice making them all go silent while the boy looked over at them. 

"What?" Tim asked.  "Aimee's colony," Joel repeated, ignoring the fact that everyone's eyes were now on him including Charlie.

"How far away is it?" 

"About eighty five miles," Ray answered.  "How long does that take to get there?" Joel questioned.

"Joel, you're not actually thinking of going?" Tim said confused.  "Tim, just. . .humor me," Joel pleaded. "How long?" 

"Seven days," Charlie spoke up, "An armed and trained hunting party would be lucky to last fifty miles on the surface," she finished said, the others all looking at each other and mumbling in agreement while Joel looked off in thought

"But you, Joel. . ." 

"He ain't going alone," she spoke. All eyes turn on her. "I'm going." She got up from her seat leaving everybody to stared at her.

"God. Damnit!" Tim slammed his fist against the table. "You can't be serious, Charlie!" She began making her way towards her room, to pack her things. Joel came in the room.

"What do you think your doing?" Joel spoke. Charlie roll her eyes, she stared right at him. "I'm going to saved your ass from those disgusting creatures, who will eat your ass in seconds." Joel leaned forward with a confused face on, unable to say anything.

"I'm coming, Joel," she whispered, thoughts of reuniting with her family pour in. She was than reminded of Billy. She is doing this for her family. She looked at Joel, her crush, her best friend. She loves him. She wants the best for him.

"It's final, Joel. I'm coming."

AUTHOR NOTE:

I'm back! 🥺🤔
I seriously don't know how I feel about this chapter. She has my attitude. Yikes! She is going with Joel to find her family. Billy is there. *drama*
Anyway! What are your thoughts? Also, I was listening to this song, when I wrote this. It's sounded so cool and blend through myself when writing this. *It's Joel and Charlie theme song* it's official. Comment below? What you want to happen next? I'm open to suggestions? Any thoughts?
Do you guys like the song? Be honest. Any recommendations?