The ride back would be short, and I looked at Charles once more as he restlessly fiddled with the axe. Jackson, and Rose had finished loading up the stuff, and we were currently waiting for them to make sure that the road was clear. If we took any longer they would assume that we were dead.

One, The life I have.
Two, the times I walk.
Three, people I've killed
....

I thought about the two men, and the girl... I already forgot her name. I shook the thought away, and stood up as Jackson came into view with that shotgun of his. Rose followed behind with a pistol strapped to her hip. They looked badass when they showed up. The only thing they were missing was leather jackets, and a motorcycle.

"I'll be up front driving. There's room for two more in the front." Jackson stated smoothly.

I immediately said, "I'll sit in the back. No need for me to be up front."

I took a glance at Rose, and Jackson seemed to thank me silently with his eyes.

"I'll sit in the back as well. I think you two have some time to catch up on." Stated Charles with a devilish glint in his eyes that hid behind a breath taking smile.

His smile made my heart skip a beat, and I couldn't help but notice how he glanced over at me once he said it. I nodded my agreement, and I saw him slacken a bit. I realized that I was hoping he'd sit with me in the back.

Am I.... in love? With him? I barely know him...

Jackson's voice interrupted my thoughts. "Alright! Everything is ready to go! Rose, I'll need you to show me the way to this house. Expect a slow drive."

I looked back, and couldn't help but feel a little happy about the thought of spending time with Charles alone.

Why do I feel this way for him?

My mind wandered to the way he swung the axe. How his arms tensed up before swinging, and then relaxed through the ark. His chest straining at times to remove the head from its victim. I was in awe with how he unknowingly left me speechless. His jawline untouched by blemishes, and a slight scar traced on his forehead.

I'll ask about that later.

Charles and I closed the van's back door after Rose finally situated herself upfront. She seemed nervous to leave us in the back, but Jackson reassured her with a slight peck on the lips. She closed the door, and Charles sunk to the floor slowly. I sat down, and we were both out of view from the small window.

Charles looked at me, and I lazily spun the knife in circles on the metal floor.

"Ethan. I... need to tell you something." Charles said hesitantly. His eyes glued to mine.

I looked up, and with a quizzical look said, "What is it Charles?"

He glanced down, and then looked back at my face before saying softly."I'm... gay."

Those words were like a blow to the heart, but it didn't hurt. I stopped spinning the knife, and looked at his reaction. He seemed as if he was waiting for a reply. He wanted a reply, or more of needed one.

"Charles..." he watched me with fear in his eyes, "I'm so glad you said that."

His fear vanished in a second as a tear slipped down his face. I myself held back the thought of being gay. I didn't enjoy the thought, but it did make sense. It would explain all the things I felt towards him. We sat there in the back, and we're both startled when the engine finally started.

A small jolt told us we were moving, and bangs resounded off the side of the vehicle. The Rotters were hitting the side, and causing a commotion in the back. It bounced off everything, and left us partially deaf as Charles scooted towards me.

He came close and embraced me tightly. Drawing my body to his, and we sat their in the corner for minutes. Just hugging each other with relief that we felt the same for each other. The noises grew scarcer, and I wondered how much farther we had to go.

"Not much longer." Jackson called from the front.

I just nodded my head, but Charles acknowledged it by calling out, "Alright. Take your time. Don't want to pop a tire!"

He looked back at me again as I took a breath. My heart fluttering slightly at the closeness of my newfound companion. I didn't know what to think, but still felt to many emotions to comprehend. I was scared, tired, happy, excited, nervous, and a little bit worried at the thought of being gay.

"Does everyone else know?" I asked timidly.

He shook his head, and my breath caught in my throat.

At least it won't be public... well as public as it will get.

I closed my eyes, and leaned against the metal side. The van rumbled on slightly, and I felt Charles' side against my shoulder. The van continued at a normal pace before it suddenly picked up its speed. I practically stood up, and Charles seemed confused.

We both stood up, but were thrown from our stances, and into a pile of duffel bags.

"Open the good damn back door Charles!!! Do it now!!" Screamed Rose who was clearly scared out of her mind.

Charles stumbled forwards, but I pushed him to the side. "I'll open it. You have a better swing than me."

He just grabbed the axe, and I heaved the door open to find the house in flames. I stared at it before seeing four moving forms dashing towards us from the trees nearby. One was limping, and someone fell back to help the man which I could see was Samuel.

Oh god... what happened?

Jackson appeared next to us from outside, and practically screamed at me. "Grab a fucking gun! Get those things off their back! They can make it! They just need our help!"

I unfroze as Charles jumped off the back with the axe, and sprinted towards the group. I spun around and opened up a duffel back. I pulled out a hunting rifle, and frantically searched for some bullets. I found a box of them in the next duffel bag, and kneeled down. I fed in the first bullet to the chamber, ad locked it in place.

I raised the scope to my head, and looked through it.

Could I do this?

I zeroed in on the first Rotter stopping their advancement. I squeezed the trigger, and watched it fall. The gun bucked back lightly, and I practically tore back the bolt. I grabbed another bullet, and placed it in the chamber. Charles stood on the right side chopping them down as they came, but the left side was vulnerable.

Shelly tripped, and Samuel's stride faltered as he lost his support. He stood still as Shelly scrambled to get back to the injured man. Dan, and Ann just pushed forward, clearing a path for them. I yanked the gun back to my shoulder, and aimed at a Rotter behind Shelly. She moved, and I pulled the trigger, watching her hair fluttered back as the bullet sped by here, and found its mark.

She stopped walking, and turned around to see the Rotter fall to the ground. Samuel yanked her along to keep moving, and I saw that they were falling behind. Charles sprinted back, and fought hard to keep the Rotters away. Jackson splattered the ones coming from the front with his shotgun.

This is not happening.

I opened the chamber back up, and slid another bullet in. I kept the gun to my head, and fired at another Rotter. It fell down, but pulled itself back up. I had hit its shoulder, but had kept it from hurting anyone. I grabbed another bullet, and slid it in the heated chamber.

Ann, and Dan had gotten here, and had turned around to find Shelly faltering in her steps. Samuel was no longer walking along with her, and Dan ran out to catch them both. I slammed the bolt closed, and aimed at another Rotter. It walked towards them greedily, and I pulled the trigger watching the bullet carve a gap in its head.

I looked down to find five more bullets left, as knew that it wasn't enough to save them. Charles had pulled back, and was running towards the van. Jackson had stopped firing, and was quickly trying to reload. Ann was frozen in place next to the van. Samuel had passed out from something unknown, and I watched this all through the rifle scope. Rotters walked towards us slowly, and I set the gun down.

I opened another duffel bag, and pulled out a hatchet. I jumped down from the van, and walked out into the field. Charles saw me come out, but didn't stop running. I spun around to watch him kill a Rotter that had snuck up on Jackson. Shelly was crying over Samuel's motionless body, and Dan was trying to pull her away from it.

He's dead...

I started jogging towards him, and screamed at them. "Fucking leave him here! I'm not gonna watch you two die today!"

Shelly just stared at me as I brought the hatchet up, and into a Rotters jaw. It's head snapped upwards, and I yanked the small axe from its body. Dan had ran back to the van, and more gunshots started going off in the background. Shelly just held onto the lifeless corpse of Samuel, tears slipping down her face as she simply moaned.

"No...no... Samuel... come back Samuel..." she muttered between sobs.

I grabbed her shoulder, and she turned around screaming. "Don't you dare touch me!!! You caused this!"

"You want to be with him?" I asked with curiosity.

I spun around to slam a Rotter to the ground, and dug the blade into its head.

I yanked it out before she spoke.
"I want him to be with me. I'm not leaving him."

Oh well. Suit yourself.

"I'm not dying for you. I'm not leaving you here alive." I spat out.

"Then kill me." She simply stated.

I looked down at her, and then at the van. They were all looking at me as I brought my arm back. I closed her eyes as she willingly looked up at the axe. I brought my arm down, and shuddered when I heard the impact. The crunch was horrible, and she barely screamed, only letting out a whimper before falling to the ground.

I pulled the hatchet from her destroyed face, and walked away slowly. I slashed at a Rotter that came towards me, and watched it fall.

What you just do to make people happy...

I ran the rest of the way, and was met with Jackson's shotgun in my face. "Why the fuck did you kill her?!?!"

"She wanted me to." I stated with a twang of pain.

I jumped in the back with Charles, Dan, and Ann while Jackson opened up the divers door. I glanced back to the field to find Samuel leaning over Shelly. His hands digging into her body, and tanking the organs from her lifeless body.

I caused this...

Ann, and Dan went to the front while Charles sat next to me. He was avoiding my eyes, and I felt rejected. She had wanted me to do it, so I did. I scooted towards Charles, and he looked at me with slight worry.

He whispered to me with concern. "Why did you do it? Why'd you kill Shelly?"

I glance down at the ground, and wondered why I felt no pain. "She wanted to be with Samuel. She didn't try and stop me..."

He just nodded, and I hugged him. He wrapped his arms around me as my tears moistened his shirt. He rubbed my back as I clung to him like a baby to a mother.

I did this....

===========

Omg!!! So much just happened in this chapter!!!

Charles and Ethan are a thing?!?!

Shelly, and Samuel are dead!!!

Everyone hates Ethan now except for Charles...

Will they ever trust him again? Will Ethan feel the same around them?

How do you think this will affect Ethan's relationship?

Find out in the next chapter.