Frozen once more I watched as the tide of mouths ran through the hills and crashed upon the meagre defences that were set up. Held down by my fear I watched as magic was thrown around with fire and lightning, yet my mind was clouded by thoughts of safety. As I saw the wolves crash through the defences I ran only to stop in my tracks after a few steps, then I started again this time not away from the wolves but closer to the centre of camp for I had to, it was the right thing. Making it to the tent I opened it and saw the man that had given me the strength through most of this apocalypse. Not wasting any more time I said, “John time to get up we need to go.”

Rushing him to his feat he asked slowly, “Where. are we going?”

While moving him out the door into the now panicked camp where people screamed and ran from the direction the wolves had been attacking, I answered quickly fishing for a answer from him to keep him moving, “We are going some where you know,”

“So. I’m, going home,” John said, only barely audible as the screams did their best to silence his words.

Latching onto that thought I quickly answered, “Yes John you are going home.”

As I said those words and rushed John from the crowd a hand grabbed me and Evan spoke up as he must have spotted me getting John from the tent, “Good you have John, make sure you get out of here, as I go to the gate to help the others.”

“No you are coming with us and we are getting the hell out of here!” I shouted as I wasn’t going to let him run off and get hurt and leave me with John. Not again.

“Kid, I can’t,” Evan said before looking back at where I had seen the battle taking place before looking at me and continuing, “I can’t just run away while more people loose love ones and besides there is no one to miss me.”

Pleading I asked, “What about John aren’t you to friends and you can’t leave him with me,” I couldn’t look after John, how could I look after John especially without help. “And what about me I need you. We both need you,” I said, feeling as if I could start crying at any moment.

Only for my thoughts to be shattered by what Evan said, “you don’t need a dead man who can’t look after the dead and the day I met John, I was already dead. John was my life support.”

After the words I looked closer, the dark bags under his eyes, his shoulders tense as if carrying the world on his back and his words playing back but that could not be all, so for my last try I asked with tears already welling up at the answer to come, “But how will I do it.”

“I have seen you and all I can say is the bravest man. Is the one that fears the most but doesn’t let it stop him and you haven’t stopped.” Evan said as the tears started to drift down my face.

“At least take one of my daggers,” I but all cried out as I gave Evan one of the blades I had gotten. Taking it he nodded and gave me a tired smile before turning and vanishing into the camp.

“who was he,” was all John said as I led him from the camp where I could see the carnage, as the wolves although still held mostly out of the camp were slowly pushing further into the camp.

“So, where, is-s home,” John asked as his hands shook.

Not knowing what to do but listening to Evans words I spotted and pointed to a group of people fleeing and didn’t let fear stop me. “They know so let’s meet up with them,” I said just grasping at what ever straws I could to get John to move further from the camp. He just gave a nod and I led him towards the group. I felt lost as I moved towards the group not because I couldn’t get to them or I didn’t know how but my mind was still reeling from the attack and loss of the camp. Maybe even the loss of Evan.

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

As I grew closer I had to stop as a dagger was at my throat and a low voice spoke out, “Who are you,” but before I could say anything he turned to John and threatened, “Make any sudden moves and I kill him.”

As I got out my name was Andrew I saw the tears in John’s eyes as he pleaded, his mind fractured as evident from his words, “Please-s d-don’t, hurt, us. I can give, you-you my phone and. Wallet.”

The person holding the dagger clear confused asked, “What?”

Trying to calm the situation I told John in as calm tone as I could while the dagger was at my throat, “It is okay John, I am fine.”

Only for John’s response to be, “I want, to. Go-go home.”

“I know John and you are fine,” I said still trying to calm John down.

In response more pressure was put on the dagger and the man asked, “What is going on and I better get answers.”

Only for me to here a really pissed woman shout, “What the HELL, do you think you are doing!”

In response the man behind me shouted back, right next to my ear mind you, “These two were following us,”

“So you are telling me that these two were following a group after the camp fell, most likely looking for safety like the rest of us.” She asked as she continued to walk towards us with a frown on her face.

“And what’s to say they’re not going to attack us.” He asked still too close to my ear.

Speaking up as the dagger still felt to close to my throat, “What she said and can you not rest the dagger on my throat.”

“Really and you went after the kid Camron,” She said clearly still angry from the face she was pulling. After the comment, the person I assumed to be Camron released the dagger from my throat with a huff.

“What is going on,” another unfamiliar voice rang out from a man that seemed to be older then most people I had seen as he was in his late 50's.

“Camron being over cautious and threatening people again,” The woman said.

“You two bicker like kids just all four of you come quick let’s get as far as possible from the camp,” The old man said clearly irritated by them.

Taking my chance I got John to his feat and said, “Come on John, you’re are going home.” I saw the frowns in their face but brushed it aside so John and I could catch up to the group.

We travelled south where we encountered rabbits, I couldn’t believe those pests also got here (In my country rabbits are pests). From the encounter I found out that Camron’s ability was he could teleport or move faster then the eye could see. As he appeared out of no where yet it seemed it had a small range of a few meters. However I couldn’t only worry about the skills they had but also what was going on with John as on many occasions he would break into sobbing before stopping a few minutes later or insist we left something or someone behind yet when I asked if it was Evan he just asked who.

Thankfully by the time night had come we had a fire and John had fallen asleep after a bit of rabbit. I was still hungry as I had gotten little food over the apocalypse and had to share my portion with John but I couldn’t get upset as they had given us some water which I drank quickly. And- “Hey lad are you okay” The older man asked interrupting my thoughts.

“Yeah,” was all I said as I was tired and wished we were going home like the lies I was telling John.

Unconvinced the man pressed further, “Lad don’t give me that, I can see your mind is full of thoughts and worry.” He continued, “Plus I want to know what is going on with that fella, John, because it looks like you are looking after him.”

Not sure what to say I just said, “You are right I am looking after John.”

Turning my head to face John sleeping, he continued with his questions, “Is he family and you don’t look like you finished school.”

“I don’t know how I got stuck with him but he feels like family even if, that’s not the John, I knew,” I said as my anger grew from thoughts about Evan leaving, John basically being dead, all I knew from school dead and feeling alone. Feeling so alone.

“What happened to him,” The man asked unable to stop asking questions, then again I could have stopped answering.

I didn’t stop answering and continued, “they met me, helped me then we went out on one run and his now how he is and Evan left us.”

“Yeah I know how you feel, you loose someone then you met others and form a impromptu family over shared pain but we differ because I haven’t lost that yet Andrew.”

My eyes widened at that last comment, I never told him my name. What made it worse was his reaction when he let it slip. Terror.

“How do you know my name,” I asked as I reached for John’s blade.