Unedited.

N/A. So sorry for not updating last week, I made sure to make this update even longer in a shameless way to show how sorry I am.

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S C A R L E T

One Week Later.
July 21st

"Do I need to remind you that I don't want your presence near me?"

He wanted another chance. Of course he did. But he wasn't going to get one. There is no such thing as a second chance in the Apocalypse. Once you leave someone, you leave and you stay gone. No returning, no looking back. No second chances.

"Not until you at least give me a chance to explain why I left."

Ok, I know what you're thinking. No I'm not the least bit curious as to what he has to say. As far as I know, explanations lead to stories, stories usually include emotions, which lead to forgiving, and I'm not ready to forgive yet.

I'm not just saying this because I'm a total Bitch, I'm saying it because my shoulder still aches in agony every time I move it, my neck still feels as stiff as a rock, and my mother is still dead. That's all because of Hanson, which in turn really goes back to Nico.

So yes, I'm being a complete Bitch and I don't want anything to do with Nico because I am in constant pain, because of his actions.

"No." I picked up my handgun before checking the clip to see if it was full or not.

It wasn't. I had two bullets left.

Fantastic.

I sighed before sliding the clip back in and checking to make sure safety was on.

It was.

I could always refill it but I knew I should save the bullets for when I really need them. I placed the gun on to my bed and moved my two braids back.

I moved to exit the room but stopped when Nico slammed the door shut and stood in front of it.

"Scarlet, We need to talk about this. It's been a week and all you've ever done is avoid me. When are you going to let me explain!"

He looked down at me. Waiting for me to respond to him.

I took a minute to look at him. His hair was getting longer, it was now to his shoulders, and he has gotten taller as well. Not to mention, he seems like he's been lifting heavy stuff because he's also gotten more muscle. He, in a way reminded me of Thor, played by Chris Hemsworth.

He had his hands in his pockets, and he slowly let out a silent breath.

Calmly, I walked up to him, until I was face to face with him.

"When hell freezes over." I said lowly.

I took a step back and grabbed my hand gun off the bed before standing in front of him.

"Now move." I ordered.

Nico stood his ground, and instead of moving he crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. "No."

I glared at him, and tucked the gun into the back of my jeans. "Nico, I'm not playing any games, just move!" I said.

I didn't want to hurt the guy, not physically anyways.

"Not. Until. You. Listen." He stated.

He wasn't backing down, but neither was I.

So I sat back down onto my bed, taking the gun out before I did, and unzipped my boots. I grabbed a half empty water bottle I had left beside the bed and took a sip.

"This is childish." Nico said from the door.

I looked up. "Is it?" I asked, the sarcasm rolling off my tongue.

Nico ran a hand through his hair before rolling his eyes.

"Fine, you don't want to listen. I'll force you to listen." He muttered. He sat down in front of the door, and I furrowed my eyebrows.

"After we parted ways at the base, I realized I forgot my handgun back at the cabin. My uncle would have gotten suspicious if I came back without it so I knew I had to go back and get it. I went out alone-"

I placed the cap back onto the bottle. "You're seriously going to force me to listen to your sob story?" I asked, and I could feel the anger start to grow.

Nico didn't pay me any mind, instead he narrowed his eyes at me, and continued his dumb story. "I realized it was dark out, and it was late, but I didn't think much of it. In fact I thought it'd be safer"

"Then what Nico? You expect me to forgive you?" I continued.

Nico paused and looked up at me. "I was wrong about it being safer. In fact I was almost dead wrong."

The fact that he was ignoring me, only angered me more. "You expect us to go back to how things were? How we were?!" I yelled standing up.

"I snuck out through the fence, and I made sure to check my surroundings before I walked to the cabin." He continued, keeping his eyes glued onto me.

I scoffed and shook my head. This is pointless. "It's not going to happen Nico, so just give up already." I muttered moving a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

Nico shook his head no, and continued on talking. "I made it to the dirt road, the one that leads to the cabin..." he paused and swallowed, As if he was remembering a nightmare. "I didn't see them before it was too late." He said now looking down at the floor.

Didn't see who?

I was slightly intrigued at this point, so I slowly sat back down onto the bed.

"I made it to the cabin safely and I found my gun on the couch. On my way back, that's when I was ambushed."

Ambushed?

Realization started to dawn on me, and I quickly glanced at Nico's leg before looking back up at him.

I met his eyes.

"There were five walkers...well I could only see five. I used my bullets to fight them off but the sound attracted more. I ran out of bullets and I only had my knife on me." He licked his lips. "At that point there was three more walkers that I had to fight off, but there was at least six of them dead on the floor."

There's always another side to the story.

"I killed one with my knife. Everything happened so fast. All I remember is tripping over something and hurting my foot, one of the walkers got on top of me and tried to bite me, I wrestled with it, and as soon as I was able to get my knife into its skull a sharp pain coursed through my leg"

I swallowed, remembering all of the horrible things I wished on Nico. I slightly felt bad. Slightly.

"I could barely throw the dead Walker off of me, and once I did, I found the second Walker sinking its teeth into my calf. It got in two bites and it almost tore off a piece of my calf. I'm lucky it didn't. I killed that Walker too and I limped back to the base before realizing that I couldn't go back." Nico paused and raised his left pant leg, showing me the faint scars of a zombie bite.

"I thought I was going to turn and going back was only going to put you and Samantha in danger."

I slowly got off the bed, and crouched down in front of him. Lightly, I touched his now healed leg.

"That's why I left. I left to keep you and everyone else safe." Nico said,
Looking down at me with a pained expression.

I blinked and I could feel the guilt starting to run wild.

"I planned to kill myself so I wouldn't turn, but after limping away from the base, I passed out from the blood loss." He told me.

I removed my hand from his calf before trying to think of a reason as to why I should continue to hate him.

I wanted to hate him so badly, but now that I know why he left, I couldn't bring myself to hate him anymore.

I've been in close encounters with walkers and I know how scary it is. But to actually be bitten, and to think that you'll die, that must have been even scarier.

"I woke up with my wound bandaged and Alaina standing over me. She saved my life."

This is too much, I can't forgive him so easily. So quickly.

"Weeks passed, and then months and I never turned."

I almost succumbed to his story when one question popped into my head.

"Did you go back? To the base." I asked quietly.

Nico looked up at me and nodded. "I did, I met with your brother, and he told me what happened. He told me how Hanson killed your mother, and that he made you leave for your safety. Moses planned to kill Hanson and he didn't want you or the others there for Hanson to hurt you guys." He explained.

It all made sense now. Every grudge I held against my brother was gone and it made so much more sense. A huge weight lifted off of my chest, I now know Moses never blamed me. He wanted to protect me.

So that's why he told me to leave. That's why he didn't come.

And Nico, he wanted to do the same, protect me. But he should have at least told me and I would have helped him. I probably would have even left with him.

"You could have came back and said goodbye. I would have went with you or I-"

Nico shook his head and sighed, a small smile appearing on his face.

"No, I couldn't have. I couldn't put that kind of pressure on you. I didn't want to have you watch me die."

I sighed loudly and Nico grabbed my hand. I looked down at the gesture before looking up at him. I felt warmth start to surround me, and a familiar sense of butterflies started to flutter in my stomach.

It was disgusting.

I took my hand away from his and looked away from him. "I hate you." I said under my breath.

Nico frowned as I stood up.

"I hate you because you do things, and then say things, and then make me feel things, and it's exhausting!" I said raising my arms in the air to show my frustration.

Nico only looked at me with a confused expression. His eyebrows crinkling together and his head slightly turned sideways.

I shook my head. "I need time Nico, I need time to figure things out." So many things were running through my mind it overwhelmed me.

These feelings I thought were long gone are returning and it's confusing and tiring. The last thing I need is to forgive Nico. He had a good reason for leaving, hell the best reason! But this is all happening too fast.

"Okay." He nodded.

He smiled, and walked up to me. I looked up at him, and I couldn't think straight. He placed a light kiss on my forehead before whispering.

"Take all the time you need, I'll wait."
Then as if nothing, he left the room and left me standing there, rooted to the spot.

I touched my forehead, and swallowed.

~*~

I couldn't sleep that night. I wanted nothing more than to sleep but it was hopeless. Every time I closed my eyes, I pictured Nico and I kissing. Then I pictured my mother looking down at me, shaking her head in disappointment.

I tried hard to think about something else, but I couldn't.

This is why I didn't want him to explain. I was clear about my feelings towards him, I was clear about where we stood and now? Now I'm not so sure.

What would mom think?

What would Moses think?

Will I ever be able to look myself in the mirror if I forgive him? Would I be able to if I didn't?

I uncovered myself with the blanket to put my shirt and pants on before I grabbed a flashlight. I turned the flashlight on and slowly walked down the hallway toward the kitchen.

Maybe some water will help me sleep.

I stopped abruptly when I heard hushed voices.

"Don! You're back!" That was Alaina's surprised voice. "Where's Frank and John?"

I heard a small laugh before a deep voice made an appearance. "They got what was coming towards them. You know what happens to people who disobey me" He said. "That's why I love you so much, because you don't disobey."

What's that suppose to mean?

"What did you do?" Alaina accused.

I peeked around the corner to see Alaina in the arms of a man with dark hair. I turned my flashlight off quietly.

"What needed to be done." There was a silent pause. "Where is everyone?"

"Everyone is sleeping." Alaina answered lowly her eyes glossy with tears.

I watched him kiss her, before I looked away. When I looked back, I didn't miss the disgusted look Alaina had on her face, and the lone tear that she quickly wiped away.

"What about that one girl? Has she caused any trouble?" I rolled my eyes, not caring that he automatically is assuming I'd be a problem.

"No, her and Nico argue a lot. That's all." She said not meeting his eyes.

Something seemed off with this guy, and the way Alaina was acting around him only made him seem more shady.

"There's been talk. While I was gone I had a run in with a group of Scavengers. They said the military has been going on a rampage, there is a reward for whoever finds the girl who killed their Sargent." The guy paused.

I crinkled my eyebrows, wondering where he was going with this.

Did he know that it was me?

"You don't think it could be-" I peaked over at them from the wall and the guy shrugged.

"It's a possibility." He answered.

They were suspicious. "We can't turn her in, she's a kid they'll kill her!" Alaina yelled in a hushed tone.

I didn't think that the army would go after me. I did them a favor by killing that bastard.

"You can't actually be considering it Don!?Please, she's- She's a kid!" Alaina said the shock in her hushed voice clear as day.

"The reward is a years worth of food supplies and medicine. We are running low on food, I have a group to care of. I don't care about anyone else Alaina, I need to take care of you." Don said lowly softly caressing her face.

Alaina flinched at his touch and allowed the information to sink in. That was all I needed to hear before I quietly walked back to my room.

However when I opened my bedroom door I was scared half to death when I found a dark figure sitting on my bed. I turned my flashlight on, and shone the light on the figure's face. I sighed in relief.

"Nico! What the hell!?" I said, putting a hand on my rapidly beating heart. I quietly closed the door behind me, and went straight to what I originally intended to do.

"I heard Don and Alaina talking too. There's a vent right next to my bed, I can hear everything from the kitchen." He explained.

I began undoing the braids I did with my hair, so my hair can fall loosely on my back. I looked up at Nico as I finished.

"I'm all packed and ready to go." He said picking up his, what looked full, backpack, and green duffel bag.

I had to fight back the small smile before nodding.

Immediately, I put my socks and boots on. Then I went to my duffel bag and placed all of the items I had taken out of it back inside, I also took back the morphine and gauze I so generously gave Alaina, back.

Losers.

After double checking that I wasn't leaving anything behind I zipped the duffel bag up.

Nico watched me do all this, before standing up and peaking out the door to make sure nobody was coming.

I put my black leather jacket on and zipped it up, it was cold outside and my truck takes a couple of minutes to warm up.

I then walked over to the closet, where I remembered seeing an empty red backpack. I grabbed it, and stuffed the blanket and pillow inside it. I looked up to see Nico shaking his head and silently chuckling to himself.

"What? They're comfy." I said, trying to justify my actions of stealing the blankets and pillow.

Nico turned back to keep guard, clearly not convinced with my reason. I put the bag on, before turning back to the bed where my duffel bag, and flashlight were.

I grabbed my truck keys off the nightstand, and grabbed the flashlight off the bed.

Then I lifted the duffel bag onto my shoulder, and ignored the burning pain that coursed through my body because of my action.

Man it sucks to be suffering from two gunshot wounds.

Nico looked back at me. "Ready?"

I nodded, and he turned to look out the hallway before opening the door fully so we could exit. Together we quietly made our way to the front door.

Nico and I passed the kitchen, which was now empty, and we made it to the front door with no problem.

That was until I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. Nico quickly opened the door and we both raced out in a panic. I was the first one out the door and Nico was behind me. My truck was parked a little bit away from the house, considering we were on a farm, I thought it was better to keep my truck at a place that was close to an exit.

I now know it was a stupid idea, because the closest exit was a distance away. Far away enough to get caught as soon as we reach the truck.

I was able to place my bags in the truck's trunk but froze when I heard a gun cock.

"Stop or I'll kill him." I slowly turned around to see Nico being held by shady Don. He struggled to get out of his gripped considering he was held with Don's arm around his neck.

"Scarlet, leave me. Go." I looked down at Nico, he was willing to risk the chance of dying so I could get away. I looked into his eyes, and shook my head slowly.

He couldn't ask me to do that. I can't have his blood on my hands too. I have enough of that.

"Let him go." I told Don.

Nico shook his head and he was going to say something before Don covered his mouth.

"Toss the truck keys and I-" He didn't get to finish his sentence because he fell to the ground, and laid there quietly.

I felt myself let out a breath, not realizing I was holding it in.

Alaina stood behind Don's limp body with a frying pan. She looked at us with her wide eyes, before looking Nico over.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" She asked quickly.

Nico shook his head and Alaina hugged him. "Thank god." She muttered.

She looked over to the house and literally everyone came out with packed bags and grocery bags full of food.

"Do you mind if we leave with you?" She asked looking at me now and pulling away from Nico.

I only looked behind her and counted the heads. Logan, Emmett, Juan, Sarah, Zoey, and Zack. Six people, seven including Alaina. That's too many people for my truck. It can only hold five.

Well that's if they're not willing to ride in the back.

Nico was looking at everyone, smiling. He looked at me and nodded, silently telling me that I should.

"Why would you want to leave Don?" I asked.

If they were really quick to leave a guy they've been with for months, then how could I ever trust them to not do the same to me?

"Don's dangerous." Logan said, stepping up beside Alaina. "We've been trying to escape for months."

"Yeah man, that guys crazy in the head." Juan said, his Spanish accent showing.

I didn't need to know anything else. It was clear that I misinterpreted their situation.

Alaina wasn't kissing Don because she wanted to, she did it because she was forced to. It makes sense as to why she was disgusted when she was with him.

I nodded and turned back to my truck.

"Some of you have to ride in the trunk, there isn't enough space for us all in the front." I said while I unlocked the truck.

Logan, Juan, and Emmett nodded and followed Nico.

Nico put his bags in the trunk. He walked to the back of the truck and opened the gate to the truck's trunk. He hopped into the back, Logan and Emmett doing the same thing.

Alaina sat in the passenger side of the car, and Zoey, Zack, and Sarah sat in the back seats.

I got inside the driver's seat, and closed the door.

I should have left a week ago.

Someone patted the top of the truck's roof, signifying that they were all set to go. I turned the truck on, backed out and turned the truck around. As I placed