Nista disappeared within seconds. I ran to the back of the store. Most of the zombies followed Nista but a few decided to trail behind me. My heart beat out of my chest as the fresh air hit me. I slammed the back door behind me.
Bang! Clang! Clang!
The dead slammed against the door. As I ran around the corner of the building, I noticed Nista in the car just feet away.
"C'mon! Hurry!"
I practically flew into the passenger seat. With my heart still pounding, I huffed a sigh.
"I'm sorry, Nista."
She chortled. "For what?"
"Oh, I don't know — maybe it's the fact I almost got you killed." I snapped, "what happened back there was my fault. If something would've happened to you, I —"
"Don't." She objected, cutting my sentence short. "Do not feel sorry for what you've done. I'm alive and that's all that matters."
"Haze would've never forgiven me." I argued, "I would've never forgiven myself. Don't downplay it."
"Haze has almost gotten me killed me plenty of times. He can't talk," she chuckled. "Listen, Jake. We all do what we think is best given the situations at hand. I know you didn't mean to put me in harm's way."
I shook my head in disbelief. "You're crazy."
"Have to be in this world. Did you get what we need for Courtney?"
My gaze fell to the bag that was slung over my shoulder. "I sure hope so. We can't lose her."
"She represents a better part of this world. The humanity that you don't believe is there until you look at her." Nista smiled to herself, "she is pure. She'll be the reason people believe in the good someday."
Courtney is hard enough to not let this world change her, but soft enough to show you that the good still exists. The hopefulness she brings is something that's rare in this world.
_
The sound of tires spinning on gravel caused me to perk up. We pulled into the driveway. The silence in the air was something I'd never get used to.
"She's stable and speaking a little." Anna updated us as we entered the home. "Definitely conscious. We have to get that infection cleared up though."
"I have just what you need," I handed Anna the bag full of pharmaceuticals with a smile. "Any news on Haze and Christie?"
"Nope. Joe said most of what he heard was some static over the radio. Oh, and the typical broadcast about the aerial assistance in California."
I sighed. Courtney will never forgive me if her sister is gone.
"Hey," I spoke awkwardly as I walked into the small room. "How are you feeling? I'm so sorry, Court."
"Where is she?"
I stared into Courtney's caramel colored eyes. They were filled with worry.
"I don't know. I'm sorry," my gaze fell to the ground. "I know that was her and Haze shooting at the crazed cannibals. At least — that's what we believe."
"So you don't know where she is?" Her voice fell into a disappointed tone. "She could be dead."
"If there's one thing I know for sure about Christie, it's that she doesn't die easy." I half chuckled, "she was okay last time we saw her. Don't give up hope, alright? Not yet."
In the back of my mind, worry took over.
"You don't understand, okay? She was my best friend. The sister I never had until my parents took her in. She can't die. If she does, I will too."
"She saved your life back there. You're just as important to her as she is to you. That means she'll be back, Court. Try to rest — it'll help you heal."
When Rotis died, I became a different person. Without Kara, I would've never made it through the loss. I can't help but to feel that Courtney doesn't have that person to get her through it like I did. Without her sister, everything she knew before is gone.
"I'm going out to search for her if she's not back soon. I don't give a shit what you or anybody else has to say."
I nodded in acceptance. "Fair enough."
Please, Christie. Come back.
"C'mon, Courtney. We need to get you on these antibiotics stat." Anna entered the room quickly, rushing over to Courtney with a pill bottle in her hands.
It dawned on me that she didn't need my words of support right now. Without another word, I exited the room.
"We can't just sit here and wait." Joe approached, speaking hawkishly. "I'll go look for them now. They could be in trouble."
"It'll be dark soon. Haze would never want me sending anybody out there to look for him," I huffed. "You'll get yourself killed if you head out alone. Stay here."
"I don't give a shit about Haze! He never cared if I lived or died. Courtney needs her sister here. I have to get her back."
As I exited the room, I called back to him over my shoulder.
"Don't play hero, Joe."
Because I'm going to.
_
Crickets.
That's all that could be heard as I stepped outside. My breath condensed in the cold which sent the vapor up to the night sky as I exhaled. It's a full moon. A shiver ran up my spine as I attempted to combat the chilliness.
"Yikes." I commented to myself as I zipped up my jacket. "Let's hope we make it somewhere warm soon."
I peaked over my shoulder at the home we stayed in. Nobody followed me. Good.
Crunch, crunch, crunch...
The crisp leaves squished beneath my boots as I walked. I tightened the grip I had on my knife. Zombies have the upper hand in the dark. I have to find a ride. I couldn't leave the others without a vehicle.
My whole body tingled as an eery feeling came over me. I came to a halt. The sound of footsteps continued.
Crunch, crunch, crunch...
Just as I turned, knife in hand, I met gazes with a familiar pair of eyes.
"Courtney, what the Hell?"
"I figured you'd go out to find them. I also figured you wouldn't want us to know — you'd go out alone on some death wish mission." She scoffed, "I'm not going to lay there and wait for them to come to me. That just doesn't happen."
"If you get hurt, she'll never forgive me."
Courtney argued, "and if she gets hurt, I'll never forgive myself."
I stared at her through the darkness as moments passed. Finally, I worked up the words to respond.
"Alright, c'mon. We need to find a ride."
Court and I walked through the empty, dark streets with not much more than flashlights. She shivered every so often until I offered the big jacket I was wearing over the thinner one. Gracefully, she accepted.
"She wasn't really my sister, y'know," Courtney admitted in a hushed voice through the darkness. "Was my cousin. She could never stay out of trouble. Dad took her in when she turned seventeen. She didn't want anything to do with her real family."
"You guys look just alike," I commented in awe. "Your dad was a good man. Christie's been through Hell — I could tell from the first day I met her."
"People always believed we were actually siblings. I didn't mind it," she reminisced. "I was that annoying little sister to her. She was always my hero."
Silence took over. It's hard to gather words when I know they won't help regardless. Nothing will help until Christie is back.
"Hey," I called, drawing my attention to the nearby bicycle that lay on the sidewalk. "Think this'll work for now?"
"Oh my God," she commented in an amused tone. "It's a two person fucking bike! No way!"
"It's better than walking until we find a car." I laughed, "c'mon, Court. Never used one before?"
"I used to laugh at people that used these!" She was giggling now as she focused on the bike. "I have to do it. This might be the only chance I get. Maybe I was missing out on something!"
"It even has a light on it." I chuckled, "I think this was meant for us to use."
We rode through the streets on our new bike in search of any sign of Christie or Haze. Courtney rode on the back, checking the walkie talkie every so often. Zombies were scarce but we didn't question it.
Just as we decided to turn back, a message came over the small speaker.
"Courtney, c'mon. Get here now. I'm home."
Courtney's face lit up with a smile as she spoke into the walkie talkie. "Christie? Is that you?"
"The one and only."
We rushed back to the home that the others stayed in. As the two of us headed up the driveway, we noticed a figure at the front door. Courtney examined the silhouette through the darkness before letting out a gasp.