Chapter 21 (The Split Part 1)

Chapter 21: The Split Part 1

Khai Reaver

December, 2023

19 months after outbreak

Idaho

Season 2

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Somehow, Edin, Steve, and I ended up in Idaho. We've been searching for Ethan and the others for over a month now. There's been no sign of any of them. The only reason we didn't just continue heading to the coast was because it just didn't feel right. We should have, though.

Steve picked up Juna the night we were attacked. We've been protecting her with our lives as best we can. I know Rudolph's worried sick. I didn't even know if he was without Airi as well.

It's freezing here, and we have no shelter. The winds were too strong, so building a fire was out of the question. I didn't want to die here. I couldn't die. I can't let everyone down.

"We need to find somewhere for the night, Khai. There's a storm coming," Steve pointed out. He was right; the wind was picking up speed and the snow was falling harder. But there was nowhere for us to go.

"We have to stop," Edin stuttered, collapsing into the freshly fallen snow. We all fell down next to her as she cradled Juna in their arms.

Was this the end for us? Was this as far as we were going to get in this world? At least the dead weren't the ones to do it. I would rather have any death besides that.

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It's been a few hours now. I don't remember how we managed to make it underneath some trees, but we did. My head hurt, and I was scared. My limbs wouldn't move. My eyes were frozen shut.

I couldn't hear Juna's cries.

I felt heat on my side. I heard the sound of wood burning. An unfamiliar voice lingered in my ears.

"It's gonna be okay, you're gonna live."

I wanted to run. I wanted to get the hell out of here. For all I know, I could be this person's next meal if they were desperate enough. They could be exactly like the people that attacked our camp—the people that took a good man out of this world for no reason. My heart raced as I desperately searched for an escape route. The memories of that horrific night flooded my mind, fueling my determination to survive at any cost. But I still couldn't move; my consciousness slipped away from me again.

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I woke up in a tent. My face was clean of sweat and dirt, and a plate of food was in front of me. It was spam, but I honestly couldn't care less. We hadn't eaten in days, and I was beginning to feel sick.

I had no idea where Edin and Steve were.

I had no idea where I was.

I ate the food quickly and rushed out of the tent. I wanted to puke the minute I swallowed my meal. I was weak; my body was still frozen, and it was hard to stand. I had frostbite on my nose, cheeks, and even my hands.

When I got out, I saw a person I didn't know, and Steve, he was crying and holding Juna in his arms. It took me a minute, but then I understood why.

Edin wasn't here.

The unfamiliar young girl with dark brown skin and messy hair looked at me sympathetically as a tear fell from my eye.

"Sit down next to the fire," she said, standing up and grabbing my arm as she pulled me to the fire.

No words could describe what I was feeling. I tried so hard; I gave everything I had to keep this group from losing more, and I failed. As I sat down next to the fire, the warmth did little to ease the heavy weight of guilt that settled in my chest. The crackling flames mirrored the turmoil inside me as I replayed every decision and action that led us to this moment. The young girl's comforting presence offered a glimmer of solace amidst the despair, reminding me that even in failure, there is still room for compassion and support.

"I know this is probably not the best time, but I do think the two of you deserve an explanation. First of all, my name is Tai Marsh. You don't have to tell me who you are. You don't have to say anything if you don't want to. But you should know that you have to get out of here. The dead freeze under the snow, but they will thaw, and then there will be hordes. Trust me, I've seen it happen before. My mom and brother were killed by it. You have to go south before the winter ends."

"We're going to California," Steve replied blankly.

"Okay, well, I can help you get there if you want; I know the way and I-" Tai said before I cut her off.

"No, you don't owe us anything."

"I do, though. I couldn't carry your friend and the baby back here at the same time. I had to get the little one warm. She was the first I brought back. This camp isn't far from where you guys were. I put some blankets over you, but obviously it wasn't enough. Steve was still awake; he helped me carry you here, back to the fire. He had to rest afterwards, but when I went back to Edin, she was already dead."

"You don't have to be sorry. You did what you could," Steve said as his tears began to dry. "You're just a kid anyways."

"I'm 14."

"What did you do with her body?" I asked, wiping my face, which made it burn like hell.

"The snow's too deep to dig a hole. To the best of my knowledge, she's still out there."

I stood up quickly with full intent to find her. I had to bury her. I just had to.

"You shouldn't go out there. Like I said, the snow's deep; it's not worth it. You could get caught up in it again."

She was right, but I'll never forgive myself for leaving her out there like that, and I know Ethan, Aiden, and all the others will never forgive me for not being strong enough to keep her alive. Yes, that trust was broken, and no, I'm never getting it back.