Three - Ella

Hey wonderful people... Hope you're enjoying so far!! Here's chapter 3. I'd love to know your thoughts!

Chapter Three - Ella

I was late.

"Don't be late." Ha! That was the last thing that Kyle said to me and I was already mucking it up. It wasn't intentional and I hadn't even overslept. It was the boots. And the pants. The boots fit, but I couldn't get the laces right. It wasn't like I never learned how to tie my shoes, but when I had these tied in a nice little bow, the long laces still hung down to the ground. The pants were too big by at least two sizes. And the belt was made for man. I wondered if maybe Kyle had just given me one of his because I had to try to fashion an extra hole in with my pen. That's about the time I noticed the clock. Giving up on getting my ballpoint pen through the canvas belt, I stuffed my pockets with an extra bra and couple changes worth of underwear, hiked my pants up, keeping a solid grip with one hand so they wouldn't fall down, and rushed out the door praying I didn't trip over the insanely long bootlaces.

Before the door slammed, I turned around running back to my desk. I pulled open the draw and grabbed the tube of lipstick - the only thing that meant anything to me - and shoved it into one of the velcro pockets before turning again to leave.

I arrived to the dining hall we were supposed to meet at a couple minutes past seven, not surprised to see the three men who would accompany me waiting outside. They probably had gotten here early enough to eat a good breakfast and everything before I showed up. I could smell the eggs. I wanted the eggs. My plan had been to get here early too, but... it didn't work out.

"You're late," Kyle said not even deigning to look at me. Guess whatever moment we had last night had been a one time only sort of deal. He wasn't being friendly, which he had almost been the night before. And he sounded disappointed though not surprised, like he'd hoped I'd prove him wrong but I didn't. I frowned and opened my mouth to start with the apologies but Miles cut me off.

"Is there a reason you're walking funny?" His voice was full of suggestion that had my cheeks heating and my eyes focusing on the ground.

"Oh. The pants are too big."

"That's what the belt's for," He said slowly as if I was too dumb to understand the purpose of the belt. If my cheeks were still red, it was in annoyance as I met Miles' amused hazel eyes.

I gave a mock smile. "Belt is too big too," I said in an equally patronizing voice but cracked when he started to laugh.

"Take it out. I'll fix it," he said and pulled a knife out of his pocket.

A knife! That's what I needed.

I pulled the belt from the loops and passed it to him, pointing where I needed the new hole created. He quickly poked a hole through and I rethreaded the belt. My eyes wandered down to their feet. I didn't want to ask them how they handled the extra-long lace issue and as soon as I figured out they tucked them in, I wanted to smack myself. Really, I wasn't stupid. I was just nervous. Really freaking nervous. Quickly, when they turned their attention toward one another, discussing something in hushed voices, I bent down and fixed my little issue.

"Look at you," Miles said, his attention back to me. "Looking like G.I. Barbie."

I appreciated the compliment because inside, I felt like a total wreck.The three men picked up their bags with a lot more ease than I had; I had lost balance and nearly fallen when I slung mine over my shoulders. I shifted my shoulders, the weight of the bag already making them ache.

"Let's go then," I said. Kyle's lips twitched, but he kept himself from smiling. Apparently, unless he was annoying me, smiles were hard to come by.

"Anxious to die so early in the morning?" Joel grumbled. Someone promptly shoved him, or whacked him, I'm not certain because I'd been too busy starting for the exit to the base.

"Slow down there," Miles said, stopping me in my tracks. "Getting outta here ain't a picnic."

"The constant noise draws a crowd," Kyle explained. "The men with guns up there," he said, pointing up at the guard towers. Was it wrong that I had never noticed them before? "Aren't up there for fun. Getting out of here isn't as easy as walking out of the front door."

And it wasn't.

The entire thing was coordinated, complete with a walkie-talkie and silly hand signals. Joel disappeared briefly and when he reappeared, he was on a motorcycle - a very loud motorcycle. The guys up in the watch posts cleared a way for him and Joel drove through quick enough to avoid being caught, but slow enough to catch the attention of the zombies.

I didn't particularly like Joel, but watching him leave made my heart pound in my chest and my palms go sweaty. I hadn't seen so many before. When Kyle assumed I'd never had an encounter with a zombie, he was wrong, but not completely wrong. I've had one encounter with one... and that was nearly a year ago. There were dozens outside the gate. But I think I was the only one terrified, for myself and for Joel, as we watched them follow the motorcycle away.

"You look a little shell shocked, Ella," Miles said, nudging my shoulder.

The unexpected contact took me by surprise and I nearly jumped out of my skin. Eyes wide as I fought to catch my breath, I looked at Miles and forced a smile. It felt more like a grimace. "No," I shook my head, a little too quickly. "No. I'm fine."

"Haven't actually seen one?"

"I have," I told him, keeping my voice low enough that no one else would overhear. I didn't want Kyle realizing he was completely right about me. "Just one though, and it wasn't... it wasn't falling apart like those." The rotting creatures on the other side of the measly fence looked nothing like the zombie I saw. He was fresh... pale and cold and obviously very wrong. But the zombies I was looking at were nothing like that. They were grotesque. Several that got near us collapsed to the ground thanks to people up in the towers and we moved quickly.

"Chances are we won't see many once we clear the base."

I looked at Miles, checking for sincerity. I had no idea what it was like out there, but I hoped he wasn't sugarcoating it for me. When he smiled again, I grabbed the straps of my pack and hiked it up my back, ready to go. Kyle led the way and I skipped a step to keep up with him, wanting to be as close as possible to him. Miles was more friendly and outgoing - but then, a porcupine seemed more cuddly than Kyle. But he was the one in charge for a reason. I had to assume that reason was that he was the best. Miles followed close behind me and surrounded by the two men, taller and bigger than me, I could hardly even see the zombies around us.

Just like a stroll through a park...as long as I kept my eyes glued to Kyle's back.

At least it would be if I were someone super important who needed body guards at all times.

I didn't have to see the zombies to know they were there. I could hear them. And even though most followed Joel thanks to the noise of the motorcycle, we didn't go completely unnoticed. When a groan sounded closer and closer I stood on my tip-toes to see over Kyle's shoulder.

That was a mistake.

It was closer than I thought and looking at Kyle the same way I look at chocolate chip cookies. Kyle didn't seem even a little scared, but that was okay since I was terrified enough for the both of us. I would have lowered my feet, but I couldn't look away. The... thing... it was hard to believe it was once a human being with a life, a family... a soul. Its ashen skin held open wounds that were never allowed to heal and it's ragged clothes were falling apart from being worn for the last, well, however long this poor thing that been this way. The way it looked and moved was scary, but that wasn't what got me. What got me, what made it so hard to look away, was it's eyes. I had seen a ton of emotion in human eyes and people trying not to show emotion, but I'd never seen a complete lack thereof. Not an ounce of humanity was left in him. There was no light, no twinkle, there wasn't really even any color left to them.

Taken aback by the sight, my feet started to move in reverse but a hand gripping around my bicep urged me forward.

"I-I can't do this," I said in a panicked whisper. I tried to yank my arm away from Miles, but his grip wouldn't give.

"You don't have a choice," Kyle said having overheard me. He chanced a glance back and I expected to see the same look on his face that had been there yesterday when he was so adamant I would get myself killed, but his blues eyes were filled with an understanding that made it hard to stick with my I-hate-Kyle outlook. "Remember? You're the only one who knows what we need." His eyes remained leveled on me, waiting. Pulling in a deep breath, I managed to nod though I didn't feel the conviction behind it. Flashing a quick smile, Kyle turned around and stepped ahead, breaking the little formation and ended the zombie. I heard the thud as the body fell to the ground, but I couldn't watch. I kept my eyes on my feet, reminding them to keep working, to keep moving. The fact that Miles was towing me along probably helped more than my mental reminders that feet are for walking. He wouldn't have let me stop even if I wanted to. One day I would be grateful he dragged me along, but at that moment, I kind of hated him.