Chapter 6: Afraid

Harry's POV

Fuck this chair. Fuck this uncomfortable pain in my back it bloody caused. Fuck the guy standing behind me with his rifle in his hands, aiming directly at us. I told him to never raise it again, but he just had a knack for having orders go through one ear and spill out the other.

Tyler was sleeping comfortably on the large couch, his wound stitched with black thread. Morning light spilled in through the windows, blanketing us in a dull, golden glow. I was itching to leave and take Tyler so we could make our way to D.C.--spending another day here with these people was wasted time. Although, I didn't want it to just be us two.

Aria was sleeping in one of the rooms in this small apartment. I don't know why I wanted her to come, but it was probably from the way she had lost her temper back at the hospital--how she punched me hard in the jaw, almost having me fall to the floor. She was strong and determined, two good traits to have in this world. She was observant as well, a good and bad thing, but in this case, a very helpful asset to our cause.

Movement from behind me had my body in full alert as I snapped out of my thoughts. Felix, I think that was his name, moved around the chair I had slept in, his unnatural blue eyes fixed on me as if waiting for me to carry out a planned terrorist attack. "Got something to say? Otherwise, stop giving me a weird look. It's freaking me the fuck out, mate." I sat up straighter in my seat as he positioned his rifle a little higher.

"Who are you?" When I was about to speak, he interrupted me. "And no smart ass answer. Really, a real answer." He sat on the edge of the other small armchair.

"A person with a hungry stomach, a wounded friend...and the ability to cause chaos if someone annoys me," I smirked in his direction as he fingered the trigger. "What did I say about that damn gun? Seriously, is this the reason you were kicked out of the military? Couldn't obey orders, soldier?" I mocked him. His eyebrows furrowed at my answer, confusion clouding his features.

"H-How did you..."

"Oh, please. Shaved head, your stance, arm position on the gun. You were a soldier no doubt. When did they throw you aside?" My plan was to push his already broken buttons and it seemed like I was doing a fair job on my part.

He stood a little higher and raised his chin before he spoke. "They did no such thing. I went on my own." His voice was hard as he spoke and I couldn't help the satisfactory look appearing on my face.

"Too difficult for you? Was the job a little scary?" I grinned as he struggled with lifting his gun. "Or did you realise your anger issues would result in bigger problems for the general." I leaned forward in my seat, a smile plastered on my face as he said repetitive incoherent curses under his breath.

"If you really want to rile him up, try complaining about the lack of a heater in this place," a soft voice said and the nurse, Anna, came out. Her short, blond hair was ruffled in feathery waves, curling around her heart shaped face. I liked her. I could tell she didn't put up with any shit and her sarcastic attitude overruled Tyler's by a heart beat. "By the way, this place could use one." She grinned at Felix before walking towards where my friend slept to check his stitching.

"How is it?" I leaned over to get a better look.

"It was just a stitching last night," She crouched down, her long robe wrapped tightly around her. The way she dressed seemed like an apocalyptic world was non-existent outside this place. "He will still change, but the penicillin will most likely slow it down. There are only a few marks pointing out where the spores will grow." Her finger pointed out lighter spots on his skin from pressing growths.

"Is there any way to stop it before it spreads anymore?" My voice was soft along with hers so we didn't wake Tyler.

"I-I don't know. I have thought it over all night, but my mind keeps going back to one thing...and I know neither of you will like it." She shook her head, lightly touching the black thread that tied through Tyler's flesh.

"How bad?" I was at the edge of my seat as I awaited her answer.

She looked down and sat back against the sofa, crossing her arms over her chest. "Like, losing half an arm bad." Her words stilled my mind and I couldn't think properly. If Tyler had to lose an arm, he would be killed immediately when we went back to camp. Well, if we ever did. Our leader wouldn't want a cripple to be a part of our ranks and if he allowed it, he would die for sure on any runs.

"Are you sure?" I gulped and she nodded, playing with her fingers and not even daring to look into my eyes.

"Better than changing into one of those damn things, right?" Felix said and I really wanted to shoot his head off with his own rifle. At that moment, Aria's groggy self came from one of the bedrooms in the back, her grey eyes glazed over from sleep and her chestnut curls extra wavy, falling in light ringlets down her shoulders. "Morning." Felix smiled at her and I couldn't help the clenching of my right hand as his lips pulled up into a smile just for her. Relax yourself, Harry. Get your shit together. What the fuck is wrong with you?

"Mm," She nodded, her eyes casting to Tyler and Anna before looking to me. "Oh God, I thought it was all a dream." She lifted a hand to her forehead and for a moment I thought she was going to faint. "T-Tom..." She whispered in a raspy voice and collided on the floor, her back still raised as she held her head in her hands. The sudden change caught me off guard and I almost wanted to go over and help her. She reminded me so much of my sister that I felt almost responsible for her in some way.

Anna was the one to approach her and reassure her with indistinguishable words. I didn't know what to do, so I just watched, my hand letting up from it's harsh fist. I could hear Aria's soft weeping over Anna's rushed words and I felt a pang of guilt run through me. I felt bad for not helping her with her brother, but we were under pressure and the time to leave was closing. We could go back, but more of those Infected would only pile up until the hospital was overrun.

"Could you quiet down?" Tyler groaned, rolling over onto his back, rubbing his eyes.

"Shut the fuck up, man." Felix told him, rolling his eyes and sneering at Tyler. I raised an eyebrow at him, telling him to watch his tone, but he ignored me. Aria had pulled herself together and was nodding to something Anna was saying before standing up, her eyes looking back to me.

"C-can I speak with you?" She said in a small, strained voice. When I nodded, she didn't even hesitate to rush to the balcony we were at last night. After I passed, she closed the glass door behind us and stood next to me. During the morning, you could make out the defined textures of the crumbling buildings and the snake-like vines swarming each side and street. It was almost like we were living in a jungle that has grown around the ruins of a city--which is what happened.

"How are your hands?" Her wrapped palms were still tightly crisscrossed with gauze, a tiny drop of blood staining random parts.

"Raw," She flexed her fingers. "But manageable. They don't hurt as much as they did last night. I'd rather deal with rope cuts than teeth in my skin." She chuckled sadly. Silence overrode us, but this time it wasn't awkward or uncomfortable, we were too busy enjoying the view, the only beautiful thing in this world.

"So, what did you want to tell me?" I asked her, turning my head slightly to look down at her face. The light that radiated off the morning sun had added a glowing halo to her hair, her features were brightened with her grey eyes showing shards of blue and flecks of a honey brown in them. A most interesting colour and I thought they were such a beautiful shade that I almost had a hard time removing my eyes. What the fuck, Harry? I shook my head to remove the weird thoughts from my head.

"About Washington," She mumbled. My breath caught in my throat as I waited for her to continue. "Last night, I thought about it and I am scared of you." She nodded. I looked away from her for a moment to process her words. I was a Hunter, one of the most feared groups in the state. We usually frightened everybody and no one had the gall to stand up to us, unlike Aria. She had talked to me like a regular person last night, never backing down or fearing her thoughts and for that it almost turned on the switch--the switch that kept all emotions from seeping out.

"So, that's a no?" I asked, leaning my arms against the railing. A quiet breeze blew around us, sending a chill through Aria and I wished I had my jacket to lend her, but it still remained in the hospital. That sucks...it was my favourite one.

"I-I didn't say that," The words that left her mouth had me snap my head in her direction, my green eyes searching her dark grey ones. "Like I said, you scare me and being around you the whole way there is probably going to be the worst part of it," A small smile made a way on my face and she turned to look down at a moving shape down below, no doubt an Infected unhumanoid. "But I'm dying to know what is in D.C.. I just don't know how I'm going to convince the others." She shook her and sighed out.

My smile stayed on my face, but it strained. I wasn't counting on her camp coming along, seeing as Felix doesn't like me and probably would try to persuade her to stay with them. But then again, I should have expected that from her. "You know," she continued. "It's weird meeting a Hunter that isn't trying to rape or murder me," I laughed at her statement, causing her small smile to light up her face. "I guess this is a dream since you're here and my brother being gone," She gulped from the last part and again I had a sudden urge to comfort her. "That's another reason I would like to go. This place will only remind me of him and I don't want to."

"He could still be alive. Maybe he got lost and someone else took him in." I suggested, but she shook her head and laughed bitterly.

"Said so yourself, right? If he hasn't found me, he's probably already dead," She looked down, saying the words I have cursed her with. "The main problem will be to convince Felix. Anna would leave and as for Thalia..." She trailed off.

"Who is Thalia?" I asked. She's been mentioned before, but I haven't exactly a clue as to who she is.

"My brother's wife. There will be a bigger problem if she comes along," She looks up at me, her grey eyes a shade darker than they were. "She's 6 months pregnant." My eyes widened slightly and I had to control myself before lashing out. How could she believe that having a pregnant woman come along would do us any good? She would surely slow us down and have our trip to Washington D.C. drag on forever.

"She can't come." I shook my head and closed my eyes to let a silent sigh out.

"Harry," When she said my name, my eyes immediately glanced down at her. She tucked a chestnut curl begin her ear, showing two ear piercings I hadn't noticed before. "She's the most precious thing to me right now, along with that baby inside her. I can't leave her here. If that's the case, then you and Tyler are going by yourself--no matter how much I want to go."

Again, she wasn't afraid to speak her mind. Her eyes showed a small fire burning inside of them at the mention of abandoning her sister-in-law and the way her bottom lip trembled had me starting to lean towards her decision even more. Tyler would definitely complain and cuss out the situation without a moment of hesitation, depending on how long he remained human. He didn't exactly have a choice since my next answer came out of my mouth.

"Fine, but if she slows us down or gets bit, it ends with her," she looked down from my harsh words, completely surprised my change in tone, but I had to be. This mission was my idea and I wasn't going to let anyone ruin it. "That being said, Tyler's arm. The infection is still focusing in that one area, making me realise that something needs to be done about that before it gets worse." She looked back up to me, raising her eyebrow.

"What do you mean? You know that if you're bitten or scratched that that's it. There's no safe haven." She said.

"Your friend suggested amputation--below the elbow." I nodded. Her eyes widened.

"Are you sure he would agree with this?" She asked. I knew she was starting to grow colder with each second being out here. Her teeth were chattering lightly and her arms had goosebumps prickling her flesh.

"I think it's a better decision than becoming an Infected," I nodded for her to follow me. I placed a gentle hand on her lower back, the slight touch having her jump slightly, but she didn't move away as I pushed her back into the warmer room.

Anna was still knelt by Tyler, her fingers lightly prodding the sensitive spots of the incoming spores. Aria had her arms hugging herself, trying to recollect some bit of warmth that was taken from her.

Tyler's groaning brought me back to my friend. His eyes opened to stare groggily into Anna's and a cocky smile plastered on his face. "Did it hurt when you fell from heaven, babe?" Oh my fucking god....I almost slapped my forehead in complete embarrassment at his words.

Anna pulled on a loose thread from his stitches, causing him to yelp from pain, adding a small smirk to her lips as she stood.

"So, what then? She's stitched up your friend and we have given you a place to sleep? Are you staying or leaving?" Felix's voice filled the room. A burning sensation filled the pit of my gut and I wanted nothing more than to break his head off his shoulders. "We don't have much food, so leaving is your best choice. For all of us."

"You got a problem?" Tyler muttered, sitting up.

"Yes." Well, he wasn't one for keeping his thoughts to himself, was he?

"Stop, just...stop," Aria said beside me, her small hand raised to stop anything from going any further. "I don't want Thalia to be woken," Silence found its way and I was starting to become impatient as Felix looked from her to me, eyes narrowed.

"What is it?" He asked, stepping towards her until he was a few feet apart.

"He gave us a choice, Felix. A good one. One that I really want to do." Her voice whispered and I could feel the smile trying to spread on my face, but I let it stay hidden, sitting beside Tyler.

"What are you talking about?" He asked.

"He says there is a place in Washington D.C. that have answers--answers to everyone's problems," Her voice was starting to get excited, but I could tell Felix was growing more angrier. I don't know why, but if he said something terrible towards her, I might explode. She reminded me so much of Gemma that I couldn't let anything negative be thrown towards her. I barely know this girl, yet I'm already on the edge to defend her.

"Aria...he's lying. He's a fucking Hunter, a lying scumbag that won't have second thoughts to throw your body over the damn balcony." My eyes snapped to him as he said I was a Hunter. How the fuck did he know that?

"W-what?" I knew she was just as surprised as I was.

"Yes, I know he's a Hunter, both of them. While they both slept, I checked both of them and I found his stupid tattoo," He nodded his gun at Tyler. "What the fuck were you thinking to bring them here? I bet if we let them go, they'll tell their group our camp's whereabouts and we'll be killed during the night," He cocked his rifle and pointed it at my head, watching me as I stood up. "But if I get rid of them, we won't have to worry about it."

"Felix, stop!" Aria said, pushing his gun aside, but he brought it back up immediately. This prick was seriously pissing me off. "They aren't going to hurt us."

"That's what they want you to think and then, they'll slit your throats in your sleep." Felix huffed, his electrifying blue eyes casting glances between everyone.

"Nah, I prefer the cutting of the balls," Tyler chuckled, wiping the sweat on his forehead with the back of his hand. "I tried finding yours last night. No such luck unfortunately. I was looking for a nice castration." I couldn't help the laughter falling through my lips at Tyler's miserable attempt at trying to 'brighten the mood'. I saw the nurse crouched still in her position, also trying to hold back giggles. I'm actually surprised to see her not cowering behind something.

"You're asking for it, Hunter." Felix pointed a finger at my friend, who only raised his arms in mock defense.

"Put that away! You might poke an eye out." Felix tried to lunge for Tyler, but he only got a few feet short before Aria and I stepped in between the two. I swear to God, if he actually does come along, I might have to kill my first human.

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A/N: Not a great chapter, but I really wanted to put something out there for you guys :) I hope you all don't mind!