Matt POV

The sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow and painting the sky an admirable pink. When I look up at the sky from my five metre tall outpost I forget about everything. I forget about the Cannibals, the chaos, the fear. Will...

I was disgusted in myself. I left him on that rooftop out of fear - uncertainty. I was losing him right in front of my eyes. Eating food while he went hungry. I left because I hated myself, hated my incapability.

I went back for him though. I went back to the rooftop. Instead of finding Will, I found a massacre of Cannibals. Fifteen or so. I never thought Will was capable of such violence.

I tried finding him but he left no trail. There were no breadcrumbs, no sign that he went West or East - no hint at hope. Hope of finding him. I can't even imagine how he must've felt. I winced in pain. Here I was, asking him not to send me away only to leave him myself.

Valarie found me. I was sitting in a car surrounded by Cannibals. I was just sitting there, half hoping that they would get in and end my pain for me. I suppose its not healthy being so attached to someone - but I loved him. I still do.

She killed all those Cannibals by herself - making it look like a mundane chore.

"You're pathetic. Get out, let's go."

And she brought me here. That was three weeks ago. Things were somewhat better now. The pain was less - still there but less. People here were nice. Once they became accustomed to you, obviously. They're a very joyous group and I think that was Valarie's end goal.

There were whispers that she made a massive sacrifice for the group. No one spoke out right about what it was so I was still in the dark but everyone admired her greatly. In some sense, everyone here was like her family.

Despite her cold gaze and glacial attitude, every now and then you would catch a glimpse of gentleness. It created a sense of awe - like witnessing a miracle. She didn't stay out with the others though. She usually stayed inside the only house on the campgrounds - the house belonging to the previous farmer. Always planning, always training. Either that or she was outside the fence, in the city.

Sometimes she would get this look in her eyes. I remember I went to fetch wood from a pile for one of the many campfires. I was heading back when she passed me. I asked her where she was going. She didn't respond. Her eyes were glazed over - not frozen but...dead. Later I learned that sometimes she went out to the city alone. It worried a lot of people - they thought that one day she wouldn't come back.

Whenever she came back from one of those moods there was blood on her sheath and her eyes were frozen again.

I looked at my new watch - I lost my old one - and sighed in relief when I noticed there were three minutes until my shift was over and another guard would take my place.

There was movement down below so I took aim with my rifle, "Hey! We're survivors! Don't shoot, we're looking for shelter!", a blonde man shouted up at us.

"How did you know about this location?" Mark - the guard on the left outpost - shouted down. I kept my aim on the blonde man when a figure clad in black approached calmly behind the stranger. I watched from behind my scope as he removed the furry hood of a black coat and my breath got caught in my throat.

It's impossible.

"Valarie told me to come here", Will said calmly. It's him. He's alive and right here. My heart sped up in anxiety, relief and... fear. My hand radio crinkled to life as Mark's voice carried over the radio wave, "Sir, we have a survivor claiming you told him to come here. Your orders?"

Valarie's cool voice replied, "I'm on my way."

Promptly she arrived and the gate opened. I couldn't hear their conversation but my mind wandered to the man with Will.

Are they together?

I swallowed the vicious jealousy that bubbled inside of me. I have no right to be jealous.

His hair was longer. That's the first thing that I noticed. It hung over his eyes and ears. There was a gaping hole in his pants by his right thigh. It revealed his smooth skin... I had an urge to get him more conservative clothing, I didn't want people to oogle at him. That's my job.

That was my job. It isn't anymore. Valarie lead the way inside as Will followed and the other man walked behind Will. I snarled as I saw his eyes lower to Will's ass and quickly snap up. I could pull the trigger. I could say it was a mistake. I could do it.

The beeping of my alarm shocked me and I almost dropped my gun. My shift was over, I rushed down the platform and kept my distance between the three of them, trying to eavesdrop. The other's also noticed the newcomer's arrival. I wonder if he'll get a tent close to mine.

Torches were being set up around the training grounds - which was basically a patch of dirt where no grass grew. I frowned, lots of people joined after I arrived at the camp for the first time, but this never happened with any of them. Valarie is planning something. She's always planning.

She stepped into the centre of the training ground. I hid myself in the crowd that had gathered to watch the spectacle. Will looked bored as the 'man' he was with looked confused.

Valarie slammed her sword sheath down on the ground and the crowd's whispers stopped immediately.

"The Freaks are experiencing tissue atrophy and bone degradation. In short, they're dying. As many of you know, a simple blow to the head kills them. A human skull is hard enough to withstand a blow from a baseball bat. Michael, front and centre."

The crowd parted for the giant of a man. I was afraid of him when I first got here, he was massive, taller than me - he was standing at around 6"5 - built of muscle and covered in tattoos. He shaved his head bald to complete his "look". In actual fact, he's a very nice person. He is, however, the only scout that Valarie allows to leave on his own. That speaks lengths of his merit as a survivor.

Valarie nodded at two men who were carrying their baseball bats,watching in awe, "Hand them over." The man walked over to Michael on shaky legs as he handed Michael the bat. Michael smiled, "Thanks." The man nodded viciously and ran back to the sidelines. Valarie received the other bat and turned to Will.

"This is your test. If you want to stay here, I need to know that you're useful and not dead weight. Your objective is to knock him out", she said pointing her sheath at Michael without moving her eyes off of Will, "or be knocked out. If it is the latter...well, don't let it be the latter."

She tossed her bat toward Will but the other 'man' grabbed it, "I'll do it, he is roughly around my size." I snarled in disgust, he must think he's so chivalrous.

"No, Logan", Will took hold of the bat, "I'm doing it." The crowd started whispering again. 'Logan' didn't let go of the bat so their hands were touching longer than necessary. I grit my teeth.

"Will, are yo-"

Will snatched the bat, took off his coat - throwing it to the ground - and took Valarie's place. Facing Michael he looked up at him with such...hatred. The look frightened me, the Will I knew didn't possess that look. The Will I knew didn't have those deadly eyes or hardened attitude.

"I don't like people like you", Will said coldly.

Michael quirked a brow, "What have I ever done to you?"

Will took a stance, separating his legs slightly and gripping the bat with both hands, "You have green eyes. I hate green eyes."

Was he referring to me? My stomach boiled at the idea. He needs to know that I didn't mean to hurt him... He needs to know that I never stopped thinking about him.

Michael didn't respond, instead he grabbed his bat with both hands and charged at Will. My entire being shook with worry. I couldn't watch Will get beat up.

But everything happened in an instant, or the shock made it seem that way. As Michael swung his bat at Will's head with tremendous force, Will duck and did a sharp jab to the giant's stomach while sidestepping. He proceeded to spin around and hit the back of Michael's knees, causing the massive man to kneel. And as if punctuating a sentence, Will slammed the bat on the back of Michael's head.

The goliath fell face first onto the dirt and Will dropped his bat. The entire crowd was dead quiet, unsure of how to react. Their biggest, strongest scout was humiliated by this short, cold man. Valarie clapped slowly, although looking bored, "Well done."

Will simply stared at her, "Is there another test?"

"No. Welcome to the camp, I'll show you your tent."

Logan ran over to Will and encompassed him in a hug, slightly lifting him off the floor. I clenched both fists, "You're amazing", the irritating man said. He put Will down and Will looked at him in shock. Logan smiled awkwardly and scratched the back of his head.

"Do you two want to stay in the same tent?"

My eyes widened in horror and I whispered to myself, "No." As if timed, Logan took on a wild look and frantically shook his head, "Uh, no, no. We'll take separate tents if that's okay."

Valarie took on a knowing look and scanned Logan head to toe and back again, "Sure", she said as if she knew his darkest secret and found it amusing.

A/N: It's been a while my little icys :) but Buzz is in full swing and I will try to update every week day ✓ please remember to vote if you're enjoying the story! I wuvv you #Mwahsies