Now that we were in the sunlight, I feel my heart start slowing at a normal rate again, until a loud resounding slap hits the building window making all of us jump at the sudden unexpected noise. I swing my head back to the front to see whatever creature that was throw something that was definitely bloody and looking like pieces of flesh.

My stomach clenches at the image, staring at it with horror. The fact that it threw body parts at us was downright disturbing. Someone just takes a hold of my shoulders and gently pulls me to look away completely, and to walk back to where the girl was still lying on the ground a few dozen feet away in the parking lot.

I tried my hardest to get rid of the images in my brain, but it was really hard to do. All I wanted was to get this shit over with and get the hell out of this place. I don't think I could stand another moment longer here. And there was no way I was just going to sit around and let my life be hindered and constantly on the watch because of these asshole things.

I was going to do something about it damn it. Because there just had to be a way. A way to where we all can go home safely.

None of us says a word as we quickly and quietly create a makeshift pyre from the wooden beams that Jacob and I were able to retrieve before all hell broke loose in the hardware store. I stand back with Zared just next to me as we watch Lacy and Lani wrap the girl in the sheets that we were able to snatch from the houses.

Then both Seth and Jacob lifted her onto the pyre and stood back as we all stared at our handiwork. Seth clears his throat and looks to each of us.

"Should we say a few words?"

"None of us knew who she was. Not sure on what to say really." Lani speaks up finally, looking a bit freaked out still.

"I hate that you were stuck in this place." Zared suddenly speaks loudly, making us all look over to him.

He stared right at the dead girl, his eyes looking sad and a bit angry. "I'm sorry that you had to live your last hours, dealing with those horrifying things. To spend your last night in terror with no one to be there with you, that you were completely alone. You didn't deserve to die like that. And you sure as hell didn't deserve to end up here in this shithole. We hope you can find peace now and that all your fears had faded away at the end. I promise when we get back to our real home, I'll find out who you are so we can give your family the closure they deserve."

I couldn't help but just stare at him. He doesn't look over to me as he just continues to stare straight ahead. Looking down at his limp hand that was hanging by his side, I couldn't help to slip my own into his carefully. He doesn't push me away, instead his snatches on and links our fingers together tightly in a grip.

I look back at the others as they now start the process to lite the body and wood on fire. Lani had gathered twigs and dead leaves while we had been building the wooden platform and Lacy had a lighter on her already in one of the many pockets of her jacket, which now I understood why she was quick to grab it this morning.

It wasn't hard to find random trash and paper lying around since this part of the city looked like a tiny wind tornado had flew by to disrupt the abandonment of the area. So, with the thin sheet, the body had gone up in flames and the wood was quick to burn.

We all stood there together as we just watch the flames build higher and higher. At one point it got so hot that we actually had to take a step back from it. The smell of burnt flesh was horrible so I covered my nose with the sleeve of my sweater and just continued to watch.

"Promise me that if I die before you, that you'll burn my body too, just like this." I lowly say to Zared, making him look over at me.

"No, because you're not going to die here, Jinsen."

His voice was firm with conviction snapping my eyes to his instantly. They were hard with determination. "We're not going to die." He then looks back at the flames of the fire that was now way taller than us, casting his shadows in an orange hue. "I'll make sure of it."

His lips were thin as if the thought upset him greatly, which it most likely did. It was downright depressing thinking of dying here, like this, by those monsters. But I wanted to be sure that if it does happen that he'll be there to burn my body and not left on the ground to just be eaten by those things.

I don't say any of this aloud however, because no matter what I say he was just going to deflect it as he did just now.

"We should start heading back. It's midday now and I would like to get back before dark starts to fall. We're all exhausted after the morning we just had." Lacy picks up the axe that was lying on the ground where we had used it to create the pyre.

She too was looking at the burning body for a few moments and it wasn't missed of the sad look in her own eyes. I wasn't sure what she was thinking. She has been here long enough to see plenty of her own horrors, and I knew she thought what we wanted to do was hopeless. But we had to try, no matter what. Because I didn't want to end up like this girl, or whoever it had been in the hardware store.

And I sure as hell didn't want Zared or any of the others facing that same fate either. I had to do all I could to help us get the fuck out of here. Including her. I knew it was going to frustrate me to no end, but I had to convince her to leave with us. Because one way or another, we were all going to go home.

***

We hardly spoke on the way back. Once we entered through the manmade gate surrounding the hotel I was instantly slammed with a hug from Rissa as she clutched onto me tightly, her body sagging with relief.

I tightly hug her back as I look over to see Zared in the same predicament as I was but with Violet. She hugged him tightly to her and with her breasts pressed up all against his chest I couldn't help the sudden flare of heated jealousy hitting me out of nowhere.

I swallow hard with the intense feeling. I wasn't sure what to do with it. I just quickly look away and detach myself from Rissa, who was trying desperately to hold her tears back. She gives me a watery smile as she goes to do the same thing to Seth, hugging him just as tightly.

"Thank god, you all are alright." She sighs with relief as she lets him go.

I look back over to Zared, who was now looking uncomfortable as Vi still clung onto him as if she never wanted to let him go. For a moment there, I had completely forgotten how much Vi was completely in love with him.

An uneasy feeling hits me remembering that and now I was feeling like the worst friend in the entire world. Chuck and Leo both come out to greet us in the yard as well just as she pulled herself away from him. She comes over and only gives me and Seth a quick hug. I couldn't help but stare at Zared as he stares right back at me.

I raise my eyebrow in question only to get a smirk out of him. Clamping my mouth shut I look away just as Chuck asks,

"Glad you all are alright. But what made you three go out there on your own like that? And with no word to any of us? You realize how dangerous and stupid that was?"

I unconsciously grab the bill of my hat that I was still wearing, feeling the heat rise on my cheeks of the stupidity of what they had done. It was my fault in the first place anyways. I should shoulder the blame just as much.

But before anyone could answer his question, Leo snaps out, "Is that blood?" Looking right at Seth's shirt.

We all turn to him and immediately the girls start bombarding him with concern and making him lift up his shirt to reveal that he was indeed unharmed. I subconsciously move in front Zared, knowing that he was covered with just as much blood as Seth was and wanted to prevent from the girls doing the same thing to him.

"Had no idea you were the possessive type." He whispers down to me, making the heat flame even hotter on my face to where it now reached the tip of my ears.

Thank God for the hat.

Apparently, I had no idea either. It was just an automatic reaction when the thought had slipped through my mind in that instant. But I wasn't about to tell him that. He already seemed pleased enough by my action, which sent butterflies straight into the pit of my stomach.

And of course, Seth was loving it. Completely eating up their attention as they roamed their hands all over him to check for any injuries that may be hiding. I shake my head as he has a eat shitty grin on his face and says,

"Please, check wherever you like. I am not opposed to stripping if you need me too."

That just made the girls scoff at him and push at him playfully. And that was my cue to get us the hell away from here before they start attacking Zared next.

"I think we all need showers cause everyone here stinks and I'm starving." I announce just as I swing behind his back and start shoving him towards the hotel entrance.

He doesn't fight or argue with me as he lets me push him inside, but not without the small little chuckle he does that only I can hear. And just not to draw too much attention on my sudden need to hide him away from their grabby hands, I call out,

"Seth, I'm sure you don't want to be embarrassed by how bad you smell with, well you know. I would advise clean clothes bro. Same for you Jacob!"

I don't hear anything they say as the doors shut right behind us. And before I lose my composure, I grab his hand and rush us both up the billion flight of stairs to the sixth floor. Zared just goes along with it, not once taking his hand from mine.

I had no idea what has gotten into me as I desperately wanted to be alone with him. It wasn't like me at all, especially with him. But ever since that kiss he planted on me I couldn't get him out of my head. Yeah, sure he probably only did it to get me out of my terror filled mind, but there were other ways to do it then kissing me. And he can't deny it now that I know his true feelings that he let slip last night.

I wanted to give him my answer and if I needed to prove it to him, then by damn I will.

"Um Jinsen? Why are we rushing?" He asks just as we hit the fourth landing.

"We need to talk." Was all I gave.

"Talk? About what?" He sounded a bit nervous.

"Us."

That sobered him up real quick as he suddenly stops in the middle of the stairwell. His hand slips from mine making me look back at him with impatience. He stares at me with that damn reserved look again and I decided I hated that look when it was directed at me.

"What about us that needs to be talked about?"

I squint my eyes at him with the feeling of slight irritation at his question. What was he trying to do right now? Was he building a wall with this subject? A way for him to brace against the words I was about to spew out? He was not about to do that with me, not right now.

Because we were both going to lay everything bare between us, whether he liked it not. I needed to know how he truly feels, how in depth they were and where we were heading next in this weird and odd relationship. Because if we were stuck here for the unforeseeable future where each and every day, second, minute, hour could very well be our last, then I wasn't going to hold back.

Hell no, I was all in starting today. Staring right now.