|Jungkook|

  Jungkook jerked awake when he felt the car come to a slow halt. He lifted his head off of the door and winced at the pain in his neck. Gguk rubbed the back of his neck, rolling his head around as he looked outside the window, growing confused when he noticed woods surrounding him.

"Why'd we stop?" He asked, turning his gaze towards Maggie and Glenn, who were sitting in the front seats.

Maggie shrugged and opened her door to get out, Glenn following closely behind. With a small sigh, Jungkook opened the car's door and slipped out of the car.

A cold breeze ran over Gguk's body, causing him to shiver before pulling his jacket closer to himself. He released a small yawn as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and walked over to Daryl.

The whole group seemed to have stopped in the middle of a road. Thankfully it was empty and was surrounded by woods but Jungkook still felt uneasy being out in the open.

Jungkook stopped a little away from Daryl, who was climbing off of his bike, and looked around the scattered group members. Rick walked towards the two, causing Daryl to turn towards him,

"You out?"

"I'm running on fumes." Rick responded, stopping next to the two.

Maggie walked closer to them, warily looking around he area while gripping the rifle in her arms tightly ,"We can't stay here."

Jungkook had to agree with her, being out in the open is dangerous, especially when the sun sets. The temperature will drop and a fire will be lit, and the fire will attract the infected.

"We can't all fit in one car." Glenn spoke up, standing next to Maggie.

Rick looked around before turning back to the group,"We'll make a run for some gas in the morning."

"Spend the night here?" Glenn wondered out loud, looking unsure about it.

Jungkook, too, looked at Rick with doubt, not wanting to spend the night in the open. Even thought he's spent many nights alone since the apocalypse started, he always found a secure place to sleep in because when he does sleep, nothing can wake him up. If he didn't find a place, he didn't sleep.

"I'm cold."

Jungkook snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Carl who was shivering in Lori's arms. Gguk frowned in sympathy when he saw the boy's blue lips and trembling body before he was suddenly struck with a thought.

Jungkook turned around and walked back to the jeep he was sleeping in. He pulled the door open before leaning in and grabbing a black hoodie from inside. The hoodie was the only thing he had pulled out of his backpack before the farm was overrun.

Jungkook stepped out of he car and shut the door behind him. He walked over to Lori and Carl, and offered them his hoodie, receiving a questioning look in return.

"You...you need it more than me." Jungkook muttered quietly, nodding towards a shivering Carl.

Lori's face lit up with a grateful smile before she placed her hand on his shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze,"Thank you." She whispered, taking the black hoodie from him.

Jungkook nodded, trying not to grow tense under her touch. He glanced down towards Carl only to see the boy staring up at him with wide doe eyes. Gguk's lips faintly tilted up and he sent Carl a small smile before turning around and walking over to Glenn and Maggie.

Maggie glanced at him and sent him a teasing smirk, causing Gguk's cheeks to flare a bright red before he rolled his eyes and looked away, pouting at her teasing.

"Everyone stop panicking, listen to Rick." Hershel spoke up, catching Jungkook's attention. He spared Hershel a glance before faintly nodding and turning towards the leader.

"Alright," Rick nodded, gathering his thoughts, he looked up and began to explain his plan,"We set up a perimeter. In the morning we'll find gas and some supplies. We keep pushin' on."

"Glenn and I can make a run now, and try to scrounge up some gas." Maggie said, gesturing towards Glenn and herself.

Jungkook looked at her with raised brows before stepping closer to the two,"I'm coming with you, I have more experience out there."

Maggie shook her head, ready to protest while Glenn scowled, looking in between the two with jealousy. Jungkook ignored Glenn's gaze and sent Maggie a look that meant he won't tolerate any protests. Maggie glared in return, looking at him like she was gonna beat him up. Gguk's face twisted due to fear before he blinked and looked away, still determined to come with them.

"No," The trio looked at Rick when he spoke. He shook his head, denying their request,"We stay together. God forbid something happens- people get stranded without a car."

"Rick,"Glenn furrowed his eyebrows and gestured around,"We're stranded now."

Jungkook nodded in agreement, crossing his arms over his chest and shuffling on his feet.

Rick nodded, huddling closer to the group,"I know it looks bad, we've all been through hell and worse, but at least we found each other." He spoke fiercely with a hint of aggression,"I wasn't sure...I..I really wasn't. But we did. We're together. And we keep it that way." Jungkook admired how Rick could convince him that even though their situation is bad, they will survive because they have each other. It was a childish concept but Rick made it seem fierce and powerful.

Jungkook looked around at the faces of the group members to try and see their opinion on this, and he was met with some doubtful expression. Gguk frowned, glancing at Hershel and Daryl who seemed to be the only ones not to doubt Rick and his decision. He realised that this is going to be a hard time for the group and they might even split up.

Sadly, Jungkook didn't know who to go with if the group did split up- Rick was the first one to accept him in the group, and he admired Daryl for the person he was and he knew that he could learn a lot from him. But he was already attached to Maggie and her constant teasing, and he didn't want to leave Hershel behind because weirdly enough, he liked the older man.

"Rick, look around, there's walkers everywhere," Glenn spoke up after sharing a look with Maggie,"They're migratin-"

"There's got to be a place, not just where we hole up...but where we....fortify. Hunker down. Pull ourselves together. Build a life for each other!" Rick hissed, his face twisting into a look of hope and determination,"I know it's out there, we just have to find it!"

Jungkook flinched slightly and took a step back when Rick raised his voice and pointed the gun in his hand down at the ground. Gguk knew Rick wouldn't hurt them but his body language was quite aggressive and unpredictable, and that made the rest of the group restless and anxious.

Rick turned around, rubbing his forehead due to frustration,"Even though we do find a place." Rick turned around, looking at Maggie when she spoke up, shuffling on her feet nervously,"We can never be sure for how long. Look at what happened to the farm. We fooled ourselves into thinking that that was safe."

"We won't make that mistake again." Hershel whispered harshly, his face turning hard.

Jungkook pursued his lips and looked around, his eyes caught a sight of some ruins deeper in the forest and he wondered if that would be safe enough for the night. It won't be warm and it won't bring any protection but the ruins could bring them some cover, it was better than staying out in the open road.

Rick seemed to be thinking the exact same thing because the next thing he did was gesture towards the ruins,"We make camp over there, get on the road in the brink of day."

Jungkook nodded, ready to head over to the ruins and see if there's any infected inside. He pulled out his knife, his knuckles turning white from how strong he gripped the weapon. But just as he was about to move, the rest of the group huddled closer together- Carol going to Daryl and Beth approaching Rick.

"What if walkers come or another group like Randall's?" Beth asked quietly, looking up at Rick questioningly.

Gguk swallowed thickly and glanced in between the two before deciding to butt in. A small smile appeared on his face, trying to ease Beth's nerves as he spoke,"Then we protect each other." Rick and Beth turned towards Jungkook. He sent Beth a small smile, causing the girl to turn away with a blush coating her pale cheeks. Gguk looked up at Rick, the smile slipping and a serious look taking its place,"Like you said."

Rick nodded at Jungkook before the boy looked towards Daryl,"You know I found Randall, right?" Daryl stated, looking at Rick with a blank face,"He turned but he wasn't bit."

The group immediately turned towards Rick, ready to hear what he'll say. Jungkook wondered why they looked at Rick like he had all the answers in the world. Why would he know why Randall turned without being bit? Gguk rolled his eyes and sighed, puffing out his cheeks. He felt sympathy towards the leader- the group was doubting him and his leadership skills, yet now they're looking at him for answers he didn't even hold.

"How's that evening possible?"

"Rick, what the hell happened?"

"Shane killed Randall. Just like he always wanted to."

Jungkook's eyes shot up from the pavement and he looked at Daryl with parted lips. He surely wasn't expecting that, not after they had that conversation in the woods about keeping your mouth shut. But Jungkook was yet again pleasantly surprised and that's what caused him to look at Daryl with admiration for his bluntness.

The hunter spared him a glance, causing Jungkook to smile faintly before looking at Rick. Rick's expression was cold and guarded, he clenched his jaw and looked down at the ground as if he was remembering something.

"And then the horde got him?" Lori wondered out loud, turning towards Rick for answers. Again.

Rick kept quiet, his gaze glued to the floor. Jungkook wondered if he'll even say anything but then again, what could he say when he didn't know anything?

Gguk shuffled on his feet and spared a glance towards the ruins where they'll be staying the night. Honestly, he was over this conversation and he wanted to do someth-

"We're all infected."

Jungkook froze, his mind going blank and his breath hitching in his throat. He stilled, trying to make sense of what Rick had just said. Maybe he misinterpreted it. Ever so slowly, Gguk turned his eyes towards Rick who was glaring down at the ground, avoiding the disbelief filled stares he received. Surely it cannot be true.

"What?" Jungkook didn't even notice the word slip past his lips.

"At the CDC, Jenner told me. Whatever it is. We all carry it."

Jungkook's mind went numb, he felt lightheaded and dizzy. Gguk felt something churn in the pit of his stomach before his skin began to tingle all over. He wanted to reach out scratch at it, if felt like million of ants were crawling under his skin, trying to break loose.

Jungkook felt sick.

He wanted to run away and escape from his own body.

But he knew he couldn't.

Jungkook was sick.

Just like the infected he had killed.

Just like the infected that tried to kill him.

Does that mean he's one of them? That he'll become just like them? A mindless being, only hungry for the human flesh? No conscience or thought process?

"Why didn't you say anything?"

Jungkook swallowed thickly, bitting his lip harshly as he sucked in a deep breath and took a step away from the group.

"Does it make a difference?"

Gguk turned his back to the group and placed his hands on his hips, trying to keep the panic and fear from taking over.

"You knew this whole time?"

Jungkook sucked in a deep breath and squeezed his eyes shut. His head tilted down towards the ground, allowing some strands of hair to fall in his face.

"How would I know for sure? You saw how crazy-"

Jungkook opened his eyes and released a deep breath, raising a shaky hand to rub his sweaty forehead.

"That is not your call! When I found out about the walkers in the barn, I told for the good of everyone."

Jungkook turned around and allowed his eyes to glide over the scared, furious group members. They were staring at Rick as if he was a monster, as if he had committed the worst crime of them all. Their faces were filled with distrust as they stared at Rick, causing Jungkook's heavy gaze to finally turn towards the leader,

"Well I thought it'd be best if people didn't know!"

Rick hissed, finally shutting everyone up. Jungkook bit his lip and wrapped his arms around himself, turning his eyes down to the ground.

Tense silence filled the air as everyone pondered over the information they had just gathered. Jungkook felt the hairs on his arms stand up and his back straighten when he began to feel uncomfortable from the tension in the air.

An unnecessary breath left Rick before he turned around and walked away. Jungkook felt a brush of air against his shoulder when Rick walked past him, causing him to momentarily tense up.

Lori immediately began to move and walked after Rick. The group kept quiet even when the leader left, yet they all dispersed and began to do something.

Jungkook kept biting his lower lip and staring at the ground while Rick's confession kept replaying in his mind. He couldn't believe he was infected. For a second he.....no. He had hoped that there was a chance for the ones who weren't infected to go back to living a normal life if the world ever got back to normal. But  now that he found out that even if he died from old age, he would still turn into one of those monsters.

"Stop thinking," A grunt filled Jungkook's ears before someone nudged him in the ribs. Gguk jerked back and looked up with wide eyes. Daryl was walking away from him, heading towards the ruins before he called out gruffly,"Let's go."

Jungkook looked at Daryl's retreating back with wide eyes filled with was excitement. His lips suddenly stretched out into a wide grin before he ran after his idol, the newfound information long forgotten.

   A shiver ran through Jungkook as the cold night's air brushed against his back and tangled into his locks. He pulled his jacket closer to himself and scooted closer to the fire, seeking its warmth.

The warmth and light from the fire caressed the faces of everyone sitting around it. The sun had long set, leaving the group in pitch black darkness and a tension filled silence.

Jungkook brought his legs up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. His dark coloured eyes stared into the dancing flames as his bunny teeth chewed on his lower lip.

Jungkook had always admired fire, the way it moved and danced as if teasing and taunting you. The way it made you forget how dangerous it truly was in order for you to lower your guard and give it the perfect opportunity to break out of its confined state and destroy everything in its path.

Jungkook admired fire because he wanted to be like fire. It gave you everything you could ever need- food, warmth, light, protection. Fire was everything a person needed to survive, yet people often forgot how dangerous it truly was, making the mistake of thinking that they could control it. One moment you could be staring into the eyes of a candle flame, and the next, you'll be watching as it swallows everything it comes in contact with.

Yeah, Jungkook smirked slightly as he watched the fire crack and flare for a second, just like fire.

"We're not safe with him, keeping something like that from us."

Jungkook didn't even bother to look at Carol when she spoke, he placed his chin on the top of his knees and continued to stare at the flame in front of him.

"Why do you need him, if he's just gonna pull you down?"

This time Jungkook's eyes barely glanced to his right, catching a glimpse of Daryl, who was sitting right next to him, and Carol, who was sitting next to Daryl, staring at Daryl with her lips pulled into a straight line.

"Nah, Rick ain't like that." Daryl spoke gruffly, giving Carol a small glance before looking away.

Jungkook released an unnecessary breath and pulled his knees tighter to his chest, trying to ignore the cold air rubbing against his back while the heat from the fire hugged him from the front.

Carol's comments were making him angry. Not because she was expressing her opinion and saying what she felt, but because she was talking about Rick behind his back.

She was basically trying to convert Daryl, who's one of the last three people in the group to put their faith and trust in Rick after everything that's happened. To Jungkook it looked like she was trying to get everyone on her side without Rick butting in and defending himself.

Gguk scowled and glared at the fire, thinking about what would happen to Rick if the group turned on him.

"You're his henchmen and I'm a burden, you deserve better." Carol continued, addressing Daryl softly, yet with a hint of unhidden anger.

Jungkook bit his lower lip, chewing on it before he turned his eyes away from the fire and looked at Hershel, who was sitting on the opposite side of him. The older man was huddled closely together with Beth, while Maggie and Glenn sat side by side.

"What do you want?" Daryl asked bluntly, his lips tilted down into a heavy scowl while his eyes squinted into a dangerous glare.

Jungkook heard the slight anger and frustration in his voice, but Daryl was good at hiding it and Carol was good at ignoring it.

Carol frowned, her gaze not drifting from Daryl's cold eyes,"A man of honour." She whispered without a second thought.

"Rick has honour." Daryl immediately shot back, his body turning towards the fire along with his eyes, silently telling carol that the conversation was over.

Jungkook relaxed at his words and actions, Gguk knew that Daryl was a man with a strong opinion and it wouldn't change easily, but he didn't deny that he was scared of Daryl's answer to Carol's unsaid proposition. Jungkook didn't want Rick to be thrown out of the group, he knew that Rick was a good man but just like the rest of them, the apocalypse had damaged him. Gguk didn't even know if the group would function properly without a leader like him, he didn't know if he would stay if Rick left.

"I think we should take our chances."

Maggie's voice drifted through the air, reaching Jungkook's ears, yet her words were the ones that caused him to snap his head towards the girl and look at her with parted lips.

Maggie was looking around the faces of the group, drinking in their expressions, before she caught a sight of Jungkook's, now, hardened, cold eyes. A flash of guilt ran over her face before she turned away.

Hershel, who was sitting next to his daughters and Glenn, gave her a stern look,"Dont be foolish. There's no food, no fuel, no amo."

As soon as Hershel finished speaking, the sound of branches snapping and leaves crunching invaded Jungkook's ears. The group immediately tensed up and straightened out.

"What was that?" Beth questioned in a shaky tone and wide eyes.

Jungkook, and the rest of the group, stood up, looking around the dark forest in case an infected showed up. Jungkook's shoulders were squared and straightened as his eyes danced across the line of trees, trying to catch a glimpse of the source of the noise.

"Could be anything, could be a raccoon, could be a possum." Daryl said as he stood up, taking his crossbow off of his shoulder.

"A walker." Glenn murmured quietly, his hand slowly inching towards his gun, ready to pull it out.

Carol trembled as she looked around and huddled closer to the middle of the group,"We need to leave, I mean, what are we waiting for?"

Jungkook sighed and rolled his eyes, turning to look at Carol,"For the daylight."

The group ignored Jungkook's words, their minds set on the idea of packing up their things and going off into the dark. Gguk released a deep sigh through his nose, squeezing his eyes shut to calm himself down as he listened to them talk,

"Which way?"

"It came from over there."

"Back from where we came."

"Yeah."

"The last thing we need is for everyone to run off into the dark."

Jungkook perked up, his eyes snapping open and his posture straightening when he heard Rick finally return to the group and speak. Gguk hoped that now that Rick was here, Carol wouldn't go behind his back and place the poisonous idea, that he was the cause the group's misery, in everyone's heads.

"We don't have the vehicles, and no ones traveling on foot." Rick continued, his stern gaze boring into each and every group member.

When Rick's eyes connected with Jungkook's, the boy gave him a small nod and a faint smile, causing the leader's posture to relax. Rick seemed to be glad that not everyone was against him and someone still had his back.

"Don't panic." Hershel murmured, even though his voice was quiet, you could hear the strained order in it.

Maggie sucked in a deep breath, gripping her rifle tighter,"I'm not...I'm not sitting here waiting for another horde to blow through. We need to go, we need to go now."

Jungkook understand that the group was scared and panicky but their fear took over their rational side, making them vulnerable to the infected. Going off into the woods was even more dangerous that sitting around a brightly lit fire surrounded by ruins. They could run into a horde of infected and instead of hearing or seeing them, they wouldn't even know that the infected were there. At least now they had a chance.

"No ones going anywhere!" Rick spat, turning his head towards Maggie who looked away with a glare.

"Do something!" Carol raised her voice, taking a step closer to Rick. Her eyes flared with anger and fear as she clenched her jaw, looking at Rick to do everything.

Rick immediately stepped closer to her,"I am doing something! I'm keeping this group together! Alive!"He shouted, gesturing his gun towards the whole group,"I didn't ask for this! I killed my best friend for you people, for Christ's sake!"

Jungkook swallowed thickly, glancing at the scared expressions of the group members as Rick finally snapped. Gguk had a hunch that Rick knew what was going on behind his back, the leader wasn't an idiot. And now that the group was pushing his last buttons, Rick finally had enough.

Jungkook knew that Shane was Rick's best friend, it would explain why the man got away with so much in Rick's presence. Thankfully, Gguk didn't care much about Shane so after hearing that Rick had killed him, it actually made him proud of the leader. It wasn't everyday that someone could go against a person that they love just for the better of themselves and the people around them. So hearing that Rick killed his best friend, because he was becoming too dangerous for the group, made Jungkook proud and happy that Rick was the leader.

"You saw what he was like," Jungkook's crosses his arms over his chest and uncomfortably shuffled on his feet, listening to Rick speak,"How he pushed me, how he compromised us, how he threatened us."

Honestly Jungkook didn't feel like he should witness this argument, it felt like he had been visiting a couple on a brink of a divorce, and as they were serving him dinner, they suddenly started an argument over who should pour him wine and who should feed him rice. Jungkook was the acquaintance stuck in the middle of a couple bickering, watching the argument quickly escalate into someone grabbing his dish and throwing it at the other person.

"He staged the whole Randall thing, led me out to put a bullet in my back!" Rick's breathing began to pick up, and his face twisted due to anger and frustration. He rubbed his sweaty forehead before snapping his head towards Jungkook and gesturing his gun harshly towards the boy , causing him to jerk back in mild fear,"He would've done it to you too!" Rick exclaimed, receiving wide eyed looks from the terrified group members as their eyes momentarily flickered over to Jungkook,"He gave me no choice!"

Jungkook's head dropped down to the ground, allowing a few strands of his hair to fall in front of his face, shielding him like a curtain. He shifted on his feet due to the sudden attention before releasing a breath of relief when Rick began to speak again, taking the attention off of him.

But even then, Jungkook still held onto Rick's words, would Shane have really put a bullet in my back, if Rick hadn't stopped him from bringing me with them? Jungkook felt a newfound paranoia creep up his neck and wrap around him like a snake choking its prey, how many people here still didn't trust me enough to put a bullet in my back? Gguk wondered, glancing around the group warily.

"He was my friend, but he came after me!" Rick hissed darkly, his gaze laying heavily on each group member. The sound of a broken sob caused Jungkook's eyes to snap up and look at Carl, who broke down and shoved his head into Lori's chest, muffling his throaty wails.

Jungkook bit his lip anxiously, his shaky fingers kneading the sleeve of his shirt as he reluctantly turned away from Carl and back to Rick,"Maybe you people are better off without me. Go ahead" Rick gestured towards the dark forest around him, the anger on his face washing away as a mask of nonchalance took its place,"I say there's a place for us, but maybe...maybe it's another pipe dream. Maybe I'm fooling myself again!" Rick stated, his brows drawing together, causing a few creases to form in his forehead,"Why don't you....why don't you go and find out yourself! Send me a postcard! Lets see how far you'll get!"

Jungkook shivered at Rick's words and the tone they were uttered in. He bit his lip, swallowing thickly and taking a reluctant step away from him. Gguk always told himself that the leader wouldn't hurt him, he knew it was the truth, but Rick's tone and aggression was causing him to feel on edge. Just like it did to all the other group members who were saying nothing, and just stared at Rick with parted lips and eyes filled with horror.

"No takers? Fine. But let's get one thing straight," Jungkook hesitatingly looked up and connected his eyes with Rick's piercing gaze. The leader's eyes bored into his for a second before skimming over to the next person,"If you're staying,"Jungkook's lips straightened into a thin line and his brows raised as he waited patiently for Rick's one-liner. Rick licked his lips, a small glare appearing on his face,

"This isn't a democracy anymore."

The pale, horror stricken faces were engraved into Jungkook's mind as he slowly turned to look at the rest of the group. He could even see some of the members not breathing or not looking away from Rick as the leader turned around and left again.

But despite the horror on everyone's faces, the only thing Jungkook could think was,

Wasn't Rick already the leader?