Lukas's POV

Well, after some panicking, we solemnly headed back to Aiden and his crew to deliver the news.

After some time, maybe about a week, the food started running out, along with everyone's patience, sanity, and basically we turned rabid. Seriously, humans are animals!

"Heyy, Lukas," said Petra a little too friendly as she stalked over to me, "Whatcha got there?"

"An apple," I mumbled as I hid the shiny red treat deeper into my lap so she couldn't just come over and grab it.

"Maybe we could share," she said as she smiled an evil smile, revealing her snake fangs. I could see the evil flames in her eyes and the scales on her face.

"No, it's mine," I said firmly. Petra prowled closer maintaining eye contact. She looked like a gingery cat ready to pounce.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" asked Maya as she too stalked over to me, remaining eye contact.

"Nothing," I said.

"No, I heard you said you have an apple. There's no escaping this, Lukas," Petra hissed.

"An apple? A bright, red, shiny, sweet apple? Lukas, you can't keep this a secret," growled Maya.

"It's not a secret, it's just an apple. Go get your own," I said, trying to keep my nervousness from showing.

"Did someone say apple?" snarled Gill. He crept closer.

"Lukas has an apple," Maya said. All three of them cornered me as they growled and hissed.

"That's my apple, Lukas," whispered Gill, "hand it over, and it won't have to end like this. He sneered, illuminating all three rows of teeth.

Wait, did he say end?!

Suddenly, they pounced!

"Stop that! Hey! Get off! It's mine!" I cried trying to keep the red orb out of their veiny claws.

"I got it!" yelled Maya, standing on her hind legs and holding the delectable delicacy over her head. Petra and Gill growled, then pounced on her as they tackled each other across the room. Jesse and Aiden just stood there, staring at the scene.

"We need food," said Jesse.

"Maybe you and Lukas could go hunting or something? I can stay here and take care of the animals," Aiden said.

"Yeah, I really need to get away," I said, slightly disappointed that I had to give up my apple.

"Good luck taking care of the crazies," said Jesse as I followed her out the door.

"Thanks, I'll need it," said Aiden. After the door was closed, I could hear Aiden's muffled voice trying to tame the lions.

"Hey, you guys! Wait!"

"Okay, Lukas," Jesse began in her strategy tone, "I heard that walkers are attracted to sound, so let's try to be as quiet as possible."

"Sounds like a plan," I whispered, "let's go."

After it seemed like there were no animals out, Jesse pointed out, "Lukas, look! A cow!" I could see the excitement flashing in her green eyes that we would finally be able to eat again.

"Let's go!" I said. We both ran up to it, and Jesse took the first hit. Unluckily, the idiot cow screamed and began to run around in circles.

"No, cow! Stop that! Shh!" Jesse whispered. She has this habit where she talks to inhuman things. It was a little weird at first, but, being around her so much, I got used to it. I had to.

Right after the noise, as if this was timed or something, four walkers approached.

"Come on, Lukas, we can take them!" Jesse said. And that's why she's the leader.

"Take that, nasty!" she called after killing one. I plunged my sword into one and stepped back as blood spurted out. I was getting the hang of this.

"I've got this one!" I exclaimed as I thrust my iron sword at one coming up to me. I slashed his body, making him fall to the ground.

"LUKAS!" he cried. Uh, that didn't sound like a walker.

"What was that?" asked Jesse as she turned on her heel coming over. I kneeled down over the body as everything made sense. That was a person. I just killed a person. But not just any person, I just killed Jeb.

My mouth suddenly felt dry and I got a sick feeling inside of me. Jesse kneeled down beside me.

"I... killed him," I said with a quivering voice, "Jesse, I just..."

I couldn't get the rest of the sentence out. The word haunted me.

I just ended a life. This person isn't alive anymore- because of me!

I tried to push the thoughts away, but they just burned in my brain even more with each time they played. Jesse and I were just speechless. This man that we had trained with just about a week ago, was no more.

"W-we should probably get out of here, before, you know, he turns," said Jesse.

I nodded. I had trouble standing up. My legs wouldn't stop shaking. I choked back the lump in my throat as Jesse and I sauntered back to camp. I couldn't see very clearly. The only thing that I could think was, you murdered someone, Lukas. You're not innocent. Someone died because of you.

"We're here," Jesse said softly, "are you ready to go inside?"

No, I'm not ready to meet their faces, I thought. But going inside was better than becoming lunch outside, so I nodded, still keeping my head down.

Jesse carefully opened the door as we walked inside to meet the chaos. Petra, Maya, and Gill were still acting like animals with Aiden in the middle, desperately trying to split it up.

"Oh, you're back," said Aiden with relief in his voice. Then he noticed how I was acting and asked, "Everything okay?"

Jesse and I paused. She flashed me a look like she was asking, should I tell him?

I shook my head.

"Um, yeah, just a little walker trauma," she responded as she nervously ran her fingers through her black, silky hair.

She got trauma right.

Jesse's POV

Aiden didn't look too convinced at my lie, but dropped the subject and asked,

"Bring any food with you?"

"Um, yeah," I responded, fishing the steak out of my inventory, "There weren't very many animals out, but a managed to get a couple-"

"JESSE HAS STEAK!" shouted Gill. All three animals ran over and pounced on me.

"Wait!" I cried, trying to shove them off, "It's not cooked yet! You have to share! You're not the only hungry ones!"

After a couple of days, the animals regained their sanity once we went out hunting more often. Lukas, however, wouldn't eat. Or sleep. Or participate in group discussions or survival plans. He basically just sat in a corner, looking pale and weak. A few times Petra would notice, but he didn't want to tell anyone about what happened.

"Lukas, come on," Petra pleaded, "what's eating you? You've been like this for a while now. It's very unlike you. Tell us what's wrong!"

Lukas just stared at her, then looked over at me with pleading blue eyes. I came up with an excuse.

"Well, you know, with the apocalypse and everything, he's just a little worn down," I lied.

Petra didn't say anything, but shot me a quick glare like she was saying, I wanted him to answer, not you!

It's weird how we can sort of read each other's minds just by looking at each other in a certain way.

Lukas continued to grow weaker. Petra continued to demand an answer out of him, and I continued to lie for him. I wish he could just say, "I killed Jeb, and that's why I'm acting like this." But, that's easier said than done, and for someone like Lukas, guilt can really do things to you. Just look at what happened last time when he thought he gave Petra Wither Sickness.

That night, I woke up randomly in the middle of the night. I don't really know why that happens, but it just does sometimes.

"Lukas?" I whispered, "You awake?"

"No," he whispered back.

I crawled over to where he lay, careful not to wake up everyone else.

"How're you doing?" I asked.

"What do you think," he said, then sighed, "Look, I'm sorry that I make you lie for me all the. You shouldn't have to do that. I just, it's hard. I just can't..." he couldn't find the right words to say. I put my hand on his back.

"I'm sorry, Jesse," he finally put it. He looked up to face me.

"Don't apologize. It's not your fault. I know this is hard for you," I said. I thought for a moment, "but you are going to have to tell them at some point. Especially Petra. You can't hide it forever."

He looked down again and paused.

"Yeah. I know."

We just sat in each other's company for a while. It was nice and quiet. I really needed a break from the chaos of the apocalypse. Everything was quiet and still.

"We should probably get some sleep," I said. Lukas nodded.

"Promise me that you'll tell Petra what happened?" I asked.

"Yeah, I'll try," Lukas said. I stepped back to my side of the room where Maya and Petra were asleep and laid down. Good enough.

The morning light streamed through the window of the wooden door at the entrance. I woke in hopes that today would be the day Lukas finally told someone.

He didn't seem any different today, though. He just kept on not eating or speaking. He still kept getting thinner and weaker.

"Okay, Lukas. I've had enough of this," said Petra as she firmly stood in front of him. He looked up at her, knowing what was coming.

"Seriously, what's wrong? Why are you acting like this?"

He shot me the same glance he always does when this happens. Darn it, Lukas! You can't say no to that face!

"He's just-" I began.

"No, Jesse," Petra snapped.

Whoa, Petra never snaps!

"I want Lukas to answer."

No getting out of this one, Lukas, I thought.

"I... uh..." Lukas stuttered, trying to get the words out.

"Come on, Lukas, it can't be that bad," Petra said, "it's not like you murdered anyone!"

Petra!! Of all the words you could have used!!!

Lukas's face turned pale.

"I did," he mumbled so softly that I could barely hear him.

"What?" Petra whispered not because she couldn't hear him, but because she couldn't believe what she did hear.

"Did you know, Jesse?" she said softly to me.

"Yeah," I admitted.

"Who?" asked Maya.

"Jeb," said Lukas almost blinking back tears.

"You killed Jeb?" asked Petra in surprise, "Why?"

"I didn't mean to," Lukas began, "he just looked like a walker. He must have had a hurt ankle or something because he was limping like one. I hit him without thinking. I'm so sorry."

"Lukas," Petra began softening her tone, "it was an accident. You couldn't have--"

"Just because I didn't mean to do it doesn't make it any better," he said firmly as he sat back down. Petra kneeled in front of him.

"It's over now, though," she said, "It's in the past. Why don't we just forgive and forget?"

Lukas met her eyes.

"Sounds like a plan."

--------------------------------

Hello, mortal bookworms! I see you have made it this far, clearly indicating that you are enjoying this book. I'm glad to hear.

I guess this chapter is kind of a mini-story inside of one huge story. (Trust me, we still have a looong way to go) I hope you liked it!