Mark's pov
Jack has been silent ever since our argument the other day. I felt bad for using his real name now; the way he blew up at me because of it. Something must have happened that meant he doesn't like being called that. Or does he just not like the name? Why do I even care?

This stranger is such a mystery for me and I have this urge to try and solve it. What's his back story? How did someone with an Irish accent get into America to begin with? Was he on holiday? Was he visiting a friend or doing something important? I just don't know.

"How far is it until we get there?" I dared to ask. Jack gave me a look but remained silent. His sudden mute behavior has worried me more. He's probably thinking a million different things with millions of different emotions swirling around inside him and he refuses to utter a single word.

"Why won't you-," I began but was cut off by Jack's hand pressing against my mouth. I tried to pull away but he was swift to push me against a wall, pressing a finger over his mouth. I realised what he was trying to do when I heard voices nearby.

He slowly removed his hand and crouched down, pulling out his dagger. I followed his lead and we crept towards the voices to take a look. As we grew closer I was able to confirm the voices as female.

"Don't tell me to calm down! We just lost our entire crew and only have enough supplies for a week if that!" A high pitched voice yelled.

"Calm down Kris, we'll be okay. We're still alive and together. We just need to find a house with supplies in it and possibly head to the back up base that the boss mentioned before he was attacked," the second voice said, trying to calm down the first.

"How do we even know he's telling the truth? What if there isn't anything there? We don't even know where there is!" The first stressed.

"Look, calm down. He should have had a map in his office right. The base should have been marked on that. If we find the map then we'll find the base right?" The second said unsure.

I was about to walk out and help them when I realised Jack wasn't with me anymore. I looked around to see where he was but didn't see anything. A scream rang out and I turned to see Jack holding his knife to one of the girls necks.

"What base did you just come from," Jack growled in a deeper voice than his own. Probably trying to sound intimidating.

"Ahhh, the one just down the road. I can't remember the name of it though. We were only there a day before it was attacked," the frightened female said, helplessly looking at her friend.

"Fuck! How many survivors?" Jack growled again.

"I don't know. We only know we got out. Please let her go," the first girl cried. Jack shoved the girl to her friend and stormed over to a wall, punching the brick with his bruised hand.

"JACK!" I yelled, running over and grabbing his arm. I tried to pull him away but he resisted. When I managed to grab his hand firmly he turned and tried to punch me with his free hand but was too slow and I caught it, pinning his hands against the wall.

"LET ME GO YOU ASSHOLE! IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU THEY'RE GONE! I WAS TO FUCKING SLOW AND THEY'RE GONE NOW! They're all gone," Jack cried out, his struggling becoming weaker until he finally gave up.

"Jack? Who's dead now?" I asked cautiously. He looked up at me shattered with tears streaming down his face. He looked more broken than when I first found them.

"They... they're... gone," he whispered, barely audible.

"Is he okay?" A soft voice said from behind me. I turned to see the two girls still standing there, looking at Jack with worry.

"I don't know. I don't really know him that well. We met only a few days ago and he's kinda given me silent treatment for the past three days," I said honestly.

"Oh, well ah. I'm Krism, and this is Minx. Maybe we can help each other. What's your name?" The first girl said. She had long black hair pulled back into a messy ponytail and one red eye.

"Mark, this is Jack. Nice to meet you," I said calmly. Jack gently pulled his hands out of my grip and tucked them tightly against his chest. I gave him a concerned look at the blood covering his hand and sleeves.

"We have bandages if he needs them. His only one looks a little... dirty," Minx said. She hand long brown hair with purple bangs. She quickly pulled out a fresh bandage and gave it to me without hesitation.

"Oh thanks. Would you be able to keep watch for any dead? We made quiet a lot of noise on both sides," I said, looking between Jack and Krism. She giggled inocently and nodded.

"Sure. We'll give you some space," she said as they walked a distance away.

"Jack? Can you give me your hand again?" I asked calmly. He looked at me with mixed emotions and for a moment I thought he wasn't going to listen. But slowly, he shifted his hand out and lay it in my outstretched hand. I smiled and began to remove the old torn and bloody bandage.

"I won't ask who, but next time. Punch something that won't damage your hand would ya?" I said softly. I glanced up at Jack but he wasn't even looking at me, he was staring down at the ground.

I let out a sigh and continued to unwrap and clean the fresh wound on his knuckles. I gently wrapped his hand back up and stood up, holding my hand out for him to take. Only now did he reach out his good hand and take mine, a thankful smile forcing it's way onto his face.

Wow me, great way to end the chapter. Good on ya