It was a dull morning. Sunlight was not for the day. Clouds as dark as the asphalt streets hung in the sky. It was a sign that there was going to be a lot of rain. The trees were stripped bare, no leaves were hanging from the tree tops anymore, they were now on the ground, blowing in the steady breeze.

In Nick's room, it looked like it was still night time but it wasn't. In the massive king-size bed slept a small figure; Maya.

Nick was up already, getting ready to head out into chilly fall air. He walked into his bedroom and made his side of the bed up. He then walked over to Maya's side of the bed to wake her.

"Maya, wake up. You need to get ready to go." Nick whispered gently.

Maya stirred awake and opened her turquoise eyes.

"It's still night time though." She complained as she ducked under the covers.

Nick gave a chuckle before pulling the covers off her.

"Maya, it's seven in the morning. It's day time, silly." he laughed.

Maya finally got out of her sleeping position and rubbed her eyes.

"Now you tell me." She yawned as she playfully shoved Nick.

Nick got a chuckle out of her again before leaving her to change into her clothes.

"Oh, Maya. I found some warmer clothes for you since the seasons are changing, you may need them." Nick said as he pointed to a small pile of clothes on the dresser near the door.

Maya nodded and watched Nick close the bedroom door. She got out of bed and limped over to the dresser. Her ankle still hurt but it was healing.

The clothes Nick had found for Maya were a semi-heavy dark gray and black hoodie, gray jeans and black tee shirt.

Maya undressed herself and then put the new clothes on. She brushed through her long hair and then tied it up in a ponytail, though some of her bangs still hung out of it, like a darker version of Summer's hair.

Maya limped out and saw Nick standing against the wall. She looked at him and gave him a small smile.

"I see the new clothes fit well." Nick said with smile.

Maya grinned and blushed slightly. Nick's clothing remained the same.

"You hungry?" Nick asked.

"Yes. Haven't eaten in a few days." Maya agreed right away.

"Wait there." Nick insisted.

"Okay." Maya replied as she watched Nick go into the kitchen.

Nick got a bottle of water for himself and found a breakfast bar for Maya.

"Hope you like M&Ms." Nick said as he tossed Maya the M&M granola bar.

"That'll work." Maya said as she began to take the wrapper off.

Nick came out of the kitchen and walked into the living room and waited for Maya to finish her breakfast.

She was quick to eat her tiny breakfast but felt a bit better.

"Ready?" Nick asked her.

"Yep." Maya nodded.

Nick bent down and looked at Maya from over his shoulder.

"You want me to climb on your back?" Maya asked.

"Yes, silly. I'm not letting you walk on your bad ankle while it's still injured."

Maya blushed. She walked over to Nick and wrapped her arms around Nick's neck. He lifted her up and went outside.

"Oww." Maya said as she shut her eyes nearly all the way.

"What's wrong?" Nick asked.

"It's nothing. I just haven't been outside in so long that it's so bright out here." Maya said as she covered her eyes on Nick's shoulder.

"Heh, don't worry, it'll go away. You'll get used to it." Nick encouraged her as he began to walk off the porch and onto the road.

"Has the rest of the group explored the areas around here?" Maya asked.

"Me, Ellis, Summer and Blaine have, yes. We killed a lot of zombies, it's not a very big area, but it's decent, I suppose." Nick replied.

Maya nodded and gripped tighter onto Nick's shoulders.

About a half and hour later, they arrived at an open field with barbed wire protecting them from what was lurking on the other side.

"Here we are." Nick announced.

Maya looked around at the place. It'd been a while since she'd seen the outside world because of her Hunter accident.

"Wow. What will I be shooting?" Maya questioned.

"Isn't it obvious? Zombies." Nick chuckled.

Nick sat Maya down off his shoulders and looked at her. Her eyes were wide with surprise.

"You're joking, right?" Maya questioned.

"Nope." Nick chuckled again.

"Oh boy. What gun will I be using?" Maya asked him.

"I guess this is twenty questions. You'll be using a pistol I carried around for a while. You aren't ready for anything big yet, pistols are pretty much an easy toy to master." Nick replied.

Nick handed Maya the pistol and showed her the way to hold the gun.

"Got the instructions down?" Nick asked Maya.

"Yeah. I think so." Maya said as she held the gun in front of her.

"Good, now go to the edge of the fence, I'll get their attention." Nick ordered gently.

Maya gulped and trembled nervously. Was she bait?

"You okay?" Nick asked her as he laid his hand on her shoulder.

She shook her head and looked at him with fear rising in her turquoise eyes.

"Don't worry, I won't let you get bit." He said as he pulled her in for a quick hug.

After their quick hug, Maya limped toward the fence and waited for the zombies to come at her.

"Get ready, Maya." Nick yelled.

Nick had a bile bomb with him. He threw the glass vile into the field. He heard the glass shatter and soon he heard zombies gurgling and moaning in the field.

"Don't shoot any yet, Maya." Nick ordered.

Maya stood still. She trembled harshly; she was afraid, but she was learning how to use a gun, she should be excited.

The bile scent for the zombies was really strong and zombies came in from all directions to get the cloud of green vomit.

As soon as the vomit cloud had diminished, the zombies wandered the field. One spotted Maya and ran toward her.

Maya stared at the white eyed creature. She raised her gun and shot the zombie in the head, just between the eyes, bracing herself for the gun's kick.

The zombie halted. It fell to its knees, blood trickled out of the gunshot wound that Maya inflicted upon it. Maya trembled in horror; she killed something that was once a human being.

Nick gave an impressed smile at Maya. This was her first time using a gun and he could easily see her wielding a gun on her own.

"Well done, Maya." Nick said to her as he approached her.

"T-thanks." She stammered.

"Calm down, it's not a human anymore, none of them are. They are all undead monsters." Nick reassured her as he pulled her against him and laid his head on her shoulder.

Maya was relieved that Nick was there, watching her. She hugged Nick's upper part of his head and she would miss being in her foster father's embrace.

"Come on, we have a lot of zombies to kill." Nick said as he pulled away from Maya.

Maya watched Nick walk away. He spun his head back around at Maya and gave a nudge for her to follow him. Maya obeyed and stood up and limped to him.

Nick lifted Maya up in his arms bridal style. Maya heard the zombies' groans and gurgling in the distance. But she also heard Nick's heartbeat in the ear that was against his chest.

Is this going to be the last time that I will ever hear your heartbeat again? Maya questioned herself. At the thought of never seeing Nick again made her cry. Tears trickled from her eyes and she pressed her head against Nick's chest.

"Maya? You okay, baby girl?" Nick said to her.

"Just thinking." She said as she wiped her eyes.

"Come on, you can tell me." Nick said to her as he leaned his head down toward her.

"I'm scared..." Maya whimpered as she dug her head into Nick's shirt.

"Scared? Of what?" He wondered.

"You dying. I don't want you to die while you're gone." Maya wept.

Nick sat in the grass with Maya neatly in his lap. Both of his arms were wrapped around Maya, it seemed he feared that she would get sick or her injuries would get infected and she would die while he would be away.

"Maya, if I promise something to you, you gotta promise me something, alright?" Nick told her.

Maya nodded. She snuggled into Nick's embrace, her body trembled with nervousness.

"I promise I will stay alive for you. I've made it this far in this post-apocalyptic world, I can go on farther. But your promise to me is that you will stay alive. If you face the infected, fight them or run. If you face more survivors, run. They might kidnap you or check you to see if you're a carrier. You got plenty of scars that show you're a carrier, they'll hold you captive. Promise me, Maya." Nick was serious; his eyes were narrowed into little slits.

Maya stared into Nick's tiny slits of eyes. She nodded firmly.

"I promise, Nick." She promised.

The rest of the morning and the part of the afternoon were all about training Maya how to use a gun and killing zombies the right way. Maya was tired, on the way home, she had fallen asleep in Nick's arms. Nick too, was tired. Going from one location to the next was quite the work out for him.

Once he had returned to the house, he noticed Briar and Ellis on watch. Briar barely came out of the house, it was strange seeing him on watch after the last few days, but Blaine had warned him about the up coming events that befell tomorrow morning.

"Hello Nick, Maya." Ellis greeted them with a smile.

Nick gave a nod for hello, Briar said nothing, he just stood like a statue.

"Any signs of anything?" Nick questioned.

"Actually, yes. Some non-infected passed by here, about an hour or so ago." Ellis explained.

"Oh? Did they say anything to you?" Nick again questioned.

"Yeah, they asked if there were any fucking survivors with us." Briar finally said something at last.

"And?" Nick said in annoyance.

"We said no. Just us two." Briar answered.

"Good. I don't want anyone knowing we have Maya or any of the women." Nick said protectively.

"And what's the problem with having other survivors know about us women?" It was Rhett who spoke. She stood in the door frame with an annoyed look on her face. "We can defend ourselves y'know."

"How much did you hear?" Ellis questioned, somewhat angrily.

"Pretty much everything. Got a problem with that, overalls?" Rhett had a jealous tone in her voice.

Ellis got an angry look on his face. Not once had Rhett called him "overalls". Nick was the only one who called him that. What was the meaning of Rhett acting this way toward him?

"One, don't call me overalls. I only allow Nick to call me that. And two, yes, cause it was guy conversation." Ellis approached Rhett and was about a few inches from her face.

Rhett just turned her back on Ellis and went back into the house, without another word to be said.

"God, sometimes I can't stand her attitude." Ellis mumbled.

"And you kissed her? You can do better, Ellis." Nick growled.

Ellis just nodded and stood where he was before he approached Rhett.

Maya stirred awake finally. Her eyes opened a little to see the dark sky and felt the chill of fall.

"Are we home already?" Maya questioned sleepily.

Nick smiled and nodded. Ellis came off the porch to see Maya.

"Hey, kiddo, how's your wrist?" He said with a gentle tone.

"It doesn't hurt, so I presume good." Maya replied lightly.

"Good. Nick, it would be best to change her bandages before we leave, so her wounds don't get infected." Ellis informed.

"Sure, thanks for pointing it out, Ellis." Nick grinned.

Ellis gave a nod and headed back up to his guard post with Briar. Nick walked up the porch stairs and took Maya inside.

Once inside, Rhett was sitting on the couch, polishing her katanas, Blaine was packing some clothes for the journey, Summer was watching Rhett and Raine just stood against the wall, filing her finger nails.

Nick took Maya into his room and changed all her bandages. Her side was doing well, though she would have scars where the Hunter attacked her.

"All finished. Feel better?" Nick assured.

"Yeah. Nick, I got to ask, how will I carry my gun around without anyone knowing I have it other then you and Ellis?" Maya questioned.

"You could always carry it in your jacket or back pocket of your pants, just be sure to cover it with your jacket or shirt." Nick suggested.

Maya nodded and took her jacket off and laid it on the bed.

"Er.. One more thing." Maya added.

"Yes?" Nick answered.

"Where did you find all my clothes that I'm wearing now?" Maya wondered.

Nick's eyes widened a little and he somewhat blushed. Afterwards he gave a chuckle and looked at Maya.

"I'll show you, come on." Nick offered.

"Where are we going?" Maya seemed confused. Wasn't it somewhere around the house?

"Hop on my back." Nick ordered.

"You're the boss." Maya jumped on his back.

Nick lifted Maya onto his back and walked back outside to stroll around the neighborhood.

"Nick, where are we going?" Maya asked again.

"You'll see. Now shush." Nick hushed her.

Maya stayed quiet the rest of way there. Though she shivered because she forgot to put her jacket back on before they left the house.

Finally after twenty minutes of walking the abandoned neighborhood, Nick found the house where he found the clothes for Maya.

Maya had dozed off and was asleep on Nick's back, again.

"Maya, hey, wake up." He told her gently.

"Hmm.. Huh. Where are we?" She said as she rubbed eyes.

"Once we get inside, you'll see." Nick chuckled.

Once more, Maya was confused, what was so special about a house?

Inside the house, it was small, but it was well kept. It looked like an elderly couple would've lived there, for there were pictures everywhere.

Nick let Maya off his back and let her walk around. Maya limped still, but it seemed she was walking more steadily.

She looked at the pictures she saw on the wall, they were black and white and were old looking. She then went to a window that led to a backyard, the window glass was broken was letting a gentle breeze blow through.

Outside, Maya saw two freshly dug and reburied mounds. Her eyes were half open, her face had a sad expression on it, but she did not cry.

"Were they dead?" Maya asked.

"They were. Both committed suicide, bullet wounds in their heads so they wouldn't change." Nick told her sadly.

"I see." Maya spoke quietly. A gentle breeze blew through her bangs that still dangled from her ponytail. Maya did a silent prayer and then moved on.

"So, what was it you were going to show me?" Maya asked again.

"Oh! Follow me." Nick gestured with his hand.

"Okay."

Nick then walked into a room; Maya followed and walked into the room. She got a smile on her face; the room had maroon walls and black carpet. On walls, were bright red and black roses. The bed had a zebra print comforter and a zebra pillow.

"Oh my god! How did you--" Maya couldn't finish through excitement.

Nick smiled. "I assumed they had a granddaughter, maybe fourteen years old or so, but she had the same style as you do, I assumed you'd like it.

"I love it! Thank you for finding this place!" Maya squealed and hugged Nick.

"Anytime, kiddo. Gather some clothes up and I'll find a bag for you." Nick ordered gently as he walked out of the room.

Maya opened a closet full of clothing, her face was bright with ambition about taking everything, but she could only take a few things.

"Hmm, lets see." Maya told herself.

Maya pulled out a red plaid shirt, with a pair of ripped skinny jeans. She then pulled out a blue, white and pink striped hoodie and a pair of baggy black jeans. The last outfit she pulled out was a long sleeve t-shirt that had Jack Skellington on it, sleeves were black while the tee shirt part was white.

She grabbed a couple other-- girl clothing objects. While doing that, Nick walked in at the wrong time; when Maya was looking for the size on a bra.

"Uh? Maya, what are you--- doing?" Nick was a bit speechless.

"Ahhhh! I--- um-- I.. Uh.. Nothing." She said with a giddy smile and threw the bra across the room.

Nick was wide eyed and soon his face turned bright red.

"I'll just wait outside the room." Nick said out of embarrassment.

Maya couldn't help but laugh at Nick, but she also blushed out of embarrassment too. She was getting to that age when she would need--that kind of underwear.

Once Maya was finished getting the items she needed, she walked out into the hallway and saw Nick standing against the wall with one foot on the wall.

"Heh, sorry you had to see that." Maya said out of embarrassment.

"No worries, all girls go through that stage in life, I understand." Nick reassured and handed her a backpack he found.

Maya stuffed her clothing into the backpack and threw it over her shoulder.

"Ready to go?" Maya asked Nick.

"Ready when you are." Nick put in.

Maya then spotted something on the floor, it was a pistol. She walked over and picked it up.

"Fully loaded." Maya said as she unclipped the loaded round.

"Nice eye. Keep that with you with your other one. Got that one on you?" Nick asked.

"Yup. And are you sure you want me to carry two pistols around?" Maya asked Nick questioningly.

"You are ready to fight in this apocalypse, it's for you to stay alive in this. Your parents would be happy that you're alive, so would your brother." Nick reassured her.

"Right. My brother, yes. My parents, they could give two shits about me. I told you how they hated me." Maya said as she shoved the loaded clip back into the gun and shoved it into her other back pocket.

"I know, Maya. But, people change, even in the after life." Nick tried to reassure her, but it didn't seem to be working.

"Right. Well, should we get going? Or want to rummage around here for some food? Maybe a change in wardrobe for your journey?" Maya teased.

Nick sighed. "I guess I could change my look, BUT just for the journey."

Maya laughed. "Okay, deal."

Maya was about to go run off to another room, but Nick snatched her in his arms.

"Not here, goof ball." Nick whispered in her ear.

"Okay, okay." Maya giggled.

Nick and Maya left the abandoned house headed for their own house once more. This time Maya was trying to walk on her own, she was keeping up but she also was tired still.

"You okay, Maya?" Nick asked as he stopped her.

Maya panted. "Yeah, fine. Just need a rest."

"Maya, we're almost home, I'll carry you the rest of the way." Nick assured her.

She nodded. Nick picked Maya up and headed the rest of the way home.

The Next Morning..

It was really early when all the men were awake. All the girls were awake too, all except for Maya. Nick and Ellis would be saying their goodbyes last to her.

"Do you guys have everything?" Summer asked worryingly.

Ellis assured her. "Yes, don't worry."

Summer grinned and walked over to Ellis and hugged him.

"Be careful." Summer said as she pulled away.

"I will." Ellis added.

Blaine and Rhett were saying their goodbyes too. Ever since Blaine arrived, they'd become best friends it seemed.

"Please be careful, Blaine. Don't get killed, understand me?" Rhett instructed.

Blaine chuckled. "I'll be alright, Pinky."

Rhett blushed and hugged him tightly before playfully punching his arm. "You people and the nicknames."

Briar and Raine had grown close right away. They weren't just hugging, they were kissing. It was a romantic scene.

Pretty much everyone said goodbye and be careful to one another.

"Summer, Rhett." Nick called to them.

"Yes?" They both said in unison.

"Summer, you are Maya's guardian 'till I return. Take care of her for me, please." Nick said as he hugged her.

"I will, Nick." She gently told him.

"Rhett, you are Maya's gun and melee trainer. Teach her anything you know, I hope to see improvement in her gun skills." Nick told her.

"Heh, don't worry, Mr. White Suit. I'll teach her to be like me, a trouble maker." Rhett teased.

"Don't push it." Nick growled.

Rhett just winked and walked back over to Blaine.

"Ellis, ready to go see Maya?" Nick asked.

Ellis nodded and went inside the house with Nick.

Maya was already awake. She had dark PJ pants on and a tank top. It was still dark in her room but her figure looking out the window seemed even darker, like she was just a shadow.

The door opened and only a small amount of light poured in.

"You leaving?" Maya said in a sad tone.

"We are very soon." Ellis told her as he walked over and hugged her.

"I'm gonna miss you kiddo, listen to Summer and Rhett, okay?" Ellis said to her as he pulled away.

Maya nodded. She noticed he was wearing a gray hoodie now that it was cold outside.

Nick then stood in front of Maya. Maya stood on the bed and hugged Nick. She soon then purposely stepped off the bed and Nick held her with both his arms.

"I love you, Nick." Maya was close to tears.

"I love you too, baby girl." Nick told her lovingly.

Maya, Nick and Ellis came out of the bedroom and walked to the front door. Maya was now wearing the hoodie she was found in many months ago.

All the members of Nick's team stepped out onto the porch and all said one last goodbye. All the men walked off the porch and strolled down the road with backpacks on their backs.

"Be safe." Maya said quietly.

Summer now held Maya in her arms. Maya shed a single tear.

Don't worry, Maya, I'll be back soon. Nick thought to himself.

Summer, Maya. I love both of you so much, I'll be back soon. Ellis thought to himself.

All the girls watched the men walk into the darkness of night as if they were merely just ghosts returning to their graves. When they were all out of sight, only one girl remained.

Maya stood on the porch, as if waiting for Nick to turn back around, but never did.

"Goodbye, Nick." She said to herself.

She walked back into the house, without another word to be said. The faint light that was on inside the house had now gone off.

The real challenge for survival had just now begun.

~Phew! Okay, that's chapter eight folks! Hope you enjoyed it. Please comment or give this story thumbs up! :) Cya!~