Maya was becoming petrified, it had been twenty minutes and the Hunter did not leave. Her ankle was becoming swollen and more painful than before.

Someone, anyone, please, HELP! Maya thought to herself.

The Hunter had found an idea and stuck his hand under the truck and clawed Maya's side. Maya yelped in pain and grabbed her side in pain. She looked at her hand, it was drenched in blood. Her eyes were wide with fear, her eyes began to tear up.

"NICK!" Maya finally yelled in an effort but she was frightened when she heard a gunshot. She trembled and sat still.

She looked over to see two feet and white dress pants. She was afraid to appear because she knew she would be trouble.

Nick looked down on the ground to find blood splattered near the truck. He let out a sigh of both annoyance and worry.

Maya tensed her body for Nick to yell her name, but he didn't say anything. She shifted her body and crawled out on the other side of truck. She panted in fear and she limped to see where Nick was. She didn't see him on the other side of the truck.

Where has he gone? Maya thought to herself.

She backed up and then she felt her back hit something. She turned around to find Nick with crossed arms and a scowl on his face.

She yelped in fear and scrambled backwards from getting scared. From the look on his face, Maya was in huge trouble.

"Care to explain." Nick growled.

Maya stepped back a few paces before turning her back in attempt to run, but Nick grabbed her tank top, almost ripping it off her back, having her face him.

"I want answers, Maya. And I don't care if I have to rip this shirt off you, I'm not letting you run off." Nick hissed.

Maya trembled and finally gave in. She looked at Nick dead in the eyes, she was afraid of him now, like she was when she first met him.

"I--I ran off.." Maya stammered.

"Well that's pretty obvious. But why? You could've been killed." Nick growled as he got a few inches from Maya's face.

Maya looked down and shook uneasily. She felt terrified of Nick, was he gonna leave her hurt this way? Would he be gentle towards her again?

"I ran off.. Because I felt I wasn't needed. You took those two girls into our group and you didn't believe me that I think they are hiding something." Maya whimpered as she pulled her eyes away from Nick's green gaze.

Nick narrowed his eyes in anger. "That isn't a good enough reason to run off and nearly get killed. Look at you, you're covered in blood and wounds."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Maya pleaded as she began to cry.

Nick sighed and sat Maya down on the ground. He sat in front of her and inspected her wounds.

"Did you get bit?" Nick questioned.

Maya shook her head slightly. It was hard for Nick to believe her with her covered in so many wounds.

"I can't quite believe you, Maya." Nick said to her briefly.

"But, Nick, no please, believe me!" Maya begged.

Nick shook his head. He got up and began to walk away. Maya watched him walk away, her eyes flooded with tears. She was being left behind, just like how her parents were tragically killed.

"Nick!" She screamed.

Nick only ignored her.

"Nick! Come back, please!" She begged.

"I'll be back before dusk to see if you're still normal, then we'll see how I feel for ya!" He shouted.

Nick felt bitter for leaving Maya like this, but he had to make sure that she was being truthful. He stopped for a short moment, a tear fell from his eye because he felt terrible for doing this to her.

At dusk ...

Maya was struggling to keep her eyes open, she was loosing blood fast and she had not stopped crying for Nick to come find her again.

Finally, out of the darkness, came Nick with his Magnum in hand, he saw Maya's bloody body.

"Are you still normal?" Nick growled.

"Yes." Maya whimpered pleadingly.

Maya was scared to death, she didn't want Nick to kill her, or leave her behind for good.

Nick stood in front of Maya and looked into Maya's blue-green eyes. He held his Magnum towards Maya's head, like he was going to shoot her. She began to cry, she held her side in agony.

"Nick, please! I'm scared, and I'm loosing blood, I need help! Please don't shoot me, I didn't change!" She cried and bowed her head.

Nick lowered his gun and bent down to raise her head with his hand to have her look at him.

"Hush now. I believe you. I won't shoot you." Nick pulled the struggling girl into his lap.

Maya trembled harshly in his lap. She was scared to death. Was Nick playing a horrible trick on her?

"How did this happen?" Nick felt blood seeping from Maya's side, he saw the familiar claw wounds on one side of her body.

"The Hunter clawed my side. Along with my ankle." Maya said in a fearful tone.

Nick looked at her ankle. His eyes widened when he saw the horrible wound.

"Maya, try to stand and walk." Nick said gently.

Maya stood shakily. She tried to walk but she whimpered each time she tried.

"Okay, okay. That's enough. Sit down." Nick calmly said.

Maya sat down and cradled her ankle in agony. Nick moved her hands and inspected it for himself.

"Maya, your ankle is sprained, I'm afraid that you aren't going to be able to walk for a little while." Nick spoke calmly but seriously.

"So your gonna leave me here to die?" She cried into her wounded arm.

"No! No, not at all. I can't leave you here to die, not ever." Nick said to her as he hugged her tightly. Maya cried into his white blazer. Nick rubbed her head in a way to sooth her.

"We've got to get you home." Nick insisted.

Nick gripped her in his arms and lifted her up. Maya whimpered as Nick moved her, her side wound was terribly deep. Nick lowered his eyes in sorrow seeing one he cared for the most injured in such a horrible way.

He walked a short distance before Maya started whimpering and crying.

"Nick, please stop walking. It hurts even worse." She pleaded.

Narrowing his eyes, Nick bent down and opened his first aid kit.

"I will not let you suffer anymore than you have." Nick growled in worry.

He got the anti-infection spray out and laid a bandage patch and some bandage tape on his knee.

"Maya, this may burn, but you have to remain still and try to stay quiet, okay?" Nick commanded as he lifted Maya's shirt to reveal her wound.

She nodded but as soon as the wound was exposed to air, Maya gave a wince of pain. Nick sprayed the medication on her wound; Maya's mouth opened as if she was going to scream but Nick covered her mouth before she could do anything. Maya squirmed slightly in pain in Nick's arms as he cleansed the wound.

Once he was finished patching up her wound, Nick removed his hand from Maya's mouth. Tears ran from her eyes, but Nick wiped them away with his thumb and picked Maya up once more.

They continued back to the house, though Maya whimpered every now and then, but something worse was making her vulnerable.

"N-N-Nick, I-I'm f-f-freezing." Maya stammered as she shivered in the arms of her foster father.

"Shhhh, we'll be home soon, hang in there for a little longer, okay?" Nick begged.

Maya gave a slight nod before going to clench onto Nick's blazer for warmth.

Nick looked at the shivering girl and continued walking on.

Once they had made it back to the house, Maya was frozen, Nick and Maya were greeted by the rest of the group, including Rhett, who was also recovering from minor burns.

Ellis was the first to approach Nick. Concern was spread across his face.

"Nick, is Maya okay? Where did she go and why does she look like she was nearly killed by a Hunter?" Ellis asked in worry.

"That's because she was nearly killed by a Hunter. And she ran off because... Well I'll discuss that with you later." Nick insisted.

"Do you need any help with Maya?" Ellis asked.

Nick simply shook his head and left the rest of the group. The rest of the group began murmuring something but Ellis didn't catch what they said.

Nick laid Maya against the wall, blood still ran out of her, but it was beginning to stop.

"Maya, you awake?" Nick asked her.

Maya opened her eyes and nodded. Her eyes were dull with color from the amount of blood she lost.

Nick began patching up Maya's minor wounds on her arms and shoulders. The next wound was a bit more serious, she had a semi-deep gash on her upper back, probably from a piece glass on the ground; he sprayed the medication on it which made Maya scream. Nick threw his hand over her mouth once more before pulling her in between his legs to silence her.

"Am I gonna have to keep doing this until your vocal cords break?" Nick teased harshly.

Maya looked up at Nick's eyes, they seemed to have that gentle tone in them which meant that he was just being playful toward her.

Nick released his hand and got up to sit where Maya's feet were, that wound that was on her ankle. Nick had to be gentle, he couldn't put the anti-infection spray on and move on. He had to clean the wound out thoroughly before wrapping it up.

"Maya, I'm gonna have to clean this wound out with peroxide and this stuff will burn. Use your sweatshirt to silence your scream just a little." Nick offered.

Maya reached for her sweatshirt and covered her face with it and gave Nick a thumbs up. Right away, Nick began cleaning the wound. Maya whimpered and began squirming in pain as if she wanted it to stop.

"Stay still." Nick commanded.

"Nick, stop! It hurts!" Maya begged.

"Just sit still." Nick growled quietly.

Maya kept moving, Nick stopped cleaning it a moment before facing Maya.

"Do I have to literally sit on you for you to stay still?" Nick questioned seriously.

"No. But, Nick, it really hurts." Maya complained.

Nick gave a sigh. "I know it does, but you have to listen to me."

"I can't help not moving, it's just-" Maya was cut off.

"Painful. I know, Maya!" Nick lost his temper a bit.

Maya threw her sweatshirt over her face again, and once again gave a thumbs up for Nick to continue.

This time, Nick grabbed Maya's leg to keep from moving. He continued, but Maya moved still, but Nick finally finished cleaning the wound and wrapped Maya's ankle up.

"Okay Maya, you're all fixed." Nick said out of exhaustion.

Maya removed her sweatshirt from her face and tried to stand up but barely made it off the ground. She yelped in pain and held her side as if someone stabbed her side.

"Just relax your body, Maya. You're going to be in a lot of pain for while." Nick said to her.

Maya nodded slightly before lowering her head to relax herself a minute. She panted and just wanted to stand, but with the amount of blood she lost and with her strength being low, she would have to rely on Nick to aid her.

Maya lifted her head slightly before hearing the door open. Maya jumped and saw Ellis and Rhett walk in.

"How is she?" Rhett questioned gently.

"She could be better. She's covered in bandages, as you can see." Nick pointed out roughly.

"Sorry." Rhett muttered sarcastically, moving her head to the side to look at the blood on the hard wood floor.

"Well, now what, Nick? We can't stay here forever, there's not enough room for us to all stay here." Ellis explained.

Maybe if two people left. Maya thought to herself and gave a small scowl as she looked at her bloody, tattered tank top.

Nick sighed. "I can't risk moving Maya in this condition, Ellis. She'll die. She can't even walk, she sprained her ankle." Nick growled.

"Rhett is hurt too, Nick. But she managed to limp in here without trouble." Ellis looked at Rhett.

"Nick, Ellis does have a point, I'm pushing myself to keep myself on my feet. Maya has to try." Rhett looked at Maya with sympathy but with a hint of resentment since she was being treated like a princess. "There's probably a hospital not far from here; I'm sure we can find some crutches."

Maya looked at Rhett with hostility in her eyes. Her eyes narrowed and she finally managed to push herself to her feet; as she did so, she whimpered but tried to ignore the pain.

"Rhett, Ellis. If you think I'm 'too weak' to even stay alive, why bother with me? Neither of you really care about what happens to me, you couldn't care less." Maya growled. The same glow of anger in her eyes mimicked Nick's perfectly.

"Maya, listen, it's not like that, I swear." Rhett tried to speak calmly.

"Bullshit, Rhett. I was still half awake when Nick brought me into the house and I heard you and the others murmur something, don't play dumb." Maya sneered.

Rhett scoffed, putting her hands on her hips. "I'm not playing dumb, sweetheart. I get you're hurt and you've had a rough time, we all have gone through hard times and we've all gotten hurt, but the zombie apocalypse is no time to turn into a brat."

Nick stepped in finally. "Rhett, Maya, that's enough."

"Nick, please. I want them to hear me out." Maya begged.

"No, Maya. You've said enough. I'll speak with both of them in private in a while. You need to get some sleep." Nick said calmly.

"But-" Maya was interrupted.

"No buts, Maya. Ellis, Rhett, you two are dismissed until I discuss with you two." Nick grumbled.

Flipping him the bird, Rhett led Ellis out of the room. If there was one thing she hated more than the zombies, it was being brushed off like some annoying fleck of dirt.

"I'm sorry, Maya. I know you're angry with them, but let me talk to them. I am your guys' leader after all." Nick said as he walked over to her.

"I know, Nick. I just wanted a say in that, it was about me." Maya grumbled as she leaned against Nick's side.

"I know, kiddo, I know." Nick said as he gently rubbed Maya's back.

Nick helped Maya get some clean clothes on before lifting her into bed for her to rest. Afterwards, Nick left his room to talk with the rest of his group.

Before Nick could begin speaking, Ellis spoke first.

"Nick, we all came to a decision about Maya." Ellis warned.

Shivers were sent through Nick's spine; he was afraid to listen what they were going to say.

"Go on." He spoke nervously.

"Nick, we think Maya needs to leave and live somewhere else. She's holding our group back. This may sound like something you would say, but she's getting hurt too often for her own mistakes." Ellis nervously said.

Nick narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth as if he was going to kill Ellis.

"Ellis, I'm leader and I choose who stays and who goes." Nick growled.

"Nick, you even said a while back that we would only keep Maya until she has someone to live with and care for her. Summer and Raine know people who will take care of her." Ellis tried to sound gentle.

"No, Ellis. I'm not giving Maya up, and that's final." Nick sneered.

"Then I'll just have to rape her and kill her then." Briar threatened.

"No, Briar. We aren't going to let you kill or rape her. That's too cruel for a twelve-year-old." Ellis growled.

"None of you will lay a hand on her. If you do, I'll cut all your hands off, one by one." Nick threatened.

Everyone's eyes widened in alarm of Nick's threat.

Nick meant business, he wasn't going to let anyone touch Maya so long as he was still living.

"Why did Maya run away, anyways?" Rhett questioned.

Nick sighed. "Because of Raine and Summer. She doesn't seem to trust them and wants them gone."

Raine and Summer looked at Nick with hostile stares.

"You're letting a little girl decide who should leave?" Raine growled.

"No. She doesn't like the idea that you two just showed up. Listen, Maya has had a hard life for only twelve. She lost her family. Yes, I know we've all lost family, but Maya was hardly even loved as a younger child. She's told me this information. Her real father didn't want her, soon enough, her mother became the same way. The only one out of her family who still loved her was her brother. Then when the apocalypse struck, it claimed her brother's life." Nick spoke.

Everyone looked at one another in alarm.

Nick continued. "When I found Maya, I didn't care for her at first, but as days went by, I chose to take care of her. Ellis, you and Maya were so close in the beginning, what happened? You're saying she should leave when you were the one that convinced me to keep her, why do you hate her?"

Everyone's gaze turned on Ellis. Ellis lowered his head, he then looked at Nick.

"I don't hate her, Nick. I've been trying to spend more time with the others in the group. I could never hate Maya. She is a sweet and caring girl, but..." He sighed. "We have to find a new place to call home. And I think Maya should stay behind, or at least with someone to care for her."

Everyone began to murmur agreements.

"If anyone is staying with her, it's me." Nick demanded.

"No, Nick. We need you. I think all the guys should travel to find this place to live." Ellis suggested.

Raine, Summer and Rhett looked at one another with scared faces. Sure, they would have each other and Maya, but they were scared for the guys' safety too.

"Sorry to barge in but, I over heard your conversation." A strange voice said.

Everyone stared at a strange man standing in the doorway, leaning against the door frame.

Everyone raised their guns and pointed them at the strange man.

"Woah, woah, I come in peace." The man threw his hands in the air and separated his fingers to show the peace sign that was given to aliens.

"Rhett, he's just as bad as you." Nick teased.

"Don't start with me, man!" Rhett snapped.

The man had black, bleach blonde and neon blue hair, he looked to be in his late teens or early twenties. He seemed to be friendly but you could never be too careful.

"Have you been bit?" Summer questioned in seriousness.

"No ma'am." The man spoke.

"Where ya from?" Ellis questioned this time.

Once more, the man spoke. "New Orleans."

Nick and Ellis widened their eyes in bewilderment. How did he survive? Nick and Ellis' former team came from there and Coach and Rochelle were killed as they made their escape.

"That can't be--we came from New Orleans, the place was over-run with zombies!" Nick was astound but, also confused.

"You were there?" The man was shocked.

"Yes. We were to be recused by CEDA many times but, all attempts failed." Ellis spoke this time.

"CEDA was taken over way after two months, very few remained, all the ones you encountered were carriers and did not know they carried the sickness, until it was too late." The man calmed down.

"How do you know this?" Nick lowered his gun as he approached the man with caution.

The man hesitated at first, but then spoke. "My father was one of the carriers."

Everyone was shocked. They looked at one another then back at the man.

"What is your name?" Nick questioned.

"My name is Blaine, Blaine Michaels." Blaine echoed to them with pride glowing in his eyes.

~Took so long to do this chapter but, I managed to finish it! Yay! I really enjoy writing this story. I do enjoy writing Kidnapped as well. Well I hope you guys like this, thank you my followers :)~