I hung my head low as I heard Lauren run past me. Closing my eyes, I listened to them all climb out the window. I know I shouldn’t have let her get to me, but her words echoed through my head, seeping into my gut. Was it really my fault that the old man was dead? I looked at him, the still body surrounded by a pool of dark liquid. The old man and I might not have seen eye to eye, but I never wanted him dead. Ed didn’t deserve this. There was no way I was going to let anyone else die because of me. I had to protect those kids, and most of all, I had to save Lauren from whatever else was out there.
I refrained from glancing back at Ed, fearing that I would see someone else lying there lifeless, just as Lauren’s words had hinted. I scanned around the room just in time to notice Cole’s back as he followed the others. I didn’t even have to think twice about what I was supposed to do. I kept to the side and began to stalk them. Even though Lauren didn’t want me around, there was no way I was going to leave them unguarded. We had journeyed this far, sticking together despite how hard life had been. There was no reason for us to separate now.
The group walked for a little bit then they stopped by some trees to rest for the night. I sat by another batch of trees ‘til everyone had fallen asleep. I had to stay with them, so once they were awake, I would return to them, despite Lauren’s words.