"There, there!!" Perry yelled, pointing to the motorcycle that was only speeding more.
Waylen, under pressure, stepped on it and now, it was like a damn race.
"Come on, so close.." Dave muttered, watching the motorcycle and every move it made.
"Wait— they have backup? Are you serious right now??" Rexine said, her head turned back.
Axelle snapped her head back too, taking a look. "Well, I recognize Emily now. But who's that.. dark blue haired guy?"
"Damian." Christian rolled his eyes, also looking back now.
Damian sped up on his motorcycle, getting up to pace with the van. He looked inside through the rolled down window, directly to Rexine's seat.
"Well, well. What do we have here?~" Damian had a twisted smirk on his lips.
He saw Axelle and Rexine, and his smirk turned into a.. polite seeming smile.
"Hello there, ladies… and gentlemen." Damian's grey irises remained looking back and forth, at them and then glancing ahead at the road.
"What do you want now?" Axelle scowled at Damian with a bitter gaze.
"Woah, feisty, are we? I'm just making sure Nathan buddy gets his bait." Damian said with his carefree voice.
"Uh, excuse me? Bait? Ruby is not bait. She's a blonde, sweet, empathetic and oh, an AMAZING person." Rexine defended Ruby, irritated.
"I mean.. she's doing good as bait." Emily said, rolling her eyes and having a twisted smile.
"Hey, no. I think you took it the wrong way. She looks amazing, okay? But we can't be denying the truth, can we, smurfy?" Damian said, smugly.
"Excuse— Smurfy?!? Rude much???" Rexine argued.
"Pftt. That's a great nickname!" Emily stifled a chuckle.
"Okay, can we quit the soap opera going on?" Maverick interrupted, leaning over a bit and rolling up the window, blocking out Damian for a bit.
"Rex, stop bickering. They're the enemy, not your damn debate club." Maverick sighed, slumping in his seat.
Immediately, Christian almost burst out laughing but managed to keep it inside. Yet, he was still trying his best not to laugh. He turned his head to the window instead.
"I know, okay? But I can't just let him call Ruby that! Bait? Ruby is not and I mean, NOT bait." Rexine rolled her eyes, crossing her arms.
"Guys, keep it down would you? I'm losing track of where Nathan is going. If I speed up any more than this, it might be the end for all of us." Waylen butted in, turning his head back for a second. When he looked back ahead, Nathan was… slowing down?
"Woah, woah woah. Easy there, buddy boy." Waylen uttered.. mainly to himself. He pressed on the breaks hard, barely not hitting the back of Nathan's motorcycle.
"What's his deal?" Axelle raised an eyebrow, trying to get a look ahead.
"Zombies? In this area?" Darren said, looking ahead.
"Hold your horses. Turn back, rewind, go, WAYLEN, Waylen— LEAVE!!" Maverick started to panic, seeing all the Zombies crowding that area.
"Okay, well, Blueberry, Do you THINK I can make a U-turn here??" Waylen shouted back to him.
"Open the door." Christian's serious tone cut through the conversation.
"What? You're going out there?!" Dave exclaimed, glancing back.
"Open the damn door." Christian repeated, not saying anything or glancing anywhere else.
When the door opened, Christian got out, approached Nathan's motorcycle as if it was nothing, and… punched Nathan?
Thankfully, Nathan managed to stay balanced, even though clearly having a bloody lip and nose now.
Christian grabbed Ruby's wrist, and Nicole's. Ruby didn't resist, but Nicole did. Nicole gave Christian a look, and shook his wrist free.
"What the hell? I'm not—" Nicoel started. But Christian was NOT in the mood for it.
"Look, Nic. We'll find your goddamn sister, alright? You are coming back. Is that understood?" Christian left Nicole speechless. Never in his life has he seen Christian looking so… upset? No. Angry? No. Serious?...
"No, you don't understand. They've already found her, alright? She's dead!" Nicole finally snapped back.
Christian sighed. He first helped Ruby off the motorcycle gently and then turned to Nicole. His gaze was sour.
"Then? Why are you still sticking around them?" Christian asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Because they're close to a cure. And that could possibly—"
"Possibly what?" Christian scoff-laughed. "Bring her back from the dead? Do you know how goddamn insane you sound?" Christian's gaze bore right into Nicole's.
"Come. With. Me." Christian repeated.
"No! Like I already said—... I'm sorry, okay? I really do feel bad. But I owe my sister my life. If it means leaving you guys.." Nicole's voice trailed off and he sighed.
"Really?" Ruby chimed in, almost in tears.
"Just like that, Nicole? You're going to throw away our friendship like that? I really.. I really hate you!" Ruby shouted, tears rolling down her cheeks. Her gaze on Nicole's, refusing to let him go.
"Ruby, I—"
"You what, huh?! I love you, Nicole! Are you just going to leave like that? I miss you! The group doesn't feel right without you, Nicole! Come back, okay? Please!! I get it, Everyone loses people, but that doesn't mean you have to become a bad person! Losing loved ones is a process of life, you just have to deal with it. And— and we're always here to support you no matter what, you know that! But we both know damn well that bringing someone back from the dead isn't possible!"
Silence.
"Ruby…" Nicole was still stuck on 'I love you'. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. His eyes widened, and he opened his mouth.
Nothing came out. He opened and closed his mouth a few more times, unable to speak.
"Ruby… I— I miss you too, okay? But.."
"No! You have no right to say that, Nicole! You're the one that left us. You have no darn right!!" Ruby yelled.
Christian watched, also a bit stunned. Perry who originally was approaching, also listened in in silence.
"Ooh, burn, dude." Nathan muttered to Nicole.
Nicole finally got off the motorcycle. He walked around it and stood in front of Ruby. He saw the tears, he saw how hurt Ruby was. He wanted to say 'I love you too.', but the words got stuck in his throat.
Ruby was right; he had no right to say anything.