This is the End 2(651)

“If you don’t pick soon, someone’s going to get hurt- really hurt.” She pushed up to sitting, shoving her long blonde hair behind her ears. “Don’t make this into something we can’t come back from.”

“It doesn’t-”

“It will affect all of us, Reags. Everyone.”

I released a breath of air that sounded more like an animalistic growl than anything human. “You’re too smart for your own good.”

“I’ve been told this often,” she laughed at me. “Now go save my boyfriend so I don’t have to live out the remaining days of my life as a virgin.”

It was my turn to laugh, “Told you he was more.”

“You’re pretty smart too, babe,” Haley grinned at me.

“Let’s hope so. Smart enough to get us out of this mess.”

“You’re not going by yourself are you?” Panic and fear flashed behind her clear green eyes.

“Nope,” I shook my head, loose strands from my messy hair whipped around my face. Long hair sucked during the Apocalypse. “I’m taking the losing half of the love triangle.”

“Be gentle with him,” she warned in a small voice.

“I think I lost those instincts when I popped Chris’s head off,” I whispered back, feeling sick all over again for that travesty.

Haley let out a burst of inappropriate laughter. “Possibly.”

“Probably. Love you Hales.”

“Love you too, sister.”

And then I left her to tend to Page while I searched out Vaughan.

He was outside on the back deck watching the hazy sun rise on the horizon, just the barest tendrils of light snaked out into the still dark sky. His arms were crossed and his stance wide- he was coiled so tightly I was afraid he’d snap, like a rubber band pulled too tight.

“Hey.” I approached calmly, carefully.

He glanced at me over his shoulder and then turned his gaze back to the sunrise. “Hey.”

I moved to stand next to him and mimicked his pose. “So, I don’t know what Hendrix exactly meant by ‘contingency plan’ but-“

“It means we go and get them.”

I relaxed just the tiniest bit. Part of me was terrified of a plan that required we leave them behind if the situation got too dangerous for the family as a whole. No matter what Vaughan and Hendrix decided I was still planning on saving Hendrix’s sorry ass, but it was also nice to know I wouldn’t be going alone.

Before I could voice my relief, Vaughan continued, “We don’t leave each other behind- not anymore. I did that once before, Reagan, and I will not do it again. I will never leave one of us behind again.” He turned to face me and the cold determination in his expression made my heart stutter. He was so…. good at this leading thing. I hated that he felt so much guilt for his mom and dad, but he saved everyone else. I wanted him to see that- I wanted him to know he hadn’t failed, he had succeeded.

“Vaughan, your parents-“

“Reagan, you can give me the hero speech later, right now we need to save my brothers,”

I nodded, because, well, what else could I do?

“You’re up for this?” He clarified with a force behind his voice that twisted my heart inside my chest.

“Yes.”

“I’m not Hendrix,” he explained slowly. “I’m taking you because you’re my best option to save my family, not because I need to know where you are at all times. I trust you to be able to handle yourself.”

“I don’t want you to be Hendrix,” I snapped. “And I can handle myself.”

“Then lock and load, little girl. You and I are the cavalry.”

He turned around and walked inside. The screen door slammed shut behind him with an alarming finality.

Everyone knew Vaughan was the leader. While, Hendrix also led, he did not carry the responsibility of this family like Vaughan did. The difference between them was subtle, but obvious. Hendrix would always be the one risking his life to save the family- the first into the fray. And Vaughan would always be the one that saved Hendrix- that ensured the family stayed whole. They were both fighting for their family. They just had different ways of doing it.

I followed Vaughan inside and set about loading what guns I had left and finding places for them on my body. I had a small, canvas pull-strap backpack that I kept rolled up inside my larger one and I pulled that out and added a bottle of water, two energy bars and a flashlight on top of the three hand guns and various bullets I thought I needed. I tucked a hunting knife into my tall socks and secured it around my ankle with the strap tied to its sheath- even though it was uncomfortable and a little awkward, it stayed and it could possibly mean the difference between life and death for me. I slipped a pocket knife into the side pocket of my cargo pants and then borrowed a gun from Hendrix and a gun from Nelson to carry in my hands.