In the Very End: Book One

Chapter 49

*WARNING: Please be advised that this chapter contains mature content and strong language.*

Chapter 49
Quinn's POV

We were making weapons with whatever we could find. Everyone had shared a little bit about how they got here. Daryl made sure to tell Maggie that Beth was still alive. No one had seen Tyreese, so Sasha convinced herself that he was still out there.

I stepped on a belt, bending it the wrong way to form the perfect brass knuckle shape. I picked it up and rubbed it against the wooden wall, attempting to shave off the ends and make it sharp. Voices sounded from outside the train car.

Daryl looked out a crack. "Alright, we got four of them pricks comin' our way."

"You all know what to do," Rick said as he stood. "Go for their eyes first, then their throats."

"Stand against the far walls in the train car!" a man's voice ordered.

We didn't move. We all stood at the door and waited in a ready positon. All of the sudden, something sounded from up above and a trap door opened, creating a spotlight. A smoke bomb was dropped in.

"Move!" Abraham, the redhead, yelled.

I was shoved to one side, but immediately grabbed by another set of hands who pulled me back. The bomb exploded and filled the train car with smoke.

I was pulled out of the train car and sunlight hit my eyes, causing me to close them. My head hit the pavement and all I remember was being kicked in the face before I blacked out.

___

I was being dragged along with some others. I didn't know who, but I knew what was going to happen to us. My blurred vison cleared just enough to see a person lying on a cot. Before I could look at anything else, I was faced with a big metal tub. I was gagged and my ankles were tied together. I looked to my side to see four men I didn't know, then to the other side to see Rick, Daryl, Glenn, and Bob.

I looked to the right of Rick to see two men dressed in blood-ridden aprins and one was sharpening two knives. My breathing hitched as I saw another man practicing his swing with a baseball bat.

I watched as the man hit the first guy upside the head with the bat and the second one slit his throat. He dropped the man into the tub and his blood pooled down the drain. I looked over at Daryl who started hyperventilating. I looked back at Rick who was already looking at me. I took note that he was sawing at his ropes with a sharp piece of wood.

Another man went down. I almost gagged at the sight and smell of fresh blood draining in front of my eyes. It was worse knowing that it was going to happen to all of us. Gareth walked in with a clipboard in his hand. I listened to the cries of the other men before they continued to slaughter them.

"What are you doing?" Gareth asked, looking up. "Why do you have a woman mixed in with the guys?"

"We just thought—"

Gareth held his hand up, silencing them. "That's the problem; you didn't think."

He then walked behind me and cut my ropes before pulling me to my feet. He dragged me in front of the others. I noticed Bob trying to speak to him. Gareth walked over with me in tow and pulled the gag out.

"You don't have to do this," Bob quickly said. "We have a cure. We can put the world back to the way it used to be."

Gareth put the gag back in his mouth, but then moved over to Rick. "You came walking here with a bag, but didn't come in with it. What was in it?" Rick glared at him, not saying a word. A knife was pressed tight to my throat. "C'mon, Rick, don't make me do this to the pretty, young lady."

Rick still didn't say anything, which I was happy about. Gareth pressed the blade to my neck a little harder, drawing blood. I clenched my teeth together and closed my eyes.

"AK-47, 44 Magnum, automatic weapons, night scope, compound bow, and a machete with a red handle. That's what I'm gonna use to kill you."

"Our spotters will find it soon enough," Gareth said. "She doesn't belong here. Don't worry, I'll take good care of her."

He dragged me roughly towards the door and I fought hard against his grip, but it was shockingly strong. He looked back at my group. Daryl was desperately trying to get out of his binds. His muffled words were no doubt curses. Suddenly, the floor rattled and gunfire could be heard from outside.

"You two stay here," Gareth instructed. "I'm going to see what's up. You're going to be a...what's that term? Human shield?"