In the Very End: Book One

Chapter 52

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

Chapter 52
Quinn's POV

I threw my knife through the walker's skull and stepped out of the treeline. Sasha's eyes were wide, but even in the dark I could see the thankfulness.

"It's getting late," I said quietly as I walked over to her.

All of the sudden, a hand covered my mouth. I whipped around to see Rick and Tyreese and I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Someone's watching us," Sasha said, looking around slowly.

"If we go in there now, some of us aren't coming back," Tyreese said in between breaths.

"Bob is out there somewhere and scared," Sasha reminded as she clutched her gun close to her chest. "Alone..."

"Maybe not alone. Daryl and Carol are missing, too," Rick added, sending me a side glance.

My heart rate sped up. Without another word, I spun on my heel and lead the others back to the church.

___

"Stop," Sasha said firmly to Gabriel as we entered the church. "What are you doing? What are you doing?"

"This is all connected," I hissed. "You show up, we're being watched, and now three of us are gone."

"I–I don't have anything to do with this," Gabriel stuttered as he scanned the group.

I watched as Sasha yanked her knife from its holder. Gabriel jumped as Rick and the rest of us told her to put it away.

"Who's out there?" she demmanded, ignoring us.

"I–I don't have any idea—"

"Where are our people?" Sasha asked, inching closer to his face.

"I don't have anything to do with this—"

"Where are our people?!" Sasha yelled.

"I don't have anything to do with it."

Gabriel's hands never left the position above his head. Sasha finally stepped back, and Rick and I stepped forward.

"Why'd you bring us here?" Rick asked, a daring look in his eyes.

"P–Please. I–I—"

"You workin' with someone?" I asked, getting closer.

"I'm alone, I'm alone. I was always alone."

"What about the woman in the food bank, Gabriel?" Rick asked. "What did you do to her?"

When Gabriel didn't answer, I added another point: "You'll burn for this. That was for you, why? What are you gonna burn for, Gabriel?"

Rick sprung forward and grabbed him by the scruff. "What did you do?" he demanded. "What did you do?!"

I watched as Gabriel's eyes filled with tears. "I lock the doors at night, I always lock the doors at night." He took in a deep breath. "They started coming; my congregation. Atlanta was bombed the night before and they were scared. They were looking for a safe place and it was so early and the doors were still locked. You see, it was my choice, but there were so many of them and they were prying on the shutters and banging on the siding, screaming at me, and so the dead came for them. Women, children, entire families, calling my name as they were torn apart, begging me for mercy, damning me to hell. I burried all their bones, burried it all. The Lord sent you here to finally punish me." Gabriel dropped to the floor with his hands on his heart. "I'm damned. I always lock the doors, I always lock the doors."