Our Days Numbered

Ashton

My heart felt heavy and I was trembling in fear as cole spoke quickly on saving us.

"When I left the house that day, and you jumped the fence, I decided to follow you. I don't know why, but when I saw those guys take you.. I'm just glad you guys are alive." His words were like a dagger to the heart thinking about maya and Ashton.

"... Maya isn't alive, and Ashton isn't doing so good.." I whispered shakily. Troy could come back at any minute and shoot us both. His expression changes from sadness to anger, there are only so many people you can lose in life.

"That BASTARD, I'm getting you guys out of here." He trails of muttering. Suddenly the gate flies open and slams against the brick wall loudly. I jump and whip my head around.

"What were you doing?!" He yells at me.

"Just-just a walker... Through the fence, I-I killed it." I say stuttering. He gazes at me suspiciously and grabs me by the arm. It's probably going to be a nice bruise later as he holds it so hard.

"Whatever, if only it did get you" he says and pulls me back to the courtyard. The door clatters closed and only Ashton is here. Olivia and Lauren muse still be working. I swallow hard and take a breath, making my way over to her. She rests on a dirty cot with her face covered with a wet rag.

"Ashton" I start.

"Do you believe in mercy?" She cuts me off. I'm taken aback and reach out towards her shoulder and stop.

"Yes..."

"If you had the chance would you put me out of my misery?"

I open my mouth to respond but nothing comes out at first.

"Ah.."

"What kind of friend are you?" She replies fiercely.

"You're going to get better! I know you are in great pain, but eventually it will heal. YOU will heal, and everything is going to be okay"

"I could DIE, I could get INFECTED, and slowly die like MAIRE did! I don't want that!"

"But this isn't like maire-"

"HOW IS IT NOT?" She screams and rips the rag off of her face for the first time and I flinch.

"HE KIDNAPPED US, SLAVING US AWAY, KILLED MAYA, AND RUINED MY FACE. I JUST WANT TO DIE ALREADY AND STOP DEALING WITH ALL OF THIS!!" She says and points at her face.

Ashton's face. Her whole face is raw, and red. Her nose is deformed and clearly broken. It's like looking at a freshly slaughtered animal. The worst part is her eye. Her eye is popped part way out of its socket and is misshaped. It's a bloody brutal mess and I can't help but cringe.

"I CANT SEE OUT OF ONE EYE, I CANT SMELL ANYTHING BUT BLOOD, I CANT EVEN BREATH WITHOUT IT HURTING. WHERE IS THE MERCY HERE!?" She screams at me.

"EVEN MY TEARS HURT MY WOUNDS." She sniffles and then holds her face in pain.

"I'm.. I'm so sorry." I whisper and lower my head in shame.

"Sorry my ass" she says and rolls over on her cot.

I pull myself off the dirty ground and sigh to myself. Cole is going to rescue us soon.

I hope...