To Be A Hero

Chapter 30: Chase The Morning

I'm thankful it doesn't take us too long to get back to Abel. Anger burns through me as I drop my pack off so the chocolates can be taken and put away.

"Save one of those for Sam," I say over my shoulder as I head towards the medical tent. I'm the one to be observed first since I was in closer contact with the zombies. Plus Paula has to head back to the plasmapheresis machine to be hooked up again for another few hours before she can help Veronica in her labs.

My blood boils under my skin as I enter the tent, saying nothing as I strip down and wait to be inspected. Maxine looks at me with a raised brow, but a heated glare gives her enough to know that she shouldn't ask.

I mean, how dare Paula ask Sam that! Has she met him? Does she not know that this will weigh on him for the rest of his life? I don't understand how someone who knows Sam so well would ask that of him. He's one of the few good people left in this broken world, and here she is, asking him to do something that will shatter his spirit and make him one step closer to becoming like the rest of us-broken and empty.

I can't believe she'd ask him of that, and then use the damn excuse of 'if you really want to help me then you'll do it'. Ugh, it just makes me so angry!

Once Maxine clears me to go, I put on my sweat soaked clothes and trudge out, shivering as the cold begins to seep in bone deep. A few snowflakes fall onto my face, but I scrunch up my nose and wipe them away. I know I need to take a shower. I'm sweaty and gross and I smell, but the anger coursing through my veins makes it impossible for me to sit still, so I head towards the training center.

I need to hit something.

When I reach the training room, I almost stride right to the punching bag set up-the new punching bag, that is, but I pause when I see that I'm not the only one in here.

Milo's in here as well, and he gives me a small wave when he meets my eyes. I return the gesture, trying to drop the scowl on my face for a quick moment to make sure he doesn't think my anger is directed at him, because it isn't. Not this time.

I don't bother bandaging my hands, because the person in here with me knows what I can do. At least, he knows some of what I can do. I feel his eyes on me as I stride over to the punching bag, and I swing at it immediately. Pain rushes up my wrist as my knuckles make contact, but I'm not as reckless as I was last time. I'm not relishing in the pain, more so trying to dispel my anger.

I swing again, trying to push away the fresh memory of Sam tearfully agreeing to kill Paula when the time comes. The sound of flesh hitting leather fills the room, but it is just a dull whisper compared to memories of Sam's voice echoing in my head, along with Paula's request. I don't understand why she thinks that it was an okay thing to ask that. I know she doesn't want to hurt Maxine, but she could have asked literally anyone else!

I hit the bag again and again, tears filling my eyes at the pain that shoots up my hands with each swing. I only stop when I realize how much the bag is swinging around, and I take a break from hitting the bag and start doing push-up and then lunges and then crunches. Once I've done enough of those to hurt-like, really hurt-I go back to hitting the bag.

I repeat the process once, twice, thrice, before finally feeling exhausted enough to slow down. Sweat drips off my face, and I can tell Milo is watching me even as he does a few pull-ups on the bar.

"Um, are you okay?" He asks, before dropping back down on his feet. I plop down on the ground, staring ahead.

"Bad run, is all."

"Really bad run, it seems. Did someone... die?"

I turn to look at him now, taking in his wide eyed, concerned look, and I shake my head.