The night passed with no more complications and the mont the sun rose, Sam was the first to get up as he barely slept.
He didn’t sleep not because of so deep-seethed PTSD but because he now viewed everyone as enemies, even Clentine; with the disturbing news that he got from the base.
He knew that there was sothing that lurked out there that even the military couldn’t conquer.
Sam walked outside and to his surprise, he saw Jason already packed.
It was still early so everyone should be sleeping so why was Jason awake with a bag slung over his shoulder no less?
"Sam, you’re awake..." Jason said awkwardly, he was nervous for so reason and Sam picked up on it.
"Indeed, I am. Where are you headed?" Sam asked, not even pretending to know how Jason spent his night, he wanted to know what the young man was doing right now.
Jason didn’t answer imdiately and this told Sam that whatever was about to co out of his mouth would be a lie.
Sam didn’t need to read minds to know what Jason intended to do.
"You’re leaving, aren’t you?" Sam asked, this was the only explanation as to why Jason was acting sneaky and Sam was a master when it ca to putting things together.
"Don’t tell anyone..." Jason pleaded but Sam wanted to know why he was making such a drastic decision seemingly out of nowhere.
There was no way that this was an impulsive action and Jason should at least want to see that they get to the camp safely.
Abandoning them here was strange behaviour, especially for him.
Sam didn’t care if he stayed or left but he wanted to know why because he knew Jason wasn’t this kind of person.
"I have to do sothing and I fear if I stay, I won’t be able to do it without putting them in danger," Jason responded but what took Sam back was the look in his eyes.
Jason looked resolute, this wasn’t a decision he made on a whim, it was one he had made with all his heart and mind.
"That was vague but I can understand where you’re coming from. We, n, must keep our secrets," Sam said, referring to the secret he had kept from Clentine as he began walking towards Jason, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Won simply cannot understand how we think," Sam said but Jason didn’t know what he was on about.
He needed to leave before the others woke up or things would get complicated, he knew how attached Lillian had beco to him and leaving her would break her heart but it was for everyone’s good.
"I’m not abandoning them, I will return when I know I’m strong enough to protect them," Jason reiterated his resolve to protect them but Sam only chuckled at this.
"And who protects them while you’re away? Why are you so sure you will return to them alive?" Sam dropped the all-too-important question.
"Do you think the universe owes you so sort of debt that it would keep them protected until you decide you’re strong enough to? That is the excuse of a weak man," Sam said.
He was trying to shake Jason’s resolve and offer him a different perspective at the sa ti.
Sam knew that there was no way that Jason would survive on his own, he was only alive because of those around him.
"A man protects what he has to protect, even if he doesn’t have the strength to then he pays for it with his life but at least, he tried," Sam spoke but it wasn’t like he was talking to Jason as his eyes lingered into the distance before snapping back to reality.
"My father told that and then I put a bullet through his head when he beca what I needed to protect those I love from. Not everyone returns from the military with their mind intact," Sam blurted out.
For the first ti, Jason had a glimpse of his humanity but everything he had said was spot on.
Jason didn’t know what Chronos would drag him into but he knew that this journey was one he best embark on his own.
Chronos had told him he wanted to be whole and proceeded to ask Jason for his help to do so.
Jason was tasked with gathering scattered fragnts of the teorites.
Jason didn’t know where Chronos was but sothing told him it was no longer in the VR headset he had on otherwise he would have stopped having access to him the mont he removed it.
This could only an one thing and that was that Chronos had rged with him on a much deeper level, they had beco one.
Jason knew it was in his best interest to make Chronos stronger because it would indirectly make him stronger as well.
Jason was content with this and even if Chronos had an ulterior motive, he knew there was no way that Chronos would want to harm him because if he died, Chronos stopped existing.
"What is going on here?" Clentine asked, she was surprised that Jason was all packed up like he was about to go on so sort of voyage.
Sam kept quiet because he wanted to see how Jason would handle the situation.
Would he lie or tell the truth?
"I was just getting ready early so we could set out to the camp. You know, making sure that we don’t forget anything," Jason lied right to her face with a smile.
"You’re quite diligent, I like that but now isn’t the ti to pack. We need to sweep the area to make sure that we’re the only ones. We might be leaving today but we need to make sure the parater is safe." Clentine reminded him.
She looked at Sam and wondered what they were talking about but it didn’t look to be an argunt so there was nothing for her to worry about.
"And you, get your ass back inside and rest!" Clentine barked at Sam, she was right, he needed all the rest he needed before they set out.
"Yes ma’am," Sam said without any resistance as he headed back into the room.
Clentine’s entire deanour changed the mont Sam left them.
"Jason, what is going on with you?" Clentine asked out of the blue.
"I was fine the last ti I checked," Jason responded, trying to give a cheeky response.
"I have been watching you ever since you woke up, I know you were about to leave them," Clentine said, not even trying to pretend.
Jason knew it was ti to co clean but before he could speak.
"I understand your motive but it isn’t right. You don’t live for yourself anymore, you live for those around you. If you decide to leave them, there is nothing anyone can do about it but accept it. It wouldn’t make you the bad guy either. We all have a right to put ourselves first but you’re no longer alone Jason, you have people," Clentine said before walking away, Jason followed behind her.
These were words he needed to hear but sothing told him that Chronos wouldn’t be happy about this but there was nothing the system could do.
It couldn’t force Jason to do what he didn’t want to do but Chronos was slowly realizing that these people were slowly becoming a liability.
-
A few hours later, they were all ready to begin their journey to the camp, Lillian had briefed them on the persona that they had to adopt but Sam and Clentine weren’t planning on staying.
Sam knew that he had a bigger mission, Clentine didn’t even know what she was returning to.
Everyone squeezed into the car, Bella was looking a lot better than she did yesterday.
She had enough rest and water to stay hydrated.
Her toes and fingers were bandaged, Rachel was impressed that she ripped it out herself, this was sothing that even she couldn’t do.
But things could have gone a lot worse, they were fortunate that they were able to rescue Jason and Sam wasn’t killed or Bella would be facing a fate far worse than this.
The car zood off, Clentine sat in the front with Sam, who opted to drive despite his injuries. Sam drove it with such poise, running down any zombies that were unfortunate enough to wander into his path.
Everyone was glad that they might have found a community so soon into the apocalypse because, in hindsight, they have been fortunate ever since the apocalypse started.
Everything just seed to work out in their favour but things were about to change.
This was a new journey and with this new journey would co a realization.
"Things had changed in this world,"
They arrived at the camp and Sam dropped them off; it was so distance away from their destination but Sam did sothing that no one could have anticipated.
"Get out," Sam barked but everyone was already out of the car, everyone but Clentine.
"What’re you doing Sam?" Clentine asked him but all Sam did was draw a gun and point it at her.
"I said get out... Trust , this ti there are bullets," Sam threatened. Clentine knew she couldn’t do anything against Sam and had to listen to him right now.
Everyone was shocked, they didn’t know what was happening and had no intentions of escalating the situation as they had seen how crazy Sam could get.
Clentine complied and this confird what she already knew, Sam was done with her.
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