Should I ask them if we should split up? But I don't want them to think I'm stupid, and if something bad happens, I'd get blamed on. But splitting up would mean we can cover ground quicker and gear up faster. What if they don't trust me yet and try killing me for the stupid idea? That also means they wouldn't want to split up because I said it. But I really think we should but I don't want to loose their trust or make them hate me. What if-
"I say we should split up." Hanna suggests casually making my overthinking look pathetic.
"Same here." Yunjin agrees immediately.
"H-huh?! Did you say.. SPLIT UP?!?!" Sieun looks terrified then scurries over, hiding behind me. "We can't split up! We could get lost! Zombies could be here! I don't want to die!!"
"Yeah I did?" She looks confused, then adds flatly. "By the way, shouting attracts more zombies."
"Are you crazy?!" He spits out, trying to quiet down. He grips the back of my shirt practically begging me to do something. "Alex! Tell her it's an stupid idea!"
"Ah.. well.. you see I'm not against the idea."
"What?" His hands drop from my shirt and he backs up. "Ashlyn! Your on my side, right?!"
"Sieun get a grip. We haven't decide yet." Ash pauses looks at me then down. "Though, I also think we shouldn't split."
Sieun brightens up. "See! She's on my side!"
"Enough Sieun, lower your voice." Chase speaks up, walking to Hanna's side. "We do a vote and whatever option gets more is final. No this that after."
Sieun bites his lip then hesitantly nods.
"Wait."
He's got to have a valid reason to be this scared, no? Does he sense something we can't? Orrr...he's just a whimp.
"What now?" Hanna looks at me.
"Let's hear his reason out."
"Why? It's already clear the majority wants to split for now."
"Give him a chance." I turn to Sieun. "Well? Your reason?"
He looks at me with grateful eyes then stumbles over his words.
"B-b-because.. I.. I... Uh.. I.. " He pauses realising he has no valid reason. "I'm.. scared." He's says between sniffles as he holds tears back.
"That's it? No logical reason. Just fear?"
Even Ash sounded annoyed.
"D-dont act like your not scared either!!"
Hanna sighs.
"So? Who's side are you on?" She face me her question masks the threat under, directed at me only.
"There's no sides, we're deciding."
Depite this Ash and Sieun are on one side and Hanna, Chase and Yunjin opposite leaving me and Hyun in the middle.
Man, I really want to split up but I need to stop this peacefully.
"Let's just do the vote now." Yunjin says with growing impatience.
I sigh.
"Right. Hands for staying together."
Ashlyn, Sieun and surprisingly Hyun puts their hands up.
Hyun looks at me confused as why I didn't put my hand up. Both of us knowing it is the most logical reason.
Bare with me Hyun but we need efficiency.
"Hands for splitting up then." I raise my hand along with the other three. "Guess we're splitting." I adjust my bag then check my phone.
18:34pm. It's getting dark quick.
"And don't even think of whining." Hanna adds sharply, directed at Sieun.
He looks annoyed but stays quiet.
"So how we doing this then?" Ash asks looking at Hanna expectantly.
"We go in pairs and one three, go around grabbing anything you need and think would be beneficial for all of us. We'll meet back at the entrance in.." She looks unsure.
"An hour and a half, so 8pm" I say for her, pocketing my phone, my hands following, resting in my pockets.
"I'll go with.." Chase and Yunjin say at the same time pausing to glare at eachother. "Hanna.." They both say again, but with bitterness, not to Hanna but to eachother.
"Choose me Hanna I'll protect you!" She blurts out.
"What?! I can too and better. Choose me!"
"Like you can! You don't even have a weapon!"
"I can fight with my fists!"
"Um guys.."
They both pause mid argument to look at her.
"I think I'll go with Alex instead." She states simply standing by my side.
"What?" I myself am surprised by her words.
"Huh?" They both look at her confused.
"I said I'm going with Alexandra." Her impatience grows.
"Haah.. Alright sorry, I'll go with.. Hyun?"
Hyun, who finally pays attention looks over and shakes his head at Chase then goes by my other side.
"Yeah, I was gonna go with Hyun.." I say mostly for Hanna to hear.
"Oh.. Mann who do I go with then."
"Go with Sieun."
"Yeah.. but neither of us have rackets."
I toss him mine. "Don't chicken out this time." I add teasingly.
"Shut up.." He catches it. "Thanks."
Sieun didn't look too happy to go with Chase and gives this lingering look at me as he goes.
Yunjin on the other hand seems to be a little jealous.
"Yunjinniee!!" Ash wraps her arms around her shoulders from behind. "Your with me then!!"
Yunjin softens into the touch. "Alright.. but if anything happens I'm using you as a shield.."
"Yes, yes, your majesty." Ash says in a teasing tone, sliding her arms off Yunjin to link arms instead.
"Whatever.." She mumbles with light fondness.
"Alright.. So Chase and Sieun go take the back aisles, Yunjin and Ash take the front aisles and us three will take the middle chunk. Meet back at the entrance at 8pm, make sure to get food, water, a backpack and weapons. If you can, change clothes. And.. if anything happens just scream and all of us will run over."
I explain in the most simplest form I can.
"Any questions?"
"Yeah.. What if there are Zombies hiding around?" Chase asks his grip tightening on the racket.
"Smash it's head in."
He grins.
"Gladly."
Chase seems fired up, way different from the guy who just stood and watched before.
"We all ready then?"
They nod back.
I stretch my arms as I walk to the middle.
"Don't die." I glance back to them.
"Like hell we would!" Chase says energetically.
"What the dumbass said." Yunjins says flatly while walking off with Ash.
"See you soon!!"
Ash waves back as me then goes off with Yunjin in their direction.
Chase and Sieun shortly head to the back leaving me, Hyun and Hanna alone to our area.
"Shall we go then."
Hanna walks past me to the right.
"Mm hmm."