[ WP ] It 's been 8 months since the zombie apocalypse . You fell in with a tough as nails roughneck group . When in the city looting , you come across a scavenger . He 's your best friend from before the outbreak and your crew unanimously decides to execute him ( he is armed ) .

I could n't believe my eyes, after all this time, a familiar face from before. Only this time, he was pointing the business end of a 12 gauge at our scraggly group of four. We were n't ready for an encounter, we were just scavenging for supplies and came across Rick. I spotted him first but I was frozen in shock, too slow to move and before I could draw my holstered colt, I was looking down the rusty end of the 12's barrel. John, Joseph and sandy were quicker to react but were unarmed, save for a khukri on John. 
 `` James! What the fuck man?! I thought you were dead!'' he said, as he swept the shotgun across our group, motioning us to line up shoulder to shoulder. `` i thought the same about you man, I tried reaching you when it first began but...'' I was cut off by Rick, `` FUCK that! I'm so glad you're alive! Who the fuck are these guys?!'' he bellowed, sweeping once more across our group. 
 `` we met after all hell went loose, we've had each others' backs since, they're good'' I said and before I could introduce them, John cut in, `` yeah and could you please stop pointing that bloody thing at us? We're all friends here'' 
 Joseph and sandy nodded in agreement, hands still up. Rick seemed to consider it a moment, before stiffening up again, he motioned me to join up with him and pointing the gun at John said, `` James, I trust you, I'm with a group myself, we split up to gather supplies and I can convince them to let you in but these guys'' another sweep of the shotgun, `` I ca n't man, I'm afraid tis the end of the road'' 
 John, Joseph and sandy stiffened, I was by rick's side now and I could feel the consternation in the room. Sandy's eyes looked at me pleadingly, `` do n't do this James. We looked out for you man'', Joseph looked like he would tear the heart out of me, `` I knew I should n't have trusted you, you filthy bastard!'' 
 `` Im so sorry guys'', I said, as I upholstered my colt. Rick seemed satisfied and took aim square at Joseph's chest, `` got ta watch your own back in these fucked up times, loyalty just is n't what it used to be anymore'' I pulled the safety latch off and cocked my gun, I could see the fear and anger in their eyes, sandy looked almost ready to cry, her beautiful yet hardened features, turning red with anger. I raised my gun at John, a split second, turned it at Rick and boom! It felt like time had stopped still, a silence permeated the room, it felt like an eternity had passed before Rick's headless body hit the floor, breaking the deathly silence. I stood there, my hand still raised and shaking with rage. I had to make a choice and I chose the present over the past, I chose the familiarity of my present companions over the uncertainty of new ones. Morals had to be left at the door to survive in this new world, we had to have each others' backs no matter what. Nobody spoke, the bang of the colt still rang in my ears as I slowly picked up the 12 gauge and slung it across my back. I did n't care to look at the others, I knew they'd have my back now, I knew we were as one. `` the hell are you'll looking at? Let's get whatever we can and get outta here, his friends may have heard that'' 
 I've killed before since, all this... All this nightmare began a year ago. In fact, I'm known for being a crackshot, but never before did the shot weigh down so heavily upon me, I was almost certain I'd miss. 
 As I vacantly searched a chest of drawers for anything of value, I felt a warm shaking hand embrace me from behind, it was sandy, her lips on my neck... Her tears streaming down onto my back. I turned and kissed her, unaware that I myself was crying. 
 
 My first post on writing prompt, apologies if it is n't upto the standards you guys are used to, I'm sure I'll learn..
