Imagines and One-Shots (Book Three)

Make It Out (Zach DeWall)

requested by anonymous and palayeeeroyale on tumblr

it's basically just another version of maxx's apocalypse au lmao

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The post-apocalyptic world you found yourself now living in was always full of scares. Whether it be from the constant threat of the undead roaming around or the militiamen who had apparently decided they were the ones in charge now, it felt like danger was around every corner. And honestly, the anxiety over it wasn't irrational.

You and your four best friends had survived the entirety of the apocalypse – about six months so far – just by sticking together and being able to predict each other's moves. But there was one move you never saw coming.

It was a regular day of searching for food and supplies – Cody and Dan went on the food run while you, Zach, and Maxx needed to find basic medical stuff like bandages and pain killers. You insisted that you could cover more ground if you and the two boys split up, but Zach immediately shot the idea down. He'd been like your brother since the day you met him – granted, all the boys had been, but you and Zach had always been the closest in the group – and, even though he knew you could hold your own, he didn't want you going anywhere by yourself.

On your way back to the house your group was hunkering down in after a successful mission of getting supplies, the boys decided to take a shortcut through a forest. You didn't think it would be too risky – who's going to be just wandering through a forest for no reason? – so you went along with it despite feeling a little uneasy. 

And honestly, you should have just trusted your gut.

"Hey, you there!" the sudden voice made you jump, spinning around to see what was happening.

A militiaman was coming toward the three of you, but before you could react in any way, Zach already was. He knew he'd been the only one spotted so far, and he wasn't about to let that happen to you or Maxx. He shoved you away from him before the officer saw you, sending you stumbling toward Maxx's hiding spot in some dense bushes. 

The moment you regained your balance, you were spinning around to find Zach being grabbed roughly. You opened your mouth to scream but Maxx immediately grabbed you, pulled you out of sight, and put his hand over it, not wanting all three of you to get taken either. With his arm around your waist and hand on your mouth, you could only struggle to break free as you watched your best friend being taken God knows where.

When Zach and the militiaman were out of hearing range, Maxx simply took the hand over your mouth back before throwing you over his shoulder and walking in the direction leading back to the house. You were hitting his lower back as you cried, pleading with him to put you down and let you go after Zach.

He didn't listen, obviously, because the next thing you knew, you were back inside your shelter. But if you thought you could just run when he put you down, you were wrong. The second he put you back on your feet, he was spinning around and his hands were on your face so you were forced to look at how serious he was being with you.

"Zach pushed you away from him for a reason, Y/N," Maxx said firmly, "And that's because he didn't want you to get taken too. I know you're mad at me for making you leave him behind, but if we have any chance of getting him back, we need the one person who can help us do it quickly and safely – and that person is you. You have always been this group's planner and we need you now more than ever, okay?"

You remained silent for a moment before nodding slowly, knowing he was right. You knew for a fact that you would pushed Zach out of sight if the roles were reversed and he would have turned the entire world upside down in order to get you back. Maxx wiped the tears from your cheeks before pulling you into a hug.