At the End of the World [Laine x Pari]

[Laine]

Russell smiled in satisfaction as he heard her choke behind him, knowing that he’d struck a nerve. “Something wrong?” He said, not even turning his head as he steadily walked, not realising how much she’d slowed. “I’m not sure how it works exactly, but yeah, it definitely speeds things up. I heard it’s agony, when it happens like that. Like a thousand needles digging into your skin, but you’re too weak to even talk or cry out in pain. Poor girl.” He murmured, shaking his head in pity.


He heard her suddenly stop behind him, the click of her gun being drawn causing his head to snap round instantly. He saw the gun raised threateningly, and he raised his hands in mock surrender. “Listen, I think I know what’s going on here.” He said, trying to be reassuring. They were almost at the point where Devon’s territory tapers off into the winding roads that lead to the row of large homes surrounded by woodland where he lived. He hoped he could at least cool down her hostility until they got to the bunker several hundred yards away, where he could finally disarm her and feed her to the horde of zombies that scoured the wooded area in the outskirts of the city.


“And believe me, I’m fine with it. Infact, I’m pretty relieved you’re some desperate teenage girl instead of some violent thug armed to the teeth, waiting for me to come back to put a bullet in my brain and hide out in my house. At least you have an ounce of sensibility about you, right?” He lowered his hands slowly, urging her to put her gun away. “I’ll show you where the bunker is, in exchange for the rest of the insulin. And then, in a couple of week’s time, I’ll be moving on, and you can have my home. I’ll be taking food and such with me, but anything left in it will be yours. In return…” He paused, nodding at the weapon in her hand, “You put that away, and we continue our agreement, nice and civilised.” He started pacing backwards again, a weak smile on his face. He would say anything to get her to come with him, only needing the briefest of seconds of her back turned to strike with the needle, knowing that he would probably get hurt if he tried to overpower her.

 

[Error404]

"What?" She was breathing heavily, eyes wide as she stared at him. Her gun was pointed at his chest, finger on the trigger - but she was trembling, her grip weak. Not knowing much about the disease, and already feeling guilty about Alexi's death, the fact she had caused her friend even more pain than she was already in was unbearable. Hot tears slid down her face as she stood there, the bag of insulin only reminding her that the medicine had done nothing.





"Yes, it was me! I knew you had medicine. I followed you. Every single day!" Her voice grew higher with each sentence, tears streaming down her face. "I thought it could help. Slow it down, wait it out for a cure. Both scientists and doctors were working on it, from what I had heard. I wanted, so much, to believe that we could wait it out. That a cure would be made and this hell would be over." She lowered the gun, taking her finger off the trigger. She was shaking. "I stole it. I didn't have the time to look at what I was taking. I just took what I could find. And then a couple days after, I go home to find she's dead. Dead! Gone. I sat there all night with her, waiting. I knew there was no chance of bringing her back once I shot her, but I didn't want her to suffer! I shot the friend I had known for my whole life, because she made me promise to if she turned."


"You want this that much?" She yanked the bag off her shoulder, holding it up. "You want this insulin? You can have it." She threw it at his feet, "I don't want your food, your water, your damn house. Just take it." Shoving the gun back in her holster, she turned away and sprinted, running as fast as she could back to her house. She barely made it ten feet when she slammed into someone, who grabbed her arms and took her gun away. "You what?" a voice snarled, and when she looked up, she found herself staring into the eyes of Devon.


"My brother died because he didn't get the insulin he needed. The insulin you stole." Autumn paled, glancing back at Russell, who was surrounded by the rest of Devon's gang. "Your b-brother?"

 

[Laine]

“W-woah woah woah! Keep your voice down, just calm-“ Russ stammered nervously, bending over and scooping up the bag in his hands. He hastily unzipped it, sighing in relief to find it all there, and clutched it to his chest tightly. His eyes narrowed as he came to the realisation that this meant that all attempts to make Autumn come quietly were finished, and one hand fell to his belt, pulling out the gun from under his shirt and loading it hastily.


He heard a familiar voice thunder in front of him before he had a chance to look up and his face turned pale as he saw the tall, burly gang leader with Autumns’ wrists in his clenched fists. His face was contorted into an unmistakable twist of anger and fury, his words seething as he spoke to Autumn. They both met Russ’ eyes at the same time, one in severe confusion, the other’s narrowed into a painful rage, the knuckles around her wrists whitening as he tightened his grip.


“…Ty’s dead?!” Was all Russell could say, his voice breaking in disbelief as his chest suddenly tightened with fear, his hand loosening around the gun until it fell with a clunk from his fingertips. He cried out in terror as two arms reached out and grabbed his arms from behind him, followed by a foot promptly booting him sharply in the stomach. He struggled as they continued to punch and kick at him wordlessly, with Russ gasping painfully as they assaulted him, “No- Wait! It’s not – my – it’s her – please – !”


Devon watched for a few moments, dragging Autumn towards the rest of the gang by the wrists. He let go of one of her hands, and signalled to the others to stop. The one holding his arms released him, and threw him to the ground, the group of nine or so forming a tight ring around him incase he tried to scramble away. Russ’ face was badly bruised and his nose was bloody, tiny droplets of crimson falling onto the concrete below. He gathered up the bag in his hands, shakingly holding it out to Devon. “L-look, Devon, I was trying to get it back, I swear! She-She took it from me, and-“ He was stopped abruptly Devon spit in his face, and growled to him, “Shut up, mutt. We’ll see what the little lady has to say about this first, shall we?”


He held Autumn up, eyes blazing with anger as he shook her hard. “Well?!”

 

[Error404]

Autumn cried out in pain as Devon tightened his grip on her wrists. She looked at Russell, confusion and fear clearly seen in her wide amber eyes. She was scared, without a weapon she wouldn't have a chance. She didn't dare try to struggle, knowing she would die if she did. But everything was clicking into place. Russell wasn't diabetic, Ty was. And Ty was the brother of Devon, who was gripping her wrists so tightly she was sure the circulation was being cut off from them.


Ty was dead. Because of her. Someone had died because she had stolen insulin, which she didn't even need. She flinched when the gang started beating Russell, unable to look away but at the same time, watching the scene made her feel sick to her stomach. Even from where she was, she could hear what he was saying - and as she glanced up at Devon, she felt petrified. She never meant for this to happen, she just wanted, she just wanted to help Alexi. Autumn was still visibly shaking. She had never been so terrified in her life.


Devon dragged her over to the rest of the gang, and despite the situation, let out a silent sigh of relief when he released one of her wrists. She glanced at Russell, looking like a deer caught in headlights. She found herself still unable to look him in the eye. This was all her fault - and she knew it. And for what? Medicine that only caused her pain and grief? Tears still spilled down her face as she clenched her teeth. She was outnumbered, and would probably be killed if she even made it so far as to actually break free from Devon. Her heart jumped to her throat when Russell told Devon the truth - she had taken it from him. Autumn yelped as he shook her. It wasn't so much his actions, the pain he was causing her, or his tone of voice that was scaring her. It was the expression on his face that left her frozen with fear. He looked so angry. And pained.


"I-I didn't mean to!" she cried. "I was-was only l-looking for medicine f-for my friend and-and-" she could barely finish her sentence, she was trembling so much.

 

[Laine]

“Yeah, right,” Devon snarled, pushing Autumn into the wall, grabbing her by the neck and squeezing her throat so she could only just breathe. “You’re part of some rival gang, huh? Trying to strike me where it hurts by taking down my kid brother? How pathetic!” He slammed her against the wall, choking her harshly as he yelled, his face inches away from hers. “What clan are you from? Who put you up to this?! I want his head on a f***ing stake!”


“-D-Devon, please, she’s – she’s telling the truth –“ Russ sobbed, shuffling towards the two painfully. He was terrified for his own life, but deep down he knew what she did wasn’t for the benefit of the other violent clans in the area, and really was just a desperate attempt at saving a friend’s life, as fruitless as it was. “It- It was a mistake! She was just trying to- she has- giving it- given it back-“ He cried out as he was grabbed by the hair by a gang member, dragging him back before he had a chance to intervene. He sat miserably on his knees, grovelling to Devon from afar.


“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, Devon, just - please, I’ll give you anything you want,” He grovelled, his arms held up in surrender, tears rolling down his cheeks in fear, “I’ll show you where my house is, you can take all my food, all my medicine, all my goods, please, just - ” Devon suddenly released his grip on Autumns’ neck, moments before she lost consciousness from the strangulation. He pushed her to the ground near to Russell, kicking the boy violently in the face as he shook with rage. “Just what?! You’re as bad as her, always making late on your damn deliveries and hiding yourself away so I have to have my guys chase you up every few days! You really think I’m going to do anything less than have the both of you torn limb from limb at the stake? After what you’ve done?! You’re sadly mistaken..!”


Devon was breathing heavily, and he wiped the blood from the bottom of his boot on Autumn’s shirt as he pushed past. He snapped his fingers and pointed at the two horrified teens lying on the ground, growling at his gang members, “Go on, take the b*tch and the coward and tie them to a lamppost! I want to see their blood smeared on the concrete!” Instantly, a male and a female gang member grabbed both Russell and Autumn, pulling them to their feet and dragging him towards the outskirts of the city, where the hordes of zombies tended to roam in the early evening. Devon walked away in the opposite direction, seething as he paced back towards the convention hall.

 

[Error404]

Autumn clawed at Devon's hands, trying to pry them away from her throat. She started feeling a warm tingling sensation from the blood being unable to flow. There was a faint ringing in her ears, and she started panicking, kicking out to try to free herself and be able to breathe again. She couldn't breathe, let alone speak, trying to get Devon's hands away. She was panicking, her mouth open as she tried to get the air she needed into her lungs but being unable to.


Disorientation was settling in, the lack of air making her feel dizzy and nauseous. Black dots swam in her vision, her lungs burning as she struggled, eyes wide with fear and tears. She couldn't concentrate on anything Russell or Devon was saying. She needed to breathe. Her vision was growing fuzzy, her kicking and flailing growing slower and less frequent as she suddenly felt tired, so tired. The brunette felt extremely nauseated, the pounding headache and dizziness not helping. But all she wanted to do was close her eyes and sleep. Her hands fell limply to her side, the lack of oxygen making her movements slow and stop.


She dropped to the ground, sucking in breaths as she used her hand to massage her throat. Already bruises were forming around her neck, but she could breathe again. Her vision cleared, though it was still blurry through her tears. The ringing in her ears ad the nausea faded as she laid on the ground, gasping and wheezing for air. She caught bits and pieces of Devon's fury, glancing up at Russell, who was laying near her, only briefly as she regained her breath. Her neck hurt, with purple bruises shaped like fingers wrapped around it. Even after she was able to breathe, she just laid on the ground, fearful of anything that would happen to her if she tried to get up. It wasn't but moments after that she was being hauled to her feet along with Russell and dragged away.


She was too tired and dazed to try to get away, resigning to her fate that she would be devoured by the zombies. Autumn coughed as she was slammed against a lamppost. The course rope rubbed against her wrists, and she winced as she was tied tightly to the post. When she looked up at the sky, she saw the sun was setting - if the zombies didn't appear before night arrived, they would by then. She sat there silently, having cried herself dry. Her eyes were puffy and red-rimmed as she stared at the ground, having lost the will and energy to fight. She had almost died, though at that point, she was beginning to wonder, if maybe she deserved it.

 

[Laine]

Russell fought desperately against his captor as he too was slammed against the metal post next to Autumn, still reeling from the course of events. “Jess- Jess, please, don’t do this…! Don’t you remember, we used to be such good friends? Back when, back when this all started, I gave you a course of antibiotics when I found out you were struggling with an infection. And, and…you know this isn’t fair! It wasn’t my fault!” He span around and managed to land a kick to her shin, and he struggled away from her grip as he tried to escape. The other gang member that had tied Autumn turned to them both, and quickly subdued Russ with a fist to his already bruised stomach. As he recoiled against the post, there was a quiet clink as the syringe of muscle relaxant slid from his jacket pocket onto the ground.


The man picked it up, narrowing his eyes as he read the label. “Hmm. Here, this should settle him.” He said, twisting one of Russ’ hands around the post and jabbing the needle into his upper arm. Russell realised what he was doing, and screamed for help one last time, pushing back from the lamppost as the liquid was quickly injected under his skin. Jess pushed against the boy’s shoulders so he didn’t move too much, avoiding meeting his familiar hazel eyes as his struggles suddenly weakened, his words failing to form as his knees buckled from underneath him. “Jeeess...Pleaaasee…” She was handed a length of rope, and tied Russ’ hands loosely behind his back, trapping him to the pole as he slid down it lethargically. He sat on the ground, whimpering and still pleading as they both paced away, the young woman keeping her eyes lowered as tears began to form.


Hours later, the sun had set a while ago, and the pale moonlight did little to light up the bare, open street that surrounded the two teens as they awaited their fate. Like Autumn, Russell had lost the energy to fight, his strength sapped by the dose of muscle relaxant that was eventually beginning to wear off. It was the sound of distant moaning that suddenly stirred him into action – he turned his head to their left, far beyond where Autumn was sat, and spotted a group of walkers slowly wandering, unaware of their presence but getting closer. “Oh my god,” he whispered under his breath, shaking violently from both the night chill and fear.

 

[Error404]

It was agonizing; just sitting there and waiting. The sun had set long ago, the moon had risen and a light chill had set in. Autumn shivered, goosebumps on her arms, as she was wearing a short-sleeved shirt. The streets seemed empty, but Autumn knew better. Zombies were slow, only delaying the inevitable. She leaned against the cold metal pole, resting her hands on the ground and pulling her knees up to her chest. It would have been boring, had she not been on the lookout for any zombies every five or so seconds, scared that one would surprise them, as slow and dumb as the monsters were. Shifting into a slightly more comfortable position, she glanced around the darkened streets again. Still nothing. Sighing quietly, she hung her head closing her eyes. It was going to be a long night.


After having several hours to think about it, she realized she wasn't ready to die. Especially not tied to a pole and waiting to be eaten alive. But she knew there was nothing she could do about it. They had taken their supplies, their weapons. And even if, by some miracle, they weren't killed by zombies, they would starve to death, and that was if they didn't die from dehydration. The empty feeling in her stomach reminded her that the only thing she had eaten was a can of spaghetti, and that had been a day ago. Swallowing, she looked up, scanning their surroundings again. Nothing. Though she was starting to hear something. It was so faint, she might have been imagining it, but she could have sworn she heard moaning. Swallowing nervously, she glanced around, wondering if it was just her being paranoid. Shivering again, she curled up into a ball, trying to stay warm and small.


Russell's voice broke the silence, so quiet she could barely hear him. But when she followed his gaze, she saw the group of zombies, slowly advancing. Soon enough, they would be close to where the two were tied. Autumn tugged at the ropes binding her, but they were too tight for her to escape. They bit at her wrists, and she bit her lip as she watched the walkers make their way closer. Sitting there, she knew that they were defenseless, and would be easy targets for the zombies. She wanted to run, but she knew she couldn't as she tugged harder, knowing it was useless trying to escape. Looking at the group, her eyes widened at how big it was. A slight whimper escaped her mouth. This was not how she wanted to die.

 

[Laine]

Russell sighed, swallowing hard as the mass slowly got closer. A primal terror threatened to consume him, the fear of his impending death stirring him into action. He mustered up any ounce of strength he had, tugging feebly at the ropes around his wrists and pushing away from the solid metal post. Of course, he didn't expect for the loose escape-knot to give way, and so when it did, he almost fell flat on his face, the weight of his body throwing him forward. He brought his shaking hands in front of his face, narrowing his eyes in deep confusion, "Huh...?"


He turned his head to the crowd of zombies, and then again at his freed hands. Using the pole for support, he pulled himself up, still not fully recovered from the quick-acting drug that had paralysed his muscles. He was weak and unarmed, but he was free. He couldn't believe his luck for a few seconds, before casting his mind back to the sympathetic female companion that had bound him. Giving a silent thanks to Jess for being so merciful, he looked around in an attempt to get his bearings, trying to figure out the best direction to escape in. He could go right, towards the city, where moonlight-bathed streets would make it easy to see any oncoming hordes, or backwards, into the forest, towards his home. He knew it would be almost impossible to find his house in the darkness, and the hordes that preyed on the stray people that wandered there were well-fed and a lot swifter than the walkers they saw in the city.


He turned around, facing the fast approaching horde, remembering the girl that'd been tied to the post just across from him. She was trembling and staring wide-eyed at the horde as it advanced, still firmly bound to the metal pole to feed the undead monsters. On the one hand, Russell thought, if he left her, should would slow down the horde, allowing him to get away. But on the other hand, even if he did get away, there was no guarantee that none of the large horde would follow him, and it would only take one wrong turning to end up face-to-face with them. He staggered over to Autumn, kneeling next to her, never taking his eyes off the approaching group of undead. "Heey..." he slurred, putting a shaking hand on her shoulder "I...I can untie youu, b-buut, I neeed...youu, to, help me..." beads of sweat were forming on his forehead as he spoke, and he realised they didn't have much time left to escape - he would have to have Autumn's help, or he'd never get away.


"I...save your life, y-you save mine...mhmm?" Russ started tugging at the ropes around her wrists, struggling to see the knot in the dim light. He settled on the idea that if Autumn knew the city better than him, she could take him somewhere safe until the horde had passed. Deep down, he knew that she could well leave him for dead, and knowing where he lived, she could easily take advantage and live in his house, where there a personal horde of food and weapons lay. But he hoped that their shared desperation to stay alive would sway her to help him. "H-help me find somewhere safe…to hide, until morning..."

 

[Error404]

Movement out of the corner of her eye caught Autumn's attention. She turned towards it, fully expecting to see a stray zombie ambling towards the two, but instead seeing Russell. Her heart sank when she realized he was free, and how close the horde was getting. Soon, they would be discovered, and he would be able to run off and escape his doom. She, on the other hand, was still trapped against the pole. For slow creatures, the zombies seemed to be getting closer at an alarming rate, or maybe it was just her fear that made it seem that way, making it look like they were going quicker than they were.


Bracing herself against the pole, she inched upwards onto her feet and pulled against the ropes, panicking as the zombies were getting closer. She tugged hard, the rope hurting her skin but she couldn't find it in herself to care, even when it started rubbing her wrists raw. She saw Russell analyzing their surroundings, no doubt searching for an optimal route for escape. Straining against the ropes, she was growing desperate, a thin layer of sweat forming on her forehead and palms despite the chill. She bit her lip to keep from yelling in pain, only stopping her efforts to escape when her wrists started bleeding. She looked like a cornered animal with no means of fighting; scared, knowing death was coming but not being ready. The brunette slumped against the pole, shivering, but not from the cold. She didn't want to die. The zombies hadn't noticed her by then, but she knew they would in due time.


Russell still hadn't run, and she wondered why until he stumbled over to her. Whatever the two gang members had injected into him still seemed to be in effect, though it appeared to have been wearing off. She was surprised, though grateful, when she deciphered what he was saying - he was going to save her. She gave him a weak smile as he started fumbling with the knot. "Y-yeah," she whispered, voice shaky, "I c-can do that." The rope fell away from her raw wrists, and she stood up, glancing at the horde. Since Russell still seemed a little unstable, she offered him her support. With a glance at the oncoming horde, she started down the better-lit streets, not wanting to risk going through the woods, even if it would provide better cover. She didn't want to be surprised, and the streets would give her a better path to her own house, anyway. She fished the key from her pocket, thankful it hadn't fallen out. Helping Russell along, she started towards her house.


Zombies weren't the only thing she was watching out for - she knew the fury they had endured from Devon would be tame compared to his reaction if he found they had escaped. Swallowing nervously, she regarded their surroundings carefully. If found by either the undead or the gang, she knew both outcomes would lead to at least one of the two teens dying. It took a while, and several close encounters, before her home was in sight. Key in hand, she unlocked the door. It was a miracle the usual crowd outside the house was absent - perhaps it was the lack of a living presence inside. Shoving Russell in and entering after her, she closed and locked the door, able to relax just a bit.

 

[Laine]

Russ staggered over to the couch, flopping down flat on it and panting a little. The drug was still wearing off, and the struggle to get home even with Autumn’s support had worn him out. The trip had been agonising – with Russ staggering along, the odd voice or distant moaning sent shivers down his spine as the two ambled down the roads towards her house, and he too was terrified by the idea of Devon finding them so vulnerable. He rested his hand on his chest, as if to calm his fast-beating heart from the terror it’d faced.


He pushed another hand through his dirty blonde curls, sighing as the day’s events span around and around in his head. In one day his lifestyle had been radically changed – no longer could he just walk into the convention hall with a bag of medicines, expecting to peddle them without being seen. If anything, he’d have to be even more careful about his movements around the city, with Devon on his back now. His head hurt as he tried to think of a way to carry on as he had, without having to move away.


His body, too, was sore, from the abuse it’d endured, with large, proud bruises forming here and there, a considerable purple welt covering his nose and left eye where he’d been punched square in the face. He poked the one on his forearm, wincing in pain as the dull ache spread quickly across the entire limb. Russell unceremoniously kicked off his boots, and stretched out on the sofa as he would at home, taking deep, relaxed breaths as he rested his eyes. As soon as he did so, he heard Autumn shuffling about still around him, and he opened one eye to look at the brunette. He lay there for a few minutes, watching her as she walked about the house, finally raising his voice when he saw an opportunity, “…Th-thank you, for the h-hellp.” He mumbled, his voice still wavering slightly. “Uhm…what was your name again?”

 

[Error404]

Autumn wandered around, checking her various hiding places for supplies. Her house did not appear to have been broken into, but she wanted to be sure. She also checked the windows - everything seemed strong and looked stable enough to hold up. When that was all said and done, she collapsed on the couch and closed her eyes, just wanting to forget the events of the day. When Russell spoke, she opened her eyes and glanced at him. "Don't mention it," she muttered. It was then that she realized she didn't know his name, and he didn't know hers. "Oh. It's Autumn."


She rubbed her neck, wincing as her fingers came in contact with the purple bruises and pain blossomed around her throat. She had a feeling the bruises would be there for a while. The brunette shuddered, the feeling of being unable to breathe still fresh in her mind. It was an experience she never wanted to have again. Curling up on the couch, she was very ready to fall asleep until her stomach chose that time to remind her it was empty. With a small sigh, she stood up and rooted out a can of beans, nearly tripping over Alexi's body on her way back. She stared down at it sadly - her friend's needs was what had started the whole mess, and in the end, it was all for nothing. "I'm sorry," she whispered, so quietly that Russell wouldn't have been able to hear.


Stepping over the body, she made her way back to the living room, pondering for a moment. "Do you... Want something to eat?" she asked tentatively, her voice quiet. Autumn figured it was the least she could do for him at the moment, as he had saved her life by helping her get free from the post. She opened the tin of beans, starting to eat as she waited for an answer. Admittedly, she did feel a little wary - he could easily steal her supplies and leave, though at the moment, they both seemed too tired and sore to do anything other than rest. Being as hungry as she was, it didn't take her long to finish the tin of beans, and she tossed it in the trash can in the corner, flinching at the loud sound in the relatively quiet home.

 

[Laine]

“I’m Russell, if you haven’t guessed already.” Russ said, closing both eyes again. He tipped his head back and sighed, trying once again to settle down to sleep. He smirked slightly as he heard her stomach rumble from across the room, shuffling uncomfortably as he tried to forget his own hunger – he’d grown so used to eating twice a day with his horde of food, and missing an evening meal was making his belly protest as he heard the scrip of the can opening.


He was surprised when she asked him if he wanted food – a sign of gratitude for saving her, or just common courtesy? He turned his head and looked over at her, noticing the way she stared back with slightly narrowed eyes. He bit his lip as his midsection rumbled again, patting it gently and pulling a weak smile. “Uhh, yes, please.”


He waited until she had finished ravenously eating her own tinful, both of them flinching as it hit the trash can. “You want me to go get it?” He sat up on the sofa, looking around until his eyes fell on the kitchen. He straightened up to stand, but froze as he was still met with her slightly suspicious gaze. He shrugged, stretching his arms above him, and groaning as his muscles struggled to hold them up. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to steal anything – I mean, I’m not the thief here, am I?” He chuckled and stood, padding softy over the kitchen. He looked around for the food, realising that he wasn’t the only one who didn’t keep his cans in the cupboards to avoid theft. He eventually found a tiny tin of sweetcorn – half the size of what he was used to, and lacking any kind of meat or carbohydrate. He frowned at it but decided not to ask for anything better, padding back towards the living room, stepping carefully over Alexis as he did so.


He settled back on the sofa, cracking the tin open and scraping out the watery contents. “Hey, there’s no hard feelings here. So long as you don't follow me home and steal from me again I don't have a problem with you. I mean, everyone is just trying to survive, right?” he nodded over to the body, perhaps not realising what a sensitive issue it was for Autumn. “I don’t blame you. For trying. Heck, I was stuffing pills down my Dad’s throat even as he was coming around. Almost tore my eyes out, he did.” Russ chuckled bitterly as he finished, placing the can on the floor when he’d finished.

 

[Error404]

Autumn's eyes narrowed. "I'm not going to steal from you again, okay?" She glanced away, muttering, "It's not like I need to, anymore." Alexi's death was still a touchy subject, and she didn't appreciate him bringing it up constantly. Though it surprised her - he had tried too, with the same failure. "I thought it was worth a shot. I knew, in the back of my mind that it probably wouldn't work. I was desperate, and I thought that maybe, it would at least slow the infection down," she admitted quietly.


She stared down at her lap, a humorless laugh escaping her lips. "Sounds kinda stupid, doesn't it? Once they've been bitten, they're goners. When reanimation occurs, they're gone. Too late." She clenched her fists. "And it hurts, you know? I did all of that, for nothing. She was dead when I got home a few days ago. I waited all night by her side, for the reanimation. I didn't want her to catch me by surprise." There was a bitter smile on her face as she looked up at Russell, looking more tired than anything.


"It was early in the morning when she did - put a bullet through her brain before she could do anything, not wanting to take any chances." Shaking her head, she leaned back in the chair. "I don't know where my parents are. They could be dead. Or wandering around out there, who knows." Her voice was quiet, wrapping her arms around her knees as she drew them to her chest. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm sorry. Though that's probably not going to cut it, is it?" Another bitter laugh. She glanced at the white sheet-covered body. "I think I have the rest of the medicine around here somewhere. You can have it, or whatever." She didn't know what he would do with it, but quite frankly, she didn't care. She was leaving. It would be too dangerous to stick around, not with Devon on the prowl. Even without a weapon, she didn't want to come across him or his gang again. Light fingertips skimming around her neck, she knew she had to leave.


Somehow, she felt vulnerable, without her gun. She supposed she could look around the house, maybe her dad had tools around somewhere. But she didn't know. "I suppose I should thank you. For, you know, saving my life back there. So, thank you." She glanced at him, knowing the reason they were even in that situation had been because of her. She quickly averted her gaze, looking down at the ground. Knowing she had been rambling, she shut up, hearing the faint moans of the dead outside. It made the hair on the back of her neck raise.

 

[Laine]

Russ listened patiently, watching Autumn as she spoke quietly. He felt a pang of guilt as he remembered that he’d originally planned to get rid of her as soon as he could, as she really didn’t have any malicious intentions for him. He made a non-committal “eh” sound when she suggested he take the medicine – he couldn’t trade it at the convention hall anymore, anyway.


Russ shrugged, “No problem. You saved my ass as much as I saved yours, in a weird kind of way.” He chuckled a little, “It probably would’ve been a lot worse if Dev just found me on my own. I’d probably have a few less limbs than I do now, and that’d be before he’d tied me to the pole. Nasty piece of work, that guy.” He sniffed, shifting uncomfortably under his bruises, “At least he had someone else to take his anger out on this time.”


He heard the moaning start up again, and, invigorated by the sound as well as his tiny meal, he shuffled over to the boarded up windows, peeking through a tiny crack. The wood they were made from weren’t as stiff as the kind he’d used for his house, and he felt uneasy as he watched a small group of undead slowly move through the neighbourhood. He bit his lip, “They’re getting pretty close. You know if these things will hold?” He murmured, tapping the wooden slats. He looked around, noticing the lack of obvious weapons lying around. “You got a shotgun or something? I wanna knock that big-headed one out, over there.” He spoke as if he was suddenly playing a game – and true, he would sometimes poke a rifle out of a window on the top level of his house, just for fun. He had plenty of ammo and weapons, not to mention a lot of free time.

 

[Error404]

Autumn frowned, swallowing uncomfortably. "I know. They come every night. But they've held so far," she said, chewing her lip. "As for weapons... No. That was the only gun I had," she admitted, shifting in the chair. She was beginning to feel nervous, despite the fact that the boards had held up so far. If one of the zombies got in, she didn't know what she would do. Bash their heads in with one of the food tins? She didn't know, and it made her feel vulnerable.


"I don't even have any extra ammo," she admitted. If she was being completely honest, she would have felt better if they were at Russell's house - when she was at his house looking for medicine, she hadn't missed all the food, ammo, and weapons he had had. The brunette wished they had made it to his house. But of course, she knew that had they gone that way, the chance of being attacked and devoured by zombies would have been greater in the dark woods.


"They'll go away in the morning," she said. "They always do." Shifting into a more comfortable position, she glanced at the wooden boards over the windows, and she glanced at the door. Everything seemed alright. The boards looked stable, the door was locked. She did find herself missing her gun. If she had it, she knew she would feel a lot better. Getting up, she walked over to the window next to Russell, peering through one of the little slits in between the board. The group that had ambled over was smaller than usual, which did little to settle her nerves. She supposed they were lucky they were in a house with even a little protection. Though she still felt unusually uneasy, the lack of a weapon making her feel more insecure than normal.

 

[Laine]

Russ nodded in agreement. “Mmm. They all go out and graze around the fences at the convention hall then. Greedy bastards.”


He dragged his eyes away from the boards, looking her up and down as she moved towards the window next to him. Her shoulders were slumped in tiredness and her brownish-red hair was messed up a little, but the moonlight going through the wooden boards of the windows seemed to catch her eyes as she peered out. The necklace she’d traded for at the market glistened around her neck nicely, but he winced as he noticed the bruises just above it. He felt slightly responsible for her getting hurt by Devon, even though in reality there’d been nothing he could do about it.


He cleared his throat, turning back to peer out of the window. The horde was steadily receding back down the street. “I-I can give you a gun, if you want.” He avoided her gaze as his eyes wandered around the bare neighbourhood, realising that a sudden act of kindness might be perceived as suspicious. “I mean...I'd feel bad leaving you here on your own without a weapon. Not just with the Zombs about – I imagine Devon will start trying to take this area over, too. And it’s not like either of us can trade for one anymore, huh?” He hastily tried to justify his offer, and what he was saying was partially true – Devon practically owned the convention hall as it stood in his territory, and while he supposed she could trade for a weapon outside of it, he could guarantee whatever he gave her would be in working condition and have a lot of ammo with it. I’ll probably throw in some good food and clothes and stuff for good measure, too, he thought, sighing a little.


He swept his fingers over the dust on the rafts, causing a cloud of particles to catch in the moonlight that filtered in. After what the two had been through during the day, he was reluctant to leave her in the tiny, poorly boarded up house alone without any kind of protection, especially with the fury of a murderous gang looming over them. Being in her quiet company had been far better than spending the night crouched under his kitchen table, alone and terrified, and he suddenly felt the need to help her, purely for the chance that he’d get to see her around again sometime. Had he been aware of her plans to leave the city, perhaps he would have said something more, but he didn’t, and so shuffled quietly back over to the sofa once he was satisfied the mob had gone, resigning himself to sleep as he curled up.

 

[Error404]

Autumn hadn't gotten that much sleep. Curled up in the chair, her night was mainly spent watching the windows and door, making sure nothing got through them. Without a gun, she didn't want to take any chances. Though she brightened, remembering Russell had said that he could give her a gun. While she wasn't exactly worried about Devon - as she had plans to leave - the road to find a place to stay that was out of Devon's range would be a long and dangerous one, and one she definitely wouldn't make without a weapon. Other than watching, she had been thinking about which direction to head. Like Russell had mentioned earlier, New York, Boston, or any other large city would be sentencing herself to death. With such a large density, there probably would be more undead than living there.


When she saw sunlight filtering in through the small slits in between the wood, she got up and peered out tiredly. The mob was gone, had been gone, not to come again until the sun set. She went around her house, footsteps light on the wooden flooring, searching for any bag she could find. Her supplies were limited, but she knew she should bring them along with her. The more she had, the better. Unfortunately, the only bags she could find were her mother's old "grocery" bags - soft cloth bags that she would take to the store since her mother disliked plastic bags. She supposed it was better than nothing, though she would have preferred a backpack. She padded back down the stairs - pausing at the sight of the bundle in the corner of the living room. Tossing the bag on the chair, she glanced over at Russell, making sure he was still asleep. She took a few minutes to really look at him. He had curly dirty-blonde hair, and she remembered his eyes were hazel. She frowned a bit, noticing the purple and red that littered his skin, the results of their run-in with Devon. She still felt guilty about it, even if it wasn't exactly her fault.


The brunette looked away. She timidly inched over to the body. She knew she couldn't take it with her, it would be foolish and downright stupid to do so. She let out a sigh, surprised to find tears forming in her eyes. She had known Alexi since they were little girls. They had grown up together, almost like sisters. Autumn looked down at the body, blinking her tears away. "I'm sorry," she said, knowing she had said that to the corpse many times. "I'm so so sorry." She closed her eyes. "I love you," she said softly. She stayed there for a few minutes before opening her eyes and walking away. She grabbed the bag, going around and stuffing the tins and bottles in it, rooting through every hiding spot she had. She didn't want to leave any behind. The whole time, she avoided looking at the bundle.

 

[Laine]

Russell snuffed and twitched in his sleep, momentarily unaware that Autumn was softy stepping around him, or that he was even in someone else’s house. Contrary to the girl, he slept surprisingly well – the tiredness of his muscles mixed with the soft comfort of the old sofa had made him sleep long and heavily. He only stirred when he heard the clang of tins stacking on one another, raising his head from the cushion his face had been buried, and turning in Autumn’s vague direction. He smacked his lips together, realising that he was both hungry and thirsty.


He shuffled to sit up, groaning as an overall soreness returned to him with a vengeance, especially on his face. Some of the bruises had matured overnight, going from a bluish colour to a reddy-purple, and were even more tender to the touch in places. He groaned, rubbing his neck and pushing a hand through the knotted curls on his head. It took him a few moments to remember exactly what had happened the day previous, but once he did, he couldn’t help but smirk that he’d once again managed to escape death, even though it had ultimately been at the cost of his long-term protection.


He saw Autumn re-enter the room, with a half-full cloth bag strung in her hands. He hadn’t seen her mourning over the body of her friend, and so instantly felt a little uneasy about her mournful expression as she searched the house for any cans she could find, stuffing them into the bag as she pondered her next move. “You going somewhere?” He joked, a deep tone resonating in his tired voice. He began to lazily pull his boots on, wincing as the bright morning sun caught his eyes through the slats.

 

[Error404]

She was still throwing tins into her bag when Russell woke up, going in the different rooms as she searched for where she had hidden everything. "Oh... You're awake," she said when she heard his voice. She wiped her melancholy expression off her face and mustered a small smile. She didn't want him to know she had just spoken her last words to her friend. Somehow it seemed private, too private for her to tell someone she had just met, barely knew, and while she did find him trustworthy, it was only because of his lack of weapons.


She swallowed. "Actually, yes. I probably won't stay around here much longer. It's too dangerous, especially with the gang around," she mumbled. "I don't know where I'll go." She didn't know the effect her words would have - she didn't know that he was helping her so he could see her again. Autumn thought he would understand, not knowing how he felt towards her. She finished packing the rest of the tins, and she frowned, seeing as she only had a few bottles of water. With a sigh, she sat down on the couch. "You'll have to be careful," she commented absentmindedly, feeling drained.


She dug around in the bag, pulling out a tin of green beans. She started opening it, but then looked at Russell. "Do you want one?" She was eating for energy more than anything, starting to eat. She figured she should probably save it, but she had more than enough for one person that could last her for a while if she was careful enough. Digging into the beans, she ate, placing the tin gently on the floor when she was done. It did little to satisfy her hunger, but she didn't eat anything else, wanting to save the rest of her rations.

 

[Laine]

Russ barely managed to conceal his disappointment as she spoke, tying his bootlaces tightly. “You’re leaving?” his shoulder suddenly slumped, and he frowned, clasping his hands together. “Oh, well. That’s a shame. It’d…It’d have been nice to see your face around again. B-but I guess you’re right, with the gangs practically warring on your doorstep and everything...” He rubbed his neck, sniffing as he stood up. “At least I won’t have to worry about you breaking into my house again, huh?” He stifled a chuckle, before realising that she really didn’t take to that joke too well. “N-not that I was...!”


He shook his head, walking back over to the boarded up windows, stealing a glance at her as he did so. Russ peered out into the bright daylight – it was mid-morning at least, and the streets were quiet, with everyone either trading or sleeping. He scratched his fingers against the soft wood of the windowsill, biting his lip in confusion. Why do I care if she’s leaving? She’s been nothing but trouble for me. If anything I’ll feel safer when she’s out of my hair…He thought to himself, although he hadn’t really considered her a threat ever since he found out why she’d stolen from him. In reality, he was reluctant for her to leave at all, knowing that he’d be spending the next few months as a hermit, unable to trade or come out of his house for fear of being discovered by the ever-growing gangs. Although it pained him to be so lonely and unsociable, he really had no other plans for the future. And these days, it was so difficult to come across someone who could be considered a friend – even one as hostile and indifferent as Autumn – who wasn’t in a gang or more than ten years older than him.


He shook his head as he was offered the food, still staring out of the window blankly. “Nuh, thanks.” He mumbled. Although he was hungry, he’d feel bad if he took anymore food off her, seeing as she could fit her entire food and water supply in one small bag. How on Earth is she going to make it to the next town over with just that? She doesn’t even know where she’s going. He sighed, before suddenly remembering his offer from last night. He span around to look at her, a smile gracing across his face again. “Oh, yeah, I said I’d give you a gun and food, didn’t I?” He thought that they both knew he had plenty anyway – more than he could possibly use by himself. “-And, I’ve got some maps and stuff at my place that you could you could, you know, look at, if you want…Just so you know where you’re going.” He added, trying to be helpful. He hoped it didn’t come off as suspicious to her, the genuine smile on his face reflecting how he felt – he only wanted her to be safe as she could on her journey, although it meant going away from him.

 

[Error404]

Autumn fiddled with the straps of her bag and studied the floor. "Yeah. I am." Her brows furrowed, and she glanced at Russell. What was with the sudden attitude change? She frowned when he mentioned he wouldn't have to worry about her stealing anything from him. "You're never going to let that go, are you?" she muttered, her tone dry. It was a joke, she realized, but one she personally did not find funny. Though she supposed she should be grateful he was making a joke out of it. It showed some level of forgiveness, she guessed, though she still didn't appreciate it. It only served as a reminder of her desperation.


She started thinking. She wondered where she would go, as she gazed forlornly into her bag. She had also stuck all the medicine she had found into it as well. When she had scrounged up all she had and counted it, she realized she had less than she thought. At first, she thought she had forgotten a hiding place, and stood surveying the living room, looking around with a puzzled look on her face. It wasn't until she let her gaze drift through the slats that she remembered - she had been forced to drop her other bag of supplies she had traded for. She swallowed, beginning to feel the faintest bit unsure about the amount of food she had. With a silent sigh, she gently set the bag on the floor, going over to stand by Russell at the window. He had refused her offer - she felt just a bit relieved that he had. Looking out the window, she saw the streets were bright and empty. She hoped to be able to leave by nightfall. That way she could avoid the zombies, and not have to necessarily worry about them until she was out of Devon's territory. She didn't want to have to look out for both. Glancing at Russell, she found herself struck by a peculiar feeling. She felt slightly guilty for leaving, though she didn't know why. Maybe it was because she was leaving him alone to fend for himself against the gang. After all, he hadn't done anything threatening since they were caught by Devon, and seemed borderline friendly.


At his offer, she looked at him. "Really?" Her face lit up, and she couldn't help the small grin that spread across her face. "You mean it?" His offer seemed genuine, and she found herself unable to wipe her smile. He was acting different than he had earlier, more helpful, less... Taunting. Though she supposed her attitude towards him had changed as well. Her guard was beginning to lower ever-so-slightly. "You know, you're not so bad," she murmured, looking back out the window rather than at him. She still felt a little guilty. She had stolen his medicine, but she hadn't meant to grab the insulin at all. She had been in a hurry, not wanting to get caught, and grabbed everything she could find. She snorted to herself at the memory; in the end, that had backfired. Autumn didn't look at Alexi's body, instead glancing at Russell every now and then, as if checking for his reaction. She couldn't help but notice that he had a cute smile - and she quickly looked back out the window after the thought crossed her mind.

 

[Laine]

“Not so bad, huh? What, compared to Devon?” Russell chuckled bitterly. His forced laughter echoed throughout the empty house, and he curtly stopped as he caught Autumn gazing out of the window – unimpressed, he assumed. He shifted uncomfortably, leaning on the windowsill and looking over to her, “You’re not so bad yourself. I mean, you picked the locks in my house, right? And the safe? Seriously, that’s impressive. I can’t do anything like that. I’m a lousy shot, I can’t sneak for my life, and I’m not even that good at fighting.” He picked at the dried blood on his shirt, frowning despondently. “If I wasn’t lucky enough to have wealthy parents, I probably wouldn’t be here right now.”


He looked back over to her, and his smile returned, albeit a slightly sadder one. The tiny freckles on her face and the deeper reds in her hair were caught by the sunlight filtering through as she gazed out solemnly. He pursed his lips slightly, pushing a hand through his blonde curls as he studied her from afar, the dark bruises on his face scrunching up as he did so. Russ sighed, having not noticed the more subtle features on her face, the tiny dark flecks on the bridge of her nose and messy bangs swept to the left highlighting the shape of her face in an attractive way. She was pretty, he thought – it wasn’t often he met someone who still looked good even when they weren’t really trying, with all the scars and starvation failing to take away from her natural beauty. But it wasn’t just her looks; the way she’d risked so much to save her friend spoke of a powerful sense of loyalty in her. He was slightly jealous, miserably considering himself a coward that only ever tried to save his own ass, even at the risk of others. It was for her, he suddenly realised, that he’d broken the rules of don’t let anyone in the house and don’t give away anything for free he’d made for himself since the apocalypse had started. And yet, he still felt guilty that he couldn’t do more for her – he couldn’t bring back Alexis for one, and he couldn’t accompany her to make sure she stayed safe either.


He cleared his throat, suddenly aware that he’d been staring at her for some time. “We’d, uh, better get going, then, if you want to be heading off soon. Let’s not push our luck with those guys walking about.” He shuffled over to the door, turning the key still in it and wrenching it open. He poked his head out, carefully checking for gang members before heading out, holding the door open for her as she left with him.

 

[Error404]

"You were the one who had enough sense to stockpile what you had and trade it for what you needed. And now look at all the supplies you have." She had a sad smile on her face - she had picked the lock and gotten into the safe, but for the lockpick she had traded her own supplies, and she was patient enough to listen for the little click that let her know she had gotten a number right."Besides, even if you do shoot and miss, you have the weapons and ammo that let's you take the shot in the first place. Not many are as fortunate as you." Before the outbreak, she hadn't been much of a fighter. She, along with Alexi, had taught themselves how to shoot, though Alexi had been the better marksman.


Russell was smart. That much she had gathered. It wasn't just "wealthy parents" that had kept him alive for so long. Autumn recalled what he had said earlier about him going through the extra steps to make sure no one knew where he had lived. He had also mentioned something about protection - she suspected that had something to do with Devon. Whatever it was, it had helped him survive. She looked at him for a moment, catching him watching her. Immediately she looked back out the window. Observing the streets, she noted that usually, they wold be busy at that time of day. Cars and buses driving past, people going to work or school. It seemed odd, seeing them so empty and quiet. It was almost surreal, like something out of a dream. Or rather, nightmare. Letting out a soft breath, she rested her forehead against the soft wood. How many people, she wondered, were already gone? Dead, mindlessly wandering about. She remembered Russell had said his father turned. What about his mother? Did he have any siblings? She dared not ask. Instead, she thought about her own parents. They would have been at work, when they virus spread. She had not seen them since. She had barely seen anyone she knew, whether it be someone she had gone to school with, or a neighbor. It was unsettling to her, though it was not unexpected.


He cleared his throat, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Yeah, of course," she murmured, pushing off from the wood and making her own way to the door, picking her bag up on the way. She paused, allowing herself one last glance at Alexi, before yanking the key from the door and dropping it in her pocket with a quick, "Thank you," to Russell. She closed it behind her - she didn't bother locking it. It would probably be that last time she saw the house, she knew, which was why she had kept the key. A small part of it to keep with her.

 

[Laine]

The two walked down the street in a relatively awkward silence – neither knew what to say to one another, and Russ especially was worried that his voice would carry on to any suspecting ears. He was extra cautious, circling around the entire town instead of going straight through it, to get to his house. He only sped up his pace when they reached areas that weren’t patrolled often, his hunger urging him onwards, with his new short-term companion in tow. He would glance at her frequently, as if he was worried she would suddenly disappear if he took her eyes off her for too long.


They had to take many detours, not risking if even the faintest sound of horde nor gang travelled on the wind. By the time they reached the forest that bordered his home, it was mid-afternoon, getting dangerously close to sun-set. He bit his lip, realising how, even if she was armed to the teeth and had good vision, it would be difficult to get to the next town by nightfall. He glanced at her again, realising she must’ve been thinking the same. “Sorry. I didn’t wanna risk it, us being unarmed and everything. We can- I mean, if you want – you can stay at my place tonight. If you don’t feel safe moving on just yet.” He stiffened as he spoke, the words falling out of his mouth before he had a chance to process them. Oh, sure, Russell, invite her to stay over. That’s not creepy at all. He shivered, turning to face her as he walked backwards.


“I-it’s just, there’s a horde in the forest that comes to my house at sunset…and it doesn’t go away until dawn. They make a bloody racket, groaning and banging at the doors and windows. They know I’m in there, I think, they remember when-“He cut off suddenly, narrowing his face at the painful memory. He hesitated at telling her, before deciding otherwise, avoiding her eyes, shaking his head and turning back around sharply. “Uh, anyway. T-they sometimes roam around this area, so if you are leaving tonight, please be careful. They’re pretty fast, for zombs.” They approached his house soon after, the old-fashioned building standing ominously in the clearing.