After Death (Completed)

匚卄卂卩ㄒ乇尺 ２４(The Split Finale)

Chapter 24: The Split Finale

Ethan Warren

December, 2023

19 months after outbreak

Nevada

Season 2

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I've been walking for weeks now. I haven't eaten, haven't slept, and haven't killed any dead ones in days. I just keep looking for them, even though I'm not at all worthy of finding them.

I murdered every single one of those people for what they did to Aaron. I was covered in their blood. Maybe that's why the dead stayed away from me. But I didn't get out of there without a scratch on me. I was shot twice, once in the shoulder and once in my lower leg. I was amazed that I haven't bled out yet. I patched it up with some loose pieces of cloth, but the bleeding hadn't stopped. The bullet was still in my shoulder, and I could feel it starting to get infected.

I didn't know where I was going. My mind was blank as I walked on the open road. Maybe a part of me hoped this was the end. After how stupid I've been, maybe I deserved this. At some point, my body would simply give out, and I'd be destined to become a living-dead person's lost and forgotten meal.

The burning sun didn't help at all; it just made me more lightheaded. I was dehydrated and malnourished; pretty much everything that could be wrong with me was wrong. I wanted to rest. I felt my body slowly sink into the pavement of the road. Sweat dripped from my eyelashes, and then everything went dark.

I woke up on an air mattress inside what seemed to have once been a restaurant. An IV was in my hand, and Ace bandages were wrapped around my wounds. Someone patched me up; they got the bullet out of my arm and stitched me up clean.

I wanted to know the person that I owe my life to, but the place was empty. All that was left with me was medication, water, food, and a note.

"You looked like you could use the help. Sorry I couldn't stick around; trusting people is not the easiest thing for me to do. There are some new clothes in the back kitchen; you should take them. Otherwise, someone might mistake you for a rotting flesh bag, like I almost did. Please don't come looking for me; you don't owe me anything except for the fact that you have to live now. At least try until you can't. If I ever see you again, I won't let you know that it was me; that's just something I can't do. Stay safe out there; the place is yours if you want it. Good luck with your second chance."

For some reason, the note made me feel devastated. I packed my stuff and left. I thought about writing back, but I'm not sure if that would have been a good idea. Whoever this person was, I was grateful, but a part of me still felt like it was missing, and I didn't know how I was going to get it back.

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End of Season 2