Our End of the World

1. The Last "Safe" Place

By: EmmEmm5 and DellDell5

~Your POV~

Ugh, how much longer are we going to walk? You think, kicking through the thick undergrowth of the deciduous forest. You had been jogging for at least five miles before Levi and Carter finally let up to duck into the cover of the trees.

As if he had read your thoughts, Levi said, "We only have half a mile or so left to go until we get to the farm, then we can rest."

You heard Zoe sigh in relief. You couldn't blame her. You hated travelling. It wasn't the trekking through acres of forest, or the miles of running through cities that bothered you, you were physically able to get what you needed done. It was the fact that you couldn't talk while on the move, as to make as little noise as possible, since you really didn't want to attract any more undead than you had to. Blades were always out on your adventures, and guns were only used in absolute need and human conflict, to save ammo. You had all picked your weapon of choice, and were proficient in your technique.

By this time, you had reached the large clearing where the farm stood, surrounded by a jagged snake of spikes that had once been a white picket fence. The four of you slipped around a bend and entered under the almost unnoticeable dip in the bottom of the ragged spikes of metal. As soon as everyone was clear, you picked up the section of chain link and set it over the dip, securing it into place. Still silent, the four of you ghosted around the perimeter of the band, quickly beheading all the undead who were unfortunate enough to get impaled on the spikes. Once finished, you headed to the farmhouse, the one safe place you had left.

You all entered the house, and immediately the deathly silence was lifted as you set down your full packs.

"FINALLY OH MY GOSH THAT TOOK FOREVER." Says Carter.

"I swear if those zombies ruin one more manicure I'm gonna.. AHHHH..."

Zoe is lost on another one of her episodes about how it took months to find that pink nail polish and what not. Carter hugs her and she just sniffles into his big chest. When she looks up, she realizes that familiar smirk as he slowly falls onto one of the worn couches that occupy the cozy living room, 'crushing' her. You giggle and turn to Levi.

You'd never tell another living soul how you feel about Levi. He's tall-ish, and muscular, even though we're all half-starved. His jet black hair is always falling in his eyes and his beautiful turquoise eyes could fill an ocean...

   "(Y/N)? (Y/N), you there? Hello, earth to (Y/N)."

   You snap out of your daze, "y-yeah, sorry Levi?"

   "You were staring."

    "Oh, shi-sorry, Levi. I didn't mean to be rude."

    "It's fine, what were you thinking about?"

   "Uh, it's nothing."

   "Oh really?"

   "Yes really." those eyes. You can't resist those eyes for much longer.

   "You sure?" He leans closer, staring me dead in the face.

   "Y-yeah?" Those eyes are killers.

   "Hmmm, well then. I guess I'll just have to-," please say take your word for it? "Tickle you."

   "Noooo! Levi ahhh," you squeak out between fits of laughter. "Stoppp!"

   You manage to get him off, and weakly stand up clutching your sides. Your relationship with Levi was so weird. You could be fine one moment, he'd act like a stranger the next, and then you would act like brother and sister, although you really didn't want to be his sister at all.

   So, of course you wouldn't tell anyone about your feelings, but that never stopped them from finding out. Within a month of your crush starting, after Carter and Levi decided to tag along with you and Zoe, or vice versa, Zoe had figured it out and told Carter. You swore them to secrecy about the delicate information.

   You decided to go around to the back of the house and take a bath from the well water. You brought your katana just in case, and closed the curtain around the bathing area. It was a concrete patio-type place, built on the back side of the house. There was a water pump that filled up an old fashioned freestanding tub with varying temperatures of water. Luckily, it was just the beginning of Autumn, so the water was cold, but you still had a few weeks before the weather got too cold to wash off. You fill the tub and strip down, slowly lowering yourself into the cool water. Goosebumps appear on your skin and you shiver as you quickly scrub the dirt away from your last outing.

   It had been a supply run. You had scouted a huge apartment complex from the town about ten miles southwest of the farm. It was the same as usual. The group had gotten a good amount of clothes and hygiene products, but food was almost nowhere to be found. The small farm offered a decent amount of food, but you were concerned about the coming months. The sound of someone walking on the gravel path around the house caught your attention.

   "Wait, don't come in!" It was too late.

   The person opened the curtains and stepped in before your cry got to them. It was Levi. You yelped and covered yourself.

   "Oh, SHIT! SORRY!" He closed his eyes and turned around, fumbling for the curtain and accidentally tripping himself in the process.

   You giggle, part amused and part terrified. He finally gets out and you finish your bath in peace. It probably wasn't the first time he had seen you without an article of clothing or two, since  your group had gone on expeditions up to two weeks long before, but it still made you shake a bit at the thought of what he had seen.

   When you got back inside, Levi was in the living room, reading. Carter and Zoe were probably upstairs in Zoe's room, cuddling. Levi looked up at you and blushed. You just smiled shyly and went up to your room to grab your sketchbook. Returning downstairs, you sat by the fireplace in your pajamas and started to draw. As the sun set, you realized you needed light, but candles were in short supply, and it was cold anyway, so you didn't want to waste one.

   "Levi, will you come with me to get some wood for a fire?" you asked.

   "Sure, why not." he throws a bookmark in his book and follows you outside. "Sorry for earlier."

   "It's okay, it happens." you say.

   You both select some logs from the stack on the side of the house. When you go inside, he arranges the timber and you go to get newspaper and a lighter. You come back and light the fire, then sit back, next to him. You grab your sketchpad and he picks up his book, and you continue what you were doing. Growing tired of your position, you lay down and resume your drawing. Eventually, you doze off mid-sketch. Your dream starts off as you chasing a butterfly through a field of daises. It is a colorful thing with bright, happy wings that flits about in fluttery motions, circling around the meadow. You laugh as you run through the flowers, breathing in their sweet scent. Suddenly, the butterfly starts to grow. It gets bigger, and as it grows, it changes into a dragon, and the ground beneath you turns to ash. The dragon breathes a huge puff of fire at you, and you roll on the ground to dodge it. The ground beneath you disappears and you fall, landing on your feet. 

   The scene in front of you is one you've seen too many times. You see your family, in the kitchen on a Saturday morning. Your twin brother and sister, Gabriel and Isabella, your mom, Camilia, and your dad, Andrew. You were at Zoe's house, having a sleepover. Gabe and Bella were nine. You knew they couldn't see or hear you, but you still screamed as the undead entered your house and killed the rest of your family. 

   "(Y/N)!, (Y/N), wake up!" Your world shook.

   You wake with a start. "What?" There are tears in your eyes and you are shaking. 

   Levi hovers over you, a concerned look in his eyes. "You were crying out in your sleep and I thought you were having a nightmare."

  At that, you burst into tears. It may have been a nightmare, but it was the truth. You had no blood relatives anymore. They were all dead or gone. Levi picked you up and brought you upstairs to your room, then held you and played with your hair until you fell asleep.