Sunshine

It was dark. Flashes of grey and ghosts of white sprinkled the black. Arjun could barely find it in himself to keep moving, but Hazel wouldn't let him stop. Her grip on his wrist was tight as they ran. With his other hand, Arjun leaned forwards and clutched the stiff cotton of her sleeve. He couldn't lose track of her. He couldn't lose track of her. He would never make it out on his own, and he knew that Hazel would die trying to find him again. If both of them let go, it would be mindless moments of terror before they were both lost.

His senses fought against each other. His body was stuck between numbness and overstimulation, shock battling adrenaline. Stuck between cold and hot as the heat of extinguished flames licked at his freezing skin. The inky black invading his vision arguing against the clamor drowning his ears.

The toe of Arjun's shoe caught a rock, and he stumbled. A shriek ripped from his throat when his grip on Hazel's sleeve slipped, but Hazel held tight.

"I'm still here!" she shouted. "Still here. I won't let go. Still here." With that, Hazel tugged Arjun forwards, trying to coax him back into the blind sprint they had maintained before. He took a deep breath and willed himself to go on.

A shrill groan filled the little space they had. Arjun faltered for a second, caught between running for his life and stopping in his tracks. In that second, Hazel stopped in front of him. He collided into her back, and the two went tumbling. A hand latched around his side, sharply stopping his roll and causing his skin to tear on the shards of concrete cushioning his body from twisted metal supports.

"It's okay. It's okay. Get up. It's okay, we'll figure something else out. I've survived tons of these, and I've always found another way out."

It took Arjun a minute to figure out what she was talking about, and the minute he did, his heart stopped in his chest. The tunnel in front of them was filled. Fresh rubble trickled down the pile. Somehow, Arjun had missed the collapse that took place three feet from his head.

"What's the plan?" Arjun choked, swallowing to try to regain control of his voice. "Are-Are we gonna double back, or–"

"That's right. We're going to double back. We're in luck, though, 'cause now that it's collapsed, the rubble will be stable. At least for a little bit. For long enough."

Arjun was stunned. "I think I want to kiss you."

Hazel laughed, grabbing his wrist again and leading him through the lightless halls of devastated buildings and broken lives. Her dark curls bounced, silhouettes in the grey light. "Let's at least wait until we're safe, yeah?"

Arjun smiled wryly into the dark. "Then I'll have to wait a long time."

"Don't be so sure. We're young. Plenty of time left, even if everyone else doesn't think so."

The lights flickered. Arjun feared that they would be trapped in darkness, but the lights kept buzzing, their harsh rays making his vision swim.

Hazel sat next to him, her worn hand clasped in his. Her head tilted back against the wall, silver ringlets spilling over her shoulders. Arjun drew his tired eyes up to meet hers, only to find Hazel already staring back at him.

They're scared, she was saying. Arjun didn't even have to look to understand. He didn't want to look. But he did. He dragged his gaze up to those in the cell block with them. Six other people. And each of them radiated fear.

To their left was a young mother. She couldn't have been over twenty. Her face was young, her hair glossed and smooth despite what she must have gone through to get here. In her arms was clutched a baby girl. Three months last week, Arjun remembered. They had celebrated with fresh water and wildflowers.

To their right were two boys. Brothers, they had said. Eight and twelve. The younger, a bubbly ball of energy, the elder more subdued, but very kind. It had been days since either had spoken, and they had been the last ones to try. Right now, the younger rested his head in his brother's lap. The elder carded his fingers through his hair, probably too scared to stop.

Right in front of them was a couple. Very much like Hazel and Arjun themselves, but much younger. Perhaps somewhere in their thirties. They were wrapped around each other, limbs entangled in a last effort of comfort. They were still breathing, harsh gasps echoing through the bare room, but they might as well have been dead.

They were all so young. Too young to be trapped the way they were about to be.

Minutes, now. Minutes.

Arjun stood unsteadily, easing himself to his feet. He rested his forearm against the freezing wall and offered a hand to Hazel. Hazel looked up at him with wide eyes. They were filled with confusion, and exhaustion, and buried underneath was such a raw fear that it hurt Arjun to even think about. But Hazel stood anyways.

He interlaced their fingers and pressed his forehead to hers. Their hair fell into each others' eyes, and he began swaying slowly, side to side.

Arjun opened his mouth, the most any of them had done in days. His voice was tired and weak from days of silence, but it seemed so loud as it echoed from wall to wall.

Seconds, now.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine... You make me happy when skies are grey..."

His voice cracked as he continued.

"You'll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine–"

A shrill groan filled the room. Arjun could see it this time––he had enough light––but he didn't want to. He squeezed his eyes shut and swallowed a sob. He just wanted Hazel.

Arjun pressed his lips to Hazel's and knew no more.