Awsten and Otto: Adventures in Quarantine

the fuckin zombie dudes

"dude this is so fucking boring, man" the green-haired boy complains, rocking back and forth in his seat.

his best friend, Otto, doesn't spare him a glance, merely continues scrolling through his twitter feed, just muttering a half-assed "it's whatever, man."

aiming once again to capture otto's attention, the green-haired boy stands up from his fetal position on the couch and let's out an obnoxiously loud "UGHHHHHHHHHH," while allowing himself to flop back onto the couch, but he is unsuccessful once again; otto simply rolls his eyes and disregards him. "well that's just fucking rude, keep ignoring me then." the green-haired boy moans, pulling his own phone out of his back pocket and opening twitter.

he checks the news headlines, unsurprised to see swarms of articles on the dreaded virus that is currently going around, the reason they are stuck indoors like this. until one particular headline catches his eye,

'COVID-19 CAUSES MONSTROUS MADNESS, STAY INDOORS AND DO NOT INTERACT WITH AFFECTED PERSONS'.

curious, he clicks on the article and reads through the paragraphs of information, confused, but oddly amused.

'people have been seen to enter a state of craziness after being infected with the virus, causing lack of composure; zombie-like behaviour including self-inflicted injury as well as CANNIBALISM. if you see someone who appears to be infected, KEEP YOUR DISTANCE. return immediately to the closest safe place and DO NOT APPROACH.'

"hey otto, did you see this?" he questions, tilting his phone screen over his shoulder. otto looks up inquisitively, reading the headline himself and subtly shaking his head.

"its fuckin weird bro, sounds like we're entering a zombie apocalypse! i mean that's a terrifying concept but i got mad skills so i'm gonna be fine. here, you read this and i'm gonna go take a piss real quick," the green-haired boy replies , tossing his phone to otto and strolling towards the bathroom.

the bathroom is only a few metres from the living room, where he had just been, and the walls are dull, coated in a cream-coloured paint, which is worn down in some areas. there are no pictures or paintings on the walls, apart from one photograph, small and square. it shows three boys, in their twenties, in a field, holding instruments. otto is there, holding drumsticks and sporting an ecstatic smile, curly brown hair blowing in his face in the wind, and so is the green-haired boy, awsten, who appears to be singing passionately into a microphone. there is also another boy, holding a guitar, mouth open in glee as he likely sings along with awsten, he looks happy. and healthy.

awsten glances at the photo as he makes his way towards the bathroom, feeling a sharp pain in his heart as his eyes scan over the boy on the right. but he gulps and walks onwards, reaching the door and stepping inside.

as he locks the door and begins doing his business, a sudden knocking sound catches his attention. his eyes avert to the slightly ajar window, the cool, early spring breeze tickling his bare skin and forming goosebumps.

he ducks his head slightly, shaking strands of neon green hair out of his eyes in an attempt to see through the gap, when a blood-covered hand sticks through, frantically searching around the inside of the window and pushing it open further. awsten jumps back in shock, peepee still hanging out his pants and directing his stream of piss towards the window unintentionally. in a hurry, he stops and zips his pants back up, feeling for the door and backing out, eyes fixated on the bloody figure, bright yellow glowing reptilian-like eyes now visible through the open crack, bloodshot, and with sharp greenish-black veins creeping across the face like spindly spiders legs.

"HOLY FUCKING SHIT BRO"
he slams the door in horror, racing back towards the living room to tell otto, but before he gets there he hears a scream, and inhumane screeches of hunger and desperation echo down the hallway.