The Aftermath

S4E1: A New Home

       The dreadful sun beams it's bright light in the early morning. The heat is absolutely unbearable. Days like these can only contain a trail of bad memories.
       No one has shared a word ever since they awoke from their seemingly restless slumber. They all look lifeless. They seem emotionless. They can't even maintain eye contact. It's simply too painful to see others hurting just beside them.
       Chris walks closer to where his friends are located. He can see the pre-dug grave calling his name in the distance. His group members all look down at the floor, avoiding eye contact with Chris.
       He understands. He can barely assess the situation at hand either. Chris can feel Sarah's cold body on his chest as he carries her towards  the pre-dug grave. No one else had the courage to lift up Sarah's lifeless body, even Myracle refused to. He had to step up as the leader.
       He catches a glimpse of Sarah's short hair practically frolicking from the occasional wind. He shakes away the thought. Every time he looks at her, he just wants to break down. He wants to break down and let his tears come pouring out like a monsoon.
       He can feel Sarah's dried up blood brush up against his shirt. It's crusty and  uncomfortable. He wishes for it to all be over. They all need time to cope on their own.
       Every single group member that he passes is one step closer to letting go of Sarah's body. This is so belittling. He can't stand it. He wants to talk to her again. He wants to laugh with her again, but it's too late. He just has to clean up the mess.
       Just before he carefully sets Sarah's body down into the grave, he notices Simon being oddly alert. He's making complete eye contact with Sarah's corpse. He still hasn't changed clothes from the night before. He has more blood on his shirt than Sarah does.
       The entire perimeter is surrounded with trained guards watching the group's every move. After Sarah's death and Matthew's altercation with Ricky, the group has reached rock bottom.
       Debbie remains in the background behind the armed guards, displaying the same disheartened face. It absolutely kills her to see her family saddened like this. She's never seen Chris look so demoralized before.
       She can't help but get emotional at the sight of Chris already experiencing an early funeral. How's he going to move on from this? Has this apocalypse really affected him this much? What should she do to help him? Debbie thinks to herself worriedly before walking back inside the supposed safe haven of the hospital.
       Chris finally looks at Sarah's corpse that he ever so gently placed into the grave. She looks to be at peace surprisingly. He admires this proper burial just before looking back at his group members.
       All of their eyes are glued onto him. They look so broken. So vulnerable. They're practically pleading Chris to reassure them that everything will be alright. They need some courage to keep fighting. They need to hear him speak.
       "Sarah was wrongfully taken from us. I'll never forget the impact that she had. Not just on the group, but on me as well. She's been such a positive person around the camp. I will never forget her, and I will keep living in honor of her," Chris says proudly, clearly getting emotional.
       Chris cuts his speech short once his tears make an early arrival. He's too weak for this. He hates it whenever his emotions get the better of him. His friends know that.
       Chris wipes these seemingly never ending tears away, until his negative thoughts start taking a toll on his sanity. You couldn't even keep your promise! You let Sarah die! She died because you weren't there! The voice shouts repeatedly.
       "No. No! Please stop! Stop this! Get out of my head!" Chris yells to himself while he aggressively claws his skin.
       Myracle runs over to him while the rest of the group members watch in disbelief. His siblings start to head over but stop short once laying eyes on Myracle. They're all stunned as to what their witnessing. This world finally bested Chris.
       That same man who singlehandedly took on a horde of crawlers has collapsed to the ground in defeat. He's completely broken. He failed Sasha, he failed Hayden, he failed Jill, and now he failed Sarah.
       "Chris! Calm down! It's not your fault. Please don't beat yourself up about this," Myracle says while playing with the strands of his hair.
       Chris can't sit still. It's like this voice is on a constant loop in his own head. Even Myracle's bright emerald eyes isn't enough to calm him down. He's so scared. How's he going to move on from this.
       Two weeks have passed since Sarah's funeral. The group explores the hospital like it's a huge campus. Debbie's up ahead, showing the group around like a tour guide. Everyone seems to have moved on from the funeral. Everyone but Simon and Chris.
       Simon still hasn't spoken to anyone since that night. The most they hear from him is an occasional grunt. Sarah's death has been especially hard on him.
       Chris continues to walk forward aimlessly, simply following the group's footsteps. He's barely interacting with the group. Whenever he tries to lighten the mood, his friends look at him like a lost child.
       Chris joins reality once again when Myracle places her hand on his shoulder. She has a comforting smile, but the same pitiful expression as the rest. She looks at him like he's broken.
       "You doing okay?" Myracle asks worriedly.
       "Yeah I'm doing fine. I'm happy that we're finally allowed in here," Chris says with a fake smile.
       Myracle nods in agreement as they continue their tour. The hospital lobby opens up into a large hall filled with all sorts of seating arrangements. The hospital is absolutely stunning.
       "This is place is tight yo!" Jeannie says excitedly.
       Chris smiles to himself while watching his sister finally enjoy herself. She's been putting on this leader persona where she acts serious. Now she can finally return to her normal state. She can be her quirky self again.
       "The first location that we'll check out is the infirmary. You guys can also talk to your friend. Ricky I think was his name?" Debbie says optimistically.
       "For sure! I definitely want to check up with am after witnessing what happened," Jess says while admiring the aesthetic.
       Every second that they take in makes the group more lively. This hospital has been so well maintained. The group actually has something to talk about. They can finally distract themselves from Sarah's death.
       The group starts their walk to the infirmary, acting all giddy to see how Ricky's doing. Skyy's the most nervous however. She'll be practically living in this infirmary if they have the equipment that she needs.
       She gets lost in thought as she thinks about the rehabilitation process. Will they have the correct materials to fix my leg? How long is this process going to take? Has Ricky recovered from Matthew's attack? Skyy thinks to herself curiously.
       "I never thought that I'd be happy to see Ricky," Ryan says jokingly.
       "Who says that we're happy," Jess chuckles.
       The group continues this positive energy as they walk throughout the safe haven. It's like their back at school again. They're acting like they have all the time in the world. They're finally living in the moment.
       Debbie finally reaches the infirmary, motioning the group inside with a very welcoming attitude. The infirmary looks so advanced. They have areas dedicated to technological equipment as well as materials for medical kits.
       Both Skyy and Jess are floored as to all of the medical equipment that they have here. Sarah would've loved the amount of space they had. She would've been so excited to learn more material.
       The group turns the corner, finally laying eyes on Ricky. His face has small cuts on it, but he seems rather mobile. However, he's clearly exhausted, bags formulating under his eyes. It look like he's been through hell.
       "Hey Ricky how ya holding up?" Rosie asks from afar as the group circles around his hospital cot.
       Ricky gets cut off as he friends start bombarding him with questions. Their facial expressions display a combination of excitement and concern. This is the first time they've talked to Ricky in a while.
       "Ricky how are you feeling? I'm sorry I couldn't make it here sooner," Skyy says apologetically.
       "Yeah how ya holding up fam?" Ryan asks attentively.
       Ricky takes a moment to himself before answering. It's times like these where he's really glad that he stayed alive. He couldn't gave up at any moment, but he kept fighting. He fought through all the hardships with the help of his friends
       Whenever his memories of Jill start rushing back, he knows that he can rely on his friends to get him over this bump in the road. If he didn't have this group, he wouldn't have survived this long.
       "I'm feeling fine now. Thank you guys for checking in. I really missed seeing ya," Ricky says reassuringly.
       "While you were getting checked out, we took care of Sarah's funeral," Jess says while avoiding eye contact.
       Hearing her name makes Ricky's heart ache. That forsaken altercation with Matthew was the sole reason why he missed Sarah's funeral. At least Matthew is being kept under surveillance until further notice.
       "I hope the funeral went well," Ricky says with a slight smile.
       "It did," Chris says quietly, the awkward tension starting to take over.
       The group stands there in silence, thinking of Sarah's funeral. Although they're trying to move on, Sarah's death will never be any less painful. It was unjust, completely unexpected.
       "Oh Skyy! You wanted to check out the prosthetic situation right? I just got information that they're still working on making one, but you can still check it out," Debbie says, trying to lighten the mood.
       Everyone's eyes point at Skyy who shows a slightly disappointed expression. She just wants to be normal again. She hates every second of living with this abnormality.
       Skyy shakes away her offer, walking out the door to further explore the facility. She waves goodbye to Ricky just before exiting the infirmary, trying to hold back her tears.
       The group say their goodbyes before chasing after Skyy. This place is massive. It's easy to get lost in here. Skyy looks back at the group until he lays eyes on Simon. He looks absolutely demoralized.
       Skyy notices Simon's lack of presence as he resides towards the back. He hasn't interacted with anyone yet. He's scanning the hospital like it's a trap.
       He has this furious look about him. His skepticism is through the roof. It's only a matter of time before he looks for clues as to what's really happening in this supposed sanctuary.
Ryan and Jess are the next ones to walk towards the grave. Jess already struggles to hold back her tears after just simply opening her mouth. She can barely speak. Ryan however seems to be emotionless. He displays this blank, lifeless expression about him.
Chris catches Ryan's odd behavior. He's seen him like this only once before. He can tell that Ryan is at his breaking point. He tends to show difficulty when displaying his emotions, but not in this scenario.
"Sarah would be best described as the light at the end of the tunnel. Now matter how dark and isolated you might feel in that tunnel, she's always there to keep you going. She always gives you that positive energy needed to battle through your hardships. I'll never forget that about her," Ryan says while choking on the lump in his throat.
He tries to prolong the speech but fails almost instantly. Once he notices his first tear drip down his cheek, he finally vacated away from the grave. He's always hated funerals. He hates the way it toys with your feelings.
He takes a peek at Chris who stares blankly down at the grass. Ryan has never seen Chris like this. He turns his attention back towards the grave where Jess remains. Standing around nervously.
Jess looks like a nervous wreck. She looks like a little kid ready to read out their speech to the class. Her hands tremble as she struggles to maintain eye contact. One look at her friends will be enough to set her over the edge.
"Sarah was always someone who I can rely on. Whether it was going through a rough patch with my family or handling a patient, she was always helpful. I'll never remember our solemn memories together. She will be missed," Jess says with a saddened expression.
As soon as she finishes her speech, she bolts away from the grave. She needs to be alone. She can't be surrounded by constant reminders. It isn't healthy. She knows that the group will never be the same again.
Debbie walks around gleefully as the group maintains a steady conversation just behind her. They haven't engaged in this much social interaction in a long time. Sarah's death has taken a heavy toll on them.
As the cafeteria doors swing open, everyone's jaws drop instantaneously. The cafeteria has all different kinds of food options, all ranging from Italian to hibachi. Even Simon smiles at the sight of this heavenly moment.
"Can I live here? Give me a plate woman!" Jeannie exclaims at her mother with a cheerful expression.
"You better share now. You don't even wanna know what I'll do to you if you don't," Rosie says threateningly.
Chris chuckles, watching his family let loose in front of him. They're practically prancing around the cafeteria like it's field day in elementary school. They're so happy. They're finally free!
"I'm gonna gain so much weight while being here," Jess says while exploring her options.
"Same!" Both Jeannie and Rosie yell in unison while holding a plate full of food.
Chris admires the scenery as he watches his friends pick out a table. It reminds him of the good old days. It's like they're in high school again. Who knew that instead of going to college, they'd end up in an apocalypse.
"Wait Jeannie aren't you a personal trainer?" Ryan asks playfully.
"So? Imma eat everything in here my man," Jeannie says with a mouthful of food.
The group chuckles as they sit quietly to themselves, enjoying their meal for the first time in a while. This is the first time they've felt unified. All of their hard work finally paid off. They can finally live normal lives again.
Myracle smiles softly as she gazes around the table. They may be loud and quirky, but they're still her group. She may be the new member, but this is the first time she's ever felt accepted as herself.
She's smiling ear to ear while huddling around the table like how she used to in the past with her old friends. She takes one elongated look at Chris, the person who let her in. He's the one who granted her with this privilege.
If it weren't for Chris, she would've still been on the street, looking for a place to call home. Even looking for people to call a family. She's finally found a group that cares for her. She'll do anything to protect them.
"Sorry to cut your meal short guys, but I have to show you the living areas. You can bring your food with you though," Debbie yells across the cafeteria.
The group groans in unison but quickly head towards the exit, Simon residing towards the back as usual. They all engage in conversation while Simon is left to his own devices. He's like a shadow to them.
Suddenly, Simon's blank expression is replaced with a curious one as he gazes at this randomly placed door. It seems to be important, but the room looks way too small.
Simon gazes at the sign thoroughly that reads out a name. The name encrypted into the door is Ms. Sullivan. Her first name resides just below that sign which is Mattie. Mattie Sullivan.
Simon quickly grows uneasy as he reads out that name. Is this the supposed leader that everyone was talking about? What's so special about her? Should I gain more information on her? Simon thinks to himself before rejoining reality.
       Debbie leads the group into this desolate hallway with different room numbers. This tight, desolate hall soon opens up into a large lobby filled with tables and chairs. It even has a separate entrance for communal showers.
       "Ain't no way in hell I'm going in there," Simon mumbles.
       The group picks up on Simon's comment, smiling as they finally witness him being interactive once again. If one person in the group is acting different, the balance is off. The vibe would feel different.
       "Yeah, I can barely stand my body as it is," Jess says shyly.
       "I mean, I don't mind," Jeannie says with a chuckle
       "Of course you don't mind you psychotic freak," Rosie says while punching Jeannie's arm.
       Myracle's eyes wander around the group once again as they all share moments of laughter. Her gaze once again stops, feasting her eyes on Chris. She admires his soft chuckle as he rubs the back of his neck on instinct.
       She quickly shakes away her lewd thoughts after exploring the build of his body. She practically hides away in embarrassment after her sudden realization. The apocalypse has no place for any vulnerability.
       She catches one more glance at Chris, noticing his blue eyes quickly evade her presence, a slight tint of pink formulating on his cheeks. She can't keep her composure. This innocent flirting is driving her insane.
       "Well don't worry. If you don't want to shower here, we have individual showers in your rooms," Debbie says reassuringly.
       "Thank God!" Jess sighs with relief.
       "Name something that's real please," Ryan chuckles.
       Occasional comments like these remind the group of who they once were. Even strange conversations can capture one's personality. It can even capture who they are as a person in general.
       Debbie continues the tour, walking towards the first room. She has this excited expression portrayed on her face, anticipating the group's reactions. She opens the door, unleashing this absolute beauty of a suite.
       The beds are set in an organized matter as the pillows practically scream temptation. It's been god knows how long since they've had experience comfort like this. This is more like a hotel than a hospital.
       Jeannie runs in the room, partaking in this obnoxiously funny screaming as she jumps onto the bed. It's like she's belly flopping into the pool. The group practically frolics in the room, admiring the beautiful aesthetic.
       "Oh my god! This place is amazing," Skyy exclaims.
       "It's spectacular," Myracle mumbles under her breath.
       This room has essentially everything. It has drawers for their equipment as well as a fridge for any rations. The balcony looks down at the whole perimeter of the sanctuary.
       Skyy's eyes lock onto the basketball court. Such terrible memories were made at the very start of their journey at this camp. It may have left it's battle scars, but there's still room for growth. She can feel it. They can make new memories there. It'll be a new start.
       "Damn do you guys have everything here? If so, where you hoarding the anime?" Ryan asks hopefully.
       The group collectively sighs as they watch Debbie scramble in trying to answer Ryan's ridiculous question. Everything seems to be looking up. Everyone's becoming their original selves once again.
The number of group members present at this funeral have dwindled just after a couple of minutes. These speeches are simply too overbearing. It leaves a scar that cuts too deep. No one else wants to speak any further.
       The group is on the verge of defeat. They don't want to talk anymore. They just want to reside in their tent and sleep the day away. It's over. There's no way they can recover from this. They'll never be the same.
       Just as they start to leave, Simon quickly jolts up, portraying confidence. Everyone's absolutely stunned. No one expected Simon to stand up and speak. Even Chris is perplexed.
       He walks towards the grave, displaying the same emotionless facial expression. He's never been much of a public speaker, but there's always a first time for everything.
       He looks down at the grave, collecting his thoughts for a moment. There's so much he can say. Sarah meant everything to him. He finally sets his attention back towards his friends, their eyes like daggers.
       Simon takes a deep breath before starting his speech. He has to avenge Sarah's honor. She didn't deserve to die such a horrid death. He has to let his emotions run wild, just this once.
       "What happened to Sarah was wrong. She was like the sibling that I never had. I will not stop until I have avenged her death. That will start with me killing Tamara. She's got another thing coming," Simon says tenaciously before storming off.
       The group is in disbelief as to what they just witnessed. They knew that Tamara was the perpetrator, but they didn't expect Simon to blatantly say that he was going to kill her.
       This sudden attitude adjustment isn't the Simon that they've come to know. He's out for blood. He's seeking vengeance. No more poorly timed jokes, no more moments of laughter, no more normal conversations.
       The Simon that they once knew was gone. He's not going to stop until he avenges Sarah's death. God knows what's going to happen if he ever lays eyes on Tamara again. There's no telling what the repercussions will be. It's only a matter of time before all hell breaks loose.
       The group gradually becomes less energetic after their craze from seeing their rooming situation. All of this walking has taken a toll on most of the group members. This hospital is abnormally large.
       The group continues their tour as they pass a wide variety of rooms. This next location however seems to be rather far in comparison to the other areas in the hospital. Debbie hasn't said anything either.
       Simon's mind runs wild with crazed theories as he walks among unknown territory. How come the mood suddenly changed? Is Chris's mom hiding something? Why hasn't she spoken in awhile? Simon thinks to himself frantically.
       "Mom? Where are we going? I can tell how confused everyone looks at the moment," Chris asks curiously.
       Debbie quickly turns around, clearly getting out of her own thought bubble. It's almost like she was zoning out. She hasn't been responsive for some time if that was the case.
       "Oh! You're right! I'm sorry, the next location will be the training grounds. This will be a place where you can potentially learn a new skill," Debbie says optimistically.
       Chris isn't convinced by his mother's tone. It sounds way too positive. It's like it was rehearsed. Like an actor learning their lines for a serious role, completely fake. A work of fiction. This whole situation isn't sitting right with him.
       "Perfect. Another waste of time," Simon mumbles quietly.
       Simon has been hiding his emotions during this entire tour. Normally he'd be naturally portraying his opinion to the group, but he's fed up. He's done dealing with people acting like they care. He just wants to be left alone.
       "A training camp? Yeah, hell no. I'd rather watch a damn baseball game," Rosie groans.
       Her responses gets a couple of chuckles from the group, but they quickly dissipate once they read the room. Debbie clearly isn't happy with that answer. It's almost like they don't have a choice.
       They remain quiet until they reach the training grounds. Rosie's still trying to decipher whether or not her mother is upset with her or the current situation that they're all in. Maybe she doesn't want to cooperate in this.
       "Alright everyone, we're here," Debbie says while motioning towards the double door entrance.
       Chris pushes the doors open, absolutely stunned as to how much classes they have. This place seems to have everything. Targets remain in the distance as well as a wide variety of weapons. They even have hunting classes.
       The group scans this intimidating room until they spot a new face walking over towards them. Her face is bright, and she's on the short side. She seems to be lean, wearing shorts and a tang top.
       "Hey guys! My name's Tara. It's nice to meet you all!" Tara says gleefully.
       "Hey, I'm Chris. Nice to meet you," Chris says respectfully while shaking her hand.
       Myracle's eyes dart at the two as they interact with each other. Watching them talk to each other makes her skin crawl. Tara's almost too friendly for her liking.
       Myracle desperately tries to shake away her look of disgust. She can't be dealing with her emotions right now. There will be a time for that later. She quickly denies her feelings, putting on a facade while greeting Tara.
       Ryan however can't seem to get enough words out. He doesn't struggle with interactions that much, but for some odd reason, Tara has made him speechless.
       He's practically quivering in fear just from the thought of communicating with her. She's almost too perfect. He tries to shake away his nerves but instantly fails. He's never been this flustered before.
       Ryan's quickly cut off once Tara completely changes her demeanor. Her once cheerful expression is now replaced with fear and regret. It's like the joy that she just expressed earlier was all a hoax.
       "Debbie! I forgot! The boss needs to see you. I'm really sorry for not telling you earlier," Tara says weakly.
       "It's ok. It's not your fault Tara. I'll deal with the situation," Debbie says with an unsatisfied expression.
       Chris and his siblings share glances as well as the rest of the group. They all know that something is off about this place. They can feel it. They can't let their guard down just yet. They'll have to be more alert than ever before. It's what Sarah would've done.