An hour and a half before sunset, Lawrence and Harry were asleep after scavenging, Zed went patrolling, Eugene was assigned for the lookouts and Ethan went to medic training. They were all busy, but they always see each other for dinner.
Ethan went inside the clinic and saw the doctor. The doctor looked up and saw Ethan. "Yes?" The doctor asked.
"I'm here for medic training." Ethan said.
"Oh! So you must be Ethan Greene! I'm Dr. Shelly Borne." She offered a handshake.
"Nice to meet you." He shook hands with her.
"Your friend, Eugene Parker, did a good job! He told me that you are more like an.. Expert!"
"Not really an expert.."
"Say, Ethan.. Eugene told me that you saved Lawrence's life when he got shot. How old are you?"
"I'm 18."
"And you managed to save his life?"
"I don't want to see him die.. All of them..."
"Why?"
"Because they saved me.."
Ethan remembered those times before he met them..
His mom, stepfather and Ethan went golfing. They were just there, playing under the hot sun. Ethan wasn't comfortable with his stepfather. He saw them, laughing and being sweet with each other. Almost made him vomit.
His stepfather wasn't always nice when it comes to Ethan alone, but when his mother's there? His stepdad would act like an angel sent from above. He met his stepfather when he was still young. Ethan's parents separated when he was still in the age of 7. Ethan never wanted another dad, but there was nothing he could do. His mom was very happy with his stepdad, he could see the joy from his mom's face.
When Ethan was in the age of 9, his stepdad began to beat him, slapped him, punched him.. It was like torture!
Whenever his mom went back home, she could see Ethan's bruises then his stepdad's reason would be 'His classmates bullied him'. After that, his stepdad still continued beating him.
Ethan couldn't take it anymore!
When he was already a teenager, he went to his mom and told everything, but his mom didn't believe him. His mom said to him to keep his mouth shut and told him to only say something that other people would believe. That's when he started to be quiet. Ethan's very obedient when it comes to his mom. He loved her even though he hated his stepfather.
Just then, when they went golfing. A guy fell down from the balcony and they saw that guy was being eaten. They all ran for their lives and went to somewhere safe. There was no going back from where they came from.
Days passed, they started scavenging. Ethan saw a baseball bat, it was clean, and it looked like no one used it. So he just took it for defence.
One day, they were in an abandoned mall. From just looking at it, they already knew what happened. "This place creeps me out.." his stepdad said.
"We are just here to find some food." His mom said.
"In the food court?" Ethan asked.
"Yes, Ethan.. In the—" but before his mom could finish, something fell from the second floor.
Ethan and his stepdad were a bit far but his mother? She got stuck. "Mom!" Ethan shouted. They ran to her and helped her get up. But.. Because of the noise, the zombies appeared from nowhere.
His stepdad panicked and said, "We— we should get out of here right now!"
"I'm not leaving without my mom!" Ethan shouted.
"My legs are crushed.. Even though you helped me get out of here, I'm afraid not 1 of us could—" Ethan interrupted—
"No! I'm not leaving without you!"
"Jaune! Take Ethan with you and go!"
"Ethan let's—" but his stepdad was interrupted—
"No! I won't leave her here!"
"Ethan! This is my final request! You need to escape!... Survive for me.. Please?" His mom said.
"Ethan we need to go!!" His stepdad shouted.
"Go now... I love you Ethan.. More than him." His mom smiled.
"I love you too mom..." Ethan cried.
His stepdad took him and escaped, Ethan didn't looked back, he just couldn't.. He didn't wanted to see her being eaten... He wanted to see her....smile..
Once they escaped, Ethan was just quiet.. He didn't talked for a few minutes.. Until... He just couldn't take it to shut his mouth up. "We— we should've saved her.." Ethan said.
"Everyone dies in horrible ways." His stepdad said sarcastically.
"Wha-what do you mean?"
"I mean, your mom became a burden."
"A burden!? What are you talking about?!"
"You shut your mouth b****!"
"No I won't! Not unless you tell what you're talking about!—"
"I never loved her!" The both of them fell silent.
"What?.. B-but I saw how happy the 2 of you are..." Ethan said.
"There's a word called acting, Ethan. I'm a playboy! I do casinos! Not hang out with useless women!" His stepdad said.
Ethan was full of rage, so he attempted to punch him but his stepfather did it first.
Ethan stumbled on the ground, unconscious, his stepdad pulled him and tried to lock him in a car.
A blonde guy went to his stepdad and asked, "Hello! If I may ask, what are you doing?"
His stepdad saw him and said, "My— uh— my son was bitten!"
"Really?"
"Y—yes!"
"Liar." The jet black haired guy appeared behind him. "There's no blood." He added.
"He covered it!"
"Tell us, when was he bitten?" Another blonde guy appeared at the other side of the car.
"T-this morning!"
"Liar." The jet black haired guy said.
"If you're bitten, you only have one hour left before you become one of them." Another guy said.
The strangers looked furiously at him, his stepdad dropped the baseball bat and ran away. Unfortunately, he ran into a group of zombies then he was gone.
The guys rescued Ethan in the car and picked up the baseball bat.
It was night, Ethan woke up on a couch. He had a pillow and a blanket. The blonde haired guy sat across him and said, "Guys! He's awake!"
The others went in the living room and saw Ethan awake. The guy with round glasses went closer to him and asked, "Before you ask us something, we need to ask you first.. What's your name?"
"Ethan Greene." He said.
"Are you a baseball player?" The other blonde guy asked.
"No.."
"I'm Lawrence Smith. This is—"
"Eugene Parker."
"Zed Ryder."
"Harry Pines."
"And we saved you from that horrible man who had a horrible death." Lawrence said.
"He— he died?" Ethan asked.
"Nope! He ran away and then died." Eugene said.
"He tried to lock you in a car." Zed explained.
"The good thing is, we saved you!" Harry said.
"Th-thank you.." Ethan thanked, he felt his bruise on his face and grunted.
"I'll get the medicine." Eugene said as he went to get the first aid kit.
"It's almost dinner, so yeah." Zed said as he went in the dining.
"We know you're a bit.. I don't know.. Scared? But please.. Get some rest." Harry said with such an angelic smile.
"You know then you don't know?" Lawrence laughed.
"I try, Lawrence."
The next day, Ethan saw them prepared their things. "Where are you guys going?" Ethan asked.
"Somewhere." Lawrence said.
"If you want this house, you can get it." Eugene said as he cleansed his sword.
"Can I come?" Ethan asked.
"Are you sure newbie? It's dangerous!" Zed asked.
"Everywhere is dangerous. And I think you need more hands." Ethan said as he looked at Lawrence, "It's how I say thank you for saving me." He added.
"I think we should." Harry said.
"Hmm.. I don't know... Are you like Zed?" Lawrence asked Ethan.
"I— no I guess not." Ethan answered.
"Good! He isn't talkative much! You're in!"
"Talka-what?" Zed raised a brow.
"Come on let's go!" Eugene said.