~ Luke ~

"How's your finger?" I asked, watching behind us. The zombies weren't there, but the sun was setting, casting shadows and darkness all around.

"I don't know, we left it on the van." Dominik was trying to be funny, but you could hear the pain in his voice, "I should've turned by now... I think you saved me man, thank you. As much as this pain sucks, I'm grateful."

"Oh come on. Don't get mushy on me now, it doesn't suit you." I cautiously scanned the road ahead, "Besides, we aren't home, don't thank me just yet."

Dominik's condition improved over time. He still continued to nurse his hand against his chest, but he now walked without my support. The sun had finally slipped under the horizon, the brilliant orange and yellow sky was fading to dark purple and black. The moon was extra bright tonight, allowing us to see at least a little of the surroundings. Still not enough to let us feel 'safe'. Every noise had us on our toes. The rustling of a bird in a tree could easily be the nearby stumbling of a hungry, clutzy corpse. As we moved along, today's flashbacks filled my mind.

"Ralph is dead... I actually killed someone... well, someTHING today... not to mention I cut off my friend's finger! And gosh, do I smell... I just HAD to hide in a dumpster huh? Man, with all the blood and the smell we probably look like a couple Z's right now... Z's... yeah that reminds me; I'm exhausted."

"So what do you think?" Dominik said, finishing his part of a conversation I clearly was oblivious to.

"Huh? About what? Sorry I didn't hear you..." I came back from the flashbacks.

"I asked if you wanted to stop for the night in that house." He stood next to the silhouette of a mailbox.

"Sure. We both could use a rest. We have to be close right?" We made our way up the driveway to the front door.

"Yeah, should be--," Dominik trailed off as his eyes closed. He forced them back open and continued, "Should be right around the corner."

The house was scary. No lights were on, the dark outline made it look like something straight out of a horror movie.

"Life now, IS a horror movie. Did you forget the human flesh Nom Nom's back in town? This house is the realest thing that's happened today."

I gripped the knob and gave it a small turn, surprisingly it was unlocked. I cracked it open and peeked inside.

"What were you planning to see? It's just as dark in there as it is out here, if not more."

"Hello? We're coming in... please don't shoot," I couldn't think of anything worse than being shot, but then remembered, "or bite us or something."

"Yeah, like a Z is gonna walk out and say something like, "oh since you asked nicely, I won't eat you today."

I made a mental note to facepalm myself later for that.

After a few minutes of silence, we stepped inside. Dominik held the back of my shirt to guide himself. I tried the light switch, but the power was off, not even a single bulb flickered. I felt our way to the living room. What little light the outside produced, lit up the room through the windows enough for our eyes to adjust.

"You can have the couch Dom." I said helping him lay down.

"Thanks man, I owe you." Dominik said right before he closed his eyes and fell asleep. I sat on the floor, resting my back against the couch.

"Someone needs to stand watch. You aren't the one with a missing finger so that nominated you by default, sucker... Ugh but I'm tired... You've stayed up longer than this playing video games before. You got this."

"Nothing will happen if I just... close my eyes for a second and..." My eyes felt heavy and started closing, " ...and just rest for a few minutes... I'll wake up in a little bit..." The thought of sleep triggered a yawn so long, that a tear trickled down from the corner of my eye.

"Yeah... just a little bit... Man I could go for an energy drink right now..." My body finally surrendered.

"I don't got this... you big baby."

My eyes shut and my breathing slowed. I let my body relax and slumped against the couch.

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

~ Lucy ~

After getting home from a long day in the community, I couldn't sleep. With all the work I did, along with the amount of stress and worry, you'd think I'd pass out as soon as I stepped foot in the door of our place. I tried a few things to help me sleep. A warm shower, pacing around the living room and even drinking warm milk.

"Ew, warm milk is disgusting... why is that even a thing..."

None of it worked. I eventually went and sprawled on my bed looking up at the ceiling. The ceiling was a place for my thoughts to roam.

"What if he doesn't make it? What if he ran off and forgot about me?... Stop thinking like that! Of course he made it! He's the strongest guy you know, he's been through so much and it never made him quit. He wouldn't forget about you. You're his little sister. Remember when he was there for you every day since mom and dad passed away? Even though it hurt him more, he was there for you and made sure you were okay before himself."

I reached over and grabbed the glass of water off the nightstand and sipped it.

"Please be alright... I feel so alone without you guys... without Pa, Ma and now you... I don't want to be alone Luke... please come home..."

I rolled over and buried my face into the pillow, and cried. It seemed that's what it took, because I soon cried myself to sleep.

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

~ Luke ~

The morning came faster than it should've. I blinked open my eyes and focused on the faint light outside the window. I felt worse now than before falling asleep. I was groggy and my back and rear were sore from sleeping while sitting on the hardwood floor. Even though every muscle screamed in protest, I forced myself up and noticed Dominik was still sound asleep. I carefully made my way across the floor and out of the living room to search the house for anything useful.

"His finger comes first, we gotta clean it. Ah ha!"

I found some alcohol in a cupboard. There was barely any left in the bottle, but it would be enough to help sterilize his stub.

"It's gonna hurt so bad... Yeah, but it needs to be done."

I found rags, a wooden spoon and some duct tape after searching the drawers.

Dominik's voice floated through the doorway. "Luke?"

"That bandage isn't gonna work anymore. I hope these do..." I went back to the living room.

"I thought you left me here to die for a split second." Dominik rubbed his eyes and sat up.

"I wouldn't do that to you. Where's the trust at man??" I laughed to let him know I was joking.

"Well I did almost get you killed yesterday. I also swung my spear at you." He tried pointing out valid excuses.

"I left the community with you, so I'm going back with you. Simple as that."

He chuckled, "Fair enough."

I finally got back on topic, "Here, we got to change your bandage and clean it." I set everything I gathered from the house on the couch and knelt beside him.

"It's gonna hurt isn't it?"

"Like hell."

"Great, like I haven't been through it enough already." Dominik held his hand out, shakily.

"By the way, call me Dom. Dominik is too long to say in an emergency I think." Dom tried to get his mind off what was coming next.

"Yeah man, I mean Dom. I'll do that." I unfolded the rags and opened the bottle. The aroma of it was so strong it burned my nose.

"Wow that's strong... it hurt your nose that much, think about what it'll do to his finger..."

I wrapped the handle of the wooden spoon in one of the rags and handed it to Dom.

"You should bite this so you don't hurt your teeth or bite off your tongue."

Dom took it in between his teeth and tried to speak. He pulled it back out and spoke again, "Just hurry and get it over with. I want to get home and get some warm food, I'm starved." He bit it again.

I completely agree with his plan, "I'm with you on that one man."

I poured a little alcohol on the rag and set it down. The bandage peeled off with a bit of a struggle, making Dom flinch. His finger looked gross, but at least it was red and scabby instead of black and blue, filled will pus and foreign black goop.

I grabbed the bottle and poured some over my hands, something I learned you can do to sterilize them. I looked at Dom and tightly held his wrist.

"I'll hurry." Without hesitation, I poured the alcohol over his finger. Dom tried pulling away while making muffled cries as he tightened his bite on the spoon.

"Now the rag."

I fetched the rag covered in more alcohol and pressed it against the wound. Dom growled from behind the spoon, his face turning red, but soon stopped when the duct tape held the rag steady.

"There, that wasn't so bad." I admired my... Well whatever that was I just attached to the end of his finger.

The spoon hit the floor after Dom spit it out, "Speak for yourself man. That hurt just like you said; like hell."

"At least it's clean...er," I couldn't help, but laugh, "we should head out. Make it there for breakfast."

"Mmm I could go for some biscuits and gravy right about now." He licked his lips.

"Me too." We walked out the door, "Oh and a big glass of orange juice with a side of waffles and a big 'ol bowl of cereal!"

In unison, we both groaned our approval of the feast we imagined and shut the door behind us.

"But first, you need a shower. You reek of garbage." Dom exaggeratedly plugged his nose.

I gasped and replied in my best fancy gentleman voice, "Oh, excuse me, sir. But this is the newest cologne. Called "Death Almost Got Me" it's pretty popular right now." I leaned over and took a whiff, "Hm, yes, I see you got some too!"

We laughed out loud, we didn't care. We needed some fun after what we went through yesterday.

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

~ Lucy ~

The pillow feels so soft. I don't want to get up, but then I remembered how important the day was. I lifted my head and looked at the alarm clock.

"Five thirty? Ugh," I notice a dark spot soaked into my pillow and wipe my chin, "Gross, drool."

I got up and dressed into proper day clothes then went downstairs to the kitchen.

"When he gets home, he'll be hungry I bet..." I spoke aloud making pancakes.

"Keeping myself company by talking to myself, great..."

I set my own plate of pancakes on the table and stored away the rest of the batter.

"This won't be the first time he's missed breakfast..." I fought back tears as I stuffed forkfuls of the fluffy breakfast covered in syrup into my mouth and washed it down with a glass of water.

I sat there at the table, staring at the empty chair where Luke should've been sitting, then the other empty chairs where Pa and Ma would've sat.

A tear escaped, trickling down my cheek.

"Please come home... I don't want to be alone..."

A knock at the door stopped my crying. I pushed back from the table and ran to the door. I fought back sniffles, smiled and held my sleeve in my hand to wipe the tears away.

"There's pancakes for you if you're..." The smile faded when I opened the door..

"Ooo yummy pancakes huh?" Annie said with a smile, but it faded just as fast as mine did. "Lucy... what's wrong?" She stepped in and closed the door behind her.

"I thought you were Luke. I thought he was home."

"Aww Lucy... he'll be here, I promise." Annie wrapped her arms around me. "You know what?"

"What?" I hugged back.

"Let's make more pancakes. I'm sure he's gonna be super hungry, yeah?" Annie smiled.

"You're right, he does eat a lot." That's when I noticed a commotion outside the windows, "What's going on?"

We both moved to the door and saw people heading toward the gates.

"What's going on?" Annie yelled to a man walking by.

"People are approaching the gate!" He said before walking off.

Annie and I looked at each other. I slammed the door behind me and sprinted off to the gate with Annie following close behind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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