Lucas

The way Avery collapsed was the scariest thing I had ever seen. So much had happened that day and my reaction time to catch him was shit. However, Y/N... she moved faster than a cheetah. Catching his head just before it smacked the hardwood floor.

"Nice save." I praised, kneeling down beside her and Avery. She was shaking, maybe from the adrenaline or the fresh stream of tears running down her soft cheeks.

"He'll be okay..." I assure her, lifting Avery up off the ground, Y/N didn't let go of his head. Which made things awkward shuffling into Avery's bedroom. When I laid him down she sat down beside him. Pushing his hair back from his face. I scrunched up my face.

"Really?"

click.

click.

Something fell to the floor by the bed. Avery's hand had fallen off the side of it, palm open. There underneath his hand were two white pills.

"Oh..."

I picked them up, walking from the room back to the kitchen. Looking around near the man. There in his blood now dissolving were two white blobs. I wonder if Avery is in pain.

"What is it?" Y/N asked quietly. I pointed to the blood. She shied away from it, turning her head to look at anything else.

"I don't think Avery is going to make it much longer." I sighed, a knot forming in my chest. He's been my best friend for as long as I can remember. You know aside from the troubling times now, we had always been hanging out. Going to the local arcade and the skate park.

Now... it's almost as if that stuff never happened. Y/N patted my shoulder, leaving me to my thoughts. Disappearing back into Avery's room.

Was it because he was like a hurt animal? Is that why she was acting the way she was. Just days before we arrived here she was super friendly and close to me. Now it's like I'm chopped liver. Although I shouldn't be upset. I only just met her a day or so before coming here.

I groan looking down at the man. He had a tan line on his finger from where a ring use to be. He must of had a family. Maybe he was just trying to provide for them.

What has this world come to?

Deciding it best to move him, I went to the shed out back to find a tarp and a shovel.

Hours later I had dug a hole, rolled the man into it and then placed him to rest beneath the dirt. Silently, I sent up a little prayer for those he left behind and for his soul. That he may find peace. Then I went back inside to find Y/N.

When I found her she had her arm draped over Avery's waist and her head on his chest. This strange feeling ran through my body making me want to punch something. Instead I just went into the living room and passed out on the couch.

I woke up a few minutes later to the sound of Avery coughing. So I rushed to his room. Y/N had her hand on his back while he was hunched over, coughing so hard it looked like his body would snap. Her eyes were full of worry when they connected with mine.

"We need to get to Korea." Was all she said. Screams could be heard outside the window. Nobody dared to look, we already knew what was causing the dreadful sound.

"We can leave in the morning... it's a little after 10pm now."

"Wh-what the fuck I-is in Korea?" His voice was weak, but his coughing had subsided.

"A cure." Y/N whispered, gently rubbing Avery's back. Avery didn't seem to mind. Perhaps it helped the pain he was in.

"How do you know this?" He asked skeptically.

"I'm not 100% certain. But two people have survived the vaccine and people believe they are the answer. Well one resides in Korea. While the other is you."

"How do you know they are in Korea?"

"Testing was conducted all over the world. The vaccine killed all the ones who received it. Except for one in Korea and one here. Which everyone seems to think is already dead. But you're not. So really all Hope lies in that small Country." She smiled softly.

"Ok..."

Really? He's just going to say okay? Maybe they are already together. I slammed my fist into the wall, startling them both.

"What the hell, Lucas!" Avery frowned, I winced at the pain in my knuckles.

"Sorry..."

I turned and left the room still fuming from what just happened. I want to go to Korea with them... I refuse to be a third wheel though. Plopping down on the couch looking down at my hand that was slightly bloody at the knuckles mixed with the dirt from burying the guy earlier. Maybe I should take a shower.

Avery

Dude is acting weird.

"What the hell was that?" I asked looking at Y/N who was still looking at the hole in the wall.

"Does it seem like he doesn't want to go to Korea or was that something else?" She answered my question with a question. I shrugged, rubbing my chest. It was extremely sore. My body felt like an old man's body. Well, what I think an old man's body would feel like anyway. If there really was another survivor... I hope he or she isn't in the same amount of pain I'm in.

The shower in the bathroom started, followed by a groan.

"I should check...." I placed a hand on her arm as she went to stand up. She didn't need to go to the bathroom with him. Lucas was probably naked.

"I'll go." She smiled at me and nodded.

Shit...

Every friggin molecule in my body hurt when I went to stand. My face scrunched in agony with every step I took. Y/N ran from the room quickly, the front door slamming shut soon after.

Weird.

Tap... tap...

"Yo, Lucas?"

I heard him grunt, pushing open the door. I walked over and sat on the toilet.

"What's your deal man?"

He jerked the curtain back. His face is a mix of emotions.

"Do you like her?" He asked with an edge to his voice.

"I think she is nice." Not really understanding why this is a necessary question.

"Do you like her?" Lucas asked again, leaning further out the shower. Water was dripping from his hair onto the shag rug.

"Nah..." I lied. After she saved me I kinda had a soft spot for her. But it seemed to upset Lucas so I will go back to my cold facade.

"Good." He seemed happy with my answer as he slid the curtain closed once more.

It's not like I would live long enough to actually be with her. So she's all yours bud.

Y/N

I can't bear to see him in pain like that. We have a long way to travel and I need him to be good to go.

I ran from the house as fast as my short legs would carry me. Two blocks down and quick right. There was my house, it was still burning in some places. I only hoped that the men hadn't found mom's medicine safe.

Careful not to step in weak spots on the floor, I made my way to my parents room. Mom kept it in the back part of the closet. That way if I had friends over or someone were to break in they wouldn't find it. Inside the closet all of mom's shoe boxes were askew. Someone had ransacked the closet.

Throwing the boxes to the side I looked for the seam in the wall, it gave a little when I pushed releasing the latch that held it in place. That was a good sign. The safe was still intact.

"4-1-6-1-1-1-9"

Click.

Inside the safe there were numerous bottles. What I needed was a pain reducer and maybe an anti inflammatory. Something crunched close by. So I swung my pack off my shoulder and stuffed it full of the bottles not really sure what I put in there.

Zipping it up I jumped to my feet, running.

—-

Back at Avery's house the boys were sitting in the living room laughing. The tension that had been there before was now gone. However, I couldn't help noticing how Avery wouldn't even look at me now. Lucas was all smiles when he saw me.

"Hey Y/N, where'd you go?"

I pulled my pack off, taking out the bottle of hydrocodone.

"Here." I held the bottle out to Avery who took the bottle without even looking up. I knitted my brow in confusion.

Avery

So that's where she went. I looked over at Lucas who was still smiling all goofy like. Then I stared down at the bottle.

Damn...