Stay Alive

Chapter 3

Alex walked up to us and hugged Aicha and me. "I'm so happy you are okay, Riya... Thank you for taking care of her" Alex turned to the boys as he and Aicha let go of me.

"Wait, where is Emily?" Aicha said. I took a step back when the two looked at me.

"No..." Aicha said already knowing what happened. "... How? What happened~?" Aicha started to get emotional.

My eyes only teared up. "... Sorry~" was all I could say.

"... My name is Atlas. This is Ash and Ace" Atlas said trying to break the tension.

"I seriously thought you were mute, Riya" Ace said as he closed the door and locked it. "We will board these backup in the morning"

"She is very quiet... So I'm not surprised" Alex said trying not to show his sadness in Emily's death. Trying not to make me feel bad. But I knew better.

"My name is Aicha. This is Alex, the comic nerd" Aicha said trying to now change the mood as well. "Am the camping expert~! And master cooker~"

"And the annoying, tomboy~," Alex said. "Riya is a musician and the smart one. I'm sure she has already learned a lot about those things. She is insanely observant... So have you?"

They all turned to me. I looked down and slowly nodded my head. "Well spill it!" Aicha giggled.

"... U-um... Once... They bite you... You turn into one of... One of them~" I whispered.

"W... What?" Aicha said.

"... How did you find out?" Alex asked.

"... When it started... Emily was bit... A week ago... I saw her... Walking the streets" I whispered.

"... You must have been scared... I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you," Aicha said.

"You have a French accent?" Ash said. I quickly looked down at my feet.

"Careful~ she doesn't talk because of it~," Aicha said.

I then heard Alex making some noise. I looked up to see Alex pulling a ukelele out of the back he had. "I went to your house 2 days after this all started... And uh... I knew at some point you would like to play, but I wasn't sure what... So when I went to your house, I kinda just got what I love when you play" Alex said smiling at me.

I took the instrument. "..." I didn't say anything. "Song for us," Aicha said. I tensed up and looked at her. I shook my head.

"Forgot the songs?" Alex chuckled. I hummed in response.

"It has been a while hasn't it~," Aicha said. "Well, let's go to your house!!"

"That's dangerous, Aicha~. Now that we know even a bite from them can turn you into one... Do you know any more?" Alex said. I nodded. "... Can you tell us? French or English... Whichever one you feel more comfortable with"

"French or English? I think it matters dude. We don't know French" Ash said.

"She taught me French while I taught her English when she first moved here," Alex said.

"U-Um... Well, they don't feel... Like nothing, pain or touch... Nothing. So even if you hurt them... They don't care. And I'm also assuming their bones are weak since they don't eat constantly, and not healthy food... Actually... They don't need to eat too" I mumbled holding my arm and looking at my feet. "... They eat us because they can..."

"... You must be tired~ When not we go take a shower together and go to bed~," Aicha said. 

"Not with you," Alex said. 

"What, jealous~?" Aicha teased. 

"No, you would probably do things to her Aicha. You have been crushing on her-" Alex was cut off when they heard scratching at the door. They all looked at the door. Atlas ran to the window and checked to see those monsters out there. 

"... There has to be at least 10 or 15 of them," Atlas said. 

I tensed up. No, is this how we all die? I don't want to. What can we do to live?! I thought as tears started to swell up in my eyes. 

"Shit! We were too loud!" Ash said. "Ace, get over here!"

"I'm so sorry~," Achia said. "If I was quieter~"

"We should have just let you guys past!" Ash shouted. 

"Or you should have been smart enough to be quiet!" Ace said. 

"There is no point arguing right now," Alex said. 

"Alex is right. We are here now and no one is happy about it. We need to get out of here, that is our top priority right now" Atlas said. 

"Maybe the backyard? Jump the fence?" Aicha said. 

"The moment we do, those things will see us and chase us," Alex said. 

"Unless we had a distraction," Aicha said. 

"Aicha... No~" Alex said. 

"I said I was going to die either way" Aicha said. My eyes widen realizing what she was planning as she handed me her backpack and jacket. "Take care of Riya... And stay alive"

"No!" I shouted pulling on Riya's arm as she was about to walk to the door. "I let Emily die! I won't allow you~.. Please don't go~"

"Once this all started, Riya... I already decided if it came done to it... I would gladly give up my life for you~" Aicha said. 

"But-" Riya was cut off when Aicha's lips clashed with Riya's. Riya stood there surprised. Aicha parted their lips. "Stay alive~... No matter what you have to do~" Aicha said. She then shoved Riya towards Alex. Riya fought to try and get to Aicha, but they eventually pulled Riya away and out the back as Aicha opened the front door, and was devoured.