WHEN THE DARKNESS COMES I NICK CLARK

A Star For Nick

A Star For Nick

As Lourdes made her way down the sidewalk, Nick stumbling at her heels, she suddenly stopped dead in front of a shop window, her eyes widening at what she was seeing, every flat-screen television on sale showing the same thing over and over again. As she did, Nick crashed into her, brow furrowing, only to freeze as he too watched the scene unfold.

It was a breaking news story, covering a car pile-up not far from where they were, the bulletin centring on how one of the victims was now attacking several law enforcement officers. Lourdes's shaking hand somehow found Nick's as they watched the law enforcement officers try to take down the man, who kept coming at them like a wild animal, teeth bared, his hands like claws, trying to rake their flesh. She was vaguely aware of a small crowd gathering around them as they stood there, whispers becoming silence as the law enforcement officers unloaded several rounds into the man's chest, only for him to stagger to his feet, the sight affronting all logic.

Without thinking, Nick's fingers knotted through Lourdes, both of them flinching when one of the law enforcement officers finally delivered a kill-shot straight to the man's head. "Come on, Lo," he whispered, dragging her away as the crowd erupted into chaos, the shocked newsreader returning back onscreen, the scene replaying behind her in slow motion.

"It's true," Lourdes breathed, her head spinning, "it's really happening."

"How long have you known?" Nick asked, limping down the sidewalk, hauling Lourdes along with him.

"For – for a while," Lourdes stuttered, "when the flu outbreak started - Tobias began looking up stuff online, but I thought it was bullshit, I – I didn't believe him. Then I seen this video and I started to get second thoughts" - She stopped, forcing Nick to stop, before tearing her hand out of his, making him drop his own to his side. "But I think I knew all along - that I – I knew, deep down," she said, her voice cracking, "I knew without knowing. I didn't believe, but I knew, and then the church – all that stuff you said, and I knew" -

- "I know you need to take a chill pill, Lo," Nick said, even though he was on the edge of freaking out as well. He refused to remember what had happened in the church, but hell was at his heels, Nick unable to outrun it.

"You want me to chill out when the world is coming to an end!?" Lourdes said incredulously. "Are you insane!?"

"No, I just want you calm the fuck down!"

Lourdes just stared at him. "I'm going home," she said suddenly, startling him, "I can't be here – I shouldn't be here – I need to find my mom – Chris..." She made to turn and leave, but Nick grabbed her arm, his grip hurting her.

"Don't, Lo," he said, his face bloodless, "I need you."

"You just need me to babysit you," Lourdes snapped, "so you don't collapse before your next hit. Well, here's a newsflash, Nick, fuck your habit. I'm not going to sit in on some drug-deal" -

- "Lo, please," Nick said, feeling the world whirl around him, the sweat beading on his brow, "please."

Lourdes bit her lip, half turning away from him. "Okay, fine, I'll stay," she said, fighting the tears springing to her eyes, "but after this, I'm gone, do you understand?"

"Yeah, I understand," Nick lied, humouring her, only understanding the chemical high he craved.

~*~

Lourdes trailed after Nick, unable to believe what she was doing, only knowing that she was completely out of her depth. Yet here she was, about to observe a drug-deal without dialling 911. Only Nick wouldn't allow the end of the world to come between him and his next hit. And for all his talk about not taking her money, somehow she was footing the bill for his narcotic frolics.