Re-ans

Re-ans Chapter 25

Chapter 25: For their memory

They made it numbly through the pouring rain till they came across a house in the middle of nowhere. Luke didn't think they really had a heading at this point. Instead of entering the house they found a cellar door and walked in securing it behind them, it was empty. Everyone just sat down then, holding each other. Time passed, honestly he didn't know how much. There was no watch. No one hardly spoke or ate, except for Alissa. Luke could hear Gavin arguing with her every few hours about eating something. He supposed he understood, she hadn't been well lately, even before what happened in the camp, and he assumed Gavin was trying to ensure she kept her strength up.

It was honestly probably a day and a half later when Luke's eyes snapped open to land on Jess. She was in his arms, had been for some time. She was pale as a ghost, and had a vacant far-off stare, the same one she had those first days in the Nevensville camp. This wasn't right. He stood with her, but he was so weak he nearly fell over. He sat her down where they'd been and made his way to the middle of the room. He wanted to stand, but didn't have the strength, he sat down on an old trunk. He tried to speak, but his voice cracked. He took a drink before trying again.

"My dad was a busy man, but a good father. He worked a lot, but I understood. I was proud of the work he and my mom did, working to cure diseases, to save people. But he was still there to teach me to ride a bike, take me fishing, play catch on the weekends." He smiled and looked over to Tavish. "School the two of us on the court on occasion." He said with a sad laugh. "My mom was overprotective, every skinned knee or cold nearly worked her into a frenzy, but she loved me, with all her heart, and they both loved you too Gavin, and you Tavish. God how I wish you could have met them Jess, I know they would have loved you too.

"Gavin, your mom and dad were awesome. Those camp outs we went on when we were little, hell if it wasn't for your dad, I wouldn't know half the survival stuff I know now. They loved you man, more than anything in this world. Tavish, your mom and dad were just as awesome as you. They accepted you as you were, and were always there when anyone needed anything." He took a deep breath again before speaking "I never met Jess's parents, but we all owe them a lot. Because without them, there'd be no her, and without her, none of us would have made it this far. Especially me." She stood and made her way on shaky legs over to his side. He pulled her into his lap and she buried her head in his chest.

"Denis, Alissa, you've both lost so much. You Lissa more than anyone, but we all still have family. We have each other. Meredith and Levi, our parents, all those we've lost. They were all too good for this new piece of crap world. I know it's easier to give up. Easier to just lay down and die.

"The night before at the camp, Jess said something to me. She tried to make me promise her that no matter what, even if I lost her, I wouldn't give up, for her memory. And that's what we got to do. For Levi and Meredith, our parents, friends. We have to honor them now, by keeping up the fight. We can't give up, we have to make it there for them." He patted Jess's arm and she stood, he made his way over to Alissa. "You're my sister Alissa." He said, pulling her into a hug. "The rest of you are my brothers." Gavin wrapped his arms around the both of them followed by Jess.

"Hell why not." Tavish said, wrapping his arms around them followed by Denis. They all just sat there for a while holding each other before Alissa spoke.

"It's time for dinner everybody."

...

They stayed in the cellar for another day, just to catch their breath. They'd been traveling hard lately. Levi had been exhausted, maybe if they hadn't traveled so hard, he shook his head. He couldn't think about them, not now. When they got to Spartan, found out for sure it was safe. When they'd had time to settle down. Then he would mourn them properly, but right now, they had to stay positive.