Friendship Among the Dead

Chapter 3. Cut To Ribbons

     Flight felt adrenaline run through their veins as they continued to stare down the man who they were now alone with. The man who seemed to lead the people Flight had come across so far. And he was nothing but menacing. Even when he wore the mask, the look he gave them sent shivers down their spine. 

     However, Flight didn't look away. Maybe they were just stupidly brave, or maybe curious since he said something about talking (even when he wasn't saying a word). 

    "Jesus... Haven't I had enough for one day?!" Flight thought to themselves, their lips pressed in a firm line as sweat rolled down their face, gripping onto the sheets of the cot. Mellow remained quiet before suddenly letting out an amused chuckle, calling Flight's eyes to widen slightly as their grip loosened. Mellow sighed, slightly tilting his head at Flight.

     "Geez, relax. You're not gonna get hurt or anything..." Mellow assured, before slightly turning towards the door. "Though... You kinda deserve it. Pulling a knife out on our medic? I mean, I'd figure you'd be mad but Jesus, that's already a low blow on your reputation."

     Flight's eyes furrowed, looking down at their feet. "I didn't know, okay? You'd do the same thing if you woke up after getting your leg caught in a bear trap." Flight snarled, causing him to raised his hands in defense.

     "No, I get it." Mellow simply said with a shrug. "Just kinda sucks you know? Try to be a bit more careful next time-"

     "Says the person who is with the people who caused me to step in a bear trap-" Flight huffed, causing Mellow to let out a low chuckle mid conversation, putting his hands in his pockets.

     "Says the person who stepped in said bear trap." 

     Mellow grinned underneath his mask at Flight's expression filled with both guilt and anxiety. Mellow's prideful and amused grin fell, pausing for a minute before sighing.

     "Maybe we should all start over..." Mellow proposed. "I'm Mellow."

     Flight looked up somewhat hopefully. After all that excitement, it never really and truly dawned on them that these were people just like them. People who survived the apocalypse with sheer, dumb luck. People who probably suffered just like them. 

     Flight took a shaky breath, slouching a bit. "I'm... Flight." Flight hesitantly murmured.

     "Hm... Flight? Pretty unusual... Is it a nickname?" Mellow asked, causing Flight to slowly nod. "Yeah, most people go by nicknames, except like... a small handful. But you don't have to reveal your name. I've known most of these people since the infection started and I don't know their names."

     Flight's eyes went wide as their gaze snapped over to Mellow. "Since it started? But it-"

     "-started 2 years ago? Yeah, I know." Mellow interjected. 

     Flight jumped a bit. They didn't even know it had been that long. They kind of lost touch with time after awhile. Date and time became unimportant, and survival was their main priority. When they spaced out and stepped into the bear trap, that had been the first time they thought about their life before everything had happened. It was almost like Flight was forgetting it all, or at least pushing all the depressing thoughts about it away.

     But then another thing dawned on them...

     Where the hell were they?

     Flight had probably asked that already but seriously... what the fuck.

     "Uh..." Flight uttered before turning back to Mellow. "Where are we exactly?"

     "Oh yeah, that's pretty important to disclose, huh?" Mellow questioned. "Well, its safe from the zombies... Do you wanna look around?"

     "Erm.. There's two things wrong with that proposal." Flight addressed, looking down at their leg. "I can't really move that well. I already tried standing and that didn't really work out, it hurts worse now... Plus, I don't think you friends would take too kindly to me."

     "We have a wheelchair you can sit in." Mellow informed, glancing around the room before spotting said chair, walking towards it as he continued his talk with Flight; "Plus... you're going to have to get used to everyone."

     "What do you mean?" Flight questioned, Mellow turning to them with a raised eyebrow. 

     "I thought you would know... Then again you did imminently pull a knife out after waking up so..." Mellow trailed off, before continuing. "Bear traps are... well they're bad. You won't be able to move for weeks-"

     "WHAT?!" Flight screeched, the look of horror written on their face. The ran a hand through their hair, tears burning their eyes as they began to shake. "H-How am I going to go home?! How will I survive, how-"

     "Calm down!" Mellow shrieked, causing Flight to freeze completely, taking a few shaky breaths as Mellow rubbed his temple. "Look... We're more than... Well er... Kinda happy to let you stay, even if you want to leave. You survived like we did, and we kinda caused you to essentially break you leg for awhile..."

     "B-But food-"

     "We have food... And water. We kinda have a lot of people here-"

     "My things-!" 

     "I can just send someone to go fetch you what you want, just...!" Mellow took a deep breath, before exhaling, calming himself down from some of the pressures he faced. But he calmed down, placing a hand on Flight's shoulder. "Calm down. It'll be okay..."

     Flight paused, before nodding. They took a deep breath similar to Mellow, before adjusting where they sat, putting their hands in their lap. "...Thanks..."

     "Yeah, sure." Mellow shrugged. "We deal with a lot of panicking here. It's perfectly fine, and it's normal."

     Flight slowly nodded, their gaze falling to the floor. Mellow rubbed their shoulder before walking back towards the wheel chair, pushing it towards Flight. Flight glanced between Mellow and the chair with unease. Between the realization their long was unusable at the moment and the stress of this group already having somewhat of a negative opinion was a bit stressful. 

     Mellow smiled under his mask, holding out his hand for Flight to take. "C'mon... It'll be fun." Flight bit the inside of their cheek, pausing in thought for a moment. 

     A part of Flight desperately wanted to leave and go home, even if home was barely that. Maybe it was more of the fact Flight and their family lived there together before the infection spread, and before Flight had eventfully become so alone. But because of that, flight did want to meet everyone here. This could be a chance for even a semblance of a normal life... But also one of danger, since all their race did was lie and keep secrets.

     Their mind fought back and forth, trying to decide what to do next. But looking at Mellow, Flight knew this could be one of their only chances to be with survivors like themself. 

     And so, Flight took the chance. They took Mellow's hand, his mask adjusting to see a bit of his smile underneath as he helped Flight into the wheelchair. 

     "Let's get going then... Just be careful, some of them bite."

     Flight's form paled as Mellow began pushing them out the door, despite Flight's shaking and fear that filled their veins.

     "What am I getting myself into?..."