Embrace The Madness: Cataclysm

23. Odyssey

[day 188]

The day was grand, the air blew a warm breeze across the yellow plains. The sun beamed down on the fields outside the house, as if the heavens had finally opened.
Patrick wore a green polo shirt that day, he had his hands in his jeans, feeling the air trickle through his freshly cut hair. He had his eyes shut, for a while he believed that the world was normal, though his fantasies were snuffed when he finally opened his eyes.
He stood under the oak tree on the small hill which he used to rest from time to time.
In front of him, two graves were planted, facing east so they'd always see the sun whenever it rose.

The first read:

Frank Bartley
May we never shy from bravery

Patrick turned to look at the next:

Seamus McKinney
Benevolence is human

He looked to a third, though it wasn't a grave, more of a shrine. There was a picture of Noah against the tree, there was a bouquet of flowers sitting beside it. Most were common findings in the countryside like sunflowers and bluebells, though there were one or two roses spotted amongst them.

"It's a terrible thing..." Hadiza's voice rung through Patrick's head, he turned his head to see her standing there. He saw her dark red jumper, topped with a black scarf. He also noticed her hair, her black dreads were tied up behind her head, with some strands hanging down freely.

He turned around fully, his body faced with hers. Then he looked up to see nearly a hundred people all gathered outside the house, pitched up with tents and chairs, interacting with each other, some sitting, some standing. He saw children running around with Hugo.
All the noise and commotion from the firefight attracted too many of the dead for them to handle.

"...but it's what he would've wanted, to be buried here, I mean," she had a look at Patrick's face, it was plastered with guilt and sorrow, "hey," she said, putting a hand on his arm, "you did all you could, more than anyone else could've done, and look around, everyone here is alive thanks to you."

He made an effort to smile, though he was not happy in the slightest. He soon realised that she was right, there was never going to be a happy ending, not in this world.

A few minutes passed, Hadiza had gone somewhere else but Patrick stayed by the graves, his eyes closed. He then felt a wetness on his ankle, as well as short bursts of air.
He looked down to see Dingo, the border collie pup, slowly followed by Diana. She wore a grey hoodie which was unzipped, revealing a T-shirt of some rock band she liked.
Patrick reached down to ruffle Dingo's fur.

"Hey"

They both greeted each other the same, almost at the same time too. She stood next to him, significantly taller than him, it seemed, though it was only some four or five inches.

"Y'know, you really did a lot for us," she said, "I don't know anyone else who could've done half the stuff you did, if anyone could, I'd sure like to meet him."

Patrick laughed, letting out a short breath as he did so, Diana laughed with him, Dingo ran around their legs, completely clueless.
Then a sadness obscured her laughter, a frown forming on her face.

"Well," Patrick finally spoke, "at least we're ali-"

She hugged him, her tight grip was firm but also very comforting.