After Death

Chapter 6 (Romans 13:9)

Chapter 6: Romans 13:9

Aiden Palton

May 22nd 2022

3 days after outbreak

Minnesota: Armstrong HS

season 1

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We stayed in the cafeteria for a few days, we had no need to rush. We built a fire with the stuff we could find lying around. Connor told the stupidest jokes but it was a nice change of pace. We had been thinking about the worst possibilities that we didn't think of good. We were still alive, that had to count for something.

The food tasted good. Later we would learn how much we had been taking a warm meal for granted.

I hated the way I looked at Rudolph and I hated the way Edin looked at me. I felt guilty for something I didn't even do. I loved Edin, or at least I thought I did.

Rudolph cared for Ashton, maybe it was more than friendship, I know that's how it was for Ash, but I was unsure of how Rudi felt. But at least it was something. I felt no connection to Rudolph, I still don't. I barely know who he is.

We were going to leave soon. In two days Ethan and Khai would pack all the food, hand the knives out and we'd be on our way. The anticipation was almost too much for me. I was sick of being here, I needed to leave. Two days was too long.

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Ethan Warren

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I was still awake, we all slept by the fire. The summer air was comforting but too cold at night. I pretended to be asleep because I saw that Aiden was still awake. I knew he knew I wasn't sleeping but we both wanted to just avoid a long drawn out conversation. I knew he wanted to leave but I didn't really. I knew we had to get out of here eventually, we wouldn't survive here forever. But would we survive out there?

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Ethan Warren

May 24th 2022

5 days after outbreak

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Khai and I packed up the food from the kitchen before the other's woke up. Today was the day, no one would admit it but we were nervous as hell.

I couldn't stand being in the same room as Calvin any more. He was never really mean to me, it was Rudi he couldn't leave alone. It upset me more than anything. And that made me want him dead and I know it was wrong. But that's what I did. I had the knife, he was in the kitchen office with me searching for anything we could use. I put the blade into his back, his blood spewed onto the floor. He looked at me with terror. I didn't care, I just watched. I should have felt guilt. Something, anything, but I didn't. I just watched. That was the first man I ever killed and I think about him every day.

I didn't know what to do with the body and I didn't know what I was going to say to everyone. I hadn't thought that far.

There was blood on my hands, blood everywhere. It disturbed me. It had only now hit me what I had done. I had murdered a man in cold blood.