One, By, One.

and then there was one.

Ashlyn and aiden had gone on a run for weapons, and were now walking back to the base.

Ashlyn looked at the grass, she couldn't look at aiden.

Ben had died a while ago. 2 weeks, exactly.

Aiden, obviously, was not taking it well.

Ashlyn glanced at aiden, who was also looking at the ground.

He had been so out of character ever since it happened.

It was rare to see him genuinely smiling now, although he could fake it well at school.

Ashlyn wondered if this was actually him. Like the true him.

The him that nobody got to see.

She had always thought about it.

If the smile he always put on was just something he put on to trick everyone into thinking he was okay.

Aiden realized she was staring.

"Ashlyn?.." He whispered, waving his hand infront of her face.

She flinched a little, then smiling at him. "Yeah?" She whispered back to him.

Aiden looked away from her, he couldn't stop a smile from spreading across his face.

Ashlyn laughed, it all felt so stupid.

It was all for nothing.

They both laughed, at nothing. Nothing at all, it just...

It felt good to be able to laugh.

They hadn't been able to do it in..

forever.

It had been too long.

Ashlyn lightly punched his arm.

Aiden looked at her, and they both went quiet.

Ashlyn linked their pinky fingers together, nervously smiling at the floor.

Aiden smiled even more and held her hand.

They really only did have eachother.

And maybe they could make it that way.

Ashlyn squeezed his hand.

Ashlyn looked up, she could see the gate of the base. She slid her shoe back, letting the blade slip out. Aiden took out his pocket knife.

Ashlyn felt . . Weird.

She felt like something was off. Something wasn't right.

She stopped in her tracks as soon as she heard it.

A phantom.

She turned her head, looking around. Aiden looked at her, confused.

"Ash? You okay? Do you hear something?" He whispered to her.