Mein Liebling

Untitled Part 42

It seemed all too abrupt of an ending. The loss and grief overwhelming any potential sense of victory as you numbly drop to your knees.

Your throat burns, tears still streaming down your face, watching as the hoard slowly disintegrates to an ashy dust. A hoarse sob heaves from within your chest, your vision blurring as you hunch forward, barely supporting yourself with your arms as you shakily swallow down the stomach wrenching bile that attempts to work its way up.

Zach.

Gaius.

Who knows who else.

The compound...

A shudder rakes through you, barely even noticing as Edward kneels down to place a gentle hand on your back.

Everything feels heavy, and yet dizzy, the fog in your head swirling and muffling the voices around you before the world goes black.

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Samantha's voice fades in, becoming clearer with every mutter of your name.

With a groan, you rub your head and shuffle forward uncomfortably in the fog, blinking against the darkness until your eyes adjust to bring her figure into focus.

"You did it," she smiles softly, capturing your hand in her own and squeezing, "thank you."

Warmth flows over your cheeks, not even noticing the tears until they stream to pool beneath your chin, "all those people..."

She takes a few steps forward, tugging on your hand to drag you with her towards a freestanding door. "It vould have been much worse if you had not confined Monty. I can handle it from here."

You wipe your other hand along your cheeks, swallowing thickly as the pain wells deep in your chest. Voice still raspy from yelling, you pose a single question: "what now?"

"You rebuild," she giggles, stopping just before the door and motioning for you to go through.

"It can't be that simple..." the burning in your throat worsens, even as you attempt to swallow against it, "Monty, he... we can't just..."

"It vill be fine." She releases your hand and nudges you towards the door. "Remember time is different here, zhey need you."

She wasn't giving you any real answers, and admittedly you had forgotten about the strange movement of time through this space, eyeing the door cautiously before taking hold of the handle. You know it will take you back, but what awaits on the other side is a mystery. Samantha says it will be fine but... how could anything ever be fine again?

Even in a world without zombies, how could you ever rebuild everything that you had lost? Not just the compound, or even civilization, but... your family. You had lost everything...

"Edward needs you," Samantha's voice softens, stirring you from your thoughts.

She was right.

No matter what you had lost, you still had people to live for, and the only real option would be to move forward and keep trying. Zach deserves a proper funeral, you still need to search for Gaius, and you would rebuild one step at a time, just as you had done to create the compound to begin with.

Even in a world without zombies... there are still many dangers to face: people had become monsters in these times as well, losing their humanity, or just being released from the shackles of the laws that had confined them in society.

With a shaky breath, you twist the handle, bright light overtaking you as you jerk upright in bed.

Your eyes take time to adjust, blinking away the brightness as the sting causes them to water slightly.