Survivors of The Pandemic

15

We ran for a while to the forest to get some distance between us, and then we stopped. Catching out breaths.

"What happened Emily? Why did you kill him?" Randy asks, and I put my head in my hands, trying not to think of the scene I left behind.

"I don't know." That's the truth. I have no idea why or even how I did it. And I hope I never manage to do it again.

"I think we should split up, the adventure is over, the threat gone. There is no reason for us to stay together anymore." Amber voices her thoughts and I glare at her.

"Did I just go through all that for you to just say we're done? I'm not fucking done with this. You might have somewhere to go but I don't. Hell, without you guys, I don't have anyone. And I doubt that you do." My voice is ice cold, and perfectly expresses how I feel towards the suggestion.

"I agree with Amber. I'm sorry Emily but us staying together makes us a target. Yes, the threat is gone but who's to say there aren't more people like him. Anting to do anything to make us their little puppets or simply kill us? I can't take that risk." Jacob agrees and my heart sinks.

"Fine, I'll be fine on my own anyway." I turn to walk away when a searing pain goes thought my chest. I don't know if I screamed or not, but I fell to the forest floor. Leaves spreading everywhere from the impact.

"You didn't think I would survive, did you?" really? The big, ugly man who want to control us is still alive. Dickhead.

"To think I could sneak up on all of you, what a shame you are no longer of any use to me. You're all better of dead." He sneers as several other shots go off. I can't count over the pain in my chest.

"Not this time." Austin. Using all of my strength I turn over with a grunt to see Mary-Ann, Jody, Amber, Randy and Daren all laying still on the ground. Austin has the man in front of him, on his knees with the gun against his head. His eyes glowing a dangerous bright orange.

A loud bang resonates through the forest as the man shoots himself, probably on Austin's command. I sight in relief before the pain hits me at full force once again. Jeremy rushes towards me and uses his telekinetic abilities to stop my bleeding and pull the bullet out. Austin pulls of some fabric from his t-shirt and hands to Jeremy who wraps my chest in it.

"Thanks." I mumble out and they both nod. Now we're the only ones left.

"What now?" Jeremy asks looking between me and Austin.

"I have an idea, but it'll probably kill me." I shake my head immediately. Not now, not him please.

"Emily, it will save the both of you and you can live normal lives again. Society will come around and build itself back up. I can erase our powers and the knowledge of them forom the remailing people's minds. The world will go back to how it was. Families reunited, and no more lives will be lost by this horrible plague. It has cost us and probably everyone else enough pain already." Tears are now streaming down my cheeks.

"I understand." Jeremy mumbles and I feel the need to cry harder. My throat closing. No, I'm not losing anymore friends or family.

"You can't leave me; how can you leave me." I cry and I now realise how much I've come to like him. His eves soften when they look at me.

"I'm not leaving you. I'll always be right here." His hands go over my heart and I close my eyes. Trying to quiet my sobs and wake up from this horrible dram.

"If you're going to do that, where will we go?" Jeremy asks and Austin stands.

"Wherever you want, you can go back to your old lives or build new ones. Get someplace new, a new identity and a new start. Emily." He looks me in the eyes. "get the life you've always wanted." He smiles, but I can see the sadness hiding behind his eyes. It's hurting him just as much, if not more to do this. He's amazing in his own way, always putting everyone else above himself. Now sacrificing his own life for mine and Jeremy's freedom.

"It's not fair." I mumble and he takes my hands, giving it a comforting squeeze. "Life never is." His mumbles, his face so close to mine I can feel his breath on my face. I take a deep breath. Savouring his scent so that I'll never forget it.

Warm lips touch mine ant it takes me a long second to figure out what's happening. My first kiss. I kiss him back like the world was ending, and it feels like it is when he pulls away all too early.

"Forgive me." Is the last thing I hear before everything goes black.