The day we fell.

chapter 12: rising from the ashes and rebuilding after loss

Lucy's POV:

Tom's woken up and wanted to go hunting, but Jace didn't trust him at all after he left us, so we all went together. I had to support Tom, so none of us were at the base. I stumbled through the thick undergrowth, Tom beside me, my heart pounding in my chest as I strained to hear any sounds of danger. My hands clenched tightly around the grip of the pole I made out of used bandages, ready to defend myself at a moment's notice. It's honestly felt like hours since Jace, Tom, and I left our little base, and I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled over me like a thick fog. As we approached the clearing where our base had once stood, my worst fears were realized. The place was in ruins, reduced to a smouldering pile of rubble and ash. A gang had swept through while we were away, destroying everything we had worked so hard to build. My heart sank as I realized that our home, our sanctuary in this hellish new world, was gone forever. We were alone once again, forced to start over from scratch in a world that seemed determined to tear us apart. Tom sighed in frustration but didn't say anything, and we tried to grab what was left. It wasn't much, but we luckily still got loads of medical supplies, and now knowing this area wasn't safe, we walked off. 

We walked up this hillside, and Tom was on about how he was struggling to walk. Jace rolled his eyes. "Suck it up, cry baby," Jace said, grabbing Tom by the waist and flinging him over his shoulder. I run in front and back away. Another gang. They wave at us and beckon us down, and at this point, I was willing to get all the help we needed for Tom. I ran down, begging for help, which they happily gave. I thanked them and started to immediately try and help Tom. I started working on him, making sure every injury and sickness he caught was fully healed and that he was ready. He sighed and looked at me, a soft gaze in his eyes as he touched my hand. I freeze and flush red. He lets out a weak laugh at my reaction. "You know... you don't have to do this for me, Lu," he starts, and I cut him off with a brief kiss. "I chose to, now let me nurse you," I whispered, running my hands through his hair. We kissed again a few times, actually, then he told me to take a break. I tried to protest, but I have been doing this for just shy of 12 hours. 

I walk out of the little tent they set up for us and walk around to see Jace staring at this one boy. He was tall, leaning against a few rocks near the river sharpening his machete. Jace sees me and runs over. "Mother!" He shouts, and I turn around. "What's wrong, baby? Are you okay?" I glance back at the boy, and he's gone, and I pretend I never saw Jace staring. We talked for a few hours, and I looked up. He's back.  "Shit Lucy. It's him." Jace speaks quietly, slapping me quickly. I turn my head to the side, confused. "The ginger?" I ask, questioning him. He nods. "That's the boy I've seen in my dreams..." He whispers. I slap my hand to my mouth. "That's him!?" I shout, muffled by myself. Jace nods frantically. I turn to the ginger. "Eh, you," I say, trying to assert dominance. He looks down at me, then looks at Jace. "Do I know you??" He points a finger at Jace, and I wind up ready to attack. "No, we haven't met?" Jace speaks, wearily, grabbing my arm slightly for protection. "I've seen you in my dreams." He speaks at once, after a well-needed pause to seem not as intimidating. They exchange looks and smile. I side-eye Tom, he's weary of the ginger as I am. "Do we trust him?" He mouths, I glance at him then at Jace, the two are bonding. I nod. "Give him a shot."

A few days have passed since we joined this camp. They have democracy and everyone gets along well. It seems as if they are trying to keep humanity how it was. I noticed a few things during our stay, Jace and the ginger, whom is called Liam, are closer than they were; probably bonding about how they're in the others' dreams knowing them. I sit and observe. That's how it's always been. I'm sitting beside a river, washing out some blood the best I can until two boys come back with some hydrogen peroxide. I can tell everyone is where they need to be and that they have assigned roles. Everyone's having their little moments, and everyone is working together, though I do only have one problem. 

This girl, she's so beautiful yet so bitchy. I think she's one of the main leaders, or she's just cocky and sociable. Every time I see her, she's always looking at Tom with some weird smirk. Who does she think she is? Amidst the chaos of the zombie apocalypse, I found myself caught in a tangled web of emotions. The world had turned into a desolate wasteland, but that didn't stop the complexities of human relationships from rearing their head. As I fought tooth and nail to survive each day, I couldn't shake the feeling that Skyla, a fellow survivor, had set her sights on Tom, my boyfriend.

From talking to other survivors, it seems that Skyla had always been one to manipulate and scheme, even before the outbreak. Her charming smile masked a calculating mind, and it seemed she saw this dire situation as an opportunity to take advantage of vulnerable hearts. While Tom and I had weathered countless horrors together, the trials of the apocalypse had begun to strain our relationship.

I watched, with a heavy heart, as Skyla effortlessly wormed her way into Tom's life. She'd offer him comfort, a listening ear, and a shoulder to lean on whenever he needed it. Each time I caught them stealing glances at one another, a pang of jealousy and insecurity coursed through me. The fight against the undead had somehow become secondary to the turmoil within my own heart.

Yet, despite the temptation to confront Skyla or demand Tom's loyalty, I realized that our survival depended on unity. I had to put aside my fears and doubts for the greater good. The world was unforgiving, and the only way we stood a chance was by standing together.

So, I focused on honing my survival skills, banding together with Tom and Skyla when necessary, and reminding myself that trust should always prevail over paranoia. In the end, it wasn't about winning Tom back from Skyla; it was about ensuring our shared survival in this nightmarish world, where zombies lurked around every corner, ready to tear us apart.

As the Dead-shot Syndicate crumbled around us, consumed by the relentless onslaught of the undead, I couldn't shake the growing unease in my heart. Amidst the chaos, a new threat had emerged, one that cut deeper than the gnashing teeth of the zombies. Skyla, with her alluring charm and manipulative tactics, had set her sights on Tom, my once-devoted partner in this hellish journey.

With each passing day, I noticed their stolen glances and whispered conversations that sent a shiver down my spine. The trust we had built amidst the blood-soaked streets was slowly eroding, leaving behind a trail of doubt and insecurity. The time for silence had passed; I had to confront Tom and face the truth head-on.

In the flickering light of a crumbling building, I summoned the courage to approach him. My voice trembled as I spilled out my fears and suspicions, the words laced with desperation. Tom's face contorted in surprise and denial, but the truth lingered in the air, heavy and unyielding.

We stood there, surrounded by the remnants of our shattered world, the stench of decay mingling with the bitter taste of betrayal. Tom's eyes met mine, his expression a mix of guilt and confusion. At that moment, the gravity of our situation became painfully clear. Our survival hinged on trust and solidarity, and this internal conflict threatened to tear us apart.

As the groans of the undead echoed outside, our love was put to the ultimate test. We had fought side by side, clinging to hope amidst the darkest of days. Now, we stood at a crossroads, where our choices would shape not only our fates but also the fate of humanity.

With gritted teeth and a determined spirit, I vowed to push past the doubts that threatened to consume us. For in this apocalyptic nightmare, unity was paramount. We had to cast aside our demonstration and face the relentless horde together, for it was only in our unwavering alliance that we had a chance at survival, and that's when we decided to split the group.