Our Life (Sequel to "Remnants")

Bittersweet

-Carl-

That was good...

Oh boy, that was really good...

Riley and I lay beside each other for several minutes, thinking about what we had just done - the sheer wonder and pleasure and intimacy of our interaction. I could tell, however, as time went on and this pleasure drifted away, that our minds sunk back to the darker, more pessimistic thoughts that plagued our minds.

According to Riley, there were about a hundred walkers between us and Alexandria, and unlike our other life or death situations, we had no adults or particularly strong companions to protect us. We were entirely on our own, and when you took into account the fact that you were only a 15 year-old boy - quite insignificant in comparison with most of the people left in the world - that was a very daunting fact.

We need to find a way to get back, and soon - it was metaphorically killing me not knowing who had been killed by Michael's explosives back in Alexandria, and it had been two days since I last saw any of my group. It wouldn't be long before we were given up for dead, and if Deanna decided it would be best for everyone to leave Alexandria following the attacks, there'd be no home to go back to.

But how.

"Riley," I sighed, hating to break such a perfect silence, but the fact was we had to forget our 'moment,' and focus on a much more serious urgency.

"Yeah?" he rolled onto his side, turning to face me. His face had also lost its optimism and mad grin from earlier, making it clear that similar thoughts were also on his mind.

"We need to start thinking about how we're gonna get out of this place," I explained, and Riley nodded.

"Been thinking about that for the last five minutes," he admitted, "just didn't wanna ruin the mood."

Well at least I'm not the only one...

"Alright, let's take a look around," I smiled lovingly, placing one more firm kiss on his cheek before clambering out of the bed and hauling myself to my feet. I had enjoyed the last ten minutes of peace, almost as much as the five minutes before it. It was utterly brilliant to watch Riley in such a state - almost immobilized by the pleasure and heat of the situation, and it felt wonderful to have the power of making him react in that way. But we had to focus on the topic at hand.

"Where'll we start looking?" I inquired, knowing that we had to stay clear of the herd but also needed to scavenge whatever supplies we could find from the area - everything and anything would help in this situation.

"We'll split up and search the opposite direction to the herd - whatever you do, don't use your gun. Don't use anything that'll make a loud noise and draw them in this direction," Riley instructed.

"Don't make any noise? You weren't taking that into account fifteen minutes ago," I smirked, unable to resist teasing my now embarrassed boyfriend.

He pursed his lips and giggled to himself.

"Can't be helped," he grinned, "now come on, I'm betting you we'll find something good and get home by tomorrow morning."

I think he's lost that bet...

—

-Riley-

(2 hours later)

It's a good thing that wasn't a real bet earlier...

I sighed to myself as I wandered the countryside, with the moans of the undead echoing distantly yet equally ominously from afar. I was deeply worried by the knowledge that sooner or later, those groans would be all around us, and if we found no supplies, we would join the undead before too long.

Michael had been killed, but at what cost?

I began to wonder if watching him get completely disintegrated by the explosion was worth it or not, because it was killing him that attracted this herd, and I would rather die by getting shot that being torn apart by a hundred walkers.

Worse than my own death, however, would be watching something as barbaric as that happen to Carl.

My boyfriend.

If he died...

I couldn't even contemplate the situation. What had happened earlier had strengthened our bond even more - I needed that strengthening, particularly in such a tough time as this.

As I scrambled over a fence and examined the next field, I discovered two things, which combined to create a situation that was ultimately very bittersweet.

Another herd! Possibly even bigger than the last... We're completely surrounded!

I looked on in sheer disbelief and horror at the sight of about a hundred more rotting corpses, and the worst part was that unlike the others, who stood dormant and almost catatonic state, these ones were advancing.

"Holy shit," a voice nearby murmured in disbelief, and I turned to discover that Carl, too, stared out in terror at the sight that greeted us.

In spite of this, however, the situation wasn't all bad.

For in the field, with the corpse of its former owner laying beside it, sat a reasonably healthy-looking car.

I was almost confused by the sight of our almost imminent peril, combined with what may turn out to be our saving grace.

We have about half an hour at best before the two herds combine and ultimately swarm us.

It's now or never...