The End of Days

[14]

Deep breaths.

There are zombies and starvation and murder; shit, maybe cannibals are like a thing now? Men should be the last thing on your mind.

He took note of his own words, forcing down his pain. Now he knew who Sam was, what Liam would always be to him. It was good to know.

He allowed the foul mood to drain from his body and rejoined the boys for dinner. He'd been in the bathroom for about 20 minutes, it wasn't a breakdown but more of a panic attack. He found it hard to breath but he got control of himself after a while.

Freaking out wasn't something he usually did, things never affected him much. Or at least in the physical sense. Perhaps just the unexpectedness of what Sam had said pushed him over the edge a bit.

"Need me to heat it up again?"

"Nah, thanks." He brushed off Cam's hands as he reached for his bowl of lukewarm noodles anyway. The only reason he'd asked was to get some privacy, otherwise he couldn't have cared less.

Cam did most of the talking as usual although Sam wasnt nearly as involved as he often was. He might've had a rough stance and strong opinions but he always knew how to joke. Now however he sat silently, seething as he sipped at a beer before grimacing because it was some weird asian brand.

"Night, man." He bumped the fist presented to him as Cameron tucked under his blankets. He had said nothing to Sam which was weird but the guy didn't seem concerned as he stood from the couch and grabbing at his jacket.

"Ima make the rounds." He muttered, already out the door before anyone could question his leaving so late at night. Liam wasn't worried about him getting hurt but it did make brushing off earlier that much harder.

Liam sighed, dropping back on the couch where his head rested on his arm. He sat in the silence for a bit, allowing his mind to wonder as he tried to sleep but couldn't.

"He's a prick, Lee. Just ignore him."

He turned at the tired voice down on the mattress below. He couldnt see Cam in the dark but smiled his appreciation anyway.

The two were good friends and no matter what happened Sam was always going to be important to him. Important to Liam too, as hard as he made it. But it was nice knowing Cameron had his back.

He wasn't a victim. Not everyone understood sure, like Sam. But there were good people who cared enough to try. It give Liam some hope where he didn't usually have any.

The snores came half an hour ago and Liam knew then the kid was knocked out. There was no knock that time as the door opened and shut. It only took that heavy huffing and the clunk of boots for him to know who it was.

Liam was prepared to close his eyes and at least pretend he hadn't been sitting up all that time, bordering on a sulk. He heard Sam's cussing as he fiddled with something in the kitchen.

"What happened?" Liam stepped up, eying the bleeding on Sam's stomach which soaked through his shirt. It wasn't an excessive amount but it was enough.

"Ive got it, don't touch me." He shoved the hands away that reached for him. Liam had been trying to check for a bite.

His anger rose quickly as they stared one another down. He shoved Sam back against the counter, ripping at the man's shirt. He hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath until it came out shaking. It was just a cut, nothing serious.

"Said I had it." Liam rolled his eyes at the complaining, squatting down to search through the cabinets.

All their supples they'd scavanged over the last few months had ended up finding its own place. They really had kind of made a home there. Which was another thing Sam was always going on about. He made them keep their things in bags all the time just incase they needed to run. What the hell was there to run from, anyway?