THE ONES WHO LIVED

Love

Kai and Lila and their dog Rex had escaped from the bloodbath, leaving behind the corpses and the carnage, the fire and the smoke, the screams and the silence. They had taken the truck and the supplies, driving away from the gas station and the highway, the trap and the ambush, the betrayal and the message. They had driven for hours, looking for a safe and hidden place, a place where they could rest and heal, a place where they could plan and prepare.

They had found a supermarket, abandoned and looted, but still standing and intact. They had parked the truck behind the building and entered the supermarket through the back door. They had searched the place, finding some food and water, some weapons and ammo, some clothes and blankets. They had also found some radios and batteries, some maps and books, some tools and gadgets.

They had set up their base in the supermarket, barricading the doors and windows, setting up traps and alarms, making sure no one could get in or out. They had also set up a camp in the supermarket, using the shelves and the counters, the carts and the baskets, the boxes and the bags. They had made a bed, a kitchen, a bathroom, a living room. They had made a home.

They had also taken care of their wounds and their pain, physical and emotional, external and internal. They had bandaged their cuts and bruises, cleaned their burns and infections, treated their fever and shock. They had also talked about their feelings and thoughts, their fears and regrets, their hopes and dreams. They had comforted each other and supported each other, hugged each other and kissed each other. They had loved each other.

They were lying on the bed, made of blankets and pillows, in the corner of the supermarket. They had just finished making love, for the first time, for the last time. They were holding each other, feeling each other, looking at each other.

They knew they had to leave soon, to face their enemies, to risk their lives, to save their friends. They knew they might not come back, they might not see each other, they might not love each other. They knew they had to make the most of this moment, this night, this life.

They spoke softly, whispering in each other's ears, saying what they wanted, what they needed, what they felt.

"Kai, I love you," Lila said. "I love you more than anything, more than anyone, more than myself. You are the best thing that ever happened to me, the only thing that matters to me, the only thing that keeps me going. You are my light, my hope, my reason. You are my everything."

"Lila, I love you," Kai said. "I love you more than anything, more than anyone, more than myself. You are the best thing that ever happened to me, the only thing that matters to me, the only thing that keeps me going. You are my strength, my courage, my purpose. You are my everything."

They kissed, gently and passionately, tenderly and desperately, lovingly and hungrily. They kissed as if it was their first kiss, their last kiss, their only kiss. They kissed as if it was their goodbye, their hello, their forever.

They cuddled, wrapping their arms and legs around each other, feeling their hearts and breaths, feeling their warmth and presence. They cuddled as if they were one, one body, one soul, one being. They cuddled as if they were alone, alone in the world, alone in the universe, alone in the eternity.

They slept, peacefully and blissfully, deeply and soundly, dreamily and happily. They slept as if they were safe, safe from the danger, safe from the pain, safe from the death. They slept as if they were free, free from the fear, free from the hate, free from the fate.

They slept as if they were human.

But they had also become desperate and determined, angry and vengeful, reckless and ruthless. They had become killers and warriors, fighters and survivors, heroes and villains. They had become monsters.

They had become the Blood Sugar Clan's worst nightmare.