The Last Survivors

chapter 10: Bastien and Phoenix

"Phoenix... Is that really you?" Seraphina asked, her voice trembling with emotion.

Phoenix looked at her, a flicker of recognition crossing her face before a smile broke out. "Seraphina? I can't believe it's you!"

Tears welled up in Seraphina's eyes as she rushed forward, enveloping Phoenix in a tight embrace. "I thought I'd never see you again," she whispered.

Bastien, ever the stoic guardian, stepped forward, barricading the door with determination. "We'll have time for reunions later. For now, we need to focus on staying safe," he said firmly, his voice cutting through the emotional moment.

The safe house offered a brief respite from the relentless chaos outside. Seraphina and Phoenix sat together, catching up on years of lost time. Memories flooded back as they reminisced about their childhood adventures, their laughter mingling with the distant sounds of the undead outside.

"So much has changed," Seraphina murmured, her gaze drifting to the boarded-up windows.

Phoenix nodded solemnly. "It's a different world out there now. But I'm grateful we found each other again."

Their conversation was interrupted by Bastien's voice, his tone urgent. "We need to fortify this place. The barricades won't hold forever."

With grim determination, they set to work reinforcing the doors and windows, salvaging whatever materials they could find. Each creak of the floorboards outside sent shivers down their spines, a constant reminder of the danger lurking just beyond the walls.

As the hours passed, tension hung heavy in the air. Bastien remained vigilant, his keen eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of movement. Seraphina and Phoenix exchanged worried glances, their thoughts consumed by the uncertainty of their situation.

Suddenly, a low growl echoed from outside, followed by the sound of scratching at the door. The three of them tensed, bracing themselves for the inevitable onslaught. But as the minutes ticked by, the noise faded away, leaving behind an eerie silence.

"We should rest while we can," Bastien suggested, his voice weary but resolute. "We'll need our strength for whatever comes next."

Seraphina nodded, her exhaustion catching up to her in waves. With a shared glance, she and Phoenix settled down for the night, finding solace in each other's presence amidst the darkness.

As sleep finally claimed them, they held onto hope, knowing that together, they stood a fighting chance against the encroaching tide of despair. And as dawn broke on the horizon, they vowed to face whatever trials awaited them, united in their determination to survive.

Seraphina stirred from her restless sleep, the first rays of dawn filtering through the cracks in the boarded-up windows. Blinking away the remnants of her dreams, she sat up groggily, her gaze falling upon Bastien and Phoenix who were engaged in hushed conversation.

As she listened, she couldn't help but notice the playful tone in their voices, the subtle glances exchanged between them. Her heart sank as realization dawned upon her – they were flirting.

Suppressing a pang of jealousy, Seraphina cleared her throat, announcing her wakefulness. Bastien and Phoenix turned towards her, their expressions shifting from intimacy to casual professionalism in an instant.

"Good morning, Seraphina," Bastien greeted her with a nod, his demeanor returning to its usual stoicism.

"Morning," Phoenix chimed in, a faint blush coloring her cheeks as she avoided Seraphina's gaze.

Seraphina forced a smile, trying to ignore the knot of unease forming in her stomach. "Did anything happen during the night?"

Bastien shook his head. "No, it remained quiet. But we shouldn't let our guard down."

The atmosphere in the room had shifted, a subtle tension lingering between them. Seraphina couldn't shake the feeling of being an outsider, an intruder in their private moment.

As they prepared for another day of survival, Seraphina resolved to focus on the task at hand, pushing aside her personal feelings for the sake of their collective safety. But deep down, she couldn't shake the sense of betrayal that gnawed at her heart, knowing that amidst the chaos of their new reality, even the bonds of friendship were not immune to the allure of companionship.

Seraphina struggled to contain the torrent of emotions raging within her. Over the months spent surviving alongside Bastien, she had developed more than just a friendship – she had fallen for him. His strength, his unwavering resolve, had captivated her heart in ways she never thought possible.

But now, as she watched him and Phoenix exchange playful banter, a sharp pang of jealousy stabbed at her insides. She knew she had no right to feel this way. After all, she had never confessed her feelings to Bastien, keeping them buried deep within her heart.

As they gathered their supplies and prepared to venture out into the perilous world outside, Bastien and Phoenix found themselves exchanging playful banter once again. Despite only meeting the day before, there was an undeniable chemistry between them, a spark of attraction that neither could ignore.

Bastien flashed Phoenix a charming smile as he adjusted the straps of his backpack. "Ready to face the undead hordes again?"

Phoenix returned his smile with a playful glint in her eyes. "As ready as I'll ever be. But with you by my side, I'm sure we'll make it through."

Seraphina observed their interaction from a distance, her heart sinking with each flirtatious exchange. She felt like an outsider, a silent observer to a connection she could never hope to compete with.

Suppressing her own feelings of jealousy, Seraphina forced a smile as she joined them. "Let's focus on the task at hand. We have supplies to gather and survivors to find."

Bastien nodded in agreement, his gaze lingering on Phoenix for a moment longer before turning towards the door. "Right. Let's stick together and watch each other's backs."

As they set out into the dangerous unknown, Seraphina couldn't shake the feeling of being overshadowed by the budding romance between Bastien and Phoenix. But amidst the chaos of their world, she knew there were more important things to worry about than her own feelings of longing and envy. Together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead, united in their determination to survive.

As they navigated through the deserted streets, Bastien and Phoenix's flirtatious banter continued, they whispered to each other thinking that Seraphina couldn't hear them but she could.

"You know," Bastien remarked with a grin, "I never thought I'd find myself flirting during a zombie apocalypse."

Phoenix chuckled, a hint of mischief in her eyes. "Well, you never know what surprises life has in store for us. Besides, a little flirting makes the world feel a bit less bleak, don't you think?"

Seraphina tried to ignore the pang of jealousy that gnawed at her heart, focusing instead on the task of scavenging for supplies. But with each lighthearted exchange between Bastien and Phoenix, she couldn't help but feel like a third wheel, an outsider to their blossoming connection. Yet, amidst the chaos and uncertainty of their world, she knew she had to push aside her own feelings and focus on the greater goal of survival. With determination in her heart, she followed alongside them, silently vowing to overcome the turmoil of her emotions and stand strong in the face of adversity.