The Last Survivors

Chapter 22: Death

Seraphina was on the verge of confiding her feelings for Alex to Mia when the piercing sound of shattering glass shattered the peaceful ambiance of the cottage. Their conversation halted abruptly as both women exchanged wide-eyed glances, a shared sense of dread settling over them.

Without a moment's hesitation, they bolted towards the source of the disturbance, their hearts pounding with fear and urgency. Bursting into the room, their worst fears were realized as they were met with a gruesome sight.

A zombie stood over Alex, its decomposing form sinking its teeth into his neck with a sickening crunch. Seraphina's heart lurched in horror at the sight, her mind reeling with disbelief. Before she could fully comprehend the situation, Mia sprang into action, delivering a swift, decisive blow that sent the creature reeling to the ground.

With the immediate threat neutralized, Seraphina rushed to Alex's side, her hands trembling as she inspected the severity of his injuries. Tears welled in her eyes as she realized the gravity of the situation – Alex's life hung in the balance, and every passing moment was precious.

"Alex, oh god, Alex," Seraphina choked out, her voice thick with emotion as she cradled his head in her arms, desperately trying to staunch the flow of blood from his neck.

Alex's eyelids fluttered open, his gaze unfocused as he struggled to speak through the haze of pain. "Seraphina," he rasped weakly, his voice barely audible above the chaos of the room.

Tears streamed down Seraphina's cheeks as she leaned in closer, hanging on to his every word. "I'm here, Alex, I'm here," she murmured, her heart breaking at the sight of him in such a vulnerable state.

With a trembling hand, Alex reached out to grasp Seraphina's, his grip weak but determined. "I need to tell you something," he whispered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Seraphina's breath caught in her throat as she leaned in closer, her heart pounding in her chest. "What is it, Alex? What do you need to tell me?" she asked, her voice trembling with fear and anticipation.

Alex's lips quivered as he struggled to form the words, his strength waning with each passing moment. "I... I love you, Seraphina," he confessed, his voice barely a whisper as he fought to hold on to consciousness.

A surge of emotion washed over Seraphina at his words, her heart soaring with a mixture of love and anguish. "I love you too, Alex," she whispered, her voice choked with tears as she leaned down to press a tender kiss on his lips. As their lips met in a tender embrace, Seraphina poured all of her love and longing into the kiss, savoring the fleeting moments they had left together. Time seemed to stand still as they clung to each other, lost in the intensity of their shared emotions.

Mia's heart ached as she watched the heartbreaking scene unfold before her, tears streaming down her cheeks as she silently mourned the loss that was to come. She knew that her brothers time was running out, and the weight of that knowledge hung heavy on her shoulders.

As their kiss lingered, a sense of bittersweet tranquility washed over them, their love serving as a beacon of light in the darkness of the world around them. In that moment, they were alone together, their hearts entwined in a bond that transcended the boundaries of time and space.

But even as they clung to each other, a sense of inevitability hung in the air, a cruel reminder of the fragile nature of life. And as they finally pulled away, their lips parting with a soft, reluctant sigh, Seraphina knew that their time together was drawing to a close.

With a heavy heart, she pressed her forehead against Alex's, her tears mingling with his as they shared a silent moment of farewell. And as the weight of their impending loss settled over them, Seraphina vowed to carry his love with her always, a beacon of light to guide her through the darkness that lay ahead.

Mia's determination surged as she took charge of the grim task ahead, knowing that she couldn't bear to see Alex suffer any further. With a heavy heart, she gently guided Seraphina out of the room, their tears mingling as they shared a silent understanding of the painful duty that lay before them.

"Seraphina, I need you to go outside," Mia said softly, her voice choked with emotion as she met her friend's gaze. "I'll take care of Alex. Trust me."

Seraphina nodded wordlessly, her heart heavy with grief as she reluctantly obeyed Mia's instructions. With one last longing glance at Alex, she turned away, the weight of their shared sorrow pressing down on her with every step.

Outside, Seraphina sank to the ground, her tears flowing freely as she struggled to come to terms with the devastating turn of events. Alone in her grief, she clung to the memories of the precious moments she had shared with Alex, knowing that they would forever be etched in her heart.

Meanwhile, inside the room, Mia steeled herself for the task ahead, her hands steady despite the turmoil raging within her. With a heavy heart, she retrieved a weapon from the nearby table, her movements slow and deliberate as she prepared to end Alex's suffering once and for all.

As she approached Alex, she saw the flicker of recognition in his eyes, a silent plea for mercy that tugged at her heartstrings. With a trembling hand, she raised the weapon, her resolve wavering for just a moment before she hardened her heart and delivered the fatal blow.

As Alex's lifeless body slumped to the ground, Mia felt a surge of anguish wash over her, her tears falling unchecked as she mourned the loss of her beloved brother. But even in the midst of her grief, she knew that she had done what needed to be done, sparing Alex from a fate worse than death.

With a heavy heart, Mia joined Seraphina outside, her eyes red-rimmed with tears as they clung to each other in their shared sorrow. And as they grieved the loss of their beloved friend and brother, they vowed to honor his memory by carrying on, their hearts heavy but unbowed in the face of the relentless darkness that surrounded them.

With tears streaming down her cheeks, Seraphina rushed back into the room, her heart heavy with regret and sorrow. She knelt beside Alex's lifeless body, her hands trembling as she reached out to gently stroke his cheek.

"I'm so sorry, Alex," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion as she gazed down at him. "I should have told you sooner... I love you, Alex. More than words could ever express."

Her words hung heavy in the air, a poignant reminder of the love that had blossomed between them, too late to be fully realized. As she leaned in to press a tender kiss to his forehead, Seraphina vowed to carry his memory with her always, a beacon of light in the darkness of the world around her.

With one last lingering look at Alex's peaceful face, Seraphina rose to her feet, her heart heavy but determined to honor his memory in any way she could. And as she turned to leave the room, her tears still flowing freely, she knew that she would carry the weight of his love with her always, a bittersweet reminder of the fleeting beauty and tragic fragility of life.