Elemental Outbreak

CH 16. This Will Hurt.

~Zephyr's POV, One Week Later~

I sat on the edge of the roof of the building and stared out into the city. "Fuck me" I said rubbing my temple. Me, Talia, and Haley went to the store yesterday to try to recover Brysons body but more zombies came in and there was hardly any anything left he had a ring from UCLA that managed to survive all this.

~One Day Ago~

I stood over the body of Bryson, I couldn't even recognize him, I looked up Talia and Haley took out the zombies I could tell they were both angry. Haley yelled out, "hey, we don't know what's else is out here" I told her, "let them come I'll fucking kill them all" she said, Talia looked defeated. I saw the ring and picked it up.

I tried not to cry, it was hard to lose someone close but I didn't want to let my emotions slip up, so I took a deep breath and sighed out, "Talia do you mind?" I said to her raising my hand up hoping she'd understand what I meant, she looked upset but didn't say anything. She stood above him, "step back" she said quietly and started to burn the rest of his body, we watched as the rest turned to ash, "Let's go, there's nothing more for us here" I said to them both, "we'll miss you" I said to him beginning to walk away.

~current time~

I sighed and got up and started to make my way back inside the main area where everyone was sitting around, sadness was all throughout the air. I sat down at the bar and lightly bang my head on the counter. "Hey now that's not what this counter is used for" I looked up and saw Zen behind the bar I didn't even realize he was there.

"Sorry, I thought it was closed today" I said back to him trying to joke with him, "Well you can either order a shot or I'm gonna have to ask you to leave" he said smiling I laughed a little bit, "I'll do a tequila shot, one for my amigo" I said remembering Bryson main drink was tequila. Zen sighed, "you know what" he said he grabbed the bottle of tequila that was behind him and a bag of plastic shot glasses that was underneath the bar since before all this.

"Everyone bring y'all's sad moping asses here" Zen said, "we are all gonna do a shot, yes you too I don't care if you don't drink" he said pointing to Talia who was in a corner by herself, even though I was close with him I can't imagine what she's going through being there with him when it happened.

Everyone walked to Zen and he handed them a shot glass and poured them a shot Maura tried to take the bottle but Zen didn't let her just yet. "You too come here" he said smiling at me I got up and walked to him grabbing a shot glass and let him pour me a shot then himself one, "here now you can have this" he said giving it to Maura.

"To Bryson, a friend to each of us" Zen I looked around and saw some of us managed a smile, albien looked confused but I didn't really push it I know he probably felt differently but was doing this out of respect. "Wait, I just got to say he was more than a friend, not to bash your toast but I mean it, he was a brother to me in all this mess and he was quite literally the light in our dark world at times and I wish I could thank him now but I'm sure this is enough for him," I said smiling raising my hand and the others did too as we then took the shots.

"Te amo hermano" I said as I finished the shot, "I don't think we should stay like this, i know it sounds a little messed up but I think it's better to move on then sit around sad all day" Jackson said, I put my hand on his shoulder, "he's right, you know let's put some music on and have a good time, all in Bryson's name" Jasmine said and we all just nodded as Freya made her way out I assume to get her music box she found.

~some time later in the evening~

"You can't possibly think you'll best me" I said staring at Martin from across the table, "oh I know just because I have one cup left doesn't mean shit" he said back to me, we were playing cup pong together after we had our little fight we talked it out and we've actually started to become closer as we had a lot of similarities.