When life throws different people into the middle of an apocalypse and the end of the world approaches, it's a matter of survival for all of them.
This is the story of the survivors, those who have seen their loved ones die to protect them. The one...
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number four.
I didn't immediately understand what Daniel meant. Then when Max grabbed all his big backpacks and weapons, and without even having time to grab some food, we started running. I didn't know what was chasing us, but for the guys who'd saved me to be running, it had to be something serious. I'd had time to grab my bag and the knife Max had given me. I felt naked. Especially when the gunfire started behind us. I wasn't hurt, but I'd lied to Daniel when I'd told him I was getting back into shape. I was terribly slow. I could see them moving away. And I was already imagining being captured again by whatever was chasing us. Max had looked behind him, I'd met his blue eyes and thought he must hope he'd left me there. I'd done my best to run, but the bruises on my body hadn't helped. I felt as if my ribs had been crushed, as if my body had been trampled. I'd done my best to hide it from them, but Daniel had seen it when I'd changed in front of him. I had big marks on my ribs, a few blows on my thighs and now I felt it was slowing me down. I don't know if Daniel had told Max, I'd begged him not to, but why would he listen to me.
Max had a gentleness about him that was hard to perceive at first. I hadn't dared ask if they'd known each other long, or even what they'd been going through for the last two years. It was none of my business and I realized it, especially as I couldn't even decipher the way Max spoke to me. He often seemed worried, and I wondered if I shouldn't leave. After all, we'd been forced to run. I imagined they'd been living there for a long time, so they'd had to chase away the groups that wanted to take their place. Maybe they'd even fought off some of the Infected. And by the time I arrived, they must have ran away. I could see in Max's eyes that he would surely resent me. I thought they'd both leave me there to face my fate. Captured or devoured by whatever was chasing us. I was terrified of dying right there when life was giving me a second chance.
"Daniel, run! Don't stop!" Max had just shouted, I imagined he was afraid for the dark-haired boy. I was jealous of their friendship, I hoped I'd be taken care of that way. Maybe they had before, in my old life. "Number Four, you're going to have to trust me."
I hadn't even had time to reply; he'd stopped to throw me over his shoulder. I'd hurt from the impact against his bulletproof vest, and even more when he'd started running again. I clung to the straps of his backpack as if my life depended on it and hoped I wouldn't fall. He must have known this place by heart, every corner, every car wreck, and all the graffiti that surely gave directions. Nature was taking over again in Elaris, and that was certainly an advantage for Max who had just wandered into the jungle of this shopping center. He'd thrown me on top of a container, before climbing up in his turn. I could do nothing but watch him. I'd seen men move like him in my nightmares. I'd even wondered if these same men had anything to do with my physical condition. These strong men, in uniform, holstering their weapons on their right flank as the chestnut did.
Max had put me back on his back, probably staggering with fatigue, before resuming his walk. The building had collapsed in on itself, and I'd been imagining for some time that it would advance so comfortably on the flagstones trembling under our weight. I was frightened. Even if he was there to protect me, I wondered if Daniel would survive and if I myself would be able to find my way back. I could feel his piercing gaze on me. That of the leader he was. Then he gave me one of his weapons.
