To The Stars Above Us [Finished]

Chapter 8: Fever Dream

The full moon was brilliant in the sky, and its radiant reflections streamed through the window while lighting up the living room with moonlight, including my wild blonde hair. As I glanced at my reflection in the crystal of a cabinet, my eyes met their counterparts and I fixed myself trying to change the look of fright on my face. My creamy skin now looked utterly white beneath the moon rays, and my eyes which couldn't stop blinking under the stress looked abnormally enormous as with a hand gripping my hair I tried to stop twitching. My teeth clenched my lips and Ignoring this, I took a few discreet steps, the cold of the wooden floor freezing my bare feet as I moved into the room. Soon enough, my knees brushed against the edge of the sofa bed. Craig's silhouette was barely visible, overwhelmed by all the wrapped sheets, but gathering my courage, I slipped under the duvet, immediately colliding with a warm body.

He seemed as surprised by my intrusion as I, and under my contact I felt the startle tighten his muscles against mine. I sensed his turn, and soon his eyes distracted me from his bare chest. We looked at each other momentarily, cut off from the world. Then, feeling my trembling, Craig's arms drew me closer, merging our two bodies as if we were one. The warmth formed a comforting cocoon that soon drew me away as I slowly closed my eyes, carried away by the wave of well-being formed by the softness of the sheets against my skin. As I drifted to sleep, I tried not to notice the butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

In my dream, I only thought of them; giants Lepidoptera soaring over my blonde hair while nature around me seemed to be more united than ever. Everything was green like my eyes reflected in a crystalline lake, and as I walked through this forest of wonders, more and more fantastical creatures appeared before me as I started my journey. Malicious cats, flying fishes bigger than the clouds, pink frogs with hats, all things beyond imagination, and everyone, surprising as it gets, seemed to know me as they all greeted me like their greatest friend. But my discoveries ended abruptly when I soon found myself in front of a giant guinea pig, surmounted by an imposing hunter with black hair. From there, the daylight became increasingly bright, soon blinding my eyes. my eyelids fluttered, finding myself tangled in sheets with only Craig covering me with his mass. His body emitted a heat that, despite myself, caused a few drops of sweat to drip as I felt more comfortable than ever. I snuggled even closer to him, my arms around his waist, pressing against his skin.

After a while, I think he also woke up, but neither of us did anything, just cuddling for hours as the sun rose high in the sky.

"It's been 2 years since I started looking for my sister," he told me after a while, the intimacy of the moment took me by surprise as I lay on his chest, listening to the vibrations of his muscles resonate with his voice.

"It's been 8 years since I last saw her, just since the start of the apocalypse. After that, it was a blackout until I woke up 5 years later, my body covered in blood." As if our souls were connected, I almost managed to feel the emotion he must have felt that day. But too overwhelmed, I decided not to say anything, too busy playing with the few black hairs curling on his chest.

"If she is still alive, zombie or not, I know where she is," he continued, lowering his head and meeting my eyes for the first time that morning. "Before the chaos erupted, my parents had already decided to head south, towards where my grandmother lives. It's perfect, it's in a remote area just near the sea. If Tina is alive, she's there." Silence followed. I didn't quite know how to respond, but the hope I felt in Craig's voice was enough for me not to."

"In a while, I want to continue my search, but this time I'd like you to come with me," he said.

My fingers traced his pendant, retracing the movements I always made whenever I was stressed. I turned it, caressed it, even planted a few spikes on Craig's chest, then with a final sigh, I looked up.