Surviving the Waves

Chapter 1 & 2

I don't own any of these Characters

Chapter 1: A Shocking Revelation

Darius didn't see it coming. The three of them—Kenji, Brooklyn, and him—had just spent a solid hour scavenging supplies for the group. They worked in sync, as they always had. Darius had even started feeling a glimmer of hope that maybe things were getting back to normal between them. That's when Kenji dropped the bomb.

"We, uh... we've got something to tell you," Kenji started, glancing nervously at Brooklyn, who gave a small, encouraging nod. "Brooklyn and I... we're together now. We're dating."

For a split second, time seemed to freeze. Darius' heart stopped, his mind spinning as he stared at them, unsure of how to respond. Kenji and Brooklyn? Together? His feelings for Brooklyn, the ones he'd been trying to push down for the sake of the group, suddenly felt like a heavy weight in his chest.

But Darius was good at hiding his emotions—he had to be, especially in a world where survival depended on staying level-headed. So, with a forced smile, he nodded, his voice coming out steadier than he expected. "That's... that's great, you guys. I'm really happy for you."

Kenji grinned, clearly relieved. "Thanks, man! I knew you'd be cool with it."

"Yeah, of course," Darius replied, though his heart wasn't in it. He avoided looking directly at Brooklyn, who was smiling softly but seemed to sense the tension in his forced response.

After gathering the last of the supplies, Darius led the way back to the others, his mind racing with everything that had just changed.

Chapter 2: Silent Struggles

The walk back to the group was painfully awkward for Darius. Kenji and Brooklyn walked a little ahead, whispering and laughing to themselves. It wasn't overt—nothing too obvious—but it was enough. Enough for Darius to notice how they were always just a little closer than before, how Brooklyn's smile now seemed reserved for Kenji.

Darius kept his eyes on the path ahead, talking only when necessary and avoiding Brooklyn's gaze altogether. He didn't know how to process his emotions, didn't know how to let go of the crush he'd been harboring for months. They were supposed to be a team, all of them. And now it felt like he was on the outside looking in.

As they approached the metro station where the others were waiting, a loud roar echoed through the air. The ground trembled slightly, and Darius' heart skipped a beat. T-Rex.

Darius froze in place, scanning the area, and sure enough, the massive dinosaur appeared in the distance, slowly making its way toward them. It blocked the path to the station, and the way it was moving, it wouldn't be long before it was upon them.