I Am Yours, Don't Give Myself Back To Me.

When Flower Meets Sea

Five kicked a stray rock that was in his way. He was heading to his new-found home and for some reason, his thoughts were louder than any other thing today, it was honestly tiring. 

As much as he hated to admit it, he missed Theo. Sure, the whole almost-killing-him-in-his-sleep thing was a bit much, but the banter they had shared was something he found himself craving. The back-and-forth teasing, the laughter that cut through the heaviness of their reality—it was a connection he didn't know he needed until it was gone.

Now, he was alone again, and with loneliness came nightmares of her. He had managed to push her memory away for a while, but it always slithered back the moment he found himself isolated. In the quiet of the night, he could almost hear her voice, feel her presence lurking just beyond the edge of his consciousness.

He had never felt lonely before. Not in the decades spent in an apocalypse, surrounded only by the lifeless bodies of his siblings. Not during the six long years, he wandered among the living, feeling invisible while people bustled around him, lost in their chaos.

But now? Now he felt a loneliness that was deeper and sharper than any he had ever experienced.

Scavenging through the subway tunnels that had once felt like home was different when he was alone. The shadows danced eerily, taking on shapes that made him jump at every little sound. He could almost hear Theo's voice, teasing him to stop being so jumpy.

Yet, every time he ventured out of his hiding spot, alert for resources, he sensed something—or someone—watching him. It could be his paranoia, a trick of his mind playing games with him. But it felt real, too real. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled as he turned, scanning the dark corners of the subway for any sign of life.

He shook it off, trying to push the feeling away, even if it wasn't the smartest choice he could make. He had to focus on survival and living to see another day. He reminded himself that there was no room for fear, no time to dwell on the shadows that loomed just out of sight.

With each step deeper into the subway, the urge to find someone—to seek out a connection, any connection—faded. 

Survival was key, but today the feeling of being watched was stronger than ever. It slithered into his thoughts, wrapping around his mind until he could hardly think straight. His headache pulsed with a fierceness that made it hard to concentrate, and his heart thudded in his chest, loud enough that he swore it echoed off the damp subway walls.

Five sighed, pressing his fingers to his forehead as nausea twisted in his gut. When he finally stepped into his hiding spot, a chill raced down his spine, and for a moment, it felt like his heart stopped entirely. What he saw made no sense. The flowers and vines creeping along the walls of his sanctuary hadn't been there earlier. They were vibrant, almost glowing in the dim light, and clearly out of place.

How was that possible? He shook his head, trying to dispel the confusion. Had he really overlooked them when he set up the fire? No, they were too eye-catching; there was no way he could have missed them. But if they hadn't been there before, then what other explanation could there be? Maybe it was just exhaustion playing tricks on him. He let out a long breath. Yeah, that had to be it. He was just tired and needed to rest.