After the End

Chapter 7: Shadows of Tomorrow

The bond between Five and me deepened in ways I never thought possible. We had become a team, navigating the remnants of our world together. Each task we tackled—scavenging for supplies, trying formulas and calculations, or simply sharing stories under the stars—was infused with a sense of purpose that had once felt lost to us.

In many ways, I was happier than I had ever been, but a shadow loomed over me, dark and ominous. I had kept a secret from Five, one that gnawed at my insides with every heartbeat. It was a secret that could shatter everything we had built together.

Since our confessions, I had started to see visions. Flashes of myself, lifeless and alone, filled my mind in moments of stillness. The first time it happened, I brushed it off as a figment of my imagination, a manifestation of my fears in this cruel reality. But as the visions persisted, their clarity only intensified. I saw myself in different scenarios—trapped, injured, abandoned. Each vision ended the same way: with my body slumped in a dark corner, as if the world had forgotten me.

I had tried to dismiss them, to focus on the present and the warmth of Five’s arms around me. But how could I ignore the relentless certainty that my fate was sealed? The thought of losing him was unbearable, and I knew that if I told him, it would change everything.

Every moment we spent together was precious to me, and I clung to them fiercely. I wanted to make our time count, to fill it with laughter and love, even if my heart felt heavy with dread. I knew I had to savor the fleeting moments we shared, knowing they could be all I had left.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, we sat together outside the building, watching the sky transform into a canvas of deep oranges and purples. I leaned against Five, feeling the reassuring solidity of his presence.

“Do you remember when we first met?” I asked, trying to draw my thoughts away from the darkness that threatened to engulf me.

Five chuckled softly, his breath warm against my hair. “You mean when I almost shot you?”

I smiled, remembering how startled I had been by his cold demeanor and quick reflexes. “Yeah, that. I thought I was going to die before I even had a chance to live.”

“I guess we were both in survival mode back then,” he replied, his voice laced with nostalgia. “But look at us now. We’ve come a long way since that day.”

“We have,” I agreed, though the weight of my secret pressed down on me. “And I’m glad we did.”

As he turned to look at me, a flicker of concern crossed his face. “You okay? You’ve been a bit quiet lately.”

I hesitated, feeling the urge to share my fears, but I pushed them down. “I’m fine, just… lost in thought.”

He studied me for a moment, searching for signs of the truth I kept hidden. “If something’s bothering you, you can talk to me, you know.”

“I know,” I replied softly, forcing a smile. “It’s just… sometimes, I think too much.”

His expression softened, and he brushed a stray hair from my face. “You’re not alone anymore, Xiaina. Whatever it is, we’ll face it together.”

My heart swelled at his words, but the fear clawing at my insides grew louder. I wanted to tell him, to lay bare the visions that haunted me, but the thought of breaking the fragile peace between us was paralyzing. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing him to the weight of my fears.

Instead, I shifted the conversation. “What do you think we should do tomorrow? We need to find more supplies, and the last few trips didn’t yield much.”

Five’s expression brightened, and I could see the gears turning in his mind. “There’s a grocery store a few miles away. I think we should check it out. I can map out the best route.”

“Sounds good,” I said, grateful for the distraction. “I’ll help you gather the gear.”

The rest of the night passed in a comfortable haze of shared tasks and laughter. I focused on each moment, determined to make them last, even as the visions crept closer, whispering their dark predictions in the back of my mind.

With Five beside me, I felt alive, and I wanted to hold onto that feeling for as long as I could. I didn’t know how much time we had left, but I was determined to make every second count.

As I lay in bed that night, listening to Five’s steady breathing beside me, I made a silent promise. I would keep my secret for now, not out of selfishness, but to protect the fragile happiness we had found together. I would treasure our moments, fill them with love and laughter, and fight against the darkness threatening to pull me under.

Because I couldn’t let my fears take him away from me. I couldn’t let the visions of my death become our reality.

As long as we were together, there was still hope. And that hope was worth fighting for, no matter the cost.