After the End

Chapter 8: Hidden Burdens

Months have passed..

As we walked, I felt a wave of unease wash over me. I had been feeling weaker lately, but I pushed that thought aside. I needed to stay strong, especially with Five by my side. He had become my anchor in this chaotic world, and I didn’t want to worry him.

“Look at that building up ahead,” Five said, pointing to a tall structure with a faded sign that read "Grocery." “We should check it out.”

“Sounds good,” I replied, trying to hide my growing fatigue. As we approached the store, I could see the remains of what used to be a bustling place filled with life. But now, it was empty and silent.

“I remember the memories of my siblings with my father,” Five began, breaking the silence as we walked through the door. “He was… different from what you might expect. Cold and distant, really. It felt like he was always analyzing us, like we were just experiments to him.”

I listened, curious about the man behind the mask. “What was he like?”

“He rarely showed any warmth or affection,” Five continued, his voice heavy with the weight of his memories. “He would lecture us about our ‘abilities’ as if they were mere tools to him. I remember one time he locked us in a room to see how we would cope without our powers. It was his way of teaching us, but it felt more like a punishment. We were never really children to him; we were just subjects.”

“That sounds awful,” I said softly, feeling a pang of empathy for him. “Didn’t he ever show you any love?”

Five shook his head, a bitter smile crossing his lips. “Not really. There were moments when he would praise us, but it always felt calculated, like he wanted to see how we would react. I often wondered if he even cared about us or just wanted to prove a point. It’s hard to forget that feeling of being nothing more than a lab rat.”

We entered the grocery store, and the silence inside was overwhelming. The aisles were mostly bare, with only remnants of food left behind. I could hear our footsteps echoing in the stillness as we searched for anything that could help us survive.

Five turned to me, his eyes scanning the empty shelves. “We need to find something. Anything.” His urgency pulled me from my thoughts, and I focused on the task at hand, pushing aside the pain that had been creeping in.

As we rummaged through the remains of the store, I felt another wave of dizziness wash over me. I had started to experience strange symptoms lately, and I pushed the thought away, determined not to worry Five. I wanted to be strong for him.

“Hey, can you grab that can on the top shelf?” Five asked, pointing to a high shelf that I could barely reach.

“Sure,” I replied, stretching to grab it. As I lifted my arm, a sudden wave of nausea hit me, and I stumbled slightly, grabbing the edge of the shelf to steady myself.

“Xiaina?” Five’s voice was filled with concern. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I insisted, forcing a smile even though my insides were churning. “Just a little lightheaded.”

He didn’t seem convinced but nodded anyway. “If you’re sure…”

“I am,” I replied, my voice firm. “Let’s just focus on finding food.”

We continued searching, and as Five found a few more items—some canned vegetables, a box of cereal, and a package of dried fruit—I tried to ignore the growing pain in my chest. I wanted to share in his excitement, but my body was betraying me.

Finally, we gathered a few things and decided to head back to the building. As we walked, I focused on the warmth of the sun on my skin and the sound of Five’s voice as he continued to share stories about his life before everything changed.

“There was one time my father took us to a ‘training session,’” he said, his tone darkening. “He wanted us to test our powers against each other, like it was some kind of game. We were all scared, but he just watched, taking notes as we fought. There was no care for our feelings or our safety. It was all about results for him.”

“That’s so messed up,” I replied, my heart aching for him. “You deserved better than that.”

“Yeah,” he said quietly, the pain evident in his eyes. “Sometimes I think about how different things could have been. I wish he had cared, even just a little.”

As we neared the building, the weight of my secret felt heavier than ever. I could feel Five’s gaze on me, searching for signs of my discomfort. I wanted to scream that I was struggling, but I couldn’t let him see my weakness. I needed to protect him from my fears.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through me, and I stumbled, feeling the world tilt around me. I gripped Five’s arm for support, panic rising within me.

“Xiaina!” Five’s voice was filled with alarm as he steadied me. “What’s happening?”

“I… I just need a minute,” I gasped, trying to regain my composure. But my legs felt weak, and I could feel myself slipping.

“Stay with me!” he urged, his hands gripping my shoulders tightly. “You’re not alone, Xiaina! Please!”

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I looked into his worried face. I had kept my pain hidden for too long. In that moment, I knew I couldn’t hold it back any longer.

“I’m scared, Five,” I admitted, my voice trembling. “I’ve been feeling sick, and I don’t know what’s happening to me.”

His expression softened, filled with concern and compassion. “You need to tell me when something’s wrong. We’ll figure this out together.”

I nodded, feeling the weight of my fear lift just a little. “I’ve been having these visions… dark ones. And my body feels weak, like I’m fading away.”

Five’s eyes widened in realization, and he pulled me closer. “We’re going to find a way to make this right. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

As I leaned against him, I felt the warmth of his presence wrapping around me like a protective shield. I knew the path ahead would be difficult, but for the first time, I felt a flicker of hope.

Together, we could face anything—even the shadows that threatened to consume us. And in that moment, I realized that I didn’t have to fight alone anymore. As long as we stood together, there was still a chance to find the light in the darkness.