After the End

Chapter 9: Last Whispers

As the days passed, the weight of my sickness became unbearable. It felt like I was trapped in a fog, my body growing weaker with each moment. I tried to push through, to be the person Five believed I could be, but the reality of my condition was suffocating. I often found myself sitting in the silence of our building, staring out at the remnants of a world that had forgotten how to live.

Five continued to fight for us, gathering supplies and sharing stories to keep our spirits high, but I could see the worry etched on his face. It hurt to watch him carry this burden alone when I was the one who felt like I was fading away. I wanted to tell him everything—about the visions that plagued me and the shadows lurking in the corners of my mind—but each time I opened my mouth, the words caught in my throat.

“Xiaina, are you sure you’re okay?” he would ask, his eyes searching mine for the truth.

“I’m fine,” I would lie, forcing a smile even as my body betrayed me. I wanted him to believe that I was strong enough to endure whatever came our way.

But the truth was that I was terrified. The sickness was a cruel reminder of the time I spent alone, a delayed reaction to the loneliness that had seeped into my bones. I had thought I was resilient, that I could withstand the isolation, but now I was paying the price.

The nights were the worst. As darkness enveloped us, the pain intensified, leaving me gasping for breath. I would lie in the shadows, feeling the cold seep into my bones, and I would think of my past. I thought of the visions I had seen—dark and twisted images of what was to come, of a life that might never be.

In those moments, I began to lose hope. I would hear Five moving around, rustling through supplies, and I wanted to tell him that I loved him. That despite the fear and the pain, he had become my anchor. But the words never left my lips, trapped behind the veil of my suffering.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, I felt the weight of my body shift. My chest tightened, and the darkness seemed to close in around me. I grasped for the edges of my vision, hoping to find some clarity, but all I felt was an overwhelming sense of dread. I turned to find Five nearby, his face lit by the fading light.

“Five,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I… I don’t know how much longer I can hold on.”

His eyes widened with concern, and he rushed to my side. “You’re going to be okay, Xiaina. I promise.” But the tremor in his voice betrayed his uncertainty.

“I wish I could tell you that I’m fine, but I can’t,” I admitted, tears welling in my eyes. “I’ve been working on something—something to help you.”

With a trembling hand, I reached for the small notebook I had kept hidden under my makeshift bed. I had poured my thoughts into its pages, scribbling down calculations late into the night, trying to find a way to make the impossible possible.

“Here,” I managed to say, handing it to him. “If… if something happens, you need to know how to use it.”

He took the notebook, his brow furrowing as he glanced over the pages. “What is this?”

“It's a formula for teleportation,” I explained, my voice shaky. “So you can escape and go back to your family. You deserve that, Five.”

He stared at me, the realization sinking in. “Xiaina… no. You’re not leaving me.”

“I have to,” I whispered, the tears spilling over. “But I want you to have a chance. You need to go back and find them. I… I’m sorry.”

The pain in his eyes felt like a dagger to my heart, but I knew this was my only chance to protect him, even in my absence. I wanted him to know that he wasn’t alone, even if I was no longer by his side.

“Don’t you dare say that,” he choked out, his voice raw with emotion. “You’re not going anywhere. We’ll figure this out together.”

“I wish it could be that simple,” I said, my breath hitching. “But I can’t keep pretending.”

As I felt another wave of weakness wash over me, I leaned back against the wall, closing my eyes. I wanted to fight, to stay with him, but my body was betraying me.

The last thing I remember was Five’s voice, filled with desperation, calling my name as the darkness enveloped me.

---

I woke in a haze, the world around me dull and lifeless. I felt an emptiness inside, a void that had consumed me. There was no sound, no warmth, only silence. I struggled to find my bearings, but it was as if my very essence was slipping away.

I could feel the edges of consciousness fraying as I thought of Five. The love I had for him burned brightly in my mind, even as I faded into the shadows. I had tried so hard to stay strong, to fight for both of us, but it was too late.

“Five…” I whispered, knowing he wouldn’t hear me. I had fought as long as I could, but now I was tired. I let the darkness wrap around me like a shroud, welcoming the end.

---

It was silent when Five found me. I could see the look of devastation etched on his face, the raw pain that radiated from him. The realization of what had happened weighed heavy in the air, and I felt a hollow ache in my chest.

“Xiaina!” he cried, rushing to my side. “No! Please don’t leave me!”

In that moment, I wished I could reach out, to comfort him one last time. I wanted him to know that he was my everything. I had loved him fiercely, and that love would never fade.

As he held me close, I felt the warmth of his tears against my skin. The darkness closed in, but I held onto the memories we had created together, the laughter, the stories, and the moments that had made my life worth living.

---

In the days that followed, Five was left alone with the weight of my absence. He wandered the empty halls of the building, searching for remnants of our time together. But all he found was the echo of my laughter, the ghost of my presence.

One day, while sifting through my things, he stumbled upon the notebook I had left behind. He opened it and read the words I had poured my heart into—the calculations for the teleportation formula, a final gift meant to set him free.

“I know that something happened to me, that’s why you’re reading this…” the letter began, and he felt a fresh wave of grief wash over him. Each word was a reminder of the love we had shared, the promises we had made, and the future we would never see together.

He pressed the letter to his chest, tears streaming down his face as he mourned the loss of the one person who had seen him for who he truly was. I had fought for him even in my final moments, and now, he was left to navigate the darkness alone.

“Xiaina,” he whispered into the silence, his voice cracking. “I’ll find a way to honor you. I promise.”

With that vow, he took the first step forward, ready to face whatever lay ahead, even as the shadows loomed ever closer.