The Virus

Chapter 0

"It's going to be okay. Everything is going to be okay", May speaks in a soothing voice as she gently holds Keith close to her.
"Don't make promises you can't keep", Shawn jumps in.
"Hoping for a better future is better than sulking about the gloomy present", May objects.
Shawn just rolls his eyes.
"How long has it been? Since this all started?", Keith asks in a quiet voice, whipping away his tears as he does so.
"Five years", Max answers before Shawn has a chance to do so. Shawn stares daggers into Max as Max smirks at him.
"If you two start another fight, I am telling Emily everyone's secret", Victor threatens. The atmosphere in the room shifts from sorrowful to tense within seconds.
"Whatever", Shawn mutters with a scoff. He gets up from the beanbag he was sitting on and leaves the living room.
"What brought this up anyway? The whole "We're doomed!" thing. It's not like today's expedition was particularly dangerous", Max states.
"I just...I miss my parents and my sister", Keith mumbles as he shuffles closer to May on the couch. Max narrows his eyes.
"That doesn't mean that you have to steal my sister", he comments dryly. Victor rolls his eyes at the exchange.
"Do you remember how it all happened? I was nine when I heard-", Keith starts explaining in a soft voice, but May cuts him off before he can finish.
"Let's not think about that right now, okay?", she says, clearly forcing herself to sound cheerful.
"Hard not to think about that when we're constantly surrounded by people that have been affected with an unknown virus", Max blatantly says.
"You are not helping", May says through gritted teeth.
"Probably because I'm not trying to", Max retorts.
"Victor, you were seven when all of this happened, right?", Keith asks.
"Yes, but I still have my mom. I still have my family", Victor remarks. Keith flinches at Victor's sudden harsh tone. May holds him closer protectively, an instinct she has developed during the two years that she's been in this group.
"Victor, Keith was not trying to attack you. He was generally curious", May explains calmly. She knows all too well that Victor's immediate response to any sign of any attack is rage.
Victor responds with an eye roll and May can feel Keith relaxing in her embrace.
Distant footsteps can be heard approaching the living room at a hasty pace. Victor immediately sits up straight and plasters an innocent smile on his face. His eyes sparkle with childlike wonder. Seeing his closest agemate acting like this, Keith does the same. Max just narrows his eyes at the entrance that their team leader will be walking out of any moment now. May nervously glances at Max's relaxed sitting position as she herself sits ramrod straight. Everyone recognizes the angry footsteps of Emily Beseign. Everyone knows the best way to get out of this with nothing other than a stern talking to is to be as respectful as possible. Max, however, could not care less.