Suddenly, Sora's eyes snapped open. His heart pounding, he looked around the room. The candles had burned down to stubs, and the only sounds were the distant moans of the undead and the soft snores of Lena and Alex. Ren was huddled in a corner, his breathing ragged. "Ren," Sora whispered, his voice filled with fear. "What's wrong?"
Ren looked up, his eyes glazed with pain. "I... I'm sorry," he managed to get out, his voice hoarse. "I didn't mean for this to happen."
Sora's eyes widened as he took in the sight of Ren's torn clothing and the blood seeping through the bandages. His mind raced. "When were you bitten?"
Ren looked away, his shoulders slumped. "Earlier, during the fight," he admitted. "I didn't want to worry you."
Sora's heart shattered, his mind racing with the implications. But he couldn't let his fear control him. "We'll find a way," he said firmly. "We'll survive this."
Ren's eyes met his, a silent plea for understanding. "I just need you to be strong for me," he whispered. "For both of us."
Sora nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. "I will," he promised, his voice shaking. "We're in this together." Their hands found each other in the darkness, a silent vow to fight for each other until the very end.
"Thank you," Ren breathed, his grip tightening. "I love you, Sora."
Sora's eyes filled with tears as he squeezed Ren's hand back. "I love you too," he murmured. "We'll find a cure. We'll make it out of here." But deep down, he knew the truth. Their time was running out, and the horrors of the apocalypse had found them once again.
With a trembling hand, Sora reached up to wipe the tears from his cheeks. Ren looked down at him, his own eyes filled with a mix of pain and love. "I know this isn't the end for us," Ren said, his voice barely above a whisper. "We've been through so much, Sora. And I know you've had a tough life before all this." Sora nodded, sniffling. "What was it like for you before?"
Sora took a deep breath, the words spilling out in a rush. "It was... lonely," he admitted. "My parents died when I was young, and I was never really close to anyone after that. I was always so scared of being hurt again." Ren's hand tightened around his. "But then you came along," Sora continued, his voice growing stronger. "You showed me what love really is. You saved me, not just from those monsters, but from the darkness inside me." Ren's eyes searched Sora's, the depth of his affection clear even in the candlelight.
"And what was your life like?" Sora asked, his voice shaking. "Before all this?"
Ren thought for a moment, a small smile playing on his lips. "It was good," he said. "I had my grandma, my kickboxing. Life was simple, but it was good."
Sora leaned into the warmth of his embrace, feeling the cold seep into his bones.
"What was your favorite thing to do?" Ren chuckled, the sound a stark contrast to their dire situation. "Probably going for runs in the forest," he said, his eyes distant. "It was so peaceful there." For a moment, they lost themselves in the memories of a life that felt like a lifetime ago.
"We'll find that peace again," Sora said, his voice a whisper. "Somehow."
Ren nodded, his gaze never leaving Sora's. "We will," he promised. "Together." And in that moment, as the candles flickered and the world outside raged, they found a brief reprieve in their shared pasts, a reminder that love could bloom even amidst the ruins.
The banging that was once faint suddenly grew louder, jolting Sora and Ren out of their quiet conversation. They looked at each other, their eyes wide with fear. "They're here," Ren said, his voice a harsh whisper. "We have to go." He struggled to his feet, his body protesting with every movement. "Lena, Alex," he called out, his voice strained. "Wake up. We have to move."
