Bex Rollins killed her mom.
Tommy killed his dad.
Brought together by fate, Bex and self-named 10k have partnered up to fight the apocalypse together...that is, until 10k teams up with a group headed to California.
(Undergoing edits)
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"Choke. Die. Bite. Inject. In that order." Sun Mei stares at all of us seriously.
I carefully take the bandana from 10K's head, biting my lip to keep my composure and to not cry. "It'll be alright, Tommy," I tell him, using his real name this time. "You'll come back to me. You always do."
"Wait," Murphy says. "I'll do it. You bite him. Let me do one last thing for you, as your uncle, to not make you do the hardest part." When I hesitate, he takes the bandana. "For my sister, too, Bex."
I nod, switching places with him. "Choke, die, bite, inject," I recite quickly to myself.
Murphy starts and I quickly take 10K's hand, tears pouring down my cheeks as he struggles then goes limp.
"Now!" Sun Mei says to me and I bite the inside of his wrist and she follows in with a syringe to his chest.
"I don't feel him!" I scream at Murphy. "I don't feel him like I did before!" I stare at his lifeless body, wanting to join him desperately at that moment. I bite him again, and again. "Work, dammit!"
"Bex," Warren says quietly, putting a hand on my shoulder. "Stop."
Sun Mei walks away. Warren stands up and I know she's accepted it. I have not. I cannot.
"Don't look at me with pity, Murphy," I tell him. "You're the cause of this! You, Dr. Teller, everyone! It was just us, him and I before this group fucked up everything!" I stand up, pacing.
There's a gasp and 10K grabs Murphy's throat. "You are not my savior!"
"Thank god for that," he responds, shaking his grip off. "She's the one that did."
10K looks over at me, his eyes wide. We stare at each other as Red pulls him for a hug. He shrugs her off. "Bex."
"A thank you would suffice."
He smiles. "Thank you."
I fall into his embrace, sobbing into his shoulder. "Hey."
"We need to hurry. Something is happening to Lucy," Murphy says, interrupting us.
Doc, Murphy, and Warren, and 5K go ahead of us. Sun Mei, Red, and I help 10K along. He seems better but still week. Still, I know my cousin's life is at stake and we need to help in anyway that we can.
"No," I whisper, watching as Murphy, Doc and Warren are all incapacitated on the ground. The Man has Lucy, who appears much older than we last left her, on his shoulder, waiting for Zona's aircraft that is getting closer.
On my right, Addy has finally climbed the mountain, out of breath. She's not going to reach them in time. I run towards The Man and Lucy, who has now put her beside him. Once I reach him, the aircraft helicopter blades masking the sounds of my footsteps thankfully, I quickly strategize.
My left arm wraps around Lucy and pulls her back while my right leg and arm shoves The Man off the edge of the Mountain.
"Run, Lucy!" I tell her.
"Who are you?!" she screams back at me.
"I'm your cousin. I'm Bex. Go!" I shove her forward, starting to run with her back to 10K. Addy takes her hand and pulls her back into the mountain, taking off with her. I know she'll keep her safe.
"We have to go, now," I tell 10K.
"Warren, Murphy," 10K starts.
"We can't. Not this time."
"Bex."
"Trust me Tommy. Zona will make me a lab rat. We have to go."
