Never Close Your Eyes

TC : C. 49

| Chapter Forty-Nine |

| Mentions of SA, at the very end |

"Just shoot me, leave her out of this! I came through the window, not her!" 10K begged to trade his life for the one he cares about most in this life.

His affection for her was lower than one when they first met, but he's grown because of her. He's realized that feelings are okay in the apocalypse, because that is how he proves he's human—not the blood and sweat he's sacrificed to stay alive. None of the effort would be worth it, if he couldn't feel everything she makes him feel.

She didn't deserve to face death at the hands of a creep, just because 10K interrupted the act he wanted the two to play along for. (Y/N) deserved to see the rest of the group and make it to the Promise Land, as Doc would refer to a more stable civilization.

Her life was everything, compared to his if she wasn't breathing.

"Oh, how heartfelt." Dean faked his empathy towards the show of nobility, but his hostile demeanor never left the room as it rose from the dark of fakeness, "Now, get bit!"

Murphy could feel the room spinning like he just downed five shots of tequila as he rose from his cold, metal throne. Between the forced blood sucking from Dean and trying to make contact with the other zombies, he was almost equivalent to a drained battery.

He had no energy to fight hand-to-hand, but he spoke his words to 10K in a calm, cool voice in an attempt to waste time, "There's nothing to fear, 10K."

The chain allowed Murphy to stand his full height, even allowed him to walk to the edges of the platform if he wanted, but each jingle was a reminder that he wasn't actually free. The heavy weight around his neck was a nice reminder that Dean was still in control as long as he took a breath of oxygen.

10K, on his knees still holding his weak arm, snatched his head from the two so he could stare at Murphy in disgust. His feelings mimicked that of a wild animal, caged to the human touch.

"No!" (Y/N) shouted, trying to reach for the two but it was useless.

Every step Murphy took, she could tell it was slow and deliberate. She gripped the wrist that held her floor bound, her neck growing weak at such position.

"We both want her to live, and this is the only way. She gets to breathe and calm herself while you feel everything I'm feeling."

(Y/N)'s ears perked at the words Murphy spoke before each rattle; he's telling her to breathe and calm herself and he's going to kill time. Their only way out, was her. She had no chains, she had nothing really preventing her from leaving—besides a human man with a gun.

She stared helplessly at the bottom of the platform, their show going on in front of her but it wasn't the show she wanted to see. She collected her thoughts, thinking of a plan that everyone she cared about, leaves. It's either one dies, everyone walks, or one dies and everyone stays in this time capsule until someone else arrives.

"Shut up already!" Dean hissed, jerking (Y/N) by the neck as he moved closer to the two.

His fingernails were digging into the back of her neck now, like a nasty reminder she was beneath him.

"I don't fear you; I hate you." 10K spit at the ground Murphy was to walk on, showering him with the distaste he felt in his soul.

He refused to allow anymore space be shared with him as he scooted back until the heavy reminder stalled him, "If you're the key to mankind's survival, we should all just go to hell."