(It's been a while, huh?)
I look over the house like I usually do before heading out to go hunting. I've become quite the shot with a machete.
"Come on, Pogan! Hurry up!" Ariana's voice rings in my ears. I trudge down the stairs, past the living room. Everyone's in there, just lasing around. I poke at Desmond.
"You guys have to work a little. I've been doing all the work myself for the longest time." No reponse from him. As usual. I brush this off, swallow some of this delicious meat I've hunted and cooked from earlier, and head out. The woods around my himble abode are alive with activity. Birds chirping, squirrels chattering, and my favorite: deer passing.
"Take the shot, Pogan."
"Okay, Ariana." I aim, and the arrow lands in the buck's eye.
"Yay! You got it!" I can feel her hand ruffle my hair. "I'm really proud of you." I accept her bit of affection, then go to the deer and pull my arrow out. He's a fine catch, and I'm able to drag him into the house by the antlers.
Once inside, I cut him open and begin the process of skinning him. "You guys could help, you know!" As before, no response. My brain starts throbbing again; I don't like it when my brain throbs.
"Pogan, you need to stop eating these." Ariana holds out her hand, filled with my favorite treat.
"No.. No, you can't make me!" I smack the food out of her hand. She appears before me. She looks hurt.
"... Mason, look at what you've done."
My vision clears, and I see the dead bodies of my friend lying about the living room. Ariana still sits in the corner where Danny left her, gurgling and staring at the bodies hungrily.
"Fuck... Where are my...?" I rummage for my mushrooms and down a few. I begin to cry; it smells like death and decay in here, and the dead deer I just yanked in isn't helping this sorry sight.
"Mason, come with me."
"I don't want to, Ari! You're supposed to be dead!"
"I can help you. Just follow me." Her voice tempts me out of the kitchen, past my friends, up the stairs. Down the hall, take a right into the master bedroom. Danny's pistol lays on the nightstand where he left it. Ariana's holding it out to me. "Do it. You'll be happier this way."
"Ariana... Are you sure?"
"I'm sure, Mason." I take up the gun.
"Forgive me for not saving you." She gives me a warm smile.
"I forgive you."
"I hope the others forgive me for what I did."
"I'm sure they will. Hurry up, I'm waiting." She suddenly disappears, and I'm lonely again. So, I put the cold barrel up to my temple.
"I'll be there soon, guys.." I hear the pop, and I know it's all over now.
—
"Mason, for the love of god stop dozing off!!" Ariana?
"What?"
"You were doing your math homework and you fell asleep. C'mon, our robot's almost done." I jump up and hug her, I hug her tight and spin her around.
"Are you okay?! Put me down!" I set her down and feel her face; it's all real. She's okay.
"I just had the longest dream of my life! You were there, and so was Cam, but his name was Desmond, and Chi went by his old name, and--"
"Mason, as much as I'd love to hear about your vivid subconscious, we have to finish this robot. Come help, pls."
"Oh, okay." I glance down at her hand, and she's still wearing her "Mettox" ring. I look down at my hand, and I'm still wearing my "Pogan920" ring.
"Uh.. Tell me while we work, alright?"
"Okay, so it starts like this: we're in a zombie apocalypse..." I weave my tale as we finish our robot, and she listens with intent. I'm able to finish my story by the time class is over.
"So, I had to die and be a hero? That's the opposite of what I've learned, the hell?!"
"Calm, feisty one. It was only a dream."
—
Hey, readers! I hope you guys enjoyed, and I'm sorry for the hiatus. I couldn't find a way to end this, but here it is: the end of the story!
I'd like to give special thanks to Pogan920 for inspiring (pressing) me to write this chapter, and more thanks to all those who starred in both "Brothers" and "Sisters". Couldn't have had a decent plot without you!
Thank you all for reading, I hope you enjoyed!
- Mettox
