Infection.

The Team.

-Thomas

A high pitched scream woke me up and I cursed. Not because I was already sleep deprived, but because I knew the owner of that voice. I looked around to see our comrades slowly crawling out of their beds.

"Kayden, you don't have to go." I mumbled half-awake. "I'll take care of her. She probably has a nightmare again, so if I sleep with her it'll be solved."

"If you know all that, why do you always insist on sleeping here?" Kayden huffed and walked out of the room.

"That's our leader for ya." Ian grinned and threw his cushion at me. "Go and comfort the little princess for us, will you?"

It's not that I was an overprotective brother, but it did get on my nerves that the others idolized her. She was the only girl that agreed to join their group and she wasn't ugly, even I -her brother- couldn't deny that. Like her name, Darcy, she had chocolate colored eyes and deep brown hair which made her seem mysterious and dark. Of course I knew that she was an idiot and a naïve fool because I was always at her side, but I also understood why she charmed the other guys on the team without even trying.

"I swear, is he touches her, I'm gonna punch him." I stormed out of the room and headed towards Darcy's.

I clenched my teeth when I entered the room. My little sister was quivering in the arms of our leader. Her eyes were filled with tears, but she refused to let them fall. Stubborn like always. Darcy's head tilted my way and her eyes widened when she saw me.

"Thomas!" Her voice sounded so relieved that I felt sorry for worrying her, even though I never did something to cause her to do that.

Darcy turned herself around, out of the embrace of Kayden and waited patiently for me to come over. Kayden grimaced and hugged her from behind, he almost looked annoyed that she rejected his hug. I smiled to myself.

Serves you right. I'm her brother, so of course she wants me to comfort her. It doesn't mean a thing that you arrived first.

"I'm here. Relax" I sat next to her on the bed and patted her head. "A nightmare again?"

Darcy nodded. "We were back in our house. Mom and dad had just turned and I tried to wake you, so we could go, like we did in reality, but... You were one of them. And you started saying weird things! Like, it was my fault, that you wanted to stay and be a family. You said that I had to join, that I was needed by you..."

"Don't worry, it's not your fault, Darcy. Thomas is grateful that you saved him from the infection. You're his hero." Kayden smiled and rested his chin on her head.

"Yeah, I would've hated it to be bitten by our old man or that woman. If I have to turn into one of those, I prefer to be bitten by a beautiful undead lady." I smirked at her and received one of her weak punches. "Don't worry, it isn't your fault that all of this happened." I kissed her forehead and she smiled.

"Are you okay again?" Kayden asked softly and Darcy nodded. "I'll be going back then. Thomas will stay with you for the rest of the night."

"Thank you."

"Don't thank him, it's only natural for me to stay here if that calms you down." I said while I pushed Kayden out of the room. "Go to sleep, Darce, I'll chase those nightmares off." Darcy flashed me another smile and closed her eyes.

"Only natural, huh?" Kayden snorted. "I'll see both of you tomorrow morning. Don't disturb the sleep of the others anymore."

"Of course, highness." I replied sarcastically and Kayden lifted his middle finger to me and then he finally left us alone.

God, he's such an ass. I bet he was a loner or an outcast before all this happened... Though I admit that we survived this long thanks to him... Shit.

I dropped myself next to Darcy and pulled the blankets over us. A quick glance at her assured me that she was already sleeping again and I sighed. There were four hours left until the sun rose, so I probably had time to sleep and at least pretend to be awake the next morning, but my brain had other plans.

I wonder why she always dreams of our parents like that... This time I was infected too. Maybe she feels responsible? But, she never did anything to make this happen..? Did she have a feeling before the party started? Maybe she saw something that night and didn't tell me about it... Fuck, I don't know! I'm a typical jock to begin with! Why should I act like some psychological nerd and figure stuff out?

I turned my back towards my little sister, closed my eyes and sighed angrily. It wasn't like me to toss and turn over such things, but how couldn't I when it involved my family? I wondered how the others cooped with the infection.

I know that Ian was at school when it happened. He went outside because he didn't want to attend French, but when he came back, he wasn't the only one in need of a new brain. Wait... do those things actually go for brains? They look like zombies, but I never saw them aiming for a head...

I turned around again and grinned when Darcy wrapped her arms around mine. She was always so reserved, but once she got tired, she would seek attention and ask affection. It was amusing that she didn't even know how big of a contrast she was.

"You said that I had to join you, that I was needed by you..." That was what the me in your dream said, isn't that right Darcy? I guess that that's the truth. I do need you. If you too disappeared, I'd die.

Darcy snuggled closer to me in her sleep and I held my breath, afraid to wake her with a sudden movement. Her tiny body was shivering and I slapped myself mentally. I should've known that the blankets were too thin! There weren't any others covers in the room, so I decided to keep her close and keep her warm with my own heath.

If it weren't for us being family, this would be weird. The others might even think that I'm taking advantage of the situation, but you won't think like that, right? I beg you, Darce, don't leave me. Don't be charmed by any of those jerks. I'll protect you, so stay where I can reach you.

I embraced my sister tightly and shut my eyes once more. There was nothing weird about a brother that loved his little sister. And if anyone had the guts to tease her with this, I'll teach them with real pain is.

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A/N: I never thought that Thomas would be a siscon when I created the characters in my head, but it kinda turned out like this, sooooo...

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