Runaway Lover // Andy Leo

Chapter Eleven

Andy and I sit on a bench, hand in hand, watching Megan and Brandon settle one of their debates in their classic style - by fighting. They spar with each other on the mats in the middle of the room, and have acquired quite an audience. Apparently it's not unusual to see the couple brawl out their differences, but this is the first time I've seen it.

They smile and exchange winks as they spar, keeping their coupley atmosphere. On any other day I would make a comment about their PDA being gross, but lately I'd have been a hypocrite to say it. Neither Andy or I have said anything to prove our relationship official, but pretty much everyone knows that there's something going on.

"I hate to think how dysfunctional the rest of their relationship is if this is how they settle their debates." I laugh, watching as Megan ducks away from Brandon and takes his legs from him.

"Yeah, nobody wants to know what goes on behind closed doors with them two." Megan holds out a hand and helps Brandon up from the floor.

"Andy!" Dave comes running over from the back corridor of the room, his face filled with worry and grief. At the sight of him Andy lets go of my hand and straightens up. Dave stops in front of us, panting from running. "Patrol team's back. They aren't in good shape, man. One dead, two hospitalised." The room has turned quiet.

"Wait what?" Brandon walks over, anger and concern apparent on his face.

"The patrol team that left yesterday got ambushed about a mile out. The scarecrows killed one of us." He looks around us, judging our facial expressions.

"Where are the other two?" Andy speaks through gritted teeth, and I can't tell if he's going to cry or hit something.

"With the medics." Dave barely manages to finish his sentence before Andy is up and running out of the room. We all follow him to the medical suite, and I almost throw up when I catch sight of the two living people.

They both lie on beds, covered in far too much blood to be safe. I gasp and bury my head in Dave's shoulder as Andy walks closer.

"What happened?" Andy speaks to the better looking of the two.

"We were out by the West Park." The man speaks quietly, and it is obvious it hurts. "We scouted the park, didn't see anything. Then they came like a swarm. They surrounded us - started shooting. Jason didn't make it out of there."

"Oh my -" Megan and Brandon enter to find the sight that we have all become far too aware of, and the former buries herself in the latter. Brandon strokes her hair but keeps his gaze on the mess of blood and people in front of him.

"Did you bring Jason back?" Andy's voice comes out completely monotonic and drained of all emotion, and I realise that he's trying really hand not to cry. I peel myself away from David and force my feet to move toward the bloodbath. I take hold of Andy's hand and squeeze, but he doesn't react to my presence.

"He's in the morgue." One of the doctors speaks up, and I try and not think about the fact that enough people have died in order for this place to require an actual morgue. Andy turns to one of the other runaways that have gathered and asks them to prepare the funeral for two days time, and my heart breaks in two.