Imminent

Chapter 23

The city looked like it spread for thousands of miles, without signs of life of any form. Only zombies were staggering mindlessly through the rubble in order to find food. There were no trees, water or peace anywhere; all disappeared after nuclear fallout. Below, the ground was cracked as if it would open up and eat my army and me alive. Undoubtedly, this place was hell, though there was no turning back. We had one mission and that was to kill every zombie in the city. My body was shaking, the adrenaline coursed through my veins— as I press the attack button on my helmet, controlling all the soldiers. The whirring then beep of everyone's holo guns make hoard of zombies explode in lots of small prices. Whir, beep bye bye zombies and rogues. The city is just rumble now, yet the school still stands, over grown and crumbling but still sadly standing. My helmet alerts me that theres a swarm of zombies two hundred meters away, I send the alarm to my team and we fire, whirrrrrrrrrr. Malfunction. I fiddle with my gun aiming it towards a few zombies. Beep. Dead. I try not to think of who they were before but it's hard not to look at the zombie in ripped active wear and think of a young mother who has a busy life. I sigh needing a distraction, just one zombie left in this city and she's right in front of me. Mum. I keep a blank face keeping myself together although I'm screaming inside, and hold the trigger trying not to look into her eyes. I take off my gear and walk towards her, control officers shouting into my earpiece; I rip it out simply tossing it on the cracked ground.
"Mum?" last chance I have to try and save her, maybe there is a cure. The zombie looks at me, confused. I believe she's still in there, I can't tell Lacey I shot mum. I grab the tranquilizer out of my belt and shoot, mum collapses in front of me. I place a orange tag on her, so they know she is for experimentation. I suddenly hear a blood curdling scream, instantly I know it's Nova. I track him down, he's at the subway.
Nova is lying on the ground a holo gun wound in his shoulder. The area burned badly and bleeding heavily. I kneel beside him cradling his head in my arms not caring if I get covered in his blood.
"Seth..." He says his breathing shallow "I need to tell you that.." He pants, breathing getting harder for him.
"I love you Seth, to the moon and back" he says tears welling up in his eyes. I tilt his head gently back and kiss him, he lifts his good arm up and runs it through my hair. I break away a tear dripping onto his cheek, I hold his hand whilst cradling him in my arms.
"Sing that song about wise men to me" he says, his breathing getting lighter. My throat is tight with tears, hoarse from dust and fatigue. But if this is Nova's last request, I have to at least try.
I give a small cough, swallow hard and begin.
"Wise men say, Only fools rush in
But I can't help falling in love with you..."  Nova's eyes have fluttered shut. His chest moves but only slightly.
"Shall I stay, would it be a sin. If I can't help falling in love with you..." I hold his hand rubbing circles around his knuckles.
"Like a river flows, surely to the sea.
Darling so it goes some things are meant to be...."
My throat cracks and the tears slide down my cheeks. But I have to try and finish the song for him.
"Take my hand, take my whole life too
For I can't help falling in love with you..."
I can't sing any longer, my voice hoarse now from tears, the final lines are barely audible. Kissing his lips one last time, I murmur as tears slide down my cheeks.
"To the moon and back"