The group spent about a week in the flat. It got colder outside, signifying that winter was just around the corner. Frost lined the windows, and there were no sign of any zombies since they crashed here. It was strange, but they were thankful.
Everyday, the YouTubers learned something new about Caleb and Ryder. They learned that Ryder was adopted by Caleb's parents when she was four, and her and her parents were in a traumatic accident. Ryder's parents died, and she came to live with Caleb and his family. Ever since the accident, Ryder has never spoken. Doctors haven't suspected a physical injury to cause her muteness, but an emotional one. It isn't predicted when or if she'll talk again.
As they learned those things, they also figured out that Lewis' injury is worse than it was. Randomly, he would clutch his head and fall to the ground, his pupils distorted again, and shake. After a few minutes, he would go back to being normal. They called it an 'episode', and hoped that when it happens it will just pass. They had no doctor or hospital to take care of him, so they'll just have to deal.
Right now, it was growing in the evening. They all sat around in the living room, all finished with their small dinner of canned foods. Caleb held Ryder in his lap, while the small blonde girl slept. Hannah took a washcloth and cleaned off both of their faces the best she could. Then she tried to clean off the grunge and muck on the other's clothes, but it stuck like glue to the fabric. Ryder had only eaten a piece of fruit since she came here, and that was two days ago. And yet, the little girl didn't seem to weaken or thin. She stayed her natural body shape, and always looked rosy in the cheeks. She was a beautiful young girl, and it hurt to know that she'll have to survive through this rough time we all call the zombie apocalypse. Good thing she has a good brother like Caleb to protect her, and now all the YouTubers, too.
Everyone else sat around the living room. Chapin locked herself in her room, as always. She was still steamed from earlier.
Out in the small living room, you can hear the breeze. It was cold, so cold you could see your breath when you breathe. Everyone huddled up against one another, hidden in a pile of blankets. They were chilled to the bone.
"So, how is everybody?" Liam said, hopefully to lighten the mood. His teeth chattered.
"We're fine, thank you." Zoey said, letting her lips curl up in a small smile.
"How about you?" Marzia said, going along with the joke.
"It's a bit chilly for my taste, but I'm okay." Liam replied. Everyone chuckled.
"How can we be laughing at a time like this?" Lewis said, but not bothering on hiding his smile.
"It's in our nature to joke around." Joakim said. "We are the Yogscast." Everyone nodded in agreement.
"What's the Yogscast?" Caleb asked. He absent-mindedly stroked Ryder's hair as she slept.
"It's our job..... well, used to be." Liam said. "We made YouTube videos and joked around basically."
"Cool." Caleb said.
Chapin listened to the conversation on the other side. She rolled her eyes at them. How can they be like this? She thought. Then she looked down at the matches in her hand and smiled. Those idiots. Didn't even bother to search this room when we first came.
Chapin walked over to a circle of random objects. There were glass or metal figurines and other inflammable objects in a circle, with a small wooden doll in the center. Chapin smiled as she took one of the matches out of the box, and lit it. She dropped it on the doll, then struck another. Soon, there was a small fire in the room. Chapin smiled, and rubbed her hands together in the warmth. She closed her eyes and leaned back onto a small wooden post bed behind her. Without realizing, Chapin drifted off to sleep.
