Outbreak! Virus 'Z'

Chapter 23: Skele... tons?

Ringleader's POV

I was wide awake the whole night. Not even a single minute of sleep. The sun is rising as I look through my thoughts. I keep thinking about 'death'. Thank god it's not about 'murder', but it still sucks. Just thinking that, even if we do make it through, who's to say we won't die as easily as we could when society was still, y'know, not raised. I laugh at my ridiculous yet depressing thoughts. I laugh harder when I realize that I'm probably going insane. Now, I'm trapped in an endless loop of me laughing at myself and my thoughts. I woke up Larry. He groans and cracks his neck. I stop laughing. "Gubble, you awake?" He calls out. I hum a response. He sighs painfully. "How you feeling?" He asks. I make the sound of 'I don't know'. He sighs again. "Are your wounds alright?" He questions. "Numb." Is all I say. He nods, not that I could see it... its just a guess.

Larry hugs Emma. I swallow a lump that was forming in my throat. I refuse to speak. I bite my lip, so hard that it bleeds. My whole body trembles in response. Crap, I've lost too much blood too fast. The world sways as I fall onto my side. Larry calls out my name in a panic. I groan in pain. He sighs knowing that I'm alive and awake. I tremble as I curse under my breath. Larry wants to move to help me, but refuses, to keep Emma comfortable. I hiss in pain as my ankle twists the wrong way. Larry panics even more. The hiss turns to a pitiful whimper. Larry is still freaking out, but doesn't make any signs of moving. I whimper pathetically as I lay there just as pathetically. I still refuse to speak.

After just laying there, trying with all my might not to cry, I finally decide to get up. It's a slow process, but eventually I'm sitting against the tree again. I whimper as my shaky fingertips brush against my ankle. Hurts. Hurts very badly. I take a deep breath in and attempt to stand up. I eventually do, but not without a few splinters and fails. Larry still doesn't move. I start to head towards where the exit of camp, but Larry stops me. "Where you going?" He speaks softly. I stop walking, wait a few seconds, then I continue walking. I wasn't planning on staying anyways. But then Emma wakes up. She calls out my name in a groggily voice. I stop walking for a longer period of time. But I still continue walking. She calls out my name again. But this time I ignore it. Then, out of nowhere, a pair of arms wrap around me.

Samurai's POV

I ran up and hugged Gaby. It was all I could think of. All I could do. I gripped her tightly. She didn't move. Just like last time, but this time, I won't let go until I know she's staying. She refuses to speak. My heart burns. Why? I hug tighter. She doesn't react. We stay like this for a long time, until I hear her sigh. "Fine, I'll f*cking stay." She speaks quietly. I hear Larry gasp while I smile. He wasn't expecting this. Gaby turns in my grasp to face me, then she hugs back. relief sweeps over me like an ocean. We separate. Gaby smiles at me as she wobbles a little. I give her a questioning look. She doesn't speak. She sways and starts to fall. I manage to catch her before her head hits the ground. I look at her ankle. Still bleeding. WHAT THE F*CK!? Why is it still not healing? I drag her body over towards Larry, hoping he can help me. He stares in disbelief. I give him a pleading look as to say 'Please help me!' He finally comes back to reality and starts to undo her bandages.

Ringleader's POV

It's dark and cold. I try to hug myself, but I can't move. I try to make a noise, but nothing comes out. I want to cry, but I'm frozen in time. I can faintly hear voices. I desperately want to reach them, but I can't. I can't see a thing. I can't feel a thing. I can't smell a thing. I can't taste a thing. I can't hear a thing, except for the voices. Am I dead? Did I finally die after everything I've been through? I smile, then frown. I'm free, yet I don't want to be dead. The cold intensifies. I shiver. Wait... I just moved! I attempt to move my arm. It moved! But everything feels numb. I can move, but I can't feel it. From what I can gather, I am laying down. I try to sit up. Nope. I guess not yet. I relax knowing that I'm not really dead.

Samurai's POV

I'm close to tears at the moment. While Larry attempts to replace Gaby's bandages, her body violently twitches and moves. I help him pin her down before she can damage herself. It started out small hand twitches, but then her body tried to curl up. I mostly held her down, making sure she stays laying still. Larry works quickly, applying alcohol and replacing bandages. Once he's down Gaby calms down a bit. After the attempt to curl up, she didn't really move to much. I'm worried about her mental and physical condition. Why won't her goddamn ankle heal?!?! She seems mentally stable enough. I sigh and lay down next to her. Larry lays next to me and cuddles me. I cuddle back. Larry hugs me protectively. I never want to move from this position, then I realize, my mom was watching us, like an eagle. Her eyes burn through the back of my head as I lay there tangled in Larry's embrace. Oh boy, this will be fun, right!

To be continued...

1000 words