The remaining of the group traveled through the thick snow. The snow fell in clumps, and stuck to their clothing, eventually melting and making the fabric soaked.
"We can't s-stay on the g-ground," Zoey said, her teeth chattering. "W-We'll get up to a r-roof."
Nobody argued, so they found a nearby building and went inside. The inner of the buildings was just as cold as the outside, and didn't even have supplies. That was a downside, since the group had lost most of their food and supplies in the hospital and the museum.
The roof was just as covered in snow as the ground. Anything left on the roof was no longer seen, the clumps of snow obscuring them from view.
"I-It's f-freezing," Caleb said, walking close to Liam. Liam had his arm around the younger boy's shoulder, trying to warm him. Toby was doing to same with Elly, although looking a bit warily at the wound on her arm.
"I-I know," Liam said, pulling the pre-teen close. "But you'll be o-okay. I'll m-make sure of that." Caleb nodded, although it hurt slightly to hear those words. Even though he didn't want to get close to anyone, the pre-teen grabbed Liam's hand and held on. He had also made sure Woody in his backpack had enough warmth inside.
"W-where are we g-going?" Elly asked, her arms wrapped around herself.
"Anyplace t-that's warm," Toby answered.
The group continued their trek through the snow. They jumped from roof to roof, checking each building to no avail. All the buildings were looted; nothing was left behind.
"What a-are we g-going to do?" Ross asked to no one in particular after searching through a third building.
"I-I don't know," Adam answered. His eyes were still a bit puffy. "I think-"
"Zoey!"
All heads turned to see the redhead fall to her knees, shivering with her arms wrapped around herself. Liam was trying to help her up, temporarily letting go of Caleb.
"I'm," Zoey said, breathing heavily. "Fine. Just got dizzy for a second." That was when Liam realized her lips were blue. And so were her fingers, upon closer inspection.
"Caleb," Liam began. "Do you have any blankets in that bag?"
"I-I," Caleb began, but got cut off.
"I'm fine," Zoey insisted. "Go on. I'll catch up."
It took a moment for the group to agree, but they eventually moved on. Zoey stayed where she was, her breath forming small clouds around her head.
They looted the next building, worried for their redheaded friend. The weather was freezing; would she be okay up there? She was still where she was when they came back to the roof.
Before they were able to jump to the next building, Elly fell to her knees, too. Her lips and fingers were blue, just like how Zoey's was.
"Elly!" Caleb said, and ran over to her side. "Come on! Get up!"
Elly just shook her head, her breathing ragged, leaving tendrils of smoke-like breath dancing around her head.
"We're not leaving a kid behind," Toby said. "Here." He kneeled down and - with some help - got Elly on his back.
"Should we go back to Zoey?" Caleb asked, looking back at the redhead.
As if she heard them, Zoey looked up and waved them on. They did not argue, and continued on the trek through the snow.
On the next building, the next one to fall was Ross. He fell down in the snow, before the looting even started. He had the same blue lips and fingers as the others, and ice had formed on his hair and eyelashes. He, like the others, waved the group on.
The remaining four moved on to the next building, and that's where Toby falls. Elly falls with him, but has lost conciousness. Toby also tells them to move on, but to take Elly. They don't plan on leaving behind a kid. Liam takes her, with help from Caleb, and they move on.
Liam eventually gives in, going on longer than the others in spite of the two pre-teens. Elly had lost conciousness earlier, and was hanging limply on his back. Liam falls down in the snow, the young girl falling with him. He shivers, with blue lips and fingers like the others.
"No!" Caleb yells out, his eyes brimming with tears that freeze on his cheeks.
"Go on, Caleb," Liam said, his eyes opening and closing every few minutes.
"I can't!" Caleb said, more tears pouring down and freezing.
"Yes, you can," Liam said. "You've made it this far, haven't you? And you protected Ryder, didn't you?"
Caleb nodded, feeling the weight in his backpack.
"Go on, now," Liam said. "You can do it." His eyes fluttered close, to which Caleb started to freak out.
"Oh god, I can't do this alone!" He said to himself.
The whining caused him to turn around. Woody was nosing his way out of Caleb's backpack, and looked at him confusion. After a few seconds of staring at each other, Woody stuck out his tongue and licked Caleb's tear stained cheek. This actually got a giggle out of the pre-teen, and he scratched the puppy's head.
"It's going to be okay, Woody," Caleb said. "It'll be okay."
He made Woody stay in the bag as he jumped to the next building. He didn't realize how hard it was to move until he landed. He felt the urge to just lay down and do nothing. He looked down and realized his fingers were turning blue, and guessed his lips were probably the same shade. He kept going, remembering the little body on his back.
But he couldn't bring himself to jump to the next building. His knees collapsed beneath him, and he fell into the cold snow. He felt weight shift on his back, and saw Woody licking his face and whining. He tried to lift his arm to stroke the puppy, but his joints hurt too much. Woody ended up curling next to him in the snow.
All Caleb heard was the moans of the undead below the building. Then there was another sound. Something....... like chopping? That's the sound he thinks it is. Caleb first thinks he's losing his mind, but then feels Woody shift next to him. The puppy starts to bark, and Caleb managed to turn his head to look up.
The last thing he saw was the helicopter. Then darkness envoloped him.
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Sorry this is so short! Anyways, that was the last chapter! I'm making an epilouge, though, so stay tuned. ;)
