BETTER SAFE THAN ZOMBIE

11| Ethan

"Hazel? Hazel! Can you hear me? Ha--"

"...damn. They look like statues, man."

"Is she awake? Oh my God. Please let her be awake..."

I came back to the world hearing a gabble of voices, the sound making my ears hurt. It felt like they were glued together...

Then darkness dragged me under again.

***

The next time I awoke, I could open my eyes effortlessly, although I still felt exhausted and hurting. Fuck. It felt like all my limbs and body parts are aching, even my hair.

I feel like shit. Its even worse than a massive hung over. And that's bloody hell impossible.

I was in an unfamiliar room, lying on a soft bed with a mound of blankets on top of me. Panic ensued, and I pushed off the heavy blankets, sitting straight and alert.

"Looks like Sleeping Beauty is finally awake," a deep voice said from my left, unfamiliar.

I turned to the person who spoke, an African man with a buzz cut and flashing white teeth. 

"Go easy on her, Mick," an amused voice to my right said, definitely familiar. Glinting emerald green eyes greeted mine as I whipped my head around the other direction. "Hazel was just getting her beauty sleep, and she needs all the help she can get."

As the man--Mick--snickered, I looked, wide-eyed at Ethan. The quip fell off my mouth before I could stop them.

"Then you must be about due for a coma."

Mick laughed.

Ethan arched a brow. "Careful. Or I might just regret saving you."

"Why are you alive?" I blurted out.

Ethan smirked. My heart tightened at the sight. "Resenting my existence already?"

"No," I replied. "But somewhere out there is a tree, tirelessly producing oxygen so you can breathe. I think you owe it an apology."

Ethan smiled and Mick guffawed.

"You know," Ethan said, shaking his head, "You never fail to impress me. Here you are, days just after your brush with death, and you're already bantering with me. Quite a feat."

Ethan's reply made me remember I wasn't alone inside the freezing car. I frowned. "Where's Xavier?" When Ethan and Mick remained quiet and just exchanged looks, panic started to weave its spell over me. "Where's Bree? Dana?" My panic increased a notch when they still kept silent. "Simon? Sally?"

Ethan cleared his throat. "They're dead, Hazel."

My vision blurred. Ethan took a step forward, concern etched on his face. I thought I'd never see the day that expression would come out of his features. Lucky me.

"They can't be dead," I said, voice small. "I was there. And I'm still alive. They can't be dead."

Mick, looking awkward, started walking backwards towards the door. "Uh," he said, smiling weakly, "I'll just be outside." He was already pulling the door before he even finished speaking. 

My eyes sought Ethan's. "Tell me they're alive." My voice broke. "Please."

He sat on the bed and pulled me close, just as tears streaked down my cheeks. "I can't," he whispered.

I dropped my head on his chest. "No," I wailed. "They can't be dead."

Ethan started stroking my hair. "But they are, Hazel," he said, voice quiet.