Apocalypse [Pentatonix AU | Kavi / Scomiche]

Chapter 5 - Recollections

Kirstie's feet were kicked up on the dashboard of the prius while Avi sped down the empty suburban road. She studied his expression, which seemed oddly light.

"How are you so unfazed?" she finally asked him, breaking the silence.

He scoffed. "What gives you the impression I'm unfazed?"

"You're face. It's so light. You look so at ease, meanwhile the dead have literally risen."

He shrugged. "Keeps me sane, I guess," he mumbled, as if the words had some deeper meaning that Kirstie couldn't understand. His eyes seemed glossy.

They sat in silence until Kirstie spoke again. "What're you thinking about?"

He glanced toward her. "Look at the leaves. Looks like October maybe. I like trying to figure out the months, ever since I lost track. It's the little things, I guess."

"It's September 9th, actually," Kirstie replied absentmindedly, studying the leaves as well. She could tell why he thought October, the leaves were more colorful than usual for this time of year.

She hadn't realized her mistake until Avi pulled the car over.

Shit. She'd just given him the exact date.

"September 9th?" he asked slowly.

"Yeah," she said, avoiding his glare.

"Yesterday I asked you how long you've been alone, and you said you lost track a long time go. But today you know the exact date?"

"I lied. I've been alone 327 days."

"Why lie?"

"How suspicious would it have sounded if I'd told you the exact number of days yesterday night?"

Avi realized she had a point. "Fine. But why the hell even bother keeping track? Last I checked the world ended almost three years ago."

"It's a long story."

"We've got time."

Kirstie sighed, studying her dirt-covered hands. If it were anyone else, she wouldn't say anything. But again, for some inexplicable reason, she trusted Avi.

"Fine, I'll tell it, but only if you keep driving."

Avi started the car accordingly, once again speeding down the long empty road. Taking a deep breath, Kirstie began to tell her story, rubbing the paper in her pocket as she spoke.

"Before I was alone, I was with a group. There were only five- sorry, four of us. Scott, Alex, Nicole, and me. Nicole and I, we were close friends. Scott I'd known since college, and Alex was a friend of Scott's. We were together since the start of it all. We traveled together, survived together..." her voice trailed off. "I was close with all of them but, Scott," a sad smile pulled at her lips. "Scott was my best friend. I loved him more than anyone."

Avi raised his eyebrows. "He was just a friend?"

Confused, Kirstie stared blankly at him for a moment until she realized what he meant. She giggled, which was strange. She'd forgotten what laughing felt like. "No, no, oh my gosh no. If anything Scott was like a brother to me. And he was with Alex anyway, kind of."

"Oh, okay, sorry. Keep going."

"So, yeah. It was just the five of us for a very long time."

"Five?"

"Did I say five?"

"Twice."

"Sorry, there were four of us." Avi knew something was off about her story, but kept his mouth shut so she'd continue. "I traveled with that group for almost two years, and we stayed relatively in one place. We'd found this great abandoned hospital, stayed there for almost the entirety of those years. It was fenced off as well, so some nights we didn't even need anyone to keep watch. Seems like heaven compared to now. Anyway, things were good, really good, for a while. But then, one night, there was a herd," again her voice trailed off, and her mouth went dry. "There were so many. Biggest herd I'd ever seen in my life. Must've been hundreds. Somehow they found a way through the fence. They attacked in the middle of the night, none of us were ready. We lost Nicole that night." Kirstie's voice cut, and she felt tears brim in her eyes. Immediately she turned away, not willing to show any sign of weakness. "It was the first time I'd seen anyone killed up close."