Apocalypse [Pentatonix AU | Kavi / Scomiche]

Chapter 45 - Commemoration

Mitch used to be able to distinguish between dreams and reality.

The dreams were horror-filled, in which people he loved died cruel and unusual deaths. The dreams haunted him as if they were real, although Mitch could understand they weren't. He could understand that events as horrible as the ones he'd dream didn't happen in reality.

Kirstie's death felt like a dream.

It was cruel. It was unusual. Mitch knew it would haunt him for the rest of his life. It fell under all the categories that would classify it as a dream. Except it wasn't. As much as he wanted it to be, as much as he needed it to be, it wasn't.

The nightmare was his reality.

The group was dragging their feet down the long road, legs carrying their limp bodies forward, the weight of their heavy hearts slowing them down. Although it had been a month since Kirstie's death, the pain was still excruciatingly fresh in their minds. Little was said since the fateful day, and the few words that were spoken were between Mitch, Scott, and Kevin. Avi was a completely different story.

While the three men were hurting, Avi was inconsolable. He didn't speak, didn't eat, didn't sleep. His unfocused eyes would stay fixated on the horizon both day and night, unseeing yet concentrated. His body was a shell of the man Mitch had met only months ago.

The hope that the group had held onto for so long had died along with Kirstie.

The men had started making their way mindlessly toward a broken down house that was a little less than a mile off the main roads. Ever since her death, the group hadn't been able to camp out on the highway without painful memories returning, so instead they'd opted to spend their nights in any shelter they could find. It was slowing them down, but they were willing to sacrifice the time in order to avoid the torment.

Once the small house was cleared out, the group set down their bags in their respective rooms on the ground floor. Without a word Avi had taken a seat near the window, clearly signifying that he'd take first watch. His empty, emotionless eyes shook Mitch to the core.

Mitch climbed into the sleeping bag next to Scott, who immediately wrapped his strong arms around his waist, securing him to his chest. Mitch felt Scott taking long breaths, noticed the breaths were shaky.

He turned to see tears rolling down Scott's cheeks.

"Oh, Scott," Mitch murmured, brushing the tears away with his fingertips before laying a soft kiss on Scott's trembling lips.

"I miss her so much," Scott whispered, voice broken. They hadn't spoken about Kirstie since her death, as if not talking about it would erase the memories. It didn't.

"I do too," Mitch replied, feeling a knot form in his own throat.

Scott was shaking his head. "I can't believe she's gone. I can't accept that. There's been this weight on my chest ever since she died, Mitch. It's suffocating me and I don't know what to do. The guilt of her death, I can't withstand that." He was shaking his head, tears streaming down his cheeks once again.

"Scott," Mitch coaxed softly, again wiping his tears. "You can't feel guilty, you have nothing to feel guilty for. There was nothing you could've done. She was gone before we even got to her. That isn't your fault."

Scott's dewy eyes were completely unfocused and his breathing was labored, as if the things Mitch was saying were only making him more anxious. Knowing words alone couldn't heal his wounds, Mitch laid his palms on Scott's cheeks, kissing him gently and passionately.

The deeper Mitch pushed the kiss the less Scott continued to cry. Soon Scott's hands were around Mitch's waist as he ground into his hips. Mitch let out a soft moan, and in return Scott pulled him further onto him, tugging on the hem of Mitch's shirt.

"Wait," Mitch mumbled, stopping him. Mitch himself was ready, he knew he needed this to happen in order to be able to finally and completely move on from Travis, but he didn't know if it was the right time for Scott. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Scott let a small smile cross his lips. It was the first time Mitch had seen him express even the smallest bit of happiness since Kirstie's death. "I'm sure."

"Right now?"

"Right now."

Mitch finally allowed a smile to tug at his lips as well. "I love you," he reminded.

Scott grew serious, running his fingertips across Mitch's cheek. "Oh Mitch, I love you too. I love you more than anything or anyone else in this world. I love you. Please, never ever forget that."