The World's Aftermath [ON MAJOR EDIT]

Chapter 21 [Austin]

He watches her silent eyes roam around the glinting dark sky. Approaching the next tree only to find another one in front of it, an illusion of his mind swallows for a short minute.

"It's getting late," She says in her hushed tone.

They hadn't yet found a thing. But what a fraud it would be to turn back, he thinks.

"It's getting dark," She adds.

"Gee, I know! Just be patient, okay?"

Without a word, she continues the walk by his side. Looking down and elsewhere as if lost in her own mind. Something he's noticed once in a while, when the world is quiet and he wonders what's being drawn inside her head.

"Sorry," He whispers softly, their steps faltering tiredly by the minute.

"It's okay," She replies.

Everything around them hums a mystery vibe, subtle winds and longing footsteps. Looking over, he asks, "Are you cold?"

"No. Are you?"

"No..."

Moments later, he notices her slowing down, rummaging around her bag.

"Here," She hands him a gray hoodie, awkwardly as if she's never done so before.

"You sure?" He chuckles, surprised in a way.

"Yeah, just take it," She says, looking down her little knuckles, "It used to be Eric's. I only wear it when gets really cold. "

"Ok..."

She keeps walking and so does he. Darkness around them in safe and scary silence. Wind dancing like a slow wildfire. But still, her eyes are above and beyond landing somewhere but him. He notices it, every single time, the translucent stares in which she doesn't seem to be where she is. Drifting inside a falling daydream.

It shouldn't matter, he thinks. People are people. And some may be out of place at times.

When he put on the hoodie, it sent a surprising warmth. Smelled like her too.

"Are you sure you saw it?" She asks quietly. "What... was it anyway?"

"Those spinning things...," He responds, "Big and tall... you know, kids love 'em."

"A ferris wheel?"

"Ah! That's it!" He grins.

"A ferris wheel...," She mutters in another thought.

"It's massive... Who knows, we might as well get some bargain in places like that."

But he knows she's having the thought. What would a ferris wheel be doing out in an empty, inhabited places? How would he know? How... is he going to do this?

Sharp blood and a shaking thought runs through his veins at once. He doesn't want to do this, he doesn't need to. It's only for the sake of knowing selfish and making sure he lives for another day.

His legs, as it continues, has slowly been fading away. Each step closer to where they will stop. And the dark isn't the one bothering him, at least in this moment.

"I don't think I wanna come home." She tells him. Her eyes and freckles align in the dark.

"What?"