alive ↠ hs

.03

Saige's POV

I woke up to coughing the next morning. The sun had barely come up and was peaking through the window, I was guessing it was about 6:30ish.

Asher was on the floor beside the bed, coughing up a lung. I got up, wrapping my arms around him as he breathed deeply.

"What's wrong?" I asked, pressing the back of my hand against his forehead. "Jesus, Ash, you're burning up."

"I haven't been feeling well all day, but I shrugged it off as allergies." He said, taking a sip of water.

"I ran out of antibiotics and stuff weeks ago, I don't even have any cough syrup," I mumbled, pushing my hair from my face. "What are your symptoms?"

"Uh..fever, chills, fatigue, sweating, loss of appetite," he named off. "Muscle pain, too."

I brushed his blonde hair back from his forehead, kneeling down in front of him. "You haven't mentioned anything to me, Asher."

"You were too caught up up here," he said, touching my temple softly. "I'll be fine, Saige."

"It's my watch now, you get some sleep," I said, pulling him to his feet. "Drink some water too."

"Okay, Mom." He teased, getting underneath the covers and snuggling into the pillow.

I sat down on the floor, my back pressed against the bed. Asher's soft snores filled the silent room as I got lost in my thoughts. Asher was the only person I've trusted in the apocalypse, he was my best friend, my brother, the thought of him not making it through this made my heart pound a bit harder.

I had to do something, I couldn't just sit here and watch another person I care about die and not do anything about it. If Asher died, I'd have nothing left. I'd be nothing without him. I buried my face in my knees as I pulled them into my chest, breathing deeply, trying not to cry.

Right now, I wish I had my medical book, although I had a pretty good idea of what he had and what he needed. We had to ditch my textbook ages ago, we couldn't afford the dead weight. Food and water were more important than a book.

We were in a part of the state that I wasn't familiar with, I had no idea where any near hospitals were or anything. I had to look, I had to find something for him, I couldn't lose him. I got up, grabbing my holster from the floor, strapping it around my thigh before pulling on my hoodie.

"Ash.." I whispered softly, pushing his hair from my his face.

"Hmm?" He hummed softly, not opening his eyes.

"I'm going to get some water, I'll be back in a few, all right?" I said softly to him. "I'll prop the desk against the door but you might have to stay awake, okay?"

"Got it, sweets." He smiled at me before snuggling into his pillow.

I chuckled, pressing my lips against his forehead before slinging my backpack over my shoulders, heading to the door. I slid the desk in front of the door, blocking the entryway. I quietly left the house, locking the door from the inside, breathing the fresh air deeply.

My hand hovered over my gun as I headed north, hoping to come across something before the end of the day. Hope that Ash would sleep all day not noticing I was gone. 

***

I had been traveling for about an hour before I came across a gas station, I grabbed some chewing gun and two spare bottles of water before heading out. I was heading through the woods to avoid the road. 

I was wondering if Asher had woken up, if he had noticed my absence, if he had started to come after me. I prayed that he didn't, that his sickness wore him down so much that he still managed to fall into a deep sleep.

Asher had found me right after my brother died. He had taken my under his wing and emotionally brought me back to life. After he died, I would trudge along the road, begging for someone to end my mercy, I had no gun or knife, nothing to end my suffering. My only hope laid upon the dead.

He was funny and sweet, something I thought the apocalypse stripped away from this world. I watched his eyes light up as I would finally let out a chuckle, or when I would return a joke. Our connection had always been unspoken, but it was sweet, loving. He reminded me so much of my brother, it was like he never left.

I had been so caught up in my thoughts and the sound of the leaves crackling underneath my boots that I didn't hear the soft growl of a Z stumbling through the treeline, it's hands wrapping around my shoulders.

I tumbled to the ground, a soft scream escaping my lips as it pinned me down, it's teeth aiming for my neck. I quickly tried to scramble for my gun, his it's knee dug into my thigh, blocking my reach. My other hand went to my knife but I could reach fast enough, it was almost too late.

Oh god, I was going to die. I was going to leave Asher alone and he was going to die from the flu not being treated.

A million thoughts raced through my mind as I looked into the rotting face of my attacker. I grunted as I tried to shove him but he was too heavy, too strong. I couldn't die like this, I couldn't.

I was about to shove him away when a gunshot echoed through the air and the Z's dead weight collapsed on me. I shoved the dead body away from me, scrambling backwards as I reached for my gun. I aimed it at my knight and shining, finding a young man aiming a gun at me. The same one that saved me.

"Who are you?" I asked quickly, panic lacing my voice.

"Who are you?" He repeated, his voice thick with an English accent.

"Saige," I choked, keeping my gun aimed at his face. "Thank you for uh, for saving me."

He sighed deeply before lowering his gun, running a hand over his face. I followed, lowering my gun.

"Better be worth it, I wasted a bullet on you." He mumbled, starting to turn away.

"Wait!" I said quickly as he turned on his heel, turning and meeting my eyes, raising his eyebrows. "Are you thirsty? I have water."

"Yeah," he mumbled again, taking the bottle from my hand, taking a long gulp before handing it back. "Thanks."

We stood there together as I awkwardly shifted on my feet, not knowing what to say. 

"Why are you out here?" He asked me, adjusting his green bandanna that wrapped around his head.

"Uh, my friend is ill, I need some medicine for him," I told him the truth. "I'm not from here so I'm not really sure where to go."

"I could help?" he offered. "There's a rest home about a mile up that way, I could take you."

"That would be great, thank you.." I trailed off, not knowing his name.

"Harry." He said, watching as I extended a hand to him.

"Saige." I repeated to him, taking his hand and giving it a shake.