Don't Let Me Go

Not Much Time

Mark's words are shattered as someone screams downstairs. To everyone's surprise, Matt's the first one up, and down the stairs. Stephanie calls after him, standing. Jack puts his hand out, "Stay here."

He then runs downstairs as well. Mark stands by Amy for a moment too long, anger rises in him at the fact that no one else is going to see what's wrong downstairs. Without a word, he joins his friends in the living room. When he gets there he sees one of the living room windows is broken, and Nate and Wade are shoving the infected back out the window as quickly as they can. Matt and Jack are standing close by, each holding lamps, attacking the infected that get too close to getting inside as well. Wade screams as the same arm that's already wounded, is bitten again. He looks around at his friends, "Get upstairs! It's already too late for me!"

"We're not leaving you here to die!" Nate replies, shoving another infected that gets too close to him.

"I'm already dead!" Wade replies, taking the lamp from Matt, smacking into another infected's head, "Go!"

Matt turns to Mark, "What do we do?"

Jack and Nate continue to keep the infected back as Mark takes a few steps towards his friends, "Wade.."

Wade shakes his head, "You saw what happened to Bob.. One of.. Them.. Bit him. He bit me.. I'm going to end up just like him, so just go. Don't end up like us. Don't let yourself end up like us."

Wade turns to him, blocking the window the best he can. The infected grab him and bite him. Nate, Matt, and Jack run back upstairs. Mark shakes his head, "Wade.. I'm so sorry.."

Tears run down his face and he shakes his head, "Wade, don't.."

Wade continues to smile, tears running down his face, shaking and groaning in pain as more of the infected get to him, "It's too late for me. Go."

Mark steps towards him, then gasps as Wade screams. Mark stands there in horror, watching as one of his best friends is ripped from the window and the infected start a feeding frenzy. Mark shakes his head, backing away as some of the infected notice him and climb inside through the broken window. He turns and runs up the stairs, closing the bedroom door behind him. He wipes the tears from his eyes, "We need to get on the roof, the house is surrounded, and they're getting inside. Wade is gone, we don't have much time."

"How are we supposed to get on the roof?" Stephanie asks.

Mark crosses the room and opens the window, looking out, "Through here. You can climb up onto the roof, one at a time."

He goes over to the bed, picking Amy up in his arms bridal style, "Amy and I will go last. Start a line."

The infected start banging on the bedroom door. Mark grits his teeth, "We don't have much time."

...

"Go up and check on her, please.." Minx speaks softly, sitting on the living room couch. Cry frowns, leaning against the wall across from her. Ohm goes upstairs to check on Krism. Minx looks down at the blood staining her carpet, where the infected child had been hours earlier. She turns away and looks out the window. She can barely see the infected child's family beating against one of the neighboring house's front door. She watches that door open, and the woman inside be mauled and eaten by the infected man as the infected woman and two young children enter the house, looking for their next meal.

"You should stay away from the windows." Cry says softly.

Minx pulls the curtain back over the window, looking back at him. He shifts his weight lightly, "It's been four days, don't you think you should be up there with her?"

She looks down, "I can't. I keep calling the hospital, but they won't pick up, it's too dangerous to leave the house.."

She looks up at him, "I can't watch her die, I won't."

She shakes her head, wiping tears from her eyes. Cry sighs, moving and sitting beside her on the couch. He puts an arm around her and she lays her head on his shoulder. She looks up at him, "What are you still doing here, Cry? You have friends and family in other places, why haven't you left to make sure they're safe?"

"It's a long way from here to Florida," Cry sighs, "And besides, the US might not be dealing with this infection. Not to mention I'm pretty sure the UK borders have been closed since this thing broke out. Don't get me wrong, I'm very worried, but I just have to keep hope that they're okay."

"If you and Ohm hadn't come.. Neither of you would be dealing with this right now." she almost whispers.

"Don't start with that." Cry replies, "We're here for you, and we're not going anywhere."

Ohm comes back down the stairs, "Minx, Krism wants to see you."

Minx pulls away from Cry, looking back out the window, "Tell her I'm keeping watch."

Ohm frowns, "Cry is down here, and so am I. One of us can keep watch for you. She really wants to see you."

Minx shivers, "Tell her I'm keeping watch."

Ohm storms up to her, glaring. He grips her by her shirt and pulls her to her feet, "You know what? No!"

Cry stands, "Ohm.."

Minx glares back at Ohm, "Get your hands off me."

"I'm not going to keep lying to your wife just because you're scared!" Ohm replies, "You don't want to see her, tell her your damn self, because I won't do it!"

"You.. Don't want.. To see me..?" Krism wheezes, trembling as she stands at the top of the stairs. She's leaning against the wall for support, her once caramel skin is almost grey. Her dark hair is matted from staying in bed, her eyes are sunken in, and dull, and her veins protrude faintly, turning black.

Ohm releases Minx and turns to the sickly woman on top the stairs, "You shouldn't be up."

"I wanted.. To see.. What was.. Taking.. So.. Long.." Krism shudders and wheezes between almost every word she speaks. It's becoming very difficult to breathe, especially while trying to talk. She swallows, groaning softly, looking at her friends and her wife. She looks hurt as she sees Minx is staring at the floor. Ohm groans and comes up the stairs. He tries to lead her back to the room, "You need to be resting."

Krism shakes her head, trying to stay where she's standing. She looks back at Minx, her eyes wide, tears threatening to fall, "W-wait.."

"I'm sorry," Ohm murmurs softly, gently taking her back towards the room, "You're in no condition to be up.."

She fights against him weakly, keeping her eyes on Minx, "M-Michelle..! Look at.. Me.. Look.. At me! P-please!"

Minx continues to stare at the floor, her hands clenched into fists. She shivers, tears falling down her face as she ignores her wife calling for her. The bedroom door closes behind Krism and Ohm and Minx turns away, heading into the bathroom, where she locks herself in and let's herself cry, "I'm sorry, I can't.."