Collapse (TyVan Fanfiction) ((discontinued))

II

Chapter Two
Footprints

"He wasn't bitten, or shot. And you're completely sure, Delirious?" The irishman stood by the door, leaning up against the wall. From the floor, the American nodded, looking down at his shoes. "Never been so sure of anything in my life, Nogla." He answered confidently.

It's been a couple hours, the sun now cycling itself into the horizon, the small amount of light flooding through the windows and onto the four of us. Lui was moved to the couch where David was before; he still hasn't woken up. The nagging voice in the back of my mind kept repeating coma, coma, coma.
My defiance to that claim was higher than ever, and I was completely trusting into the thought he would soon see the same sunrise as us.

"We should be fine here for a couple days. If those bandits show up, well..." My voice was dark, arms crossed around my chest. "I won't hesitate to shove my knife through their throats."
Nothing would ever seek to harm my newfound brothers without having to kill me first. I sworn to not ever let someone die in front of me again.

The other two were in silent agreement, fighting their own thoughts. Once Lui woke up, our group morality would once again heighten, along with our newfound friend. If he really was Delirious, we shouldn't have to worry about anyone else.

My eyes drifted towards the unconscious man currently laying on the brown-leathered couch, like I was expecting to see him up and smiling again. He didn't have a fever, which was relieving. Jon claims he had food and water before he did collapse, which also rules out dehydration or hunger.

What was wrong with him, then? The question that darkened our eyes put a heavy weight on our shoulders, our minds just wandering to health conditions which could be untreatable.

Finally, I was fed up with the waiting and silence. My mind needed to focus on the lesser matters, like the walkers that could be stumbling and tripping through the neighborhood right now.
My hand was already gripping my pistol as I made my way to the front, where David was hanging around. "Don't be too long." Were his only words as I shut the mahogany door behind me.

I was greeted with a cold breeze that lightly prickled my tan skin, sending a slight shiver throughout my body. Leaves were drifting across the pavement, the same wind seemingly dragging them to a destination unknown. Much like our group in this broken-down world.

The sun was finally over the trees surrounding us, offering a hand in brightening even the darkest corners and dust covered windows that gleamed their best. I was still wandering about, looking for something to do, something to kill. My nerves were higher out here, not a body or the dead alive made themselves known.

Rays of sun reflected the black, torn up road, adding heat to the dead leaves scattered about, slightly blackening their edges.

Evan's father was laid out on a road much like this in a less forgiving neighborhood; his limbs torn apart, internal organs spilling onto the pavement after a vicious zombie attack. Though he was broken down in every way possible, the only nerves that were still attached responded to his brain that should be shut down.

"Oh, god..." A woman sobbed, falling to her knees next to the newborn walker, once known as her husband. Their child stood frozen behind her, only the age of nineteen. Memories bounced off the insides of his head; playing catch with the man at eight, he being taught how to fight the bullies off at thirteen, the camera shutter as his father captured the moment when he was attending his first homecoming at fifteen. All this seemed like another person's experiences to Evan.

Who had once kissed him on the forehead now wanted to rip off his flesh. Evan's mother continued to sob as the walker hungrily grumbled, his white iris' glancing between the two still alive, the two who only had each other now.

Evan drove his bayonet through it's skull, once and for all ending it's existence without another thought.

"Come on, Mom. Let's leave."

My hand slapped my forehead, trying to get the image out of my mind. That was two years ago, why is it still haunting me?!
Heat rose throughout my face, tears building up against my will.

The ground stabbed my knees when I fell to them. My head hung as my shoulders fell forward, tears free falling to the ground, where my mind kept bloodying the scene itself; flashing from dust to red stain.
I've seen each of my immediate family members breathe their last breath, only managing to get their blood on my hands, in one way or another.

My heart jumped when something tapped my shoulder, and in a matter of seconds, my gun was against their head, my face still being a complete mess.
"Woah, dude, it's only me." Lui stared cross-eyed at the barrel.

I immediately dropped it, embracing the shorter male. "Oh God, Lui, you're okay..." My arms squeezed him, a smile now growing on my face. Before he suffocated, I released my grip on him.
The other two stood next to him, David looking quite worried.

"Evan, are you okay?" He asked, using my actual name, which meant he was being completely serious. I turned my head away, wiping the excess tears from my eyes and cheeks. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm completely fine."
David looked a bit skeptical, but decided not to push it, which I was thankful for. After Lui went missing, did I only vaguely brief him on my family's condition. Not now, I wasn't going to get into it, especially after Lui woke up.

"Our plan is to move east from here. Delirious informed us that the bandits are moving west. Hopefully we can find a community, or another group on the way we could stick with." David quickly summarized, directing the different ways. Of course, I was in complete agreement.
Nogla was the kind of leader since I teamed with them, and I'm more of the silent brawler. Lui's the one who plans and maps everything out, since he's more capable using his intelligence than hand to hand combat.
I suppose Delirious joins me on the team of brawler, if he really is the kind of person Lui claims he is.

"Well, let's start moving. I really don't want to hang out here anymore." I commented, finally suppressing those memories to the back of my mind.
The others agreed, getting their weapons out in case anything or anyone stumbles onto our path.

We were out of the neighborhood and onto the lone street in no time, ready to travel as far as we could. Safety was definitely one of my top priorities.