After The War

New Beginnings

Then
Jeremy

I couldn't remember where I was nor how much time had passed. Since the day I had found the blood lake I hadn't stopped walking. Only slept when I was too exhausted to stay awake. I didn't eat, I barely drank. Everybody around me died, so why not me too?

What use was it living in a world where everything you cherished got ripped away?

I dragged Kyla's backpack with me. I had it clutched in one of my hands, not letting go for anything. It was the last thing left I could hold on to. I had nothing else anymore.

I continued walking. One step in front of the other. What else was there for me to do? A step and another. And another.

Walking, stepping until my feet couldn't take it any longer and released me to gravity.

I slumped on the ground with a small thud. I was hardly anything more than air. I was hardly even existing. I was as good as dead.

I closed my eyes. Maybe it was time for me to die.

The ground felt cool against my skin and I could feel myself relax. I didn't feel the hunger nor my dry throat. All I felt was the peace of nature all around me.

Maybe dying wasn't the worst thing in the world after all.

I tried to think of my family. If I would see them again? I would like that. I would like that very much.
I thought of all the wonderful moments, all the memories I had of them, encasing myself in warmth right before the end.

I thought of Kyla and the nice picnic we had had. I had wanted to spend more time with her. I was sure that she would have been a great friend once she'd grown used to me.

If I was about to die I wouldn't die alone. Even if the people I had loved were all dead, they were also right here in my heart. The thought made me smile.
I took one last breath and then

I died.

Kyla

Mybreath was ragged. I was bleeding. It hurt. It hurt a lot.
It wasn't that severe.

I had been injured before and I had survived. I would survive this, too, I told myself.

I ripped off pieces of my shirt to wipe away the blood. It didn't help. It just kept coming and coming. Gushing from my wounds. Everything red.

With the last of my strength I crawled next to a tree and lay my head in some soft moss. A nice smell surrounded me but against the pain it felt like it was laughing at me.

It hurt and I knew that in this state I was easy prey but it didn't matter. I wasn't a prime target right now. All my food was gone, my clothes were muddy and bloodied and ripped apart. I had nothing of value with me.

I would be fine.

I felt myself slowly drifting to sleep. It would be fine. I would be fine.
Everything would be fine.
Totally fine.

As I closed my eyes I thought about Jeremy and if he'd gotten away. He probably did. He had looked like a fast runner.
I thought about the boy I hadn't liked very much but now wanted to live on. I thought about the blood loss and my exhaustion. I thought about a million things I needed to do but didn't have the strength to.

I really hoped I would wake up tomorrow. I really hoped I would be fine.

As I was finally encased by a warm and comforting darkness I was left with one thought.

After everything I had been through, I didn't want to die now.

Jeremy