The Rocking Dead: A New Beginning

Chapter 9: Flashbacks

Eric's POV: I suddenly realized I was in the hospital. My arm is in a sling, clearly broken. Footsteps from behind me caught my attention. I turned to see Jeff and Fred running towards me.

"You're ok! Thank god!" Jeff said as he hugged me. When he pulled away, I saw stitches on his forehead as well as bruising. Fred looked similar, but with small cuts instead of stitches. The realization quickly hit me. We were in a crash. A truck must've hit us based on what I remember. The entire side of the bus was smashed in, glass broke everywhere, and we were flipped on our side. I immediately started panicking.

"Where's Tom?" Was the first thing out of my mouth.

"Eric, just stay calm." Jeff said, placing both hands on my shoulders.

"Where's Tom?" I asked again, "Where is he?" The only thing on my mind right now is finding him. I don't care what's wrong with me, he's my priority at this moment. "Where is he?!"

"Eric, you gotta sit down ok?" Jeff said. I didn't listen, but instead kept looking for Tom.

Just then, multiple paramedics wheeled a stretcher down the hallway. The person on it was bloody, had a neck brace, and they were desperately trying to revive them. Once they wheeled past me, everything turned to slow motion as I saw who lay lifeless on the stretcher.

Tom.

He was mangled. His entire body was covered in blood, so much blood. It looked as if he wasn't breathing as the paramedics desperately pumped the bag to get him to do so. One was attempting to perform CPR on him. It was if he was dead. A trail of blood followed the stretcher as they passed me, everything speeding up again.

"No! Dear god no!" I cried, falling to my knees. Jeff and Fred knelt down next to me, trying to calm me down. "Why him?! Just take me! Take me instead just let him live!" I couldn't get any more words out, just my sobs. He's not gonna make it. I watched the trail of blood continue down the hall as he was wheeled out of sight.

"Eric wake up!" I felt someone shaking me. I gasped for air as I came to, the first thing I saw being Tom's concerned face. It was just another flashback.
•
Tom's POV: He still isn't waking up at all, no matter what I do.

"Eric wake up!" I said, trying one more time to shake him. He quickly gasped and woke up, a feeling of relief washing over me. We both let out a sigh as he grabbed my arm.

"Are you ok? What happened?" I asked.

"Another flashback." He said, catching his breath.

"Another?" I asked.

"It's nothing." He replied, sitting up.

"Eric," I started, "You're eyes rolled back into your head and you passed out. That isn't nothing. You've been out for about 10 minutes, and I was fucking terrified. That hasn't happened before."

"It's-" he trailed off, "It's been happening since the crash. I occasionally pass out and have flashbacks to either the crash itself or the moments in the hospital. It tends to be the hospital. I keep vividly seeing your body being wheeled by me, just barely alive. I swore I was gonna lose you that day. I kept begging whatever God exists - if there is any - to take me instead of you. I didn't want to see you die that day. But the horror of everything just creeps its way back into my memories. When it does, I pass out and don't wake up until the flashback is over. I fucking hate it." I could see a stray tear fall down his face.

"It's ok." I said, placing a hand on his cheek. "I'm here. I'm alive, and I'm not going anywhere." Those words seemed to give him a little solice. I leaned in to kiss him. Just then, my mind was taken back to the crash, I started to remember it.
•
"I don't know what your fucking problem is Eric!" I yelled.

"My problem? How about you fucking tell Emily to leave you alone and that you're with someone else now?!" He yelled back.

"I tried but the bitch won't listen!" I replied, "You know I only love you Eric! Why do you think I put that God damn ring on your finger?!"

"Guys just stop yelling!" Jeff intervened, putting a little distance between Eric and I.

"Why didn't you throw the note away Tom, huh?" Eric said, his voice slightly quieter. "If you didn't have any feelings for her whatsoever you would've tossed it by now! You wouldn't have kept it!"

"I forgot about it ok?! I wanted to throw it away before I just forgot! You know I don't give a shit about her anymore!" I yelled.

"How can I be sure Tom?!" Eric yelled.

"Whatever." I threw my hand in the air before sitting next to the window. Eric went to his bed while Jeff went to sit in the back. I just stared outside at the passing scenery. I get why he's mad at me, but he knows I only care about him. He has no reason to worry about my ex from high school. Suddenly, I saw a tractor trailer speeding towards the bus. Before I could react, it hit right where I was sitting, and I was knocked out.
•
"We fought before it." I said after I pulled away.

"What?" Eric asked, confused.

"We fought before the crash." I answered, "You thought I was talking with my ex. We had a huge fight before the truck hit." Eric looked ashamed.

"I'm so sorry for that." He quietly said, "I've regretted it. Especially since that was almost our last moment together. I didn't want that to be our final exchange." I silently nodded.

"Let's just go to bed. We're tired, and that's enough memories for one day." He agreed, and we both went upstairs...