stay alive // jack metzger

nine

heavy breathing.

that's all I heard as I sat there, trying to make sense of everything, as if it was possible for me to even do that...

"Ana?" Jack said, sitting up from the ground where his head was resting on the makeshift pillows. "What's wrong?"
I held the blanket close to my chest, trying not to uncover my exposed skin underneath. My chest rose and fell with heavy breaths as i looked frantically around the room, trying to find something in the dim light.
Jack's cold hand rested on my shoulder, making me jump out of my skin. Goosebumps covered my arms when his fingertips grazed my skin.
"Hey," He said, cupping my cheek in his hand. "What's wrong? Hey, look at me."
I met his eyes that glowed in the candlelight. Even though worry was spread on his face, he still looked calm and beautiful to me. Something I hadn't seen in awhile.
"Sorry," I said clearing my throat. "I just, I had a bad dream I guess."
Jack frowned and looked at my face up and down, making sure I was physically alright. Even though we hadn't seen more than three dead in the past couple of days, Jack still made sure I was safe every chance he could get.
"Don't apologize," Jack said smiling a little. "It's just a dream. Cmon, we've got a lot of walking to do tomorrow."
Jack held out he arms as he laid back down in the ground. I took into his embrace and rested my head in his bare chest, my palm resting beside my face.
"We are almost there, right?" I asked, trying to reach for the map that was beside him. He reached for it and opened it up.
"Just probably 15 miles out," Jack said, studying the map. "God, I hope they're still there."
"It's Ryan," I said, kissing his hand. "He's going to be there. He would never leave you."
"Unless he's dead," Jack said, taking his hand away from me and folded the map back up.
"Don't say that," I said to him. "You know he's alright. It's Ryan we are talking about."
"Yeah, it's Ryan," he said to me, looking down at me. "He has those people to protect and if it means him dying for them to be alive, he would do it."
"Think positive," I said, brushing his hair out of his face. "Let's get some sleep, okay?"
"No nightmares?" Jack laughed, kissing my forehead.
"No nightmares," I smiled and adjusted myself to comfort. Silence filled the old department store as Jack dimmed the light on the lamp slightly.
"Do you think JJ heard us?" I asked, blushing a little bit as I looked up at Jack.
"Sadly," JJ said from the roof of the store. "Good thing this store has ear plugs and a good set of soundproof walls or you two would have had every dead man in this city at this doorstep."
Jack laughed and covered his face in embarrassment as I busted out laughing, hiding my face in Jack's chest.
"Great," Jack said, running his fingers through my hair continuously. I laughed and rested my head, hearing Jack's heart beat pumping the blood through his veins. The beat killed me to sleep as it thumped in my ear.
***
"Rise and shine, lovebirds," JJ said, jumping down from the roof opening and throwing a granola bar at Jack and I's faces. I jolted awake, unaware of my surroundings.
"J, why didn't you wake me up for shift change?" Jack asked opening the granola bar.
"I wasn't tired," JJ smiled, biting into his breakfast. "And I knew you needed the sleep more than me."
JJ laughed as he slapped Jack's back in a proud-like gesture. My face grew with embarrassment as I reached for my clothes, turning my back for my privacy.
"So what's the plan for today?" JJ asked, opening the map.
"We get there," Jack said, throwing his dirty tee shirt over himself. "It's only about fifteen miles, we should get there about late afternoon before the sun sets."
"Then lets do it," JJ smiled, finishing off his granola. "Grab the gear and lets roll. I'm ready to see some old faces."
"Tired of ours?" I joked, slipping my boots onto my feet.
"Nah," he grunted, throwing his bag over his shoulder. "I'm just tired of third wheeling."
I laughed as I tied my boots, catching a glimpse of the fading sharpie lines just as my wrist, reminded of the lost ones.
My demeanor changed and I quickly tied my boots, rolling my sleeve down to not see the marks.
"Ready?" Jack asked holding my bag's straps open for me to slip my arms in. I smiled and slipped them in. He turned me around and placed both of his hands on the opposite sides of my body.
"Be safe," Jack said, looking me in my eyes. "Please."
"I will," I whispered, smiling at him. "I promise."
He smiled and leaned in, planting a soft kiss on my forehead. He held me in his arms for a second before pulling away, holding out his hand for me to hold.
"Let's go, lovebirds," JJ said from the door of the store. "The dead are awake and our window of opportunity is closing."
"Coming, dad," Jack said in a sarcastic tone as we exited the department store, hand in hand.
We left the store behind us and started to track along the paved road, seeing the whole day ahead of us.
Not even two hours later and the sun was in full force. The rays beat down on us as we trudged along. My sleeves were rolled up and I tried my hardest to cover the sun with the hat I had found in the department store. I tried my hardest to not look down at my wrist where the tallies were.
"It's so hot," JJ fake whined as we walked down the blacktop road.
"Then go walk in the shade," I laughed, pointing to the woods that was lining the road with the hand that was intertwined in Jack's.
"Yeah, and risk getting taken by a dead man? Nah, I'll get heatstroke before that."
I laughed and looked up at the horizon, squinting my eyes as much as I could I until they were barely closed.
"Look," Jack said, pointing straight ahead. The top of skyscrapers started to come into view as we neared the horizon.
"Wow," JJ said in shock. "I guess we were closer than I thought."
Jack's face grew with excitement as he looked down at me, his smile bigger than I've ever seen it.
"We are really gonna see them again, huh?" Jack said smiling.
"We are," I said, squeezing his hand right in mine. "You are."
Jack smiled and looked back at the city, taking it in as we approached it.
***
"Stay quiet," Jack said in a whispered tone, holding up his index finger and planted it on his lips. "Stay low."
We all crouched down as we entered into a mall, similar to the one Jack had gotten me out of what felt like years ago. I followed his lead, not breaking my eyes away from the back of his trapper hat.
He poked his head out and saw that the coast was clear. He waved us up and we all three stood up together.
"Keep it down," JJ said, looking around the dark abandoned store we were in. "They could always pop out at any moment."
I looked around the store, soaking in the shade while we stopped to take a break. Jack looked around the store on the opposite side, making eye contact with me here and there while smiling.
"Hey, look," Jack said, holding up an acoustic guitar that was in the corner of the store. He held it up for me to see it and I started to walk closer to him. "Pretty cool hu-?"
I stood there, helpless as time went in slow motion. Jack stood there smiling as he held the guitar, unaware of the dead man that was about to grip his arm.
"Jack!" I screamed, running as fast as I could, pulling the knife out of my boot.

It was too late.