Decimation | Aarmau AU

𝖥𝖮𝖴𝖱

Circulatory, respiratory,
and digestive systems are
unaffected by re-animation.

We were well out of the city by noon, traveling on the entrance freeway toward the south. Like when we entered from the north, the exit roads were packed to the brim and nobody was trying to enter the city, making it the ideal empty path.

Nana and Katelyn were passing a bag of chips between them, snacking as we walked.

Well, they walked. I was skipping. One foot in front of the other, bouncing off my heels.

"Why so cheerful?"

Spinning on my heels, I continued hopping on my toes as I smiled. One earbud was in my ear and the other bounced wildly with my fitness. "Why not? We're alive another day, I say that's reason enough for celebration!"

The others grumbled while Nana passed Katelyn the chips and began skipping with me.

I unplugged the cord from my music player and turned the volume up so everyone could hear, then turned to Nana and twirled her. She laughed and I followed, mouthing the lyrics.

"Where'd you even get that?" Zane questioned.

"My music player?" He nodded. "A friend gave it to me a few years back. She told me to hold onto it for her until she came back for it, and I kept it when she didn't," I pulled it from my pocket, looking at my reflection in the cracked screen. After a second I turned the music off and shoved it back in my pocket.

It was stupid to ask why she didn't come back, but Nana is hopeful and kind. "She could still come back one day!"

I shook my head and gave her a small smile. My skipping had stopped long ago. "I watched her turn, Nana. I watched them shoot her. Nobody comes back from that.

"Which is why I don't get why you're all not grateful to be alive. The world is shit, most people suffer a fate worse than death. But you're still here, still breathing and still thinking your own thoughts. Most people don't get that," I added sadly. Correcting my posture, I turned and took off in a run before doing a cartwheel followed by a backflip.

"Have some fun and live a little!" I yelled back, smiling when I turned and heard Katelyn mumble that I was a "weird one."

Nana soon asked me to teach her how to cartwheel, which I gladly did during the many hours we were walking.

I spotted her, holding her legs and waist in place while she attempted the flip. It was a little off, but she was getting better and would in the future as well with more practice.

Fortunately, our noise didn't attract any walkers. Unfortunately, that means there's likely to be a horde somewhere along our way.

╏✖۝✖╏✖۝✖╏✖۝✖╏

"Hold on to it for me, okay? That way I have something to come back for."

"It's not going to work, is it?"

She smiled, but even through the thick glass, I could see the doubt in her eyes. Putting my hand up against the glass, I stared at her until she put hers over mine. We couldn't touch, not with the quarantine, but the gesture was warming anyway.