After The Fall

Left Behind

Minx paces the hallway, Cry keeping Ohm company in the back room. Dave, Dan, and Signe sit in the living room in silence while Entoan tries to make dinner over the now-lit fireplace. Minx had briefed them on the plans to reach the evacuation point while Cry was getting Ohm settled, and they all agreed to stay with Ohm until he passed before moving on. No one thought it would be right to just leave him behind or simply put him out of his misery now.

So they decided to wait, and keep listening to the radio to make sure the evacuation was still a thing. At least, they hope it's real. It could be a recording of an already overrun place for all they know. But they can't give up hope, so they won't. They'll hold out hope until they get there, all with baited breath just in case it doesn't go the way they want it to.

Dave sighs, closing his eyes. He takes off his glasses and rubs his eyes. His voice is soft when he speaks, "At least there doesn't seem to be a lot of Infected around here.."

"Should we.." Signe bites her bottom lip, "Spend time with Ohm, too..? I mean.. Even if we don't know him as well as the others do.."

"We don't know how he got sick," Dan states, "We shouldn't go anywhere near him."

Dan then gets up and leaves the room. Dave sighs and Signe frowns lightly. No one says anything else. No one knows what to say. Talking through their issues with one another has never been something they've done. Dan often separates himself, or is just hostile. And the others just huddle in silent groups. It's like they don't know how to properly grieve anymore and no one is doing anything about it.

Entoan looks back at them with sad eyes, he seems to know the most, yet talks about it the least. Signe notices him and gives him a soft smile as well. He smiles back and then turns back to the food he's trying to cook. Minx continues pacing, her anxiety keeping her from being able to sit still. The situation with Ohm is reminding her too much of Krism and she doesn't know how to handle that, as she never fully came to terms with her wife's death.

She always opted to just not think about it, but right now, in this moment, thinking about it is all she can do. Flashes of the last time she saw Krism alive keep popping into the forefront of her mind. She wipes tears from her eyes and turns around, walking back to Ohm's room. He deserves my attention. I can't do what I did to Krism to him. They both deserve better from me. She knocks on the door gently and Cry's voice gives her permission to enter.

She opens the door slowly, peaking in, "Is he asleep?"

"Awake.." Ohm wheezes.

Minx comes into the room, gently shutting the door behind her. She walks over to the bed where her friend lies, giving him a pained, soft smile, "Hey.."

Ohm grins tiredly, his voice barely over a whisper, "Hey, girl.."

She kneels next to the bed, her voice soft to keep her emotions in check, "How are you feeling..?"

Ohm's eyes are laced with pain, but he keeps smiling, "Not too bad.."

Cry and Minx both know he's lying, but they don't say anything about it. What could they possibly say that Ohm doesn't already know? Knowing this, Cry decides to say something despite his previous thought. He leans forward in his chair a bit, tears in his eyes and a gentle smile on his lips.

His voice wavers, "It's okay, you know.. You.. You don't.."

His voice breaks and he shivers, but keeps a smile on his face as tears start to fall, "You don't have to pretend for us."

Tears start to fall from Minx's eyes as well and Ohm chuckles breathlessly, looking at his two best friends fondly, "Thanks.. Guys.. But don't.. Cry.. Just yet.."