Citizen Z

Chapter 18

492 days since the virus spread

Two days pass

The last two days have been rough. We've been living out of the car which is uncomfortable for all of us. Everyone is annoyed with others invading their space, but there hasn't been any fighting, which is a huge relief. Everyone agreed that it is first priority to help Ray, which made everyone cooperate and tolerate each other.

Frank and I sleep cozily in the boot of the car together, while Mikey sleeps in the seats with Ray. I enjoy cuddling up with Frank at night, but that doesn't really happened because I'm often up to help Ray. If I'm really honest on my behalf, we're not really on speaking terms right now.

I haven't spoken to Frank yet, I've been kind of ignoring him. I know it's not the mature thing to do, but I just feel like I need some space after our fight, if you can even call it a fight. I don't really care at this point, all I know he trusted that idiot over me. I just felt that rejection way harder then I thought it would.

Trust me, I do want to fix everything and make everything go back to normal like where I can sit and watch the sunset and all the nice things, but Ray's health is going backwards at a rapid pace which is worrying me more at this point.

Don't get me wrong, Frank is my entire world and is someone who I would die for, but I have to help Ray because he's my brother's world. It would destroy Mikey if something happened to him. I'm not going to allow it or give up, but I have to admit, I'm running out of options and losing my faith.

I sit next to Ray, putting my hand in his forehead, feeling his fever. It's still very high, it's at a dangerous height. His skin is the same color as a porcelain doll's.

Mikey stands across from the car door with Frank, wrapped in a blanket. He looks extremely tired, it is just past dawn. Frank holds Mikey, trying to comfort him. They watch me as I work with Ray.

Bob is still cuffed to the pole, I'm not letting him go until he talks. That's gonna take a while. We've been trying to get him to talk for days, but he's just been silent. I don't know what we're going to do.

I sigh worriedly.

"How are you feeling?" I say, looking at Ray's pale face. He doesn't look good at all.

"I'm fine." He says with a hoarse voice and then coughs.

"I have a new treatment that I'm going to try since I don't think you've been poisoned with asbestos. Don't worry, I'll make you better."

"I'm pretty sure I'm going to d-

Ray coughs uncontrollably and grabs the bucket, that's on the car's floor.

Mikey looks uneasy and crosses his arms. Frank puts his hand on Mikey's shoulder, trying to comfort him. Mikey muffs his mouth with his hand as he cries.

My heart hurts for him.

"Come on, let's go for a walk." Frank says, leading Mikey away, but Mikey keeps looking over his shoulder at Ray as Frank literally has to drag him away.

I don't understand what is wrong with him. Asbestos is usually easy to treat, why is he struggling so much? But to be honest, I think it's much worse than that. I just wish it was that simple.