Peace Town

He's Not Dead

Chapter 3

Sensitive topics are discussed

"So I have a few questions and we know nothing about each other," Atlas started softly, "Let's start off by telling a little bit about ourselves and then move to the questions, if that's okay with you, Paxton?" When he received a curt nod he continued, "I'm 22 years old, I was in medical school before the world went down the drain, I had a sister back home in North Georgia. She was 11 when I left for college,she's 16 now and an older brother who is now 27, I have no clue if her, my mom or brother is alive now. I have an apartment a few towns over, I was in King's County for an Interview at the hospital. I graduated highschool early at almost 17, went and completed college in two and a half years, totally stressed me out by the way, and was in my last year of medical school. I came through town a few years back and loved how it was a small town so I wanted to put in an application at the local hospital to work residency."

Atlas took a pause to see if the boy was listening, he started back,"I was on my way back to my apartment when the military started setting up roadblocks, I went back to a hotel and stayed there until this crap started happening and I knew at some point I would need medical supplies so ,after two and a half days in my room I decided to go to the hospital and that's where I found you." Atlas had stopped talking when he noticed the boy look down and start petting the dog in his lap.

"My turn?" Paxton quietly muttered.

"You don't have to tell me everything, but I would like to know the basics of the person i'm living with until further notice, Okay?" the 22 year old reassured the boy with a certain softness he didn't know he had the capibility of having.

"Wait, so you're not just going to leave me on my own now?" The boy looked so shocked yet so hopeful it broke Atlas's heart.

"No dude I won't. You're stuck with me now. Its gonna be me and you against this hellish world, Okay?" Atlas responded to the boy with the biggest grin and could visibly see the boy relax and grow a bit more confident. "Trust me you're gonna be sick of me. Are you ready to start now?"

"To start my full name is Paxton Ellis Grimes. It's been what four days since this started?" The boy softly started questioning the man and when he recieved a confused nod he continued, "that means I turn 19 in three days. I've been home-schooled since I was 14, but I graduated a few months ago and was planning on taking a gap year before college. I've lived in this house all my life. I never knew my mom, but my dad married Lori when I was 5 years old, then had my baby brother when I was 7."

"I had been interning at the police station before my dad was shot in the field. And Lori decided to be worse than Cinderella's step-mom," he paused when he saw Atlas grin and shake his head at his description, "what she was? " he continued sheepishly. "Lori hasn't liked me since I came out at 14 , but she went off the deep end with insults when dad was shot." Paxton could see the humor leave Atlas's eyes,"oh, don't feel bad , as you can see the bitch isn't here." Paxton joked before lowering his head to look down at his lap to play with Shadow who cuddled closer.

"Well you obviously didn't deserve that." Paxton's head shot up like he wasn't expecting Atlas to be as kind or as understanding as he was being. It was a pretty small town in the south and most people who lived in King's county wasn't very accepting.

"Do you need anything to drink or anymore pain meds before we start asking questions?" Atlas looked at the boy and smiled softly. He could tell this boy had been hurt emotionally when he shouldn't have been and decided to respond by showing him kindness he probably hadn't seen since his dad went into his coma. Atlas got up and went to stand at the foot of the couch.