Finding Peace: a Sad Milk Apocalypse Story

Chapter 11

I am toning down the sadness for a few days to help y'all recover.

It was a dark day in the lives of the group. With how much that had happened, they thought they would all get through this together. That was not the case for them. Depression hung over them as Oz lead the way through the neighborhood, as much as they wanted to, it would be too much to be able to take her body. All they had were her belongings that they could bury in place of her. 

A great cloud of depression loomed over them as Oz marked the city off the map. They were out, but they still traveled a few miles out before stopping. The day had been wasted and ruined, the euphoria of the previous night long gone. 

 "Lets get set up for the night." Oz said, his voice rough and gravely. He felt terrible and he just wanted to sleep. He wouldn't, there were more pressing matters to attend to. Getting everything set up. He helped with a little bit of everything, tying up the horses, putting up the tent, and setting up the fire. He worked tirelessly to get everything set up so that he could review what Blair was planning.

He sat outside as the others went to sleep, it was just him and his untouched food. He leaned over the map checking over where they still needed to go. Blair's loopy writing was following along the drawn out path. Most of it was her thoughts on what was happening or where they ran into enemies. It was bittersweet to still have a part of her still with him. He felt bad for Casper, having lost his owner.

Oz sighed closing the map, he was done with looking at it. He was done thinking about Blair, he couldn't anymore. It hurt to think about it; to think about her. He ran his fingers through his hair, it was so much in so little time. He just wanted to go, back to Idaho, back to when life was simpler and where Blair was still alive.

He didn't, he had to stay with the others. She left him in charge, but he didn't feel ready. He wasn't ready. "Fuuuck." He groaned wondering why him. It could've been Salty or Topic, they were older and were way better at everything than he was. No, she had to just pick him. He was pacing back and forth past the fire. He turned to the forest. He wanted to go back over there, he wanted to kill all of those assholes that were over there. He wanted them to feel as broken as he did.

Then Flinders was hugging him, tight. Oz felt hot tears roll down his face, he felt his anger slowly filter out of his body, only to be replaced by sadness. He sunk down to the ground, Finders going with him. Finders was on his lap, Oz started laughing his body shaking.

"What?" Finders asked nervously laughing.

"Remember the last time we were like this?" Oz asked as he looked into Flinders' eyes.

"The time you caused me to question my whole existence for who knows how long?" Flinders blushed looking away from Oz.

"Look how to tables have turned." Oz pulled him closer, he kissed Flinders' forehead before resting his chin on top of his head. "What would I do without you."

"You'd be in that city killing those people."

"That was a rhetorical question."

There was a quiet after that, the two basking in each others presence. It was nice to be able to have someone to lean on during the darkest times. Both of them were happy, they needed it. Time passed as they sat like that on the forest floor, the only sound was the crackling of the fire as it ate away at the wood.

"I love you." Oz said with a genuine smile that quickly disappeared. "Please promise you won't die too." He felt tears forming in his eyes, he couldn't, no he wouldn't let Flinders or anyone die. He couldn't, he blamed himself for Blair's death. She would've been alive if he wasn't a coward. He couldn't let himself freeze up anymore, it already costed Blair's life. If it just was any of the others, Blair would still be here.

"I promise Oz." Flinders wiped a tear off of Oz's face. "We're so close to the Capital, we will be safe there. No one can die then. Not you, or me, or any of our friends, not our horses, or the dogs. We are going to get through this." He wasn't sure, it was a promise that he knew could eventually break. He couldn't see into the future.

Oz leaned into Flinders hand, he needed this. Comfort. Something that he very rarely got, even if he needed it. Yes Topic would comfort him sometimes, but he was usually busy. Wonder was nice to talk to, although it was more talk than of comfort. Blair, was always the one he went to when he was in a particularly dark spot. Now she was gone, and he never felt more alone until now. "Thanks." He mumbled.

They sat there like that, lost for words. It had been a long day in a long month, fall would be arriving soon. They had no time to loose. But at that time, time felt like it was paused, just for a moment. Despite everything not all of them were dead, it was shit that Blair died, but not everyone. They would mourn her loss in their own way, but she would want them to keep moving as they had been.

With the promise of another day, the two kept watch over their camp, hand in hand. That night their relationship grew just a little bit more. Events change people, and this one had an impact on more than just them. The three people who Oz killed were three higher up generals from the NWO. And the NWO was pissed.