ONE-SHOTS (YouTubers x Reader) [BOOK 2]

404 {Ethan x Reader}

(Y/n P.O.V.)

Day 401. Nearly 2 months of the second year.

About a year after the apocalypse broke out. A year since my life was ruined. Right before the plague broke out and people were turning into man eating freaks, I had taken a trip to Florida to help and hang out with my friend Thomas. God, sometimes I wish I hadn't. I was supposed to stay for two weeks, then go back home to the man I loved, Ethan Nestor. But hafway through the second week a strange virus broke out that made people become zombies. Basically all that cliche TV crap except they wanted hearts instead of brains. Since then, I've been running with Thomas, Joan, and Talyn. We've been trying to stay alive.

It all is hell. I don't know where Ethan could be, or even if he's alive. Lines cut out quickly when people panicked. We agreed to try and head back towards L.A., but it's a slow process. Finding a car is difficult, let alone a working one, so we have to walk 99% of the time. Not to mention rest breaks, time searching for food or supplies, looting, running from rival gang, smashing zombie heads, all that shit. I hate it. I hate it so much. I just want to get to L.A. I want to find Ethan. But we're close. Last time we saw a sign had shown we were in San Diego. Roughly 120miles out, a two day walk at best. I had hope about making it to L.A., but not about Ethan. Is he alive? Is he a zombie? Still in L.A.? Did he go looking for me to?

We are camping out right now. It's dusk. I'm sitting a bit away from the fire, just thinking. Ethan. The name that's been plaguing my thoughts for 401 days. I think about him all the time, every night. I close my eyes and I see his smile. When it's quiet I can hear his laugh. When I'm alone, I can feel his arms wrapped around me. I'm so scared of never finding him. I flex my bandaged, dirty, blood stained, hand. I imagine Ethan holding it. How different would he be? How different am I? Even if we did find each other, would we be able to make it? My thoughts are broken by a voice.

"Penny for your thoughts?" It's Thomas. "Him. Always him." Thomas sits beside me. I look over at him. His exterior has been hardened, as all of us have, but his heart never did. A bit of an issue when it came to killing those heart eating freaks, but helpful when it came to moments like this. "We're getting close to L.A. How are you feeling?" I look back down at my hands. "I have so many questions. They may never be answered. I need answers, Thomas. We've all changed so much, everything has changed so much! This shit happened, and now I may never get the chance to tell him how much I love him. Never again." I've started crying, and I hate it. What a waste of precious water.

Thomas hugs me tightly. It's comforting, but all I can think about is how it isn't like Ethan's hugs. It hurts so much. I wish things could go back. "(Y/n), we're going to find him. Let's think about this. He has plenty of friends in L.A., all of whom would help him now. Mostly likely, they're together like us."

"That doesn't mean he's alive."

"But it means there's a higher chance." I just nod. "We just need a little hope. We've gotten this far, we can go a little farther. We all want to find him. We know how important this is to you." I don't answer, but allow him to lead me back towards the group. I don't feel like talking right now.

~~~~~

"Jesus, fuck, Joan, on your left!" Three days ago I was sitting quietly around a fire, now I'm here, surrounded by a horde of zombies. "We're pretty out numbered, guys." I hear Talyn say. "We just need a plan." I try to reassure them, but my own voice is stressed. I shoot at a couple more before the clip is shot. "This is pretty bad, guys." Thomas says. "We just need a plan, we just need a plan...." I mutter repeatedly. I refuse to die before I've gotten a true chance to look for Ethan. I'm too close to give in. But as much as I want to find a way out, it's seemingly impossible. I'm so sorry, Ethan.

Ethan P.O.V.

We were walking down the once busy, now barren, streets. These quiet moments are the moments that hurt the most. The moments where only (Y/n) is on my mind. And how I might as well have failed her. I may never see the woman I love again. I may never get to kiss her goodnight. I understand why trying to move our large group would be bad, I understand why we had to set up a camp here, where the rest of our group was at currently. I understand logically. But my feelings disagree whole heartedly. I just want to see her one more time. I'm shaken from my dismal thoughts by the sight of a large horde of zombies, and human voices among them. We spring into action to help.

As we get closer to the center, I hear a shout of pain, and move more frantically. By the time the dust has settled, by the time we can see the group in the center, we are too late for one woman on the ground. The three others are on the ground next to her, and she is bleeding heavily. She was clawed or possibly bitten through the abdomen. I look over at Mark sadly for a moment, before looking closer. And my heart drops.

"(Y/n)?! No!" I rush to kneel over her. "(Y/n), oh god, (Y/n), please no. I'm right here, I'm right here, listen to me. Goddammit, it's been way too long for this to be happening." I say desperately. "Eth-Ethan?" She says feebly. She smiles, and reaches up to wipe away tear. "I-I found you. After all this-" she breaks off coughing, "after all this time. 404 days."

"We're gonna...we're gonna get you fixed up, okay? And we're going to hold each other again. And we're gonna-" I whip around back towards my friends. "Do we have bandages?" No one responds. "Anyone?!" A hand on my shoulder from one of her friends makes me turn back to (Y/n). "I love you, Ethan. I needed to say that. I love..." She goes limp. "(Y/n)? (Y/n)! No, no, no, wake up. It's going to be okay, I love you, please wake up. I didn't want this, please!" I grip her hand, shutting my eyes tightly, hoping that maybe I'll open my eyes, and it'll all be a dream. But when I look again, the nightmare continues.