Ethan's eyes fluttered open, the sterile white of the hospital ceiling blurring into focus. The beeping of a heart monitor pulsed steadily, grounding him in reality. His body ached, every muscle screaming in protest, but the sight beside him made his heart swell. Alex, alive and awake, was watching him with a soft, bittersweet smile.
"You're here," Ethan whispered, his voice hoarse.
"Of course I am," Alex replied, his voice steady but his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "We made it, Ethan. We're alive."
Ethan reached out, and Alex took his hand without hesitation. Their fingers intertwined, a silent promise of solidarity and survival. The weight of everything they had endured pressed down on them, but in that moment, they were grateful—grateful to breathe, to see each other, to feel the warmth of human connection.
Alex leaned forward, pulling Ethan into a tight embrace. The world outside the hospital walls might still be dark and uncertain, but here, in each other's arms, they found solace. The hug deepened, and before they could think too much, their lips met in a tender, desperate kiss—a kiss that spoke of relief, gratitude, and the unspoken bond forged through unimaginable trials.
When they finally pulled away, Ethan's gaze fell to the table beside Alex's bed. There lay a picture and a folded letter, their edges worn and stained from the ordeal. Ethan's throat tightened as he recognized Jessica in the photograph, her bright smile a painful contrast to the weight in his chest.
"Jessica…" Ethan murmured, his fingers brushing the edge of the picture. His heart ached with the memory of her laugh, her strength, and the courage she had shown in the darkest moments. She had fought alongside them, and though she was gone, she would never be forgotten.
Alex picked up the photograph, his hands trembling. "Even if they insulted us, even if they bullied me… they were still a part of us. They mattered. Every single one of them."
Ethan nodded, tears streaming down his face. "They were our friends. Our family. And no matter what, they'll always stay in our hearts."
Silence filled the room, but it wasn't empty. It was heavy with grief, love, and the unspoken promise to live for those they had lost. They both understood that survival came with its own burden—memories of those who didn't make it, the faces of the fallen etched permanently into their minds.
Ethan unfolded the letter, his hands shaking. It was Jessica's handwriting, hurried but full of emotion.
"If you're reading this, it means I didn't make it. But that's okay, because I know you will. Promise me you'll live, Ethan. Promise me you'll find happiness, no matter how hard it seems. Alex, you better take care of him, or I'll haunt you. You're both stronger than you think, and I believe in you. Always."
Ethan clutched the letter to his chest, his body wracked with sobs. Alex wrapped an arm around him, holding him close as their shared grief spilled over. But as the tears fell, so did their determination solidify. Jessica's words weren't a goodbye—they were a call to keep going, to live.
Finally, Alex spoke, his voice quiet but resolute. "Do you think it's really over?"
Ethan hesitated, his eyes distant. "I don't know. The portal, the temple, those creatures… it all feels like a nightmare that we can't wake up from. But we're here, Alex. For now, that's what matters."
Alex nodded, pressing his forehead to Ethan's. "Whatever comes next, we'll face it together."
As they sat there, the first rays of dawn broke through the hospital window, casting a golden light across the room. The storm was over, at least for now, and though scars remained—both visible and invisible—they were alive. They had each other. And they had the memory of those they had lost.
In their hearts, Jessica's voice echoed:
"Promise me you'll live."
And they would.
For her, for their friends, and for themselves.
The End.
SEQUEL
APOCALYPSE NOVEL..... COMING SOON