1:34 a.m.
Time passed, and they stayed in the vehicle all night. They knew they weren't safe but had no other choice. Their plan had been to stop somewhere and spend the night, even knowing the risks. Vanessa spent most of her time checking every possibility that her cure might fail and considering everything that could go wrong. She knew even the smallest mistake could be fatal-either they'd be eaten by zombies or poisoned by her own cure. A deadly game of Russian roulette.
Because of that, she spent the entire night under the lamp, buried in her book and notes. Three hours passed, and she hadn't lifted her eyes from the pages. She was lost in her own universe until something brought her back to the present-a touch. But not just anyone's touch. Alex's.
Once again, he placed his hand on her shoulder and sat down beside her.
"You really should rest," he whispered.
Alex mentioned that he felt better and suggested Owen and Danny should rest while he kept watch with Vanessa. Danny needed to rest his shoulder, and Owen... Well, they were lucky he hadn't gotten a concussion after smashing his head into the glass. But his momentary loss of consciousness scared them. The two had fallen asleep quickly.
Meanwhile, Alex wrote in his journal, careful not to disturb Vanessa until he noticed how anxious she looked.
"Come on, Vanessa, don't doubt yourself. You're our chemist," Alex whispered, gently stroking her head before pulling her into a hug. Slowly, Vanessa wrapped her arms around her best friend, careful not to squeeze too tightly near his injured side.
"What if it doesn't work, Al? What if I-?" Her voice grew quieter. Alex could tell from her tone just how much it troubled her. He stroked her hair gently.
"Vanessa, I believe in you, and I know your cure will work. We're in this together," he said, lifting her chin and using his finger to wipe away a small tear that had escaped her eye. "You won't disappoint anyone. You've done so much for all of us. We wouldn't have made it this far without you."
"Without me, you could've managed. What would happen if you weren't here? Or if Owen wasn't there to fight? Even that idiot has his uses," Vanessa added softly.
"We all have a role in life, even now. You patch us up and you are creating a way to stop the apocalypse. Owen is the best in combat, protecting us. Danny is skilled with calculations, and without his logic, we wouldn't be able to navigate." Alex paused.
"And then there's our Alex. The brain of the operation, the organizer, the leader. Without you, there wouldn't be us, or our purpose," Vanessa added, leaning back against the wall and moving away from Alex. "You know, Al, I just want this to end. I want us to go on picnics together, to have outings... Maybe even Owen and Harding would come along," she whispered, voicing her wishes. Her exhaustion was evident in her tone.
Alex watched her, smiling at the sight. She was on the verge of sleep.
"You'd even invite Danny? What's gotten into you, Vanessa?" Alex teased, reopening his notebook.
"You know, maybe I was wrong. Maybe I misjudged him," Vanessa said quietly. Alex didn't look at her; he froze in place instead.
"Sometimes that happens. Still, they're just kids, they haven't changed. But what made you change your mind?" Alex asked, but he didn't get an answer. When he looked at her, he realized why. Vanessa had fallen asleep moments after speaking.
Then, Alex glanced over at the side where the two" warriors" were sound asleep.
That night, Alex was left alone. It stayed that way until 5 a.m. , they survived the night without any attacks.
During the drive early in the morning, Vanessa took the wheel while Alex slept. They were close to the laboratory-about 80 kilometers away. On the way, Vanessa stopped halfway, needing a restroom break. Meanwhile, Owen and Danny stepped out to stretch their legs and check their ammunition once more. They didn't want to make any noise inside the vehicle to avoid waking Alex.
"If you can fit into that uniform without your ankles showing, I might finally grow taller," Owen said sarcastically to Danny as he loaded bullets into his pockets and reloaded the rifles.
"So we're talking about impossibilities now," Danny joked back, loading his ammunition.
"You know, since we're speaking of impossibilities-did you talk to Alex about everything?" Owen asked, catching Danny off guard.
"No. Besides, when would I even talk to him? Four of us are always together," Danny responded.
"You two were alone when you told us we were on the deadlist. I mean, when do you plan to tell him?" Owen added.
"I gave him a letter," Danny replied bluntly.
"A letter? What letter-oh. That letter." Owen suddenly realized what Danny was referring to. The air grew quiet between them.
"How did it come to that? I mean, how did he react?" Owen asked.
"He doesn't even know. He doesn't know he has the letter. I slipped it into his jacket when I thought I was going to die, back when you guys showed up," Danny explained.
"Dan, why? I don't understand you at all. Look, today we either die or survive. Can't you just, for once, tell him everything? Even if we die, at least it'll be resolved. Why even give him the letter if you can't say it yourself?" Owen said, half-frustrated.
"Because I couldn't say it back then. It's just easier if he reads it himself. I'd rather die without knowing his reaction than die knowing I really ruined everything," Danny admitted.
"You know I'll tell him everything if you die before me," Owen added.
"No, you know you are going to grave with me," Danny said, laughing.
"That sounded more sexually than a declaration. Keep that line for someone else, Dan," Owen said, chuckling. Danny pretended to hit him with his rifle, but it was all in good humor.
When Vanessa returned, they got back in the vehicle and continued their journey. During the drive, Owen and Danny changed into their uniforms and woke Alex.
As for the plan itself, they would park the vehicle at the edge of the forest. From their equipment, they'd take only essential ammunition and weapons, along with the cure. Inside the vehicle was a large metal box with a radioactive symbol on it-it was empty.
Chenged in uniforms, Owen and Danny's role was to enter the laboratory and leave the box there. If they meet guards, they would claim it was an emergency delivery. The plan was for Vanessa and Alex to be inside the box.
11 a.m.
Owen and Danny carried the box with Alex and Vanessa in it, their faces obscured by masks. They reached the building's entrance, where a guard stood watch.
"Stop. State your purpose," demanded the guard, his rifle pointed at them.
"We received orders to deliver. Another chemical release is planned before we leave," Owen lied smoothly, crafting a believable excuse on the spot.
The guard frowned. "We haven't received word of this. The doors are locked, and I wasn't notified. Open the box."
He didn't trust them fully, raising his rifle toward Owen's head and signaling them to put the box down. With no choice, they complied. The tension was palpable as the guard ordered Danny to open the box.
Danny's hands trembled under his gloves as he unlatched the metallic clasps. He planned to use the lid as a weapon and grab his pistol, but as he opened the box, a gunshot rang out.
The guard dropped to the ground, a bullet hole in his forehead, blood pooling around him.
"Finally, some fresh air," Alex remarked, holstering his pistol. From inside the box, he'd overheard enough to realize something was amiss. When no one shot a guard, he prepared to take action, shooting him through his mask.
"Good thing one of your arms still functions ," Owen quipped, earning a playful kick from Danny.
Their relief was short-lived; alarms blared. The guard had activated a handheld transceiver all this time. Vanessa emerged from the box, grabbing her bag with the cure and a pistol, while Danny and Owen armed themselves with guns.
Using the metal box, Owen smashed the building's locked doors. But as they stepped inside, chaos awaited them. Owen fired twice at unseen enemies, his expression grim as he turned back to the group.
"They're inside. And there's no light-switches are off," he reported.
Vanessa and Owen moved ahead into the building. Alex was confused by their actions, this wasn't in their plan.
"Stick close, shrimp," Danny said as he carried Alex on his back, despite Alex's confusion they plunged into the darkness.
Inside the building, it was pitch-black, screams echoing from above. Owen and Vanessa led the way, weapons and flashlights in hand, while Alex clung to Danny.
When they reached a staircase, Owen stopped. "Dan!," he called, gesturing to a nearby room before heading upstairs with Vanessa.
Danny took Alex into the room, setting him down as gunfire erupted in the distance.
"What's happening? Why are we here?!" Alex demanded, his voice shaky. Danny stayed silent.
"Danny? What the fuck is happening?!" Alex's fear turned to anger as realization set in. He was being left behind.
Danny knelt beside him. "You've done so much for us, Alex. Now it's our turn to protect you." His voice wavered as he avoided eye contact. Gunfire grew louder.
"If I don't come back, everything you need to know is in the letter," Danny said, pressing Alex's jacket pocket. He ruffled Alex's hair, gave a faint smile, and headed for the door.
"Goodbye, shrimp," Danny said softly before closing the door behind him.
"DAN, STOP! PLEASE DON'T GO!" Alex shouted, but it was too late. The door was locked.
Left alone, Alex slumped to the floor, tears streaming. His friends were fighting for their lives, and he could only hear the relentless sounds of gunfire, amplified by the ventilation system. Each shot was a knife to his heart, the uncertainty of survival unbearable.
As time passed, Alex's mind raced through memories of their journey together. Danny's words haunted him. Then, instinctively, he reached into his jacket pocket and found the letter-a familiar envelope, yellowed with age.
With trembling hands, Alex opened it, his tears smudging the paper. Inside were two notes: his confession to Danny, written long ago, and Danny's reply that Alex had never received.
Letter:
"Hey Dan,
This might sound dump, but I don't know how else to ask. Over these years of friendship, I've had some of the best moments of my life with you. Now that high school is over and we won't see each other as much, I'd like to stay in touch and keep meeting up. But... maybe just the two of us.
I know this might be dumb, and I understand if you hate me for it, but... would you like to go on date ?
Please give me the answer and put it on my table after the graduation ceremony."
-Alex :)
Danny's Reply:
"Shrimp,
It's funny to think you are dumb since you are the biggest nerd I know. I wanted to ask you the same thing, but you beat me to it. Yes I'd love to, I can't wait to see you."
-:Danny
The letter left Alex devastated. He realized how much had gone unsaid and how different things could have been. Why had Danny's words and actions come so different than words in the letter? Alex couldn't figure it out. He couldn't stop crying, he was hurt. But deeply in heart, no wound on his skin was as deep as this one he's feeling right now. And now when he knows the real truth he still can't changed anything. Not ithout Danny. Who just rushed straight into death.