Even in a world falling apart, love clings to life… but so does death planning to make us suffer day by day

The air felt heavy, thick with the scent of blood and something else—something worse. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to breathe as Kennedy examined the wounded man. How the hell did we end up here?

I didn’t want to be here. I didn’t want to be the one to decide if this man lived or died. But the world didn’t care what I wanted.

The man groaned, his body twitching. Kennedy moved fast, pressing down on his wound, but I saw it—the way his skin looked too pale, the way his breathing hitched. We were running out of time.

The room was dim, shadows stretching across the cracked tiles. Every second that passed felt like another step toward something inevitable. And I wasn’t sure I was ready for it.

I was ordered to help the lady to fix air mattresses and cozy blankets. The fireplace warming us up.

I cleared my throat and looked at the lady. “Uhm…What’s your name?” I asked hoarse. I don’t know why my voice changed all of a sudden. But I can’t do anything about it right now.

“My name is Sophie…Sophie Smith. What about you, dear?” She smiled at me softly. “Sorry for being a bit harsh on you both earlier.” She apologized but I don’t blame her, who wouldn’t be harsh at newcomers.

I watched as Kennedy tightened the makeshift bandage around the man’s wound, his movements quick but careful. The old man groaned, his eyelids fluttering, but he was still with us—for now.

Sophie let out a slow breath beside me, gripping the edge of a blanket like it was the only thing keeping her steady. “That’s my husband, Andy,” she said softly. “We were trying to get to our children. We didn’t realize how bad things had gotten until it was too late.”

I glanced at the man—Andy—his skin clammy, his breath shallow. The blood was leaking out of his wounds, slow but relentless. He wasn’t gone yet, but we all knew what would happen if it continued too leak.

Sophie’s hands trembled as she tucked the blanket around him. “We lived far from the city, out on our farm. We thought we were safe.” A sad smile ghosted across her lips. “Then we got a call from our daughter— Stacy and our two sons—Richard and Alan. They sounded so scared… We couldn’t just stay put.”

Kennedy sighed, wiping his bloodstained hands on his jeans. “You found them?” His tone was gruff, but there was something beneath it—something softer.

Sophie shook her head. “By the time we reached their neighborhood, everything was in ruins. We searched, then…” Her voice cracked, and she cleared her throat. “Then…we finally found them, but it was too late.”

I looked at Andy again, my stomach twisting. He and Sophie had risked everything to find their family, only to end up here—wounded, hurt, broken hearts and stranded with two strangers in a world that was already tearing itself apart.

Kennedy ran a hand through his blond, silk hair. “We can slow it down,” he said, more to himself than to us. “But we need to act fast.”

Sophie’s eyes met mine, desperate but determined. “I don’t care what happens to me,” she said. “But if there’s a way to save my husband… please. Help him.”

The fire crackled, casting shifting shadows across the walls. I swallowed hard. I didn’t know if we could save him. I didn’t even know if we could save ourselves.

But I wasn’t about to let another person slip away. Not if we still had a chance.

“My sweet Darling, my Queen.” Andy called out for his wife with a warm, loving smile on his face.

His wife smiled back at him and approached the husband, hugging him tightly and giving him lots of kisses. She cradled Andy’s face in her hands, pressing soft kisses against his forehead, his cheeks, anywhere she could reach again and again. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but she smiled through them.

“I’m here, love,” she whispered. “I’m right here.”

Andy let out a weak chuckle, his breath shaky but laced with warmth. “Always knew… you’d find me,” he murmured. His voice was barely above a whisper, but the love in it was undeniable.

Kennedy shot me a look—one that screamed we don’t have time for this—but I ignored it. Let them have this moment.

Sophie pulled back slightly, brushing his silver-streaked hair out of his face. “You scared me, Andy,” she scolded softly, though her voice wavered. “Thought I was gonna lose you.”

Andy’s fingers twitched, barely able to move, but he reached for her hand, squeezing it with what little strength he had left. “Nah… still got some fight in me,” he breathed. “Besides… can’t leave you alone with these youngsters. Who else is gonna keep them in line?”

I felt my chest tighten. Even with everything—his wound, the apocalypse, the inevitable—he still found a way to make her smile.

Kennedy knelt beside him, checking his bandages. “You need rest,” he muttered. “We stopped the bleeding, but it won’t hold forever. We’ll have to reinforce it in a few hours.”

Andy barely acknowledged him, his hazel eyes locked onto Sophie like she was the only thing keeping him tethered to the world.

“I’ll be fine, darling,” he murmured, squeezing her fingers again. “As long as you’re here.”

Sophie let out a trembling breath, her forehead resting against his. For a moment, it was like the world outside didn’t exist. No blood. No death. Just the quiet love between them.

But the world didn’t care about moments like this.

Outside, something moved.

A slow, dragging sound against the concrete.

Kennedy’s head snapped toward the door, his body tensing. I felt it too—that familiar weight in the air, the kind that made my skin crawl.

Sophie lead us away from the doors and told us to not worry about the sounds outside since they’re experienced and Kennedy as well.

After some time, when the sounds began to disappear I somewhat calmed down.

Sophie and Andy were cuddling with each other to sleep. As I and Kennedy glared at each other since we had to share the same air mattress.

It’s a shame that the couple didn’t have a spare mattress. Only one and Kennedy of course brought the mattress we layed on together ever since first time he found me.

I had gotten used to sleeping with him. But I can’t deny that it does feel awkward. Especially after watching a cute elderly couple showering each other with love.

I heard Kennedy let out an annoyed groan as he pulled me closer since I was about to fall off of the mattress.

“Don’t say anything, don’t snore and don’t push me in your sleep.” He ordered and stated clearly. He should follow that rule as well. Idiot.