Red

At first, it was slow. A few people here and there. Then everyone got sick. No one really knew how it started, but that didn't matter anymore. Staying safe did.

I frowned as my thoughts wandered to a grim place. I knocked on Montehue's bedroom door, "Sir? Montehue? Are you up?"

"I'm up." He said wearily.

"Do you want breakfast?" I asked.

"Tersly… I'm sick." His voice was low and hushed.

"What? Let me-"I put my hand on the knob.

"I'LL KILL YOU BEFORE I LET YOU GET SICK!" He bellowed.

"Monty?" I whispered.

"You can't come in, Ters. I started coughing blood. I feel cold. Tersly?" He asked.

"I'm here." I stared at the dark wood of the door.

"I need you to listen." He told me.

"I am." I said automatically.

"You need to stay away from dead bodies. Do not touch anything with blood or anything that could be blood. You need to think about your survival first." He paused.

"My survival?" I repeated.

"Yes, stop and think before you do anything. What do you need to do? Who is the most important? Who do you need to think of?" He pressed.

"THINK! ME! MY SURVIVAL! UH, ME!" I panicked.

"That's right, Ters, you. I-" He started coughing and it sounded wet.

"Montehue!" I pounded on the oak door.

His fit calmed down after a minute, "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you."

"Don't say that! Maybe, maybe it's just a stomach bug! It'll pass in a few days," I smiled hopefully, "Just let me in and-"

"TERSLY, NO!" I froze, "It starts with an itch then a rash then you get a fever and start coughing blood. It gets hard to breathe and you get cold and tired. I'm going to die."

"DON'T SAY THAT! YOU-you can't leave me," The door started getting blurry and I choked out a sob. I fell to the floor as I leaned against the door to try to and close to my boss, friend, and partner. My clawing fingers were met with hard, cool wood, "You can't. I need you, Monty, I need you!"

"Please stay alive for me." He had another coughing fit, this one longer than the last.

"No, no. You're going be ok." I shook my head and laughed.

"Tersly, go to Dante's house. He keeps a key on the side of the door frame. You'll be safe there. Even if they're not… there." He said slowly.

"I don't want to leave you!" I cried.

"You have to, for me." His voice shook.

"Please let me-" I started.

"I won't let you in. You'll have to move my dead body to get in!" He said harshly.

"I love you." I whispered.

"I love you, Tersly. I've always loved you." I could feel the smile on his lips fade as his body shook against the door. A sickening crack sounded. He hit his head on the door. I backed away unintentionally and heard the coughing fade and there was no more noise.

"Montehue…" I felt the tears start anew.