Took me forever to get the motivation to finish this one (~=[]=)~ yeah, I'm so bad. But look! It's done! And I have the next five chapters completed already, but I'm going to withhold posting those ones, cause I'm mean like that. (or more like it gives me time to work on other stuff while still putting this one up semi-regularly~) Mild language from here on out, so uh, if your sensitive or something like that, suck it up I guess? The rating should be of some warning to you lol
Hope you like~
They saw so many people milling about, wandering aimlessly about the streets when their lives literally changed over night. Out more in the suburbs people would be visiting with each other, trying to help their neighbors or seeing if anyone had any news on what had happened. But the farther they walked and the closer they came to the city, the more and more trouble they started to see. There was a cop patrolling the area every other block or so, yelling heard in the now otherwise silent city. They could see store windows broken open, the insides ransacked as far as they could tell. The first few places they saw like this had their windows boarded up, owners standing outside trying to recover what they could of their business, but soon these sights were more and more frequent, and less and less people seemed to care.
They had made it to the city not much longer later and were shocked at the state it was in. Like everything else they noticed, this change was also gradual. The streets were more crowded with broken down cars, shouts breaking the silence every few minutes, and the people who walked here did so with hunched shoulders, as if to hide themselves from prying eyes. Matthew was startled to see a fire burning a nearby vehicle, no one really taking notice to it as he and Alfred did. The smell of burning exhaust and metal stung at his eyes, but they continued walking, just like everyone else.
Finally, the timid blonde spoke up, the two having walked in silence the entire time. "Alfred, do…do you think its like this everywhere?" He was staring wide eyed straight ahead, as if he was afraid to look his older brother in the eye.
Alfred gave his hand a squeeze, trying to comfort the other. Sometimes he wished that twins really could read each others mind, because it was hard for him to answer back aloud.
"I don't know."
They continued walking, the silence falling back over them as both contemplated their grim futures. They were nearly to the heart of the city now, the people they saw growing in numbers. Up ahead there were a number of police officers standing in a loose group, yellow tape sectioning off the area behind them.
"Maybe they know something…c'mon Mattie, lets go see." Alfred tugged his brother forward, hoping to finally talk to someone who might know just what was going on. Though before they could get closer to the group a cop stepped in to stop them.
"I'm sorry but I can't let anyone any further." The large man stated, his expression grim.
"What happened?" Matthew couldn't help but ask. His anxiety was growing over the entire thing.
The officer let out a weary sigh, "Seems to be a mass suicide, but we cant tell for sure. Though it looks to be pretty likely. Seems they all jumped together"
"S-suicide?" The short blondes eyes widened at the information.
People just, killed themselves? Just like that? Could it really be that bad? Is it worse than we thought? Oh god…
Alfred could see his brother pale at the new information, hurrying to change the subject to what he hoped were lighter matters. "Do you know if its like this everywhere else? I mean, someplace has to be still functioning, right?"
The man heaved another sigh, as if he had heard this question more than once today. "Look, we don't know what's going on with the rest of the world. Though I'm sure that if we were the only place affected then the government would have been all over the place by now. I don't know what else to tell ya kid." He simply shook his head and walked off, leaving the siblings standing there, dumbfounded.
Matthew was the first to speak, "Alfred, what if…what if things don't get better? What if everything just gets worse, what if…what if-"
"Matthew, Matthew look at me." Alfred grabbed his brothers shoulders, turning him so that they were eye to eye. He could see the fear and uncertainty in the lavender eyes, his own stare growing more intense in response. "Listen here and listen close, I will never leave you. No matter what happens, so long as we have each other everything will be okay. Even if the world were to crumble around us, all we need is each other. Got it?"
Matthew blinked. He had never heard his brother say anything like that before, especially not with such a serious expression. He could feel himself nodding before he was aware of it, but regardless he believed every word that his brother said. It could be the way Alfred held himself up, or how every time Matthew needed someone his brother was always there for him. It didn't matter why, all he knew was that it was true. All they needed was each other.
-o-o-o-o-o-
The loud footsteps mimicked the pounding in his chest, his heartbeat frantic as he tried to find a way out his dire situation. In a quick decision, he darted behind a stack of creates, the alley full of all kinds of junk already, squeezing himself into a tight spot but hoping he was hidden. He held his breath as the men came into view, their expressions bewildered at the disappearance of their mouse.
Yes, just walk away…Matthew chanted in his mind, willing them to turn around and leave.
"He has to be here somewhere, search through the garbage!" One of the dark haired men yelled to the others.
Shit.
-o-o-o-o-o-
When both of them had felt they'd seen enough they left the city, heading back to their home to figure out their next move. They knew how quickly the situation was heading downhill, so they made sure to pick up some supplies on their way home; some places were still intact and running semi-normally. The sun was almost set, though stubbornly clinging to the sky as it glimpsed over the horizon.
Even during at the end of the world, the sunset is as beautiful as ever, Matthew mulled, looking at the pink tinged sky with the same peace as he did this morning. Matthew was so lost in his own thoughts that he didn't notice when his brother stopped, roughly bumping into the other person.
"Alfred? Why'd you stop?" He peered over his brothers shoulder to find the object of his attention. His body froze when he found it.
They were on their street, the house a few doors farther down from them, but the gaping doorway was easily seen at this distance. "You locked the door didn't you?" Matthew asked, shocked.
"I guess locked doors don't really mean much anymore." He replied through clenched teeth. Alfred slowly resumed walking, his body tense as they approached their home. Matthew could see the broken glass from the window on the porch, the slight breeze brushing against the curtain inside. "Stay here."
"Why? I'm not letting you go in there by yourself, what if the person is still inside?" Matthew rasped. He was not going to let that happen.
"That's exactly why." Alfred said simply as he started to approach. Regardless, Matthew followed anyways, not caring what his brother insisted on; he wasn't going to let Alfred do this on his own.
Upon entering their home they knew that whoever had been here before was long gone now. The house was practically torn apart, it looked like a tornado had run through it, leaving with all their valuables. Alfred went and searched through the rest of the house, leaving his brother standing amongst the chaos that had been the living room.
Alfred walked back to see his brother crouched down holding a broken picture frame in his hands. It was the one of them and their parents, the summer at the lake house before they passed away. It had been over two years ago, but the memory of their loving parents still stung them both. He placed a gentle hand on his brothers shoulder.
"No ones here, they probably left awhile ago." He paused, waiting for his brother to reply. Seeing that he wasn't going to get one, Alfred continued. "Matthew, we can't stay here. You know that right? We might be able to come back eventually, but right now we can't."
"I know." Matthew sighed, standing. Carefully he removed the picture from the frame, avoiding the broken glass, and folded it up before placing it in his jacket pocket.
Inside, he knew that they would never come back.
-o-o-o-o-o-
The men were coming closer to him, making their way though the piles of garbage, every minute ticking away in his mind until they found him. One man was close now, only two feet away as he sifted though the boxes. Matthew willed himself to sit still, the adrenaline rushing through his veins making it increasingly difficult to do so.
The crate to his left shifted, the other man moving it in his search, ultimately pinning his arm painfully to the wall. Matthew stifled a gasp, closing his eyes as he tried to ignore the uncomfortable position. Nervously he glanced up, immediately regretting the action as his eyes met the others.
This part is a little rushed, but I hate writing things twice. I had written out this chapter before, but I lost it (to those of whom don't already know)You guys know who the people chasing him are? (not specific names though lol) Cookies if you get it right~ they're tasteless and have no substance, but they're cookies none the less :D I didn't give many hints though did I? Oh well, guess anyways!
We're all done with the flashbacks here and the next chapter will pretty much be all present stuff. Reviews?
