Chapter 2

The man ran for his life, the bag he had slung over his shoulder hitting him constantly in the thigh. He would occasionally look behind himself, though that only made him try and run faster than he was already as he saw the stumbling hoard of flesh consuming things behind himself. And gaining ground fast. Gladly the base was not too far from where he was and he knew that as soon as he entered the premises that the creatures would perish from the guns the guards had to protect them and the base. Or so he hoped that the others acted quickly enough before he basically led them into their home.

The sandy blond tripped, skinning his knee on a rock. Wincing as the wound stung, he scrambled to get up and continue, though he was very tired from running so far and it did not help that fear induced adrenalin was slowing down tremendously.

He managed to get himself past the gate, closing it quickly and backed away. He could only watch as the guards on the tower shot the dead, cringing away as he saw the amount of blood and swallowed thickly as the things continued to try and get into the base. Those gates would not last long, and he hoped that if they were staying here that soon they would be fixed with chicken wire or something. He did not want to wake up one day with a thing in his tent, trying to eat his throat out as a snack before dining on the rest of his body. The sandy blond shivered at the thought of that, eyes closing as he tried to clear his mind.

Standing, Ryan glanced down at his bloodied knee and shook his head. That was going to be hard to explain to the others, hopefully they would believe him and just take it that he was just a massive, tired klutz. He shuffled his way towards the main building, dragging the tan bag behind himself, opening the door to the tiny building and made his way towards the supply table.

Blue eyes glanced around, looking through the bag carefully to see that he had everything still. Nodding in a silent conformation to himself as he double checked everything, he turned around and was startled as he saw Geoff behind himself. The younger gave a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of his head.

"Uh... Hi..?" He slowly moved around the other, but the intense gaze did not help and he felt himself stop in his place, "what..? What did I possibly do this time?" There was a long period of silence, before Geoff sighed and looked away.

"Nothing. You got everything that was needed." He asked, turning around to check what Ryan had already made sure that they had enough of, setting everything across the table and checked for even the slightest tear in any of the rare products.

"Yeah. I did. Just enough to continue for a few days.. if that is the rations stay the same..." He muttered, jaw clenching slightly.

He honestly did not like this 'new Geoff'. Cold and distant ever since they found out that his family did not make it to the safe camp like they said they would have in the beginning of all this mess. It was heartbreaking, he had to admit. Yet at the same time he could give a damn. He was missing people as well, not to mention that even part of their own group of friends. They all got separated one day when they were running from a hoard, only Geoff and Ryan were the only two to find each other.

The sandy blond daringly took a roll of gauze, the older's gaze following. Ryan did not say anything as he moved away to go and bandage himself. Messily, but it covered the wound. He would have gotten up but he felt himself being pushed back down to the ground and the gauze that was on his knee being taken off. Eyes narrowed and he was going to say something to tell the other off before he realize that he was being helped. The stinging became a bit more apparent as the bandage was tightened around his knee.

"You're an idiot..." Geoff muttered, tone mildly cold. It almost sent a shiver down Ryan's spine, "you probably fell and got hurt and had those things follow you... I swear we need a new runner. I can see you're getting tired of it."

"Nah... I'm not getting tired. It's just hectic. Gotta run from town to town and make sure no one catches you..." He gave a small smile, though it slowly was washed away, "besides... It's the first time in year that that happened... Don't be so... So angry about it. I can defend for myself you know..." Geoff laughed a dry laugh, backing away. Another new attribute that the other had possessed now, distance. And fucking god did it hurt. They used to be so close, now it was like they were strangers.

"But you need to be protected. I can't let anyone else get hurt. We already got two recruits, and they're lucky enough to be guarding the perimeters!" He sat down, taking a small flask from his pocket and drank a bit of the alcohol that was in it. He looked at the dirt ground, "I can't lose anyone else, alright? I..." He stopped talking, shaking his head.

Ryan laid down on his back and stared up at the tent's ceiling, chewing in his bottom lip. He stayed quiet when the other talked, knowing that it would be if no use for him to say anything. Usually these kind of get together between the two of them was just either Geoff going off about how he could have found them or brought them along all guilty like or something similar to what just happened. Try and nitpick everything before stopping in his sentence and drank a bit of whiskey to calm his nerves. The former computer guy covered his face with his hands, letting the silence get thick and tried not to think of much.

He found himself being shaken awake, blearily looking around and was a bit confused at first as he did not know that he had fallen asleep. Yawning, he slowly sat up and looked towards the other, then at the bowl of food and a cup of water that was handed to him. The woman gave a shrug, backing away as Ryan put down the items. He wasn't all that hungry, especially after the dream he had.

"You slept for a long time..." She stated, folding her hands on her lap, "must have been exhausted..." The older nodded, not able to find his voice. He gave another yawn, rubbing his eyes as he could feel himself nod off yet again."Guess also you're not very well rested... You were talking in your sleep... Is there something the matter..?"

There was a pause. "Nah... Just..." Ryan became silent yet again, unable to find his words or really words that would not sound too harsh. "I do not feel comfortable talking about it... It's... It's not really of your business as well. I am sorry" he thought he was a little too blunt there, so instead of looking at here he fiddled with the spoon that was in the bowl.

"Truthfully it seemed something that looks like it's plaguing you still. Though, since you do not want to talk about it... I will not push. Just... Eat up, okay? We're moving tomorrow and you need you're strength." She stood up and brushed the dirt from her pants, "see ya tomorrow..." She turned at left, walking past Geoff. The elder made his way towards the other, kneeling in front of him. He reached out and felt his forehead.

"Warm. You don't look well either. Fucking christ man. Did you get bit?" Ryan shook his head, backing away.

"I'm fine..." He said, laying back on his side. He felt just fine, simply just not wanting to be bothered, "just..." He began to fiddle with his thumbs, "nothing."

"It's obviously something when you're having a nightmare before..." He muttered, "You're probably hallucinating from something. I remember the last time you said that and you ended up so sick. Don't be lying to-"

"Drop it there, Geoff. I honestly do not want to be talking about the dream I have dreamt and why I am so warm. So please, shut the fuck up and calm yourself down." Ryan snapped, eyes narrowed. He looked away, letting out a heavy sigh. He did not mean to snap like that, though he did not want to be sorry about it either. He was tired of this. Running. Hiding. Picking up camp after finally settling in. Trying to find people that may not even be alive. It was becoming so monotonous and so old that he was beginning to lose hope just like everyone else.

He tugged at his hair, a guttural groan coming out slowly, "just… Just leave me alone. I want to be alone. I don't care what your smart answer has to be just go… please… I-", A hand was slapped against his mouth and he looked at Geoff in shock, getting the message that the older wanted him quiet. Ryan backed away and nodded slowly. Geoff removed his hand and crossed his arms against his chest. He did not looking too happy, though at the same time he did not look like he wanted to talk. Ryan picked up on that and rolled his eyes, standing up, glancing down at the other before leaving the tent. He did not notice the other had followed him after sometime, not even when he sat a bit away from the gate. He could see a bit of the forest from the help of the fire that was dwindling down, chewing on his lower lip as the yearn to leave was strong.

A cough startled him and he looked around wildly before he stopped as he saw Geoff, whose body was just highlighted by the dulling glow of the flames behind them. Ryan made a grunt, slowly turning back to looking out and shook his head as he opened his mouth to talk. He tensed up as he heard movement, looking round yet again but the hand on his shoulder directed him to the man standing behind him.

"What?" Was a muttered question. A hand clapped onto his shoulder, and blue eyes looked up slowly.

"don't get your hopes up too high… You know that we are leaving tomorrow to go and look or the others…" the older, slowly removed his tattooed hand, kneeling down. He tried his hardest to keep looking at the other in the eyes, though it was hard for Geoff. He did not like that he could see how tired and even mad Ryan looked. It pained him to see how the once bright man became so angry.

"c'mon…" he forced the other up to his feet with all of his strength, "lets go and get some sleep… we leave as soon as dawn breaks…" he could see the younger just barely nod his head. Geoff led the way back to the tents, occasionally checking if Ryan was still behind him; grabbing his arm in a tight grip when he was getting too far behind. He opened his tent, entering slowly. The bearded man sat down on the tattered blankets that he had collected for a makeshift bed and let go of the other. He laid back with a heft sigh.

"Go to sleep… It's fine... I don't care…" he muttered, resting a heavy arm across his eyes. Ryan kept standing, only sitting when he knew the other would not chew his head off if he did so. He checked once more on Geoff, watching him sleep and not understanding how he could have fallen asleep so easily, before making himself comfortable on the dirt ground. He did not fall asleep unlike the other, staying up.