Hey guys, I hope me deciding to only update one story at a time until it's completed before moving onto another hasn't upset anyone. I'm just trying to cut back on wearing myself too thin right now. I love all my fans and your reviews mean the world to me! Please enjoy this new chapter!
Benny laid in one of the beds as he stared up at the ceiling, the main light of the room dimmed down for them to sleep. It had been three days since they had been put into this quarantine room, he could feel his mind starting to wear thin with nothing to do but sit in bed or pace around the room and occasionally have tests done on them and more blood taken. Benny had grown use to the nurses coming into the room and doing tests on them, Ethan was still reclusive with them. The only person who he would let use the needle was Benny, and Benny still hadn't figured that out as well. Benny turned over on his side, knowing someone was constantly watching them through the camera. He saw Ethan laying in bed, staring up at the pristine ceiling.
"Tell me your story, who were you before the outbreak?" Benny said as he laid there in bed, bringing the one cover the beds had been supplied with up to his waist. He watched Ethan turn his head as he looked at him, his eyes saying they had seen horrific things. Benny frowned whenever Ethan turned over on his side, his back to him now. Benny decided to drop the matter as he turned back over on his back and closed his eyes.
"I was a student at London University..." came Ethan's voice before Benny opened his eyes and looked at Ethan who was now on his other side, facing him.
"There's got to surely be more than that?" Benny inquired as he turned on his side and looked at the former student.
"I was majoring in World History, I had just started classes when the news of the outbreak came. The house you found me in...that was my house that I shared with my partner, Rory. When things got bad, we made for the country side and left the city behind. We made it to Liverpool where we found a wee little cottage out in the country side, it was owned by this elderly couple who had opened their doors for other survivors. We helped them board up the house one morning, and we lived in darkness and the only light we had was by candle light. Things seemed to be going well, we had food and shelter and running water. Then one day, a boy came and we let him in to help him. What we hadn't anticipated was the infected having followed him to the house, they stormed it and broke in. Within seconds, half of the house had already been turned. Rory was breaking a window for us to escape on whenever the infected broke into the room we were in. I...I screamed for his help and he just looked at me and for a split second...I could tell he thought of coming back to help but he just jumped out. I screamed after him...but he kept running. I got swarmed by them...their hands clawing at me as they screamed, I fought my way out of the house and ran for the forest. I ran and ran...I never looked back." Ethan said, tears beginning to prick at his eyes as Benny laid there and listened to him. "I could hear them chasing me, screaming and snarling as I ran through the forest. It wasn't until a good four miles into the forest did they finally give up on me, but I kept running. I could feel my lungs burning at that point, and I ended up collapsing from exhaustion before I crawled into a nearby ditch and laid there. It must have been hours...wasn't until sundown did I finally muster the strength to stand up. That's when I saw them...the bite marks on my arm and legs. I should have turned...should have been one of them but I wasn't. I wandered aimlessly through that forest all night until I found another road, there was nowhere else for me to go so I made my way back to London. The whole city had been abandoned by the rest of the survivors, the infected having followed them out I guess. I raided what was left of grocery stores and only traveled from twelve to three, I didn't want to risk being out in the open for too long. Ya know what the only comfort I found was?" Ethan asked Benny as he looked up at him, wiping at his eyes as he spoke softly.
"What?" Benny asked, raising a eyebrow in question. He knew this must be hard for Ethan to talk about so he let him talk without interruption.
"The night sky...with no lights of any kind anymore. I'd look up into that sky, and everything just seemed to melt away. I'd forget about Rory abandoning me, about the outbreak, about everything. On those nights...it was just me, the wind, and the stars. Then months later, you showed up in my hallway and here we are now...I'm sorry for what I've gotten you into." Ethan said ashamed as he looked away, knowing that Benny was only in here because he touched him.
"Hey, none of this is your fault. I can't say I blame you, you hadn't seen another uninfected human in months and I can't blame you for that." Benny said, propping his head up onto one of the pillows before seeing Ethan turn his head back towards him.
"Tell me about you, where did you come from?" Ethan asked as he laid his head onto one of his arms and looked at Benny from the side.
"I was working with the US Special Forces and was just out of training whenever the outbreak came onto the news. At first we were all shocked, then as time went by it got progressively worse for the UK. My grandmother fled from South Hampton before the airports in Britain were shut down and passed away shortly after from depression and a broken heart. Then after the UN convened to reenter Britain, I was chosen as one of the troops to help in the recovery effort. I went through extensive training and then a month ago I set sail aboard a aircraft carrier for the shores of Britain." Benny said, knowing his story was far less interesting to say the least. Benny gave a half attempt at smiling at Ethan who smiled back after a few moments. He watched as Ethan turned over again as he went to sleep, Benny turning to lay on his back as he once again stared up at the ceiling. He couldn't begin to imagine how horrible it must have been for Ethan those last few months alone, not to mention being abandoned by your own partner. Benny rested his hands onto his stomach as he tried brushing the thought of ever being in that situation away before closing his eyes.
"Thank you...for talking with me." Ethan said softly from the other bed as a small, a small and soft smile gracing Benny's lips as he tried to imagine the night sky just as Ethan had.
"Your welcome." was all Benny said, knowing it wasn't too much but that it was just enough at the moment. He soon felt his mind drifting off to sleep as he pushed aside all his worries and fears away and the image of the night sky swirled in his mind.
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