I hope you enjoy this new chapter guys, review!
Benny ran down the street with Ethan in tow as they watched the poisonous gas roll down through the streets. He looked up as they ran near Big Ben, it's clock having stopped permanently as it sat there as a haunting reminder of what went down months ago. Every street was filled with the gas now as they all realized they were cornered. Benny saw a nearby car with it's doors still open as he grabbed Ethan and ran towards it.
"Everybody inside!" Benny screamed, hearing as a few infected nearby snarled in response. He looked up to see a group of recently infected civilians running down the street towards them. Benny closed the doors to the car and locked them before he and everyone else began to close the vents to the car and stuff rags in them. Benny jumped in fear when a infected man slammed up against the car door and began to spew infected blood onto it as the rest encircled the car and snarled at them. Benny lurched back as he watched the poisonous fog roll in before enveloping the whole car and the infected both. He could tell the gas was working as he and everyone else put clothing around their noses as they watched the infected slow down before finally sliding against the cars windows and to the ground.
"Shit, we've got to get out of here! Look!" Sarah said as she noticed a light through the dense fog. Benny peered through the glass only to see people walking through the streets wearing bio chemical suits and carrying flamethrowers.
"They are setting fire to all the infected bodies...we will be killed if we don't move!" Benny said as he looked at the drivers wheel. Benny reached underneath and yanked out the framework before exposing the wires.
"This car is going to need a rolling start...someones going to have to go out there and push." Benny said as he looked up at everyone with weary eyes.
"I'll go...out of all of us I've got the most physical endurance." Sarah said, Benny looking into her brown eyes as she looked at him sadly. He knew she was telling the truth and yet he also knew what this would mean for her.
"Sarah...if you go out there...you'll die." Benny whispered as his friend and fellow soldier looked back at him with a slight smile.
"You've got to go on...get yourself to the park with Ethan and Erica. My contact will be waiting for you...it was a pleasure serving with you Weir." Sarah said before throwing a small bandana around her mouth and nose and opening the door and slamming it shut. Benny got to work on the wires as she pushed the car from behind. He smiled whenever he heard it jump start before the engine finally turned over. He could hear Sarah coughing as he looked back at her before she threw off her bandana and began to vomit onto the road. The car was moving enough as she slammed onto it's backside for them to go. Benny put the car in drive as he sped off, looking into the rear view mirror only to see Sarah fall to her knee's as the people caught up to her. In a bright flash of light, she was gone as the fire enveloped her body. Benny wiped away the building tears from his eyes as he felt Ethan place a hand onto his shoulder for comfort. He kept driving until they finally cleared the gas, passing through random streets before realizing every street was crammed with wrecks. Benny looked back at the encroaching fog, his mind racing.
"Benny! Watch out!" Ethan screamed before Benny looked forward and saw a overturned bus, swerving to avoid it before he felt the car careen into a light pole. Benny's face smashed into the steering wheel as his vision went blurry for a moment. He could hear screaming as he felt himself being leaned back as Ethan shook him slightly. Benny's mind was in a haze as all the emotion came flooding back into him before he undid his seat belt and opened his door, only to basically fall out and hit the ground in a daze. Benny's vision finally returned to normal as he got to his feet, only to see the fog still approaching. He looked over and saw a nearby subway entrance as he reached inside the car and grabbed Sarah's gun before grabbing Ethan and Erica and running in. He jumped over bodies and suitcases filled with clothes and some having already been broken open as the light of the day disappeared and they were left in pitch black.
"I can't see a damn thing!" Erica said in fear as Benny turned on the night vision to the gun and peered through.
Benny stirred clear from Ethan and Erica, knowing the image would only terrify them both as he saw nothing but dead bodies and luggage strewn everywhere.
"Everyone hold on to me, I studied the subway maps when we were clearing out the city and one of these tunnels should take us so a station near the location we have to meet Sarah's contact...if I'm correct." Benny said softly, feeling as both Erica and Ethan grabbed onto his shirt as they began to make their way through the station. "So tell me Erica...being a nurse and all...why hasn't Ethan become one of those things if he was bit and all?" Benny asked, trying to take his attention off of the current situation.
"The virus only turns about seventy percent of those it infects, the other thirty percent are generally killed by the infected. When we tested Ethan's blood back at the ICC, it tested positive for being naturally immune to the virus. The white count in his blood almost instantly isolated the virus, preventing it from venturing any further into his system. Even though it's in his blood and he is still immune, he can still infect others if they were to touch his saliva or his blood and it happen to get into a open cut or gain entry to the body." Erica said, her voice wavering as they moved through the station and down a flight of stairs.
"What are we walking on!?" Ethan said, hearing a crunching noise as Benny's eyes winced in utter disgust as he pushed the image away. He could feel his stomach starting to churn as he tried to take a deep breath and push the thoughts away.
"Just luggage...it's just luggage guys. Come on, I think we are near the tunnel." Benny said as he continued to look through the night vision scope. Suddenly Benny felt as a body smashed up against him and he began to hear snarling and screeching. Benny slid across the floor as he listened to both Ethan and Erica begin to scream as they ran off in different directions. He felt a throbbing sensation in his arm as he looked down at a gash in his arm which was sitting inside a pool of infected blood. Benny felt a instant sensation of fear pour through his veins. Benny pulled himself away from the dead person, having obviously died not too long ago. He counted the seconds that went by as he held onto his arm, closing his eyes as he fought the urge to scream. He could feel a burning sensation spread through his arm as he bit down on his lower lip. The whole time he fought the urge to holler out, Ethan played through in his mind as he felt his body fighting the virus within his own veins. He could only see black, and could only hear screaming. Benny looked through the scope again as he saw a infected man chase after Erica's voice. He quickly grabbed the gun again as he steadied himself against the wall, watching in horror as the man grabbed Erica and began to beat her. He could feel a nauseating sensation move through him as he tried to keep quiet, Erica's screams echoed throughout the station as more infected pounced on her and began to hit her repeatedly. Benny clasped his own hand over his mouth as he shut off the night vision and slid down the wall, tears erupting from his eyes as he muffled himself. After a few moments, Erica's screams had stopped as Benny sat there and silently turned the night vision back on as he carefully stood up. Benny could feel his knee's begin to buckle as he leaned back against the wall. He could see the infected moving about, darting their heads this way and that trying to listen for sounds. Benny slowly stepped forward, avoiding anything he could step on as he backed away from the infected and down towards the tunnel system. Benny could feel his heart beginning to ache from beating so much as the fear of wondering where Ethan was began to consume him.
"Ethan! You there?" Benny whispered quietly when he thought he was far enough from the infected. He could feel pain throbbing throughout him as he began to grow dizzy. He scanned the entire station with the scope before he caught sight of a small body curled up in a corner by a trashcan. Benny saw the light of Ethan's eyes looking everywhere, completely blind down here in this dark. Benny slowly moved his way towards Ethan, careful not to make any noise or trip over anything.
"Ethan, it's me. Are you okay?" Benny asked as he crouched down in front of Ethan who was crying silently before he reached out and grabbed hold of Ethan's hand. Benny handed Ethan the scope so he could see him as blackness returned to his eyes.
"Oh my God, your bleeding." Ethan whispered, reaching out and touching Benny's arm as Benny winced and flinched back.
"We've...got to get...going." Benny said in a slur as he felt Ethan's arms encircle his body as the smaller of the two picked him up.
"What about Erica?" Ethan whispered into Benny's ears as he shook his head and nudged Ethan forward.
"She's gone...come on...this tunnel will take us straight to the location." Benny said as he leaned onto Ethan for support as they stepped down into the subway rails and began to walk down one of the tunnels, carefully watching each step they took.
Two Hours Later
Benny could see light coming from the end of the tunnel as they made their way towards it, both of them smiling as they exited the tunnel beside a city street with a park on the other side. There waiting was a army helicopter with a female pilot at the controls as she saw them exit and waved them over. Benny limped forward with Ethan as the smaller of the two supported him and his body weight as they crossed the street and passed bloody tricycles and wagons with toys littered everywhere. The tree branches were being blown back by the force of the rotters as the female pilot stepped out and greeted them.
"Where's Sarah?" she asked, Benny looking up at her as he shook his head sadly before she looked away and then back at them.
"I can't take you without her...that was the deal." the pilot said, Benny feeling as his heart almost sank with heartache.
"Please, you can't just leave us here! I'm Private Weir, I served alongside her! Please! If not me, then please take him at least!" Benny said as he let go of Ethan and pushed him towards the woman.
"No! I can't leave you Benny!" Ethan said as he turned around and looked at Benny with tear filled eyes.
"Please...just take him. I don't have to go but please take him!" Benny said as the pilot looked at him sadly before Ethan grabbed a hold of Benny's shoulders.
"NO! I can't leave without you Benny! Your all I have left! Please...don't leave me like this!" Ethan cried as Benny smiled at him sadly, tears pouring from his own eyes.
"Ethan...you've got to go own. I've lost too much blood E...I won't make the trip." Benny said as he felt Ethan grip onto him tightly before lurching forward and wrapping his arms around him.
"I won't leave without you Benny...your all I have left. You've been with me since you found me, you've been the one last shred of normality I could cling on to. Don't leave me like this, don't make me go without you. Please Benny, I can't do that!" Ethan cried, holding onto Benny as if his life depended on it. Benny just held onto Ethan as he looked up at the sky, tears of his own falling down his cheeks as he hugged the other man. He couldn't tell what his heart was feeling but he knew he cared for the former student he had come to know.
"I'm sorry Ethan...I care about you. But you've got to go on, I won't make it to base." Benny said as he cried, the smaller male clinging onto him as his chest heaved with sobs.
"You can try though! You might make it! Isn't that what your taught in the military, to try and try until you succeed? You never leave a man behind! You've got to try Benny, believe in yourself! Please don't make me go by myself! I've lost everything...I don't want to lose you...please." Ethan begged, looking into Benny's green eyes as Benny stared back for a long moment. Benny slowly nodded his head before Ethan threw his arms around him again. He looked over to the pilot who studied them and looked at them before pointing to the back of the helicopter for them to get in. Benny nudged Ethan as he limped over to the side of the helicopter and climbed in, reaching out to help Ethan in. Benny sat back and buckled himself in as he watched the pilot ready the helicopter before he felt it lift up off the ground.
"The names Samantha...Sarah was a good friend of mine." Samantha said from up front as she looked out the front windshield, devoid of all emotion in her face. Benny looked out of the side as they flew over London, smoke still rising into the air as the fires continued to burn within some of the buildings. He couldn't believe that all of their hard work was gone along with all those civilians they had sworn to protect. He looked over at Ethan as he watched Ethan look down upon the city he had been raised in, everything being turned to ash now. Benny could feel his body going numb as he slowly reached over and grabbed onto Ethan's hand and gave it a light squeeze. Ethan turned to look at Benny who was now slumped into his seat, looking at him with a stern face.
"I'm sorry...for everything. You've...lost so much. How do you...keep going?" Benny asked, blinking away the sleepiness he felt coming on.
"Honestly...you. You found me alone, in a house I shared with my partner, completely abandoned. You were thrown into quarantine because of me, and yet you stuck by my side. You took the time to get to know me, and listen to my stories of how I survived. You defended me when Rory came back, and you protected me when the system failed and the outbreak broke out. You've kept me going Benny, this whole time." Ethan said with a serious look as Benny smiled at him before closing his eyes for a bit and then reopening them.
"I...I'm glad I could help. I...I'm so tired E." Benny said, his condition deteriorating rapidly as Ethan looked at him before unbuckling and getting to his side.
"Don't fall asleep Benny...stay with me!" Ethan said as he reached up and grabbed hold of Benny's cheeks who was becoming drowsy.
"I...I feel so tired E. I...I want to sleep." Benny said as Ethan unbuckled him and brought him into his lap as he stared down at him.
"Don't close your eyes Benny, come on, it won't be much longer!" Ethan said, more tears beginning to run down his cheeks as he tried to lightly tap Benny's cheeks.
Benny just looked around dazed, his vision starting to fade as he tried to curl his fingers into a fist before realizing he didn't have enough energy to do so. He turned to look at Ethan with a smile as he looked up at the crying companion.
"Your so beautiful Ethan...I don't think I ever got to tell you that. Your...such...a special person with such...a special heart. I wish..I could have gotten to know you better. Maybe...take you out to a movie...or for a drink." Benny said, beginning to lose his sense of his surroundings as he stared up at Ethan, everything becoming more and more peaceful.
"You still can Benny! Don't give up, just stay with me! Don't close your eyes, stay awake!" Ethan said, smiling down at Benny who tried to use his good arm to reach us before it fell back down again. Ethan took Benny's hand and placed it onto his cheek as Benny smiled at him.
"Such a special person...with such a special heart. Never...quit being...who you are..please don't cry." Benny said with a slight frown as he stared up into Ethan's tear stained eyes, using his strength to caress Ethan's cheeks.
"Shhh...conserve your strength. It's all going to be fine Benny...just don't go to sleep okay...just don't go to sleep." Ethan said as he began to cry harder, the pilot looking into her mirror at the both of them as she wiped at her eyes. Benny just smiled at him as the darkness seemed to envelop everything but Ethan, who still remained in his vision for a few seconds longer before finally disappearing. Benny felt everything go cold as he remembered the feeling of Ethan's cheek in his hand.
Dream
Benny's eyes opened up as he felt himself drifting through the eternal vacuum of space. He looked around to see vast swaths of color as galaxies silently drifted by and stars twinkled in the distance. Benny smiled as he took in the beauty of space, the star light relaxing him. He reached out at one of the nearby stars, it's light so radiant and beautiful it beckoned to him. He watched as the plasma of the star shot off into space in a solar flare as the heat warmed him up. He smiled as he thought back to how Ethan told him of looking up at the stars on lonely nights. That's when he remembered Ethan, he was nowhere to be seen.
"Ethan? Ethan! Where are you?" Benny hollered out, his voice being silenced by the void of space as he looked around him, a new sensation of loneliness overtaking him. "How can I enjoy the beauty of this...if there's no one else to share it with?" Benny said to himself quietly. He looked at the star, it's light still drawing him in as it beckoned to him.
"I want to go back...I want to go back! Send me back!" Benny hollered out towards the star, it's roar seeming to grow louder and louder as the light began to get brighter and brighter.
"Ethan! Come back to me! I want to go back, do you hear me!?" Benny screamed as he looked at the star defiantly, it's heat only growing more intense. Benny screamed at the star, finally diving towards it as he screamed at it.
"SEND ME BACK!" Benny said, his voice seeming to drop off into a echo as the light grew brighter and brighter.
End of Dream
Benny's senses came back as he felt himself being rolled down a hallway, a light being flashed into his eyes as he looked around dazed.
"Where's Ethan?" Benny asked, his voice soft as he noticed Sarah and Erica pushing the gurney before they both looked down at him. With a flash of light, they were replaced by two unfamiliar women as a man continued to shine a light into his eyes. Benny felt himself slipping back in sleep as everything slipped away once more.