Day 1: In Health and Sickness Part ll

—This seems completely stupid to me. It's bullshit. —Michael looked very angry with the decision George made. He was walking from right to left, trying to think of what to do next.

—Do you think helping others is bullshit? —Jason sipped a canned soda, while watching Michael, keeping a serious expression.

—Yes! George and I should be far away from Vallimorth by now. We should have escaped by now! We don't need to waste any more time with a bunch of strangers. Okay, thanks for saving our asses, but we didn't ask you. We need to-

—Look, buddy, I don't like the idea of having to share my space with ungrateful fucks like you either. But it's the right thing to do, because we're not inhuman. We've seen the horrors out there! Believe me, we're better than this —Jason pulled a chocolate bar out of his pocket, and extended it to Michael.

—I don't want fucking chocolate. As soon as George finishes healing the stranger, we're leaving.

—And what makes you think George will want to leave? He seems too happy with the idea of finding more people alive. You should be grateful, we saved your ass, and all we're asking for are some fucking bandages.

—George is coming with me. He can't trade me for a bunch of strangers, he can't...

—Michael, you're being too deluded and selfish. In this situation we all need each other. What George says is true, we are going to provide you with shelter, security... food. How hard is it for you to accept the fact that we must all cooperate? We are a group now. The ultimate proof that I'm right is the fact that you and George would be dead if it weren't for our help, and if I need to throw that fact in your face to get you to come to your senses, I'll do it. We saw you through the cameras, we could have just left you there to die, cross our arms and move on, but we didn't.

—Son of a bitch... This is complete CRAP... I never liked the idea of depending on other people. People never wanted to help us... Why does everyone want to play nice now when the world treated us so badly? Just... let us go.

—It's not our decision, it looks like the decision will fall to George. Look, Michael, all we can do now is wait. Ashley is badly hurt, and I don't think it should just be treated with a band-aid.

—Fuck... —Michael crossed his arms and turned away from Jason, still hurt.

—Maybe we can talk to let the time pass. If you want... we can talk in the cafeteria. Are you hungry?

Michael smiled, and looked to the right, for it was true. He was hungry, and patted his belly when it started to do a sound in particular.

—Just a little bit... no... I don't want to...

The sound...

—I can offer you coffee with milk, and donuts.... Only if you wish!

—No need, there's no....

Jason approached Michael, inviting him back the chocolate piece and the canned soda.

—Ah... all right...

Michael took the chocolate bar and decided to join Jason. He felt like a jerk, a real jerk. He took a seat on a sofa in the cafeteria, while he saw the refrigerators and at one of the tables were Mia and Molly next to a lady who was identical to the second one. They were talking... so calmly.

—When all this started, I never thought I'd see more people alive again —Michael commented, quite uneasy. —They all started to die. My... my husband, and I, watched as those dead people mercilessly killed everyone... they didn't distinguish age, they didn't distinguish sex... they... ate and ate until... well... until there were only remains left...

Michael sighed, tired and upset because remembering those scenes was a real problem.

—George and I were eating in a restaurant when it all happened. One of those monsters came in... and slit the throat of one of the waitresses. One guy tried to intervene, but the waitress and the first asshole ripped his jaw off. I think that shit spreads too fast. Then... everyone started screaming... and hitting each other to get out through the only exit... I... I will never forget George's face... he... he is a noble soul, you know? He helps everyone he comes across and... seeing him... so fucking helpless...

—I'm really sorry to hear that, Michael... I can't imagine how hard it must have been...

—Thanks. Last thing I remember is that I took a chair and broke one of the picture windows to get out of there. I... I guess I only act out of impulse... I mean, my first priority was protecting George... I... I hurt people, Jason... I know I shouldn't say this but... I hurt people... they... they tried to do things to us, some were naked, some... had this face... I'm sorry.

—You did what you had to. Don't be sorry.

—Ah... thanks...

—So... Michael... you said something about... an infection...? How long did it take for the waitress to freak out?

Jason shoved the coffee into Michael's hands, and Michael received it, shaking.

—Seconds. That bitch turned in seconds. And the third one? The one who intervened? He took less time than she did...

—The causes of the epidemic remain a mystery... but we know that they multiply. It's frightening to think that if this gets out of Vallimorth.... —Jason clasped his hands together and rested his arms on his legs.

—Aren't you from Vallimorth? —Michael wondered if he should drink the coffee after remembering what happened at the restaurant.

—No, I'm not from here. I came to see the relatives of a friend... precisely of the injured girl, Ashley. We arrived at the mall hours ago. We broke the main entrance by crashing a car into it, he-he.... Megan, one of the girls, saved our lives. She introduced us to the shelter, and now we save as many survivors as we can.

—I see... it seems that the idea of being here for a while is not so bad... ah... in retrospect... I behaved like a jerk, Jason. You should know that I'm like this because... because it's my duty to protect George. I will not allow myself to harm him any further, we have suffered enough in life that in death... and... well... I hope that once you grow up you understand...

—Michael...

—George is all I have. A thousand pardons for the way I acted, Jason.... I'm sorry, I acted like an asshole, but you must understand that the things I saw back there... eh... and yes, I was jealous that strangers saved his life and gave him the security that I couldn't give him and...

—There's nothing to apologize for. These are hard times, too hard. I understand you... I feel the same way about my friends, about... Nikolai. There's such a burning desire in me to protect him...

—Ha... young love... I still remember it. It's a feeling that makes you feel alive, that runs through your body... I'm getting a bit old to talk like that, ha, ha.... I'm fifty-three now, and believe me...when I see George, I still see the same man I fell in love with. When I see him, I can feel that from the first moment our eyes met, I feel like the same man I felt twenty-five years ago....

—Woah!

—Yeah... So, about that Nikolai guy... you should tell him how you feel, and if you want to do it, do it now and don't waste more time, you know what I mean. Death is right on the corner and it might be too late to act... if you feel like showing your feelings for him, do it.

—How did you...?

—I could see it. The way you two see each other, you guys really have something. What you said before? That was you heart talking. Sometimes heart does things that reason can not.

—Whoa! Thanks, Michael... I...

—That's life! And that's love. Thank you, Jason... for listening to me. Oh! I haven't properly introduced myself. I'm Michael Tennyson, Rogers... It's a pleasure to be able to cooperate with you in our escape. Look!

Michael RogersMichael saw George entering with Nikolai, who helped him assist Ashley.

—George! —Michael happily greeted George, hugging his husband.

—Michael! I finally finished. The girl is doing much better. I guess... I guess this is goodbye, Jason, Nikolai... we should go, right Michael?

George commented somewhat sadly, and frightened by the fact that he would have to go out and face the terrible world out there.

—Who said that? George... we are going to stay and help these people. Is that okay with you?

Out of excitement, George hugged Michael and kissed him on the cheek.

—I think it's great! All right, guys. I hope my paramedic skills will come in handy. We have plenty of medicine at the moment, but we know we'll run out if anyone gets sick.