9 "Unknown"

It was scarred. It looked like burn-scars.

"I- What happened?.." I muttered, a shocked expression on my face. I didn't understand. What happened to him? How'd it happen?

I stared at the scarring for a couple seconds, but looked away, to not feel intrusive.

Damn, I wonder how many people died because they were in situations like that during the apocalypse.

"I do not recall." He shrugged.

"I'm so sorry that happened to you."

"You cannot stop an accident." He shrugged, yawning. "Good! You finished your meal now. If you're not still tired I'll show you the job."

"Job?" I rose my eyebrow.

"We all live here for a price, don't we?"

"Uhh.. Can I just go?" I rubbed the back of my neck, awkwardly.

"Why? This is a good place." He got up, tossing me a new pair of clothes. They felt soft in my hands.

"I'll put ya' dirty jumpsuit to the washers. Meanwhile, get changed."

He got up, walking out of the room, leaving me alone in there. I slipped out of my tracksuit, and changed into the clothes he gave me.

They felt soft and nice on my skin, felt warm and comfortable too. Moving around with them wouldn't be no problem.

He knocked.

"Come in-" I turned my head and looked at the door.

He came in, he had a mask tied around his face again, only his eyes visible.

"If everyone knows, then why do you wear it?" I asked, but then I realized I probably shouldn't have.

He approached me. "That's because it's not a pleasant thing to look at, as I said."

"Come on now."

He walked out of the room, as I followed.

I glanced around, and brought my hand up to the wall. I brushed the tips of my fingers alongside it, brushing them at the crack that stretched out along the entirety of the wall.

He walked down the hall, stopping by a door. He extended his hand for the knob, and yawned.

He turned it, and walked inside.

I just followed. I walked inside along with him, and stopped by the door.

The stench of mold filled up my nose, and I covered my mouth.

Shit, how old is this room?

"I uh.. Why'd you bring me here?" I said, my voice sounded muffled, because of the palm over my mouth, reaching up to the nose

"This'll be your room from now on. I'll give you shit to clean all this up with." He put down the bucket filled with cold water in the center of the room, tossing the cloth onto the table.

"..I'll sleep in this room?"

"Yes, why?" He turned to me.

I mean, no, the smell is fucking terrible.

"Oh! Just asked. No reason." I gave him a quick nod. I felt so sick of the smell, but I tried to push the thought of it away as possible.

He shrugged.

"If ya' need anything, I'll just be two rooms away." He said, as he walked out of the room, yawning.

"Okay-" I said, as he shut the door in my face.

I guess I shouldn't be acting that friendly.

I sighed. I just slumped down onto my bed.

I guess I could also get used to that smell. Isn't as terrible when I think about it now.

I rested my head onto the pillow. I stared at the cealing, and closed my eyes.

A long tomorrow awaits. I have to be prepared for it. I have to face the challenges that await me. The challenges that make it a real struggle.

But I've survived on my own for a long time now, and I will continue doing so.

I'll continue searching for it.

I'll continue searching for you. And everything else.

I'll look up at your face and smile again, even if it hurts. Because shit, you mean a lot. And I need you here. I need you more than ever.

Because you promised to help me through my struggles. But you didn't. You only became one of them.

I wiped off the dust off my cheek, and lowered my palm, brushing my finger across the scar that scretched out in the middle of it.

I closed my eyes, letting the air fill my lungs that hurt from the dust and everything else in the building.

I drifted off to sleep, as darkness surrounded me.

Unknown POV:

The blood dripped down onto the ground as the sound of footsteps echoed in my ears.

I couldn't move. Not a single limb in my body felt capable of moving.

As if I was locked onto the ground. Every single bone in my body felt as if broken.

The sun was rising in the distance.

The coldness surrounding me was getting to me. The morning breeze, it was getting to me, my bare shoulders starting to freeze.

"Fuck." I muttered. I couldn't move. The ruins pressed me hard to the ground. My stomach burned on the side. It was an unbearable pain. I couldn't even breathe normally.

"Need a hand?"

I glanced around. Nobody was around. Was it just hallucinations? Was I losing too much blood at this point?

Was I going to die?

The sound of footsteps was heard again.

I looked around. I couldn't move at all, so only my eyes were the good thing here.

A hand popped up from above the ruins.

It had a scar that stretched out in the middle of the palm, it looked like a scar that happened on purpose.

"..If you want to kill me, I can't move either way." I coughed out. The place was too dusty. I couldn't breathe.

My body was exhausted. I couldn't even move my arms up.

"If I wanted to kill you, I would've done it before you even knew I was here." The voice said, and I coughed out again.

The person hopped down. It was a girl, she didn't look threatening at all.

"You really could use a mask. The air is still quite toxic." She grabbed hold of her backpack, and walked up to me.

"Stay away-" I said, and I coughed out again.

She tilted her head to the side a bit, and chuckled.

"Oh, I wouldn't share my stuff with you if I were to kill you." She zipped up the backpack holding a mask in her hand.

She crouched down, and leaned in.

She reached her hands for my face, and I only looked away.

"I'm just trying to help you with the mask." She said.

"Look. If I were to hurt you, I would've done it long ago. Now, stop being a little bitch and let me help you."

I frowned.

"If you even dare I-" I stammered.

"Yeah yeah. Do whatever you want. But if you don't want to die, then listen to me and let me help you."

I stared at her hands.

She put the mask on my face, as I breathed in. The fresh air filled my lungs. It didn't hurt to breathe anymore.

"See? Better now?" She leaned back, crossing her arms.

"..I guess." I muttered.

She reached out her hand to me.

"Grab onto it and I'll help you out." She said.

I managed to reach her hand, grabbing hold of it.

She pulled me, and soon enough I was free from the ruins.

"Are you alone? Is anyone else alive?" I asked her.

I wanted to know if I was the only one who survived or not.

"I'm alone, unfortunately. And I haven't seen anyone else besides you." She wrapped her arm around my waist, trying to help me walk, as I grunted in pain.

She moved her arm up to my shoulders, and I held my palm over my wound that was on the side of my stomach.

My head was hurting a lot.

I couldn't even see clearly.

"I think I'm going to-" I said, as I collapsed.

My vision went dark.

"OI! WAKE UP!" I heard the muffled yells that were probably the girl's in the distance, as I completely blacked out.