The crack of a small pistol and everywhere stood quiet.
Silence echoed round as all eyes kept watching, what was to happen next.
"Tell me Enzo", he said. "Remind me again why I shouldn't leave a bullet in your skull?".
Slowly I gazed into his eyes.
"Well... truly I have no answer to that, but let me ask you this".
"Are you ready for a taunting chase for the rest of your sad life?".
Both our eyes locked on each other.
A smirk slowly slid beside his lips.
"Still superstitious as usual I see, little bro" he spoke chuckling, pulling his gun away.
"And the these scars"? He questioned, observing my wounds.
"He claims to have fallen on the ground", Teresa answered.
"Pfft... How original".
"I will be leaving now Dante".
"Sure thing kid, don't let the door hit you on the way out" He answered, returning to his seat.
Teresa, supported me back into the elevator then Pressed R and the door slid shut.
It slid open again in front of a passage with 5 doors.
"Come on gently" she whispered, supporting me to door 4.
From underneath her sweatshirt, she pulled out a key card, slid it along the edge of the automated security lock.
It gave a subtle beep before opening. Gently, she took me in, onto the bed and laid me down.
"Gosh, what a day" she whispered, stretching her arms in the air.
Pacey walked into the bathroom, on the opposite side of the room.
I laid there quiet.
Slowly drifting deep in thoughts.
Memories of my life before the apocalypse flashed in my head.
Tear droplets gradually crept down my eyes.
A sharp pain springed out my belly region and I jolted upright.
"Shit..." I yelled.
It was Teresa squatting close beside me.
Her right hand holding a bottle of Methyl-spirit and on the left was cotton wool pressed against my skin.
"Hold still you big baby" she giggled slowly applying pressure.
"You know, we are going to have to do something about those swear words of yours" she added.
I stared at her and smiled.
Living during the apocalypse is madness.
Even with every dawn of the cursed radioactive sun came it's own fear.
At the very outskirts of town lay a big graveyard, home to almost fifteen thousand souls, both old and young affected by the radiation.
These memories, still retained fresh in my head.
Feels just like yesterday.
When I got into a big fight at home.
The day anger got the best of me.
The day I decided to apologize.
The day I cursed the earth for letting me live in it.
Mom. Dad. Big sis. Little bro and sis.
Just a block away and I could hear that crushing sound of a mighty explosion.
Witnessing everything, fading as it drew closer.
The next few years were hell. Food was scarce. Security no longer existed. No one ever left their home without a blade.
Later, fell in with a gang.
Claimed it to be survival. Then came the drugs and the violence.
With every task more cruel and evil than the last, gradually feeling my humanity fading away. Until I became a hollow husk without a soul.
But the next task, robbery at the church did something to me. Surrounded by blood, silence and atrocities, something in me broke. Thinking I had finally snapped. Tears flowed down my eye sockets. I dropped down my weapons and walked away from it all that night.
But the price, more expensive.
I was left there to rot. Bleeding on the church floor.
And then she appeared.
Teresa.
Sitting beside me, cleaning, treating my wounds. And ever since then...
"Stop staring Liam" Teresa whispered, her cheeks glowing red.
"Uhn? I'm sorry I didn't realize", I whispered back.
"Everyday you tend to be even more prettier".
She turned to my face staring into my eyes.
Slowly standing up, and returning into the bathroom.
...I exhaled, sitting upright.
She then came out, slowly walking towards me.
"From a scale of one to ten how would you rate your pain" she asked, gradually climbing onto me.
She stayed close in front of me, our legs brushing. Her eyes locked in mine, I could feel her body warmth radiating on my skin. She sat on my thigh, her hands wrapped around my shoulders.
She leaned in, her breath warm against my ear.
"On a scale of one to ten, how bad is your pain?" she whispered.
I swallowed, my throat dry.
She unwrapped her arms, then began unbuckling my belt.
"6" I admitted.
Then pulled down my pants, and sat back on my thigh.
"From a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate your pain?" she asked again.
I could feel her soft warm lap pressed against my thigh. She had no panty on (a thought flashed in my head).
She held my hands gently, guiding me to rest them on her shoulders. Her presence was grounding, almost electrifying.
"Six," I admitted.
She nodded, her eyes softening, then shifted slightly closer, offering silent support.
"Again," she murmured, just inches from me, her voice warm and calm.
I met her gaze, feeling the intensity of her concern. "Six," I repeated.
Her hand brushed mine lightly, a simple touch that sent a shiver through me. There was something unspoken between us, care, trust, and a tension that didn't need words.
An hour later we laid beside each other, the bedsheet covering parts of us.
"Liam? What's wrong?" she whispered, playing with my hair.
"what do you mean?".
"I'm not sure, but sometimes I sense something, like anger or sadness coming from you" she added.
I exhaled.
"Oh babe, you worry too much".
She pulled my hair slightly "Of course I'll worry, it's about you we're talking about Liam".
"Oh come on, I'm ok" I whispered back.
"Liam you're everything I care about, and I'm scared that I may loose you some day "she phrased.
I paused.
"Alright fine".
"Sometimes, I feel caged by the sins of my past, and I don't know how to pay for all the terrible things i've done".
"Hey, that was the you of before, not the man you are now" she encouraged.
"Yeah but even if your boil, fry or peel a potato, it's still the same potato, it doesn't turn to a yam or a banana".
"Well it wouldn't, but the next stage of what it becomes, either fried or peeled is what matters" she qouted.
"Wow, I didn't realize I'm dating a wise woman".
"Well, I'm more than just a 20 year old doctor" she spoke, standing up and walking to the wardrobe.
"Come on, let's go" she uttered pulling out a dress from the wardrobe.
"Go where?" I asked.
"The club downstairs Liam" she chuckled.
I wore a shirt then she took my hand, dragging me downstairs.
The club, raving, colourful and loud. Surrounded by different people. Some who showed abnormalities in there genome as a result of the Gama poisoning like glowing eyes, partially disfigured appearance etc.
"Alright babe, you start warming those hips I'll go get drinks" Teresa yelled.
I stood there observing every activity going on as she walked away.
"Hey, you with someone?" A feminine voice spoke from behind me.
I turned to find a pretty, average heighted dark-skinned girl.
"Oh hey, I'm actually came with someone" I replied.
"Ahhh, I see all cool" she answered. "Hey you're with Dante, uhm...Enzo right?".
"Yeah but my friends call me Liam".
"Alright Li..am, it was nice meeting you in person enjoy the part ok".
"Sure thing, thanks it was nice meeting you too" I complemented as she slowly disappeared amongst the crowd. What a nice girl.
"Liam!" My name echoed.
I turned and it seemed to had come from outside.
Came outside and found Teressa strapped in a car.
Teresa! I yelled, immediately hopping onto a parked motorcycle beside the club and chased after.
The trail lead me to an long abandoned bottling factory.
Slowly I crept in quietly through on of its broken windows.
The feminine scream coming from within, hastened my speed.
There she was, with other girls about her age.
Tired down, almost naked surrounded by 3 men.
"Alright, let's get down with is fine gal" one of the men spoke, adjustments his belt.
Animals! I yelled, slamming him in the face with my fist.
He fell to the floor and the others came after.
I quickly pulled out a pocket knife, then ran towards Teresa, untying her hand.
Free yourself and the girls, I'll handle this losers.
The punched another man down and Swiftly ran into another room.
The 4 men came after.
Punches swung around, accompanied by blood splashing in diverse corners.
Then the room became silent.
Liam! Teresa yelled running into the room.
I'm right here i answered.
Tears were pouring down her eyes, as she ran towards me with a hug.
I grunted a little.
"Hun? Are you ok?" She whispered.
"Yeah I'm alright, let's go home".
We got on the motorcycle and drove back home.
I stepped into my room, hurriedly stepped into the bathroom.
Panting and gritting my teeth.
I faced the mirror.
Slowly I lifted up my shirt.
Starting at a stab wound in my abdomen.
Pulsing and irritating.
Shit! I exclaimed.