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It was difficult to avoid the whispers emanating from that room. It was only Two, after all, was it not? But, there was also something… off.
Gaty knew her friend was in trouble, and did everything within her power to arrive at their side to aid in any way she could manage. But, now she was being lured into a room by what sounded like her friend, however she knew it simply was not them.
“Two?”
She tried to drown out the unnerving voice with her own, hoping to somehow get through to them and bring them back to their senses. This infection was affecting them differently; none of the other ‘zombies’ appeared sentient enough to speak. It filled her brain with unanswered questions, but also provided a glimmer of hope. Perhaps she could somehow still get through to her friend?… Before it was too late. She did not want to think about that.
“Over here…”
The voice sent chills up her spine. She wanted nothing more than to run away, to return to her teammates, to not feel so alone… but despite it all she persisted forward. To her, her feelings did not matter at the moment, what mattered was helping her friend, even if it meant facing a side of them she never wanted to see.
“Two… are you okay?…”
She nearly lost her footing as the door before her effortlessly flew open.
“In here… come on…”
“Uh… Two…? I’m… a little freaked out…”
She forced a small, hesitant giggle at the end of her words. Anything to help calm the tension in the air. This was not her Two, and the realization of such made her feel ill.
“…Inside…,” the whispered voice beckoned her once more.
Gaty tensed up slightly. Her gut screamed at her to run away, but her heart begged her to continue on. Heaving a defeated sigh, she moved forward and slipped into the room.
“I know you’re not you right now, but…”
She only tensed up further, going completely rigid upon seeing the familiar sofa before her.
“Come on…”
The final whispered plea willed Gaty’s legs to move. She shakily bounced onto the couch, her gaze flitting around the room anxiously. Being unable to see her companion did not ease her nerves in the slightest.
After a brief silence without any interjections from Two, Gaty finally decided to break through the empty darkness.
“Two…? You there?…”
A shadowy figure bolted from the corner of the room, making its way behind the couch at an alarming speed. Gaty shot up from her place on the couch, eyes widening with fear. Her body trembled as she attempted to adjust her vision against the darkness.
“TWO?!”
She did not want to turn around; she already knew who was there. In the end, though, her curiosity and concern won, and she whipped around to come face-to-face with a sickly version of her best friend.
“I-Is that–, a-are you okay?”
She knew that they were not themself in this moment, that they probably were not even aware of her presence, but she attempted to communicate regardless. Gaty was finally able to understand fully what this infection had done to her friend. Their eyes were completely unfocused, and drool rolled down their chin. Their limbs hung loosely at their side, although their stature appeared rigid and stiff, as if the infection had taken complete control over their physical being.
As she observed her friend closely, she begun to realize they were not moving at all. Her voice dropped to a whisper, barely able to muster up any further words.
“Two… are you okay…?”
It did not take long for Gaty to feel a new sensation burning at her cheeks. Tears seeped from her eyes, as she was unable to witness Two in such a state any longer.
“Two, please, I want to help you… what do I do? What can I do?!”
Two had not moved from their spot. They simply stared into the distance, and Gaty was unsure if they had even registered her presence.
“Two…”
She got up from the couch, nearly tripping over her own feet as she stumbled toward her friend. Was this a bad idea? What if she got infected? What if Two hurt her?
“Two, you remember me, right? It’s me, Gaty… your best friend…”
She moved closer, finally gaining some confidence to will away her underlying fear. Whatever happens now happens, she decided. There was no turning back now.
“Two, please look at me…”
Gaty was scared. No, she was terrified. Whenever an object got injured or killed, they could just be recovered. But Two was not an object. Would the Recovery Center even work on them? Is… Two gone… forever…?
Gaty felt her heart sink. She did not want to think about that right now, but the thought kept replaying in her mind on loop. Her fears were becoming reality, it seemed, and she was not ready to face it.
“I can’t lose you.”
She sniffled slightly, her vocal chords aching as she tried to force words beyond her sobs.
“You’re my friend. You’re my best friend. I care about you so much more than you could possibly understand, Two.”
Her heart almost shattered in her chest as her friend remained unmoving in front of her. She had to fix this. She had to save them. She had to do something.
“Two please.” Her voice broke, her legs finally giving way beneath her as she fell forward. She landed atop Two’s once soft fur, which was now slightly matted from their sickness.
From that point onward, the only thing the heartbroken object could muster were weak sobs. Her face remained pressed against Two’s chest, leaning heavily on the algebralien for support.
Gaty felt regret. She hated herself for waiting so long, for never telling Two how much they meant to her when she actually had the chance. And, now they were gone. Two would never know how Gaty truly felt.
Her sobs eventually melted into choked wheezing, and she struggled to catch her breath. The world felt as though it were spinning, and Gaty tried to fight the dizziness that overpowered her. She managed a few strangled deep breaths, blinking away her tears. The dryness in her throat initially withheld her ability to speak, but Gaty persisted against it, eventually forcing a few feeble words.
“Two…” Her voice was soft and hoarse. “…You’re not you. I… I don’t know if you’ll ever be you again… But…”
The gesture she managed was a bit awkward, as she did not have arms, but she managed to take Two’s hand with her foot, trying to offer some form of comfort and reassurance, to show that she was there and that she was not going to leave.
“I… I should’ve told you this sooner. You deserved to know… I… I love you, Two. I really, really do… And, I know friends say that to one another a lot but… I… love you in a way that’s… more than friendship… you know?” She looked at Two’s expression, and it remained dull and unmoving. “I love you so much, Two.”
It was surprising Gaty even managed more tears, they endlessly flowed down her cheeks. She pulled Two as close as she could, nearly drowning in their fur. She just wanted to be close to them right now, even if it was not the Two she knew and loved.
“I just… want you back… I need you, Two. You always made me feel so important… so validated… so… so loved… I,” Her words became pure gibberish as she was enveloped in another wave of sobs. “Please…”
It always seemed to work in the movies. It was her last hope. Gaty leaned forward and kissed Two, apologizing to them profusely in their mind as their lips remained locked. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I need you back, I’m so, so sorry…
She pulled back, gasping for air. Her eyes were closed. She could not bear to look at Two after doing such a thing, zombie or not.
“I’m sorry.. I’m sorry…” She whispered, completely out of breath. “I’m so–,”
She was cut off as Two’s lips covered her own once more. Her eyes went wide, kicking a bit in shock before easing into the kiss. Gaty’s body relaxed as she felt Two finally begin to move. They wrapped their arms around her, pulling her close.
When the kiss ended, Gaty could barely breathe. She could not speak, her body trembling as she tried to comprehend the events that had just unfolded.
Two had heard everything Gaty had said, and their heart ached witnessing her in such a distressed state, completely unable to comfort her.
“Gaty…?” Two whispered.
Gaty opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
“Shh, I understand.” Two did not want Gaty to exhaust herself any further. “I heard everything, Gaty. I… I didn’t know you thought of me in that way…”
Gaty’s face held a somber expression, before switching to a slightly anxious one, as if she suddenly feared rejection. She could no longer look Two in the eyes.
“Gaty,” Two pulled her chin toward them, forcing eye contact. “I love you, too, okay? You’re such a good person… you’re always there when I need you. You literally just risked your life to save me just now! I… I don’t know what I’d do without you by my side…”
“I really thought I lost you.” Gaty whispered finally, her voice frail. “But… you’re here now. And, I don’t want to regret anything like this ever again. I want to make the most of my time with you, Two.”
She stands up.
A loud bang and several terrified screams reminds her of their current situation, and she almost laughs at the absurdity of it all, still quite shaken up from the prior ordeal.
“How about after we deal with this whole zombie thing we go grab some tea together?”
Two grins. “I think I’d like that.”