Chapter Text
Langa awoke from the sensation of someone padding down flexible fabric onto his right arm and right leg. He must’ve let out some sort of noise, because the person who was bandaging him up stopped and moved closer to him. This let Langa finally see who was treating him. The person had spiky red hair that had sticks and mud mingled in and sad amber eyes that seemed to be lost in thought. Langa also noted that he wore a ripped, dark blue bandana that was wrapped around his forehead.
“Hel—” he was cut off by coughs. He wanted to greet the young man who had just helped him, but his body had other plans. A wave of nausea hit him, and he closed his eyes.
“Don’t speak.” The stranger instructed him, and Langa quieted down immediately.
The stranger then resumed his task of bandaging him up. The pressure from the cloth pressing against his wound caused him to let out more desperate noises of agony. He could feel the other stop, wait a little, then continue every time Langa let out a pained cry. The already-bandaged areas were stinging and throbbing, and every now and then he would feel a sharp pang. Langa tried to relax and swallow the gnawing sensation brewing within his stomach.
What brings you joy? Think about that, and the pain will be gone…
That’s what his mother used to tell him as a little kid whenever he had to go see a doctor. What made him happy? Snowboarding with his dad…but he is gone now. Ever since his death, Langa couldn’t bring himself to look at a snowboard. Okay well…what about having dinner with his mom?
…
She is gone now too. Attacked by zombies and left to rot in the street. He bit his lip to stop himself from crying.
Minutes later, the stranger finished tending to Langa’s injuries. He tried to sit up, but…
“Ow!” Langa yelped. A sharp sting on his abdomen prevented him from sitting up.
“Slow,” the stranger advised, and helped pull Langa up. It still stung, but not as much.
“Thank you,” he breathed out. “May I have your name?”
“Reki. Reki Kyan,” Reki muttered, not meeting Langa’s gaze.
Langa smiled. “Nice to meet you, Reki. My name is Langa Hasegawa.”
He reached out to shake Reki’s hand but was denied. Not a sociable person, Langa thought. But then again, who would be? It was the end of the world for all he knew! It’s wise to be cautious, it’s wise not to get attached, and anyone can betray anyone. Langa had to constantly remind himself that this was different from the world he grew up in. People don’t do handshakes anymore.
He sighed and looked around. They were in a store. An abandoned one, of course, but still. Broken glass and debris littered the floor. It had definitely been raided. Almost everything was stripped from the shelves, except moldy food, soda cans, and wrappers. Ants and other insects scavenged for the tiniest of crumbs on the floor. Clusters of maggots wiggled around. And ew, is that a cockroach?! Langa shivered at the icky insects. He was never going to get used to the amount of bugs that appeared in abandoned places. He examined the area around him to look for his bag, but it was nowhere to be found. He felt frustrated at the thought that someone probably stole it while he was still unconscious. He didn’t care about the food in the bag being stolen. However, there was his favorite childhood plushie, the one his mom gave him on his 7th birthday. He swore not to lose it…
There was a fallen shelf lying dangerously close to him. Was the shelf the reason he got wounded and knocked unconscious?
He looked at Reki for confirmation.
“Half of your body was underneath the shelf. I had to pull you out. Be glad there was a conveniently placed box that prevented the shelf from crushing you completely,” Reki explained.
He remembered now! He moved a box in front of the shelf to reach for the food on the top when it suddenly collapsed and fell on him. Thank goodness for that box!
“Why did you save me?” Langa blurted out the question stuck in his mind since the moment he opened his eyes.
Reki froze at that question. He thought for a moment, then shrugged. “It would have kept me up at night knowing that I had a chance to save someone’s life and didn’t take it. My mother told me to help others whenever I can.” He said the last part quietly, as if he would accidentally pop a balloon in his chest.
Langa felt the same. He also had a balloon in his chest waiting to pop at any moment. It would be difficult to think of anyone who didn’t have that fragile little balloon. It carried traumas and bottled-up feelings not ready to meet the surface yet.
He perfectly remembered the day the apocalypse started. He and his mom had just moved to Okinawa, and he hadn’t even gone to his new school for a week. He recalled walking through the front door, expecting to see his mother’s usual cheerful face, but instead was met with a horrified one as she stared at the TV. According to the news channel, a popular candy brand “Eander” was slipping viruses into their products that could gradually turn a human into a mindless zombie. The candy brand was a cover up for their true motive, and that was to develop a virus that could successfully wipe out humanity. Why’d they do it? The reason was still unknown. Their facility was said to be currently investigated by the national police in hopes of putting a stop to the madness. Chaos erupted in Okinawa and all over the world. It was rather cruel of Eander to infuse the virus into a food that mostly children ate, so now mostly children were infected. Many mothers and fathers let their infected children bite them because what parent would kill or abandon their child, zombie or not? The virus spread quickly. People started giving it the name “End-Virus” because it was believed to be the end of humanity. Stores were getting raided pretty quickly, weapons were fiercely fought over, and “survival groups” were formed.
Langa’s mother had told him that she’d get some food from a nearby store. Langa wanted to come along, but his mother wouldn’t hear it, so he didn’t go. In the end when Langa stepped outside to check on his mother after she’d been gone for hours, the sight he found left him trembling and having nightmares for weeks.
A poke from Reki pulled him out of his memories.
“Let’s go now, ‘kay?” he told him.
Langa stared at him, bewildered. “You’re willing to bring me along?”
Not that Langa wasn’t relieved, in fact, Langa was very relieved, but he knew that trusting someone—especially a stranger he just met—was dangerous. The same goes for Reki. What if Langa turned out to be some kind of crazy serial killer?
“I’m not gonna leave an injured Langa Hasegawa to fend for himself. That’d just be cruel.” Reki said bluntly. “So, that means you’re coming with me, whether you like it or not.”
“Okay. Let’s go,” Langa tried to stand up, but he was still a bit wobbly from his injuries.
Reki noticed. He immediately offered him his shoulder to lean on for support. Langa flashed him a grateful smile.
“Just so you know,” Reki explained, “we’re going to try to find my sister. She’s been missing for two months now.”
Langa nodded understandingly. “Do you know where to start looking?”
Reki shook his head sadly. “I know it’s somewhere in Okinawa. She shouldn’t have gone far.”
A wave of determination washed over Langa. He was going to help Reki find his sister no matter what. After all, Reki went out of his way to help him, a total stranger!
Reki led Langa out of the store, treading carefully so as to not cause any unnecessary pain to Langa. He couldn’t help but glance back at the store once more, glad to leave the insect-infested place behind. Turning around from the store, he noticed that Reki was clutching a skateboard underneath his arm.
“You can skate?”
Reki nodded sheepishly. “It’s useless in a zombie apocalypse, but-”
“Not at all!” Langa interrupted, a speck of admiration in his tone. “You could escape from zombies on that thing. Way more effective than running. And if you get a gun you could shoot zombies while zooming past them on a skateboard. You’d look really cool!” Langa could go on and on about how useful a skateboard can be in a zombie apocalypse.
Reki stared. “I’d never thought about that…” he admitted. Then he grinned. “If you want, I could teach you how to ride a skateboard.”
Langa was surprised but touched at the offer. He’d been meaning to try out a new hobby ever since he stopped snowboarding. Unfortunately, no hobby he considered ever clicked. Since skateboarding was similar to snowboarding, he was willing to try it out, especially since he just spent a minute talking about how useful a skateboard is.
He looked up at Reki and met his eyes for the first time. “I’d love it if you taught me.”
A small smile tugged at the corners of Reki’s mouth. “Your lessons start the moment you’re feeling better.” He reached out as if he wanted to give Langa a playful nudge, but stopped himself just in time and left his arm hanging in midair. His smile disappeared and he put his arm down.
Langa’s stomach grumbled. He realized he probably hadn’t eaten in days.
“Here.” Reki reached into his bag and took out a small piece of stale bread. He tossed it at Langa. “It’s not much, but it’ll ease your hunger for at least a little while.”
Langa gave him a heartfelt smile. “Thank you,” he whispered before biting the bread. It was a little hard and tasted plain, but he appreciated any scrap of food. After all, food was one of the most valuable items in this new world. He ate the bread awkwardly. Reki had pulled him from underneath the shelf, bandaged up his injuries, was willing to take him with him as he searched for his sister despite Langa slowing him down, offered to teach him skateboarding, and was giving him food. Langa had given Reki nothing in return. He couldn’t help but feel exceedingly guilty. Reki didn’t seem to notice Langa’s inner conflict and discussed plans about where to stay for the night with himself. It was getting dark, and they’d be in big trouble if they didn’t find a hidden place to rest. The infected turn more hostile and move faster during the night. If they’d run into one it’d mean certain death.
Luckily, they had managed to find a suitable place soon enough. It was a small, abandoned store. From where they were standing, Langa could see that the roof had access to it. If they reached the roof and closed it off so that no zombies would be able to get in, there was a high chance of them making it through the night.
Reki opened the half-broken door of the shop and Langa winced at the loud creaking sound it made. They’ll be safe as long as there are no zombies nearby to hear that sound. Zombies had terrible vision and primarily relied on their sense of smell and hearing. They were also rather slow and weak in the day, so they often came in large groups. Except the little zombies. The little zombies were the first among the infected. They were children who unknowingly consumed the virus through the candy. For some reason being infected with the virus firsthand instead of getting it from being bitten made the short zombies exceptionally fast and harder to kill.
Langa stumbled around the store. He couldn’t see that well without a flashlight, and the only one they had was in the hands of Reki, who used it to search the way to the roof instead of illuminating Langa’s path. From the limited vision he had, he could see keychains and fridge magnets scattered across the floor. Shirts and hats and other accessories joined the chaos. Langa couldn’t help but stare at the cheesy souvenirs and wonder if things will ever go back to how they were before. Reki’s flashlight landed on a dusty ladder that led to a roof hatch. This was it. He motioned for Langa to follow, then helped him climb the ladder. Langa couldn’t help but wince; the pain from his injuries had not disappeared yet.
Once they were both successfully up on the roof, Reki let out a sigh of relief. Langa was about to celebrate, but was interrupted by Reki intensely rummaging through his bag and pulling out a sleeping bag.
“I only have one, so we’ll have to share,” Reki said apologetically.
“That’s okay,” Langa chimed. “We’re friends, aren’t we?”
He regretted those words as soon as they left his mouth. The word ‘friends’ left Reki staring. His uncertain, penetrating gaze made Langa shift uncomfortably. They’d just met not even five hours ago, and Langa was out here calling them friends. There was no such thing as ‘friends’ in an apocalypse. If only Langa actually remembered that.
Moments later, Reki shook his head and turned away.
“Just go to sleep.”
He felt his heart drop.
Langa started to kick off his shoes when he heard Reki say, “you’re just a stranger that I’m helping,” in a quiet, faltering voice.
That one little falter told Langa that they were indeed friends. A small smile appeared on his face and he closed his eyes, feeling more peaceful than he had in weeks from the warmth of Reki’s body pressed up against his. He eventually managed to fall asleep from listening to Reki's steady breathing.
— — —
When Langa woke up the next morning, Reki was already awake and opening a can of soup. He looked tense and his hair was tangled from tossing and turning in the cramped sleeping bag.
“You good?” Langa asked groggily.
Reki jerked his head towards Langa, then dipped his head in acknowledgement. “Yeah, sorry for worrying you. Did you sleep well?”
“Better than I had since this whole mess started,” Langa admitted.
He surprised himself with his answer. Sleeping right next to someone you just met was a bit awkward. He knew he longed for human contact; he hasn’t seen another person in over three months now. Perhaps sleeping next to another living, breathing human helped him relax and feel safe.
“That’s good.” After a long awkward pause, Reki continued, “We’ll have to share this can of soup given that I don’t have much food left. Also, I don’t have anything to heat the soup up with, so we’ll have to eat it cold.”
“I’m okay with that,” Langa smiled. He wasn’t in any position to express dissatisfaction. Reki had given him so much already…
Reki handed him the cold, broth-based soup, and he ate it without uttering a single complaint. He never had cold soup before, so he didn’t really know what to expect. It was surprisingly palatable, and he definitely never would’ve imagined it to be this creamy.
“We should stay here for a couple of weeks,” Reki announced suddenly while Langa was still gulping down the soup, enjoying its coolness in the June heat.
“Hm?” Langa was a bit confused. There weren't enough useful resources in the souvenir shop, so staying here wouldn’t make sense.
“It’s not good for you to walk around when your wounds haven’t fully healed. I’ll take care of you,” Reki explained.
Oh. Langa felt stupid for not realizing this sooner, especially since he was the one injured. He couldn’t help but feel guilty when Reki said he’ll take care of him. Yet again, Langa had unintentionally given more work to him.
“You should rest for now. If you need anything, tell me,” he said.
Langa nodded, then laid back down on the sleeping bag since moving too much hurt. He was amazed at the fact that he managed to walk from the bug-infested convenience store all the way to this souvenir shop. That had to be at least a three-mile walk. But he wasn’t alone, he was with Reki. The shoulder he gave him to lean on helped him greatly. He couldn't explain it, but he felt braver with Reki by his side.
Yet he was still scared. The undead were out there hunting. Sooner or later he would have to face one for real this time. He got extremely lucky by never running into a zombie directly, but the blood-curdling screams he heard in the distance told him everything he needed to know. He tried to steady his breathing and closed his eyes. He didn’t want to think about any of it. Not the mistakes he made in the past, not what he wishes to do in the future, and certainly not the circumstances he’s forced to survive in the present.
The next time Langa opened his eyes, he found Reki sitting on the other side of the roof. He was moving his hands nonstop, presumably building something. Langa tilted his head to try to get a better look at whatever he was building, but the distance between them was far too big for Langa to get a good look.
So, he had no choice but to call out.
“What are you building?”
Reki turned around at the sound of Langa’s voice.
“It’s a secret,” Reki grinned. “You’ll see once you have healed.”
Langa accepted that and didn’t press further.
“Oh, by the way,” Reki stood up, “are you hungry? I was out scavenging while you were asleep and found some berries. They’re not much but they’re good for a light snack.”
Langa shook his head profusely. “I can’t take them. You’ve given me so much already.”
Reki sighed. “Don’t be silly. You need to eat to heal faster. The faster you heal, the faster we’ll be able to start searching for my sister. Both of us will benefit from you eating these berries.”
Reki practically shoved the berries in Langa’s face. He gladly took them, but not before splitting the amount of berries and giving Reki half of them. He popped the berries into his mouth. They appeared to be wineberries, and tasted juicy and sweet.
“These are really good. And they grow pretty close to the shop?”
Reki nodded. The corners of his mouth were stained with berry juice, and Langa couldn’t help but laugh.
“What’s so funny?!” he frowned.
“You look like a kid who tried his moms makeup on for the first time,” Langa teased. Then, he shook his head with feigned disappointment. “I bet you don’t have any table manners.”
“Rude,” he said with mock indignation. “I’ll have you know my table manners are top-tier.”
They laughed and joked a little more, then Reki sat down beside him and they both observed the city below them. Langa couldn’t help but feel mournful at the sight of the wrecked buildings and damaged street lamps. The city that was once bustling and full of life was a ghost town now. Rodents, birds, cats, dogs, and insects became the primary citizens of Okinawa ever since the humans left. Langa clenched his fist. He wasn’t the type to get angry, but knowing that the outbreak started because some selfish company produced food containing the virus…well, that was enough to leave him furious. He still couldn’t grasp the idea of how anyone could do such a thing. How could some people be so cruel?
Reki unexpectedly tensed up and fixated his gaze on one specific area. Seeing him so stiff made Langa worried.
“Is everything okay?”
“Shh,” Reki whispered.
It was not until moments later that his shoulders relaxed.
“False alarm. It was just a cat,” Reki let out a sigh of relief.
“And you thought it was?”
“A zombie,” he shuddered.
Langa gently patted his shoulder. “Thank you for being on the lookout.”
He shrugged. “It’s the least I could do. I don’t want that to happen again…”
His voice grew quiet and brittle. A dainty vase on the verge of falling.
Langa refrained from asking what “that” was. It wasn’t his place. Instead he fell silent and let Reki enjoy the peaceful quiet. Birds chirped in the sky, pleasantly unaware of the current dire situation of the world. The wind ruffled their hair and the sun provided comfortable warmth. He wholeheartedly wished that they were normal schoolboys relaxing in the summer heat, but he knew that this dream of his was ludicrous.
— — —
Langa healed over the next two weeks. In that time, Reki would bring him berries that he’d find growing in the desolate streets every morning. He’d check up on his wounds, clean them, and replace the bandages. And he’d always work on something that he never allowed Langa to see, claiming it was for ‘when Langa got better.’
Well, Langa did get better, and he was patiently awaiting the moment when Reki would finally show him.
“Hey Langa!” Reki came up to him carrying something behind his back with a silly grin plastered on his face.
“Good morning. What do you have there?”
Reki’s grin widened and he whipped out a….skateboard?! Langa gaped. He knew it wasn’t Reki’s, since Reki’s board had a different design and color scheme.
“Did you build that?” Langa cried out in disbelief and astonishment.
“Sure did!” Reki said proudly. “I used to work at a skate shop. I would repair skateboards and custom design them as well. So I’m basically a skateboard pro.”
He nudged the skateboard towards Langa.
“Take it. It’s yours now.”
Langa stared at the skateboard that was now his. It was blue with a white yeti design on the side. The colors reminded him of snowboarding.
“It’s wonderful,” He eventually managed to breathe out.
“I knew you’d like it,” Reki rubbed his neck. “So, when do you want me to start teaching-”
“Right now.”
Langa’s eyes twinkled with a newfound determination.
“I can do it.” He bowed down to Reki respectfully.
Reki flung his palms out and waved them around when he saw Langa bow down. “You don’t gotta do all that, it’s embarrassing!” He complained.
Langa held up his skateboard. “How do I start?”
It kinda looked like a snowboard, except it had wheels. It also didn’t have any bindings on it, which worried him considerably.
“Put it down first. Step on it one foot at a time.”
Langa nodded and slowly placed his front foot on the board, then the opposite foot. Just when he thought he did it, he lost his balance and stumbled, eventually causing the skateboard to shoot out under him and leave him on the ground. Reki couldn’t help but laugh. “Man, even the preschoolers are better at this than you.”
Langa pouted. “Maybe I wouldn’t have fallen if you actually showed me how to do it.” His ears were hot with embarrassment. He was so sure he’d be good.
Reki grinned. “Alright, alright, let me show you how it’s done!” Reki, with familiar ease, placed his foot on the skateboard and pushed the board with his other foot. The skateboard took off rather smoothly, and Reki even managed to jump over a rock that was in the way with a swift ollie. Langa could only stare in fascination.
“Wow, Reki, you’re amazing!” he praised him.
“Heh, thanks. Now you try.” Reki handed the skateboard back to him.
Langa took the skateboard and tried to replicate Reki’s moves. It was a little better than last time, but Langa still ended up on the floor.
“Uhh, do you have tape?”
Reki looked at him curiously. “What do you need that for?”
Langa glanced at the ground then back at Reki. “To tape my feet to the board,” he said flatly.
Reki suppressed a light-hearted laugh. “Don’t give up just yet. A few more tries and you’re sure to get it! Besides, we don’t have any tape. Sorry.”
Langa nodded, brushed himself up, and tried again.
And again.
And again.
The fourth time, he hit a small pebble that caused him to fall face-first into the concrete. “Ouch…” he rubbed his nose, which now had a small scratch on it, and his eyes, which were now glossy from the dust.
“Skateboarding is a dangerous sport,” he decided.
Reki raised his eyebrow. “And snowboarding isn’t?”
He shut up real quick after that.
His fifth attempt went smoothly. That is, supposing he actually knew how to stop a skateboard and didn’t slam into the low wall of the roof.
Every time he fell, Reki would always be ready to help him up, check for injuries, and fan him every now and then with a towel.
Reki patted his shoulders supportively. “You are good for a first-timer. Few people get it on the first day.”
Langa thanked him for the encouragement. “But I won’t stop trying. Not while there’s still daylight left.”
Reki sighed. “Love the enthusiasm, but make sure not to over-exhaust yourself. Meanwhile, I’m gonna go find some food.”
Langa nodded and watched him leave. Then he stepped on his board again. He was so used to snowboarding that standing on a skateboard felt weird.
What if I apply the skills I picked up from snowboarding to skateboarding?
A stupid idea, but Langa just had to try it out. He took a deep breath, bent his knees, and adjusted his stance. He probably looked goofy to any skateboarding pro, but this stance felt more comfortable. He used his foot to push the skateboard.
It’s moving! I’m moving!
It was similar to snowboarding, but Langa still stumbled a little and hopped off the skateboard. No crash this time! He was making huge progress. He looked around for Reki with a ‘did you see that?’ look before remembering that he went to find food. Langa sighed in disappointment. Whatever, there were still plenty of chances to show off his newly learned skill. He rewarded himself with a little break and sat by the edge of the roof. He could see Reki’s tiny figure scavenging the overgrown areas, probably searching for berries. And then…
His blood ran cold.
There was a zombie slowly approaching Reki. It was about 350 yards away—dangerously close. He had no time to think. The fastest way to get there would be by skateboard, but Langa wasn’t good…
Forget it. He was pretty decent the last time he tried to skate. And he couldn’t waste a millisecond. Langa slid down the ladder and sprinted out the front door. He threw the skateboard on the ground and hopped on it, heart racing. The trees flashed past him and he felt the breeze ruffling his hair. But he had no time to celebrate this achievement. Reki was first on his list of priorities. He had to warn him about the monster approaching from the opposite side. Just then his skateboard hit a rock, which caused Langa to lose balance.
Damn it!
His heart dropped; he was going to fall.
He shut his eyes and the first scene that came into his mind was a pristine snow-adorned mountain. He was snowboarding while the falling snow stung and beat at his skin.
Just like old times.
Back when his father was still alive, they’d always snowboard together. It was a bittersweet memory, one that Langa wanted but could not forget. Despite that, he firmly navigated through the heavy, frigid snow. The freshly fallen ones crunched under his snowboard. He remembered why he liked snowboarding so much. It was exhilarating to glide down the mountain; it was thrilling to rush past the crisp spruces and feel the howling wind slicing at his face. He liked the precision it took not to topple over and tumble down, and the freedom he felt.
So many reasons and yet he stopped.
His mind returned to the real world. Somehow, he avoided falling down from hitting the rock. Langa felt more relaxed on the skateboard now. He had a sturdier grip and a more comfortable stance.
“Reki!” Langa was nearing him now.
Reki turned around at the sound of his own name. His eyes widened when they caught a glimpse of Langa.
“What are you doing here? It’s dangerous!” He cried out.
“It’s more dangerous to go alone!” Langa protested. Being alone meant being more likely to succumb to fatal injuries. There would be no one to carry him back, and no one to shield him from an attack.
He hopped off his skateboard and took a minute to catch his breath.
“There’s not much time to explain but,” Langa gasped, “When I was looking at you from the roof, I noticed a zombie not too far from you. I didn’t know if you would notice in time, so-”
Reki shushed him before he could finish and frantically looked around. The atmosphere around them shifted; unease and tension sprouted. Every time a zombie was mentioned, Reki would go rigid and anxious. This time was no exception. “Where is it?” The trembling in Reki’s voice surprised Langa. His distraught eyes darted in all directions.
“It was…” Langa scanned the area. It wasn’t there anymore. He let out a surprised gasp. “I can’t find it, but I swear I saw it…” his voice trailed off when Reki grabbed his arm and started pulling him towards the souvenir shop.
“Are you sure you saw it?” His voice was both sharp and panicked.
Langa nodded meekly. Reki walked faster. Langa wanted to say something, but every time he opened his mouth he’d get pinched.
“Be quiet!” Reki hissed when he tried to speak for the third time. “They can hear you,” he said in an unsteady, broken voice.
Right. Langa had totally forgotten about that. The undead was blind, but had excellent hearing. They could also smell blood from a mile away. As they were nearing the shop, a loud roar made them stop dead in their tracks. It sounded like…
“Run!” Reki seized Langa’s hand and bolted. The blaring roar raged on. He thought zombies only grunted or hissed or growled; not full on roared. It worried him a little.
Then it showed itself. All suddenly, like a jumpscare in a video game. He wanted to scream, but nothing came out. His knees buckled and he would’ve collapsed if Reki wasn’t there to catch him. Langa averted his eyes from the zombie. The one glimpse he caught of it was enough to make him puke and he certainly didn’t need a better look. The zombie—from the horrible sight that was now forever engraved in his brain—had sickly skin and sunken eyes. Blood was smeared over its hands, and wet, glistening guts were on the verge of spilling from its mouth. The stench was putrid, as if it came straight from the depths of the sewers.
It lunged, arms flailing and bits of flesh falling out, but Reki’s fast thinking saved them. He pushed Langa to the front, out of harm’s way, and used himself as a shield for Langa. “Go go go!” For someone who had so much fear in his eyes, Reki was pretty clear on what to do. Unlike Langa, whose legs betrayed him and refused to budge. Reki had to push his back for him to snap out of his fear-state and run. The zombie looked around, confused, then broke into a terrifyingly fast sprint. Langa had never run faster, and he cursed himself for not joining the track team in middle school. Perhaps this fatal game of cat-and-mouse would have been easier for him if he had. His heart pounded loudly against his chest, and he was pretty sure the whole city could hear it.
“I thought zombies were weak and slow during the day! And since when can they sprint?” Langa cried out.
“None of the…limited information given to us…by the national police is certain,” Reki gasped, his chest heaving.
Langa’s hand collided against the door of the souvenir shop so hard that it left his palm stinging. Reki rushed in behind him and slammed the door shut. The zombie, which was right behind them, smashed into the fragile glass door, shattering it completely. Glass shards rained on the zombie. Some pierced its body, some fell down on the floor. The remaining shards scattered across the shop. The zombie stopped sprinting and was now staring fixedly at Langa. Its head slumped to one side and its arms dangled crookedly. It hunched over and unsteadily limped towards him, making low grunting noises and twitching mindlessly. Langa’s knees gave out completely and he dropped to the ground, clutching his skateboard like a lifeline. He shut his eyes and prepared for the worst. It wasn’t fair. It couldn’t end like this, not when he owes Reki so much. But perhaps things were better off with him gone. He already considered himself a burden to Reki with how much of his resources he was using. On the plus side, he could meet his mom and dad up there and tell them about the wonderful friend he made.
He could feel the zombie looming over him and prayed to whatever god was out there that maybe, just maybe, he could get out of this situation unhurt.
“Don’t touch my friend!”
And then came the sound of metal hitting flesh.
Langa reopened his eyes again and found Reki standing over the zombie, which was now on the ground unconscious. He held a metal mop in his trembling hands.
“Reki! I-”
Reki slammed the mop head into the zombie’s neck, then dug his shoe into its body. The zombie gurgled and tried to get Reki off. The restless, uncanny twitching only stopped when Reki ripped the zombie’s head off of its body by continuously beating the neck with the metal mop. The head slid across the floor for a few feet before stopping, leaving behind a bloody, rotten trail. As soon as the threat was confirmed to be eliminated, he dropped the mop to ground and rushed towards Langa. He practically threw himself into Langa’s arms and buried his face into his shoulder, sobbing all the while.
“I killed someone! I actually killed someone!” His voice was shaky and raspy from the crying.
Langa didn’t know what to say. He felt like crying, too.
“You saved me once again, thank you,” he tried to emphasize the gentleness in his tone, hoping it would calm Reki down.
His effort paid off, because Reki stopped crying, but he still refused to part with Langa’s shoulder.
“I killed someone,” he repeated once again, but this time it was a trembling whisper.
Langa shook his head. “A zombie is not ‘someone.’ Well, they used to be human… not anymore though.”
Reki’s eyes welled up with tears and he broke into another sob, clinging onto Langa’s clothes now. Wow, Langa, great job. He should get an award for being the best at how to not calm your friend down. He berated himself. He was never good at soothing others, and now he felt like a jerk. Reki’s sobs were devastating to listen to and Langa’s own heart felt heavy.
“Listen, I’m sorry, but-”
“We’re in an apocalypse, I know! I thought I’d feel great after killing a zombie, even more so because I protected you, but-” his voice faltered and he didn’t say anything after that.
Langa rubbed circles on Reki’s back, hand moving in slow, soothing motions. They stayed like that for minutes, blocking out any and all outside noise and focusing solely on each other’s presence. Langa wished he could stay like that forever. Then, Reki raised his head off of his shoulder, letting out a small, tired yawn. He glimpsed at the zombie’s still body. Thank god; it would not get up any more. Reki moved his eyes from the zombie to Langa, and stared at him with puffy, imploring eyes. He spoke with a soft, pleading tone, “Promise me one thing.”
Langa held his gaze and nodded.
“Please don’t leave me.”