Chapter 18

Fresh's P.O.V

The rough, dusty road that led down the mountain trailed into the forest at it's base. Desire, Bluescreen, PJ and I walked down it as fast as we could. Desire was carrying Gradient, who was bleeding out quickly and needed some serious medical assistance. No, medical supplies wont do. We need healing magic.

"Right this way," I urged. "We've gotta get there quick if we wanna heal Gradient!"

They all nodded tiredly, trying to keep up with me. We traveled through the forest, around the trees, over fallen branches, freezing at the smallest twig snapping. I heard a thud behind me and turned quickly. PJ had collapsed to his knees out of exhaustion. I quickly pulled him to his feet, holding him upright.

"Just a little farther, OK brah?"

PJ leaned against me. That magic attack of his really took a lot out of him. I sighed, crouching down in front of him.

"Come on, I'll give ya a ride."

PJ nodded and climbed onto my back. I stood back up and we continued on our way. I looked at the sky above. Specks of sunlight shone through the leaves of trees. The chirping of the birds was a more comforting sound and the gentle breeze made me relax a bit.

A few minutes of treading through the forest later and we came to a clearing. In the clearing, big trucks with big metal trailers hooked onto them stood towering over us. The children were outside, eating and playing.

"Guys! Over here!" called a familiar human.

I followed the voice and the others followed me. At the back of an empty truck, FC and one of our truck driver companions was tending to two injured young skeletons, Fury and Westy. Though, they weren't nearly as injured as Gradient.

"Does anyone need some-" FC stared at Gradient. "Oh...Oh dear..."

"We need healing magic." I said quickly. "Any brahs here know some?"

"I, uh-"

"I know some healing magic!" yelled Blueprint, running up to us. "Set him down."

Desire laid Gradient down on the metal floor of the truck. Blueprint put his hand over Gradient's wound and a warm, greenish glow flowed from his hand to Gradient. Painfully slowly, the wound began to seal over, replenishing itself. PJ tapped my shoulder.

"Could you put me down now, please?" he requested.

I nodded, carefully letting him down off my back. He quickly ran off, stumbling a little, his hand over his mouth. Concerned, I ran after him. PJ crouched behind a truck, out of the way of everyone else's view, and threw up. He wiped the black, paint-ish vomit from the corner of his mouth, then sat down and hugged his legs. Then he cried.

I quietly came up to PJ and sat down next to him, wrapping my arms around him. He leaned against me, weeping into my shoulder.

"It's OK," I soothed. "Gradient will be OK."

"I-It's too much." PJ sobbed. "I can't take this. It's terrifying, I miss Mum and Dad..."

"I know, I know..."

"F-Fresh..." PJ looked at me with big, sorrowful eyes. "I'm s-scared..."

"Shh, it's OK. I'll protect you."

PJ clung to me weakly, whimpering and crying and muttering words I couldn't quite catch. I held him close, rubbing his back rhythmically and trying to comfort him. The wind whistled softly and the trees rustled in response. Every so often, a squirrel's tail would flicker in the distance and a rabbit would zoom across my view. Uninfected, too fast to be caught by any zombie. The happy cries to playing children filled the air, the atmosphere was mostly peaceful.

After a bit of time, PJ's crying ceased.

"Are you OK?" I asked.

PJ nodded sadly and spoke quietly. "I'm fine..."

"Everything will alright, 'kay? We will make sure everyone makes it back home."

PJ gently pressed his head against my neck, furthering the embrace. I felt my cheekbones heat up a little.

"Hey PJ, could I try somethin'?" I asked.

PJ moved his head from the crook of my neck and looked at me with a curious look. I cupped his cheekbone with a hand and caressed it gently. PJ tilted his head towards my hand, closing his eye sockets contently. My face inched a bit closer to his, until the tips of our nose sockets touched. PJ opened one eye socket, giving me a questioning look.

I smiled. "What do you think? Wanna go for it?"

PJ closed his eye socket again and closed the gap between us. A sweet kiss, one to make something official and one to remember. It wasn't long, but it was satisfying. We pulled away with a smile on both our faces.

"I like you Fresh. Like...love like." PJ said.

"Me too, Jammy."

"Jammy?"

"Yep. That's what I'm calling ya."

"Pfft, alright then."

"Come on, we should check on your brother."

PJ nodded. We got to our feet and walked back to the truck where everyone was being tended to.

"Oh, fantastic, you're back." FC said. "How'd it go?"

"How'd what go?" PJ asked.

"Your make out session."

"We didn't- wait, how did you know about that?"

"Look," Hate replied. "When you've been around her for as long as we have, you realise that she is all knowing and that it's best not to question her."

"Bow down to your god!" FC chirped dramatically, and her two birds bowed to her.

"Right..." PJ mumbled.

We examined the three injured. Gradient, lucky, had healed very well. The only evidence of ever having a big hole in his chest was a scar on his exposed ribcage, which FC realised was still exposed and quickly placed a cloth over him. Fury and Westy were conscious. Westy's arm and Fury's shoulder were wrapped in a white bandage.

"Now..." FC's usual smile faded. "There's something we need to discuss."

"What is it, brah?" I asked.

"These three have all been infected."

A chill went down everyone's spine.

"You have a cure though, right?" PJ asked hopefully.

"Of course we do. But..." FC looked at the three. "There's only two cures left."

There was a silence. The silence was soon broken.

"Give the cure to Fury and Gradient." Westy said.

"Westy, this is something we should be thinking about." FC replied.

"I've already decided. I'd rather they survive then myself."

"You idiot!" Sage pushed through the small crowd surrounding the three injured skeletons. "What the hell are you thinking?"

"I'm afraid I don't understand."

"You can't make up your mind that quickly! This is a life or death situation!"

Westy smiled sadly. "But isn't this what you wanted? You wished I had never existed, isn't that right?"

Sage growled. "You're so stupid! You idiot, I...why would you listen to someone as stupid as me?"

Westy shook his head. "You're not stupid." He looked back at FC. "I've made up my mind. Give the cures to Fury and Gradient."

FC reluctantly nodded. "Well...if you're sure."

She took the two cures out of a small, protective, metal box, then injected one each into Fury and Gradient. The cure took affect almost instantly as the two began screaming in pain. The screams alerted everyone in the area.

"Everyone back into their trucks!" FC ordered. "No more wasting time!" she looked at Westy. "If we can get to the survivor camp fast enough, then we can get another cure for you. One much less painful, too."

Westy nodded. PJ held my hand tightly, flinching at Gradient's screams of agony. I squeezed back gently, hoping to give at least some comfort to him.

Soon we were on the move again.