"Second in command Connor Jet Murphy," Connor looked up from his copy of 'Edgar Allen Poe, a collection of poems'. He saw his commander, standing above him, with a blank stare. Connor placed down his book, and stood. They were outside, training had just finished, and Connor thought he could sit under a tall tree and just unwind, apparently not.

"Yes sir?" He asked, while shoving his hands into his pockets.

"A few days ago I saw you and Mr. Michael Mell around the storage area."
Connor nodded. "Did you enter the containment?" The man asked sternly.

"No of corse not" he lied.

"Well." He coughed "some of the supply's have gone...missing" commander said attitude changing, and now looking rather worried.
"Cedric.. Calm down man, you're just really on edge." Connor spoke, placing a hand on the man's shoulder. "I mean, just a month ago, we were just soldiers, now we're both in charge of a platoon. And your even a rank above me. It's stressful, but I know you can handle it." Cedric nodded. Connor had always been good at lying, he used to always lie about who he was, what he wanted, and what he believed. But honestly Cedric only got a higher rank over Connor because he was 10 years older.

"Well... I don't want anyone going in there, so keep a eye on the towns people."

Connor smiled, shaking his head. "Cedri-"
"That's a order." The man spoke harshly.
He has been doing that a lot recently, it's like he has something weighing on his shoulders. And obviously there is something inside the storage he doesn't want anyone to see.

But Connor nodded his head in one quick movement, and Cedric took a deep breath. nodded back, and walked away.
~~~

"So you are spending time with the kid?"

"No no, all I did was help him out, I've paid him back, I'm pretty sure I'll never have to see him again." Connor explained over the brick phone.

Jeremy hummed from the other side. "Well alright...." Then paused, "so you think the kids a fag?" Connor sighed, "yeah.. But it's not like I'd care."

"Yeah.... " pause.
"Also! I got you... A present! Since it's almost Christmas, and after this mission you should be able to come home for a month or two.." Connor could feel Jeremy's grin. "Well I got you a record player!" Connor broke into a smile, of course he did.

"You spoil me, really, last Christmas you got me 37 books, and I still haven't finished them."

"Oh yeah, which one are you on?"

"Poe, quite dark, but nice." Connor answered, Jeremy sipped his coffee from the other side the the line. "Good to know you are enjoying them."

Connor laughed. "Yeah... Thanks, a lot for everything, you know I really love ya man."

"Hey now, don't get sentimental on me.. Not yet! You didn't hear what records I got you!" Connor chuckled even harder. Jeremy always made him feel better.

"The Beatles!" Connor smirked at this, "You sure it isn't for you?"

"Well I mean we can share.." Jeremy wavered off. "Of course.." Connor whispered, smiling once again.
~~~

Connor had gotten to patrol the sector of the town where Evan's family lived.

Earlier that day he spoke to Jeremy for a few hours, just about random things in their lives. Connor still understood he would be absolutely in trouble if he was caught, but Jeremy was worth it.

Apparently he had gotten a new kid around the house. Connor wasn't Jeremy's first act of random kindness. He used to let people crash at his house all the time. But this kid seems to be like Connor, without a home. Jeremy kept telling Him, that he was a good kid, just lost and a little bit of a junky. Jeremy's been helping him get clean. He's 17, named Justin, kicked out by a alcoholic father, then got stuck on drugs.

Connor really loved the selflessness Jeremy had, but he should really start caring for himself, he's been working extra hours at 2 jobs now, not only taking care of this Justin, but sending Connor himself gifts, he just wishes he didn't, it makes him feel bad.

Coming out of his thought, he decided to think about it later.

It pasted midnight a few hours ago, leaving him in a very quiet night, strolling around the streets. The brisk air was cooling and relaxing. He took In deep breathes, rolling his shoulders, and finally letting loose. He had gone through so much this week, yet he couldn't complain, he didn't want to admit it, but it was more fun he's had in years while in the army.

He watched his boots press against the dirt, while taking slow steps. The stars were rather beautiful tonight, but he couldn't help but feel as though the stars were mocking him.

They lighted the night in such a beautiful way, dancing across the sky free and happy. And even if he knew they were just big balls of gas that would blow up someday, he was still envious of them. Because at least they where far, far away from humanity and the worlds destruction, because even while they will die someday, everyone does, but at least they won't have to die, inside.

Edgy much? Not very groovy to be thinking about our destruction, but it's realistic.

Would he still be looking forward for the future? He stopped in his tracks. What future? What was he planning on happening. He didn't want to forever be here, he just never really thought about what to do after. He needed to get out of his mind before he stressed himself out. He looked over at a fallen tree, it was sad and broken, but he noticed a small family of raccoons living inside of it. A family building a home out of destruction. He thinks of Evan in particular. For some reason the damn boy pops into his head every once in a while.

But then it hit him.

And as in hit him, well, Quite literally. He had walked to the edge of that little town, all the way to the tall borders put into place, and a rock flew over, hitting him in the head. "What the fuck?" He muttered, while rubbing the top of his skull. He stared at the wall, confused. Yet Before he could further investigate, he heard a scream.

which came from the barn. It sounded painful, and.. From Evan? He didn't have to think twice to run over to the garden, moving quickly to the gate, trying to pull it open, but failing, he looked down and saw it had been locked up for the night. Sadly he had to climb that damn fence again, hopping down, and sprinting to the barn. The door was unlocked, so he came in, hearing the yell, but it had quieted down.
He didn't want to intrude but he had to help due to the 'keeping watch of the towns people' rule. Or at least he used that as an excuse.

The intrusion wasn't noticed, as Connor easily slipped into the home.

Turning a corner, He saw Veronica standing outside of Evan's room, a hand on her chest as she looked in. When she saw Connor, she didn't react, just continued to look scared. Connor slowly walked to the door, looking in and seeing Evan huddled in the middle of his bed, in the dark room, with Alana next to him, leaning down against the boy, and whispering in this ear. "I-I can't" he spoke, softly.

Then he just shook and trembled, as if both freezing and over heating. The boy's voice broke into a small, painfully sad cry. So small, every word slurred into a weak whisper.

Connor couldn't tell if it was sweat or tears running down the boys face, but either way, when Evan's breath caught in his throat, his skin flushed red and hair glued to his head, Connor didn't care.

His body rocked back and forth, even with Alana seated next to his curled up form, her voice calm and soothing, shushing him the best she could and pushing aside a strain of hair behind his ear.

Connor watched it play out, and some how, he felt helpless. He couldn't help, and for some reason, that broke something inside of him.

No one spoke or possibly even noticed Connor, but he didn't even mind. The boy shivered, and whined pitiful little pleads for help. Everyone looked, trying, or not knowing what to do. It wasn't until Alana had Evan breathing at a steady pace, that she questioned Connor's presence. "What are you doing here?" She asked quietly, still petting Evan's head.

"I-I heard him, yelling, I just" he didn't know why he even stayed, he knew Evan was being taken care of, why was he still here? He simply could have left, he had no real reason to care so much.

"It's fine" she said, looking down at Evan, his eyes close, his long wet lashes laid against his still pink cheeks. "He has these, sometimes, night terrors."

Connor didn't know if she was explaining this to Veronica, the new resident or Connor, but both seems the take it in. At least he wasn't dying.

A few minutes passed, and all three still waited in the dark of the room, until Evan finally spoke. Not really to anyone in particular, but just to speak. Like he was trying to process what was going through his head.

"I can be happy.. in the moment......
but I'm never when I reflect, this place is a dark world, that won't even own up to the things it destroys. It's destroyed me, and I know, that I won't wake up one day, magically fixed. Sure I've made it this far, but that isn't really a accomplishment, merely moving with the waves, and letting them drag you along."
No one really knew how to respond, but they didn't need too.

"Thank you.." He whispered, laying down, and falling asleep against Alana's chest.
She rested a hand on his head, and kissed his forehead softly.

"He'll be fine" she said, and that's all she needed to do.
~~~

Connor found himself spending time with the kid after all. In the morning he checked up on him, but the boy just brushed it off like nothing happened the night before. Even after Connor brought the boy smaller boots that would fit him.

The boy accepted them with a glare.
"I'm still not going to explain to you what happened."

Connor nodded, and let the quiet stretch on. He kind of just watch the boy slip on the new boots, they weren't meant for the snow really but they fit. It was silent until Evan broke the still of the air.

"Well.. You know, sometimes things come and go. But that's life."

Connor was surprised. He didn't need to do that much persuasion. "Doesn't mean I can't worry."

"Why would you?" Evan asked, obviously annoyed at the man's questions.

"You're—err, a citizen, I've gotta make sure everything is in line, and it's not like I'm heartless."

"Huh" Evan rested his chin on his hand, "I'd think all Americans are heartless."

"Well, happy to prove you wrong" Connor countered, a raise brow.

Evan sighed, "well, whatever, it's just the way God wanted it."

And finally, Connor just stared, "God doesn't exist."

Evan stopped everything he was doing, shocked and just stared back.
"Well...—..I, uh...—Huh..." the boy said again, obviously not expecting that.

"What?" Connor asked with a intrigued tone playing over his voice.
Evan paused, thinking over the question, and then spoke. "It's...—its just Good to know one of you can think for yourselves"
~~~

"Is she mad at me?" Connor asked through the fence. He was on his daily patrol, in the afternoon, and started a chat with Evan through the fence while he was gardening. The boy who was currently on the ground, trying to plant carrots after them failing to grow for the 20th time, he didn't even bother to look up when speaking.

"Who? Veronica? Ha, no she isn't mad at you, per say. Not personally, just.. Your kind."
Connor looked through the fence at the boy who was still intently gardening. "My kind? Huh. That's comforting"

"Well, I don't think it would work anyway" Evan muttered, eyes placed onto the veggies.

"Why?" Connor questioned, a bit too worried, he coughed softly, "just curious" he added.

"Huh, well, her last relationship didn't really work, she focused on work too much. She regrets it still, she said 'I realized, that if the world would end tomorrow, would what I did all my life— you know, Working, Would that be, something? Or would I have waisted my life?'.

She still works though, but takes the time to enjoy life, well as much as she can, with being trapped in this town and all. And that brings me to point B— it wouldn't work out because. Well, your her captor, and I don't think she is the type of gal to develop Stockholm syndrome."

Connor laughed uncomfortably. He was sorta a captor huh?

He looked down at the boy, and spoke up, changing the subject. "Do you guys only eat vegetables?"

Evan looked up annoyed. "Well what else would we eat? The forces who 'feed us' give us expired cans of food. It's not like I can just catch a deer while being trapped in here. And I have nothing to get birds......" That part made Evan pause, and his eyes widen as if he had a epiphany of some type.

This confused Connor. "What? do you have a gun or something?" He joked, laughing softly.
Evan just laughed, and rolled his eyes. "Yeah...like I would."

Connor  stared, which seemed to make Evan physically uncomfortable.

"Hmm.. Maybe I could take you hunting. I have a gun, and we could get a goose or two."
Evan was taken aback, like that was the least of what he expected to come out of Connor's mouth.

"Oh. Um okay." The boy nodded very quickly, and just as quickly looked back at the ground, to continue gardening.
~~~

'Am I really about to do this? not only take a angry Russian boy outside of the fucking town, where I'm supposed to keep him non the less? give the kid a gun? Why did I think of this? What compelled me t-'

"Soo." Connor  was snapped out of thought by Evan. "I was just thinking, thank you. Ya know, for letting me do this, getting food for my family, it helps me a lot." Connor smiled slightly, maybe helping this kid was the right thing to do.

He told Evan to wear something easy to move in, because there will be a lot of wiggling around and ducking under trees, running along grassy planes. But he didn't expect the kid to come out wearing a skirt like some faggot.

Rude, again.

He wanted to comment on it but Evan just smiled happily and almost in an instant Connor forgot what he was gonna say.

Michael supported Connor doing this, a little too much in his opinion. He was rather excited that Connor was breaking so many rules recently. Michael gave Connor a hunting rifle, and a back pack full of water. The man had promised to cover for Connor while they were gone. He thought it was really unnecessary, it wasn't like they would be gone for long, but he still appreciated it non the less.

Connor made his way to the back of the town with Evan close behind. It was the opposite direction of Evan's farm and the bases. He knew there was a entry way for soldiers near by. After looking for a while they finally found a heavily chained up gate.

He managed to unlock all the pad locks, knowing they all had the same 4 numbers in different combinations, but just made sure Evan didn't see. He hesitantly stopped before walking out the gate. He was regretting it already. Evan just looked at him confused.

He was about to go back on his promise, tell the boy this couldn't happen, when Evan pulled out a bright smile. "Is something wrong Connor?" He asked, tipping his head to the side. His eyes almost gleamed, Connor swears, completely loosing his train of thought like h was hypnotized by the glittering boy.

"Nothing, um, just thought about how we were going to bring the birds back." Evan smiled.

"Don't worry I have a bag." Connor simply nodded. This was a very, very different personality on the boy, that he wasn't used to at all. It was slightly weird, but Connor just took in a deep breath, and walked out, with Evan not too far behind him.
~~~

After half an hour of looking through the thick fucking woods, Connor saw a perfect opening that would make birds easy to spot. He remembered he needed to teach the kid to shoot in the first place. He could just get the birds himself, but he wanted the kid to feel like it was his own catch.

He looked out at the scenery, amazed at how it was actually pretty beautiful. "Far out" he whispered.

Evan was rather quiet the whole time out there, Connor constantly looked back to check on him, but the boy just seemed to be looking around silently, in his weird skirt non the less. Connor had always believed that Russian's would have been the most against anything remotely gay, but he guesses that this town is too sheltered from the judging eyes of the outside world.

Connor stopped at a opening, setting down his bag of supply's and carding a hand through his hair. It was fair weather, not too chilly, so birds were more likely to be active.

Evan continued to be silent, just watched Connor set up stuff from afar.

He didn't really like the empty quietness. So he spoke up to fill the void. "Well.. Evan. I think maybe we should get a goose."

No answer.

Connor still continued "now, when using a gun like this, it has a rather big kick back, for your size you gotta not let the weapon knock you backwards"

No answer.

Connor sighed, still focusing on pulling out different things, like bullets and finding his correct rifle stand. "Oh and how many do you plan on taking home?"

No answer.

Connor's eyebrows came together in confusion, he put down his weapon and was about to turn around and eye the boy until he heard a loud 'click' near his head. And one that was oh too familiar with. He slowly looked around at the boy, who glared and held, what he believes is a stollen gun from camp. Connor's eyes widen, as if he should have known.

"Wha-?" He begun.

"Oh shut up really. I'm sick and tired of being locked up in this town!" The boy cried out, gripping the gun tighter and causing Connor to flinch. "What kind of idiot wouldn't take this opportunity to leave?? What? Did you think I'd just go back in there? I've been trapped for over 4 fucking years!" Evan was getting heated, not even angry at Connor, but just angry in general.

Maybe The man could reason with him? "He-hey. Evan you don't—"

Evan scoffed, "no I really do have too. Do you know what it's like? Being stuck in there? It's fucking sophisticating!"

"What about Alana? And the others? You can't just leave them!"

Evan rolled his eyes. "They would be fine without me!"

Connor thought for a moment, trying to be as reasonable as a man can be when he is held at gunpoint by a inexperienced child. "You can't do that to them? Escape yourself and just leave them? Not knowing?"

Evan laughed, and it would almost creepy, if it didn't sound so.. Sad?

"Who said I was Escaping? I didn't want to have to die in there! Fuck the world! Fuck that place! And fuck you!"
Connor's eyes shut close, as if waiting for the shot, but nothing came.

He opened his eyes to see the kid, he's changed positions, this time with the gun under his own chin. Looking down blankly at the ground, with tears falling down his cheeks.
"Fuck this life" he said, quietly, gripping the trigger.

Connor stared, as if frozen in place, watching Evan's trembling hands around the gun, and his eyes shut close, tears fall from his lashes.

It might have been the stupidest decision in Connor's life but he took the chance. He lunged froward to grab the gun and Evan.

It all just happened so fast and— 'bang!'

Connor stepped back, looking at Evan covered in blood. The boy's eyes wide and scared. Connor could barley speak.

Seeing the boy covered in blood terrified him, did he do it? It was all so sudden, so fast, he didn't know.

Connor stepped forward to look for a wound on the boy, but then felt a sharp stabbing pain in his stomach. He looked down and examined himself instead, Evan wasn't covered in his own blood, it was Connor's.

And then, all he could see was the boys shocked, and terrified face.
Then just Blackness.
~~~