A long hour of decontamination later that Vincent settled into his own bed. A journal in hand as he leaned back against the headboard. Jotting down notes of his patient's health. Tuck slept soundly in a twin bed opposite of his, and Audi on his own cushion beside it. The dog eyed the room before curling up on his bed. Vincent closed his journal after several minutes, placing it on a nightstand to his left. Trading it for one of Doctor Isla's journals which he kept in the drawer. In silence, he began sifting through the pages. Taking in memory of its contents until his eyes finally droop. Sleep takes him, like the breeze takes a candle's flame. Hours into the night, a quarter moon was at its peak over their Florida home. The only sound was the night air as it flowed through wild trees and grasses. The moon was near its fall when Cole got out of bed. Heavy with sleep, she peeked toward the bathroom. Her eyes half open as she drags her feet in the direction. Cole relieved her bladder

Cole turns her head, spotting one of the thieves crawling on the slate of the roof. Her heart began to pound harder, Cole had nowhere else to go. "I'm- I'm infected!" Cole shouts, putting up her palms in a warning for the woman to keep her distance. To her surprise, the woman pulls out a sharp weapon. "Lies". She spat. "We've been watching this place for weeks now… No one lives this long with the corruption. We know what it does and we know who made it". "Who made it?" Cole mumbles, carefully moving away from the window. "What are you talking about?" She questions, secretly hoping to stall long enough to figure something out. “The missile? The weapon unleashed by fools with power. It's the reason we're forced to fend for ourselves and eat scrap". The woman stalked closer and closer, while Cole backed away. Sliding herself further up the slate until she could go no farther. "People like you. The 'important people' with all the resources are the reason we are left to die… While the re

Loud shouts and sounds of fists colliding with flesh. They echo within the otherwise peaceful darkness of Cole's mind. Until her lips opened to receive air. Cole sucked in a huge breath, coughing out again as she regained consciousness. Cole's vision was hazy at first and she was unable to recognize the moving shadows in front of her.Time stretched as Cole’s mind takes in the sight of her surroundings. Cole fixed her gaze on someone bursting through the door. Heavy boots land on the wooden floor of the terrace. It was Tuck. He shouts something, but his voice sounds submerged and echoes repeatedly in Cole’s mind. As if he were shouting through a flooded tunnel. His eyes pinned on Cole's body that lay slumped against the rail. His brown eyes fill with terror as his lips part again. Exhaling breath through bloody lips. Cole could tell he'd been through hell and back. Reddened parts of his skin drew her gaze. As if someone had clawed him from head to toe, Tuck's clothes were torn, and hi

"AHH!" Natalie's scream pierces through noises of gunfire. The sound reaches Eris, who rushed from his spot near the front door. Into the living room, where Natalie was pinned under a man who hasn't met him yet. Eris yanks him off, slamming him to the floor and beating him in a rage. Natalie got up, firing shots toward the yard as she neared Eris. "They're retreating! Eris! Those bastards have our supplies!" Standing up straight, Eris stood over the unconscious man and glanced at the window. Then at Natalie. "You're injured". he says, looking at a bullet wound in her left arm. "It's just a flesh wound". Natalie sniffles as she casually reloads her silver pistol. "I'll be fine…" She exhales, but Eris could tell she was trying to hide her pain. "Let's go get our stuff back". Natalie takes the lead and heads for the door. -- Curled up on the floor, Cole holds her sore stomach while the intruder reaches down for the weapon. Only to be shoved into another wall. Cole turned her head t

"Cole". Eris's husky voice was calm, but Cole knew he was upset. "I know I can't force you to eat… These things aren't easy. My hope is that someday, when the world is healed, you and Tuck will get to be kids… Get together, stay out late, rise early for school, have holidays too… I think you remind him of his best friend. They got separated when she contracted". Cole curiously lifts her gaze. Eris stops a moment, catching himself before he reveals too much. "I'm only telling you this so you will understand what will happen. When Tuck finds out you're not eating, and from the looks of it". Eris glances below her eyes, where dark circles were already formed. "Not sleeping either". Eris took one more look at Cole, who appeared to be in her own thoughts. He stood and began pulling out the kit. For the first time, Eris was the one performing the treatment. "Why are you helping me?" Cole found herself asking. "I thought you hated me". Eris froze mid-setup and turned to look at her. Imme