Serafina Marina Bailey. Fourteen — Date of Birth: October 15th, 2007.

Since the day we met Nitro has called me ‘Sera’ other people have caught on and did the same, but he was the first. He was my first real friend, my first best friend, my first love, the first person to say, ‘I love you.’ and mean it. Since that day six years ago I wanted to be with him forever. I spent nights crying just at the thought that one day I’d die before him, leaving him alone again, but worst of all the thought that one day, he’d die before me.

I started to feel like we were growing apart in the summer of 2019. I would hug him and he’d act as if he was uncomfortable, I’d hold his hand the way I used to but it didn’t feel like it used to. That’s when I realized that it was possible that he couldn’t love me back the same way, it was possible that I could’ve been lying to myself all along, ‘It’s okay Serafina just give it another year.’ I told myself that over and over again. It wasn’t until the day I stepped outside a house that wasn’t mine to find him clearly in love with someone else that I realized he just couldn’t be in love with me. I lashed out on him, I regret that. All I’ve ever wanted was for my best friend to be happy, safe, and ultimately my friend forever.

In March of 2021 my school shutdown, the media was a mess, everyone was scared. Not him and I, we were confident in ourselves, we had already been through so much, what’s so bad about a few monsters? — Everything. It wasn't the zombies that were the problem, it was the other monsters, the alive ones.

July 2nd, 2017 my father was arrested. Every girl needs their father and every father needs their daughter, right? Not mine, he didn’t even consider his family. I ran away, I wasn’t scared as much as I was angry, angry he left me and even if he did come back it would be too late and we’d both be completely different people. Nitro was there for me, he let me stay with him from time to time and let me talk to him about my problems, no one, none of my other friends were like that. He actually cared about me and knew what would make me happy, scared and angry. The day I was shot I never wanted the same to happen to Nitro, it was so painful and terrifying.

Nitro was alone before that rainy day I met him and until the world actually got worse we were all each other had, but now other people care about and love him, he isn’t alone anymore, and he can’t just leave those people, not yet.

Serafina: Nine Twelve In the morning. Louisa, Kentucky.

“It’s been two days, is he in a coma or something?” I ask.

“I hope not, we were lucky to find that store yesterday. That medical shit could save his life.” Eli replies.

“You think we made the right decision, with… you know.” I motion my head at Logan in the hallway.

“Look, Sera, I would do anything to protect Nitro, I mean it, but Logan… we can’t just kill him or leave him to fend for himself, not when he’s like this.”

“I understand, he’s your best friend. Still, he shot mine and needs to pay.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“I don’t know. Lock him up?”

“He’d kill himself.”

“Maybe he should.”

I turn back into the bedroom where Nitro lays on the bed in the same position he’s been in for over 48 hours. April’s been at the end of the bed by his side since we got here. It hurts me to look at him like this. He’s breathing, alive, we got the shrapnel out but he’s still asleep and I hate imagining the worse. I keep thinking back to the moment he was shot, the look on everyone’s face, poor April was screaming her heart out, her face was so red it looked like she was about to pass out. The way Nitro fell down and the rain spread his blood across the grass, painting it red. Zander immediately disarming Logan and shouting in his face at the top of his lungs. Eli knocking Logan out then rushing to put Nitro in the van. Ally covering her face with her hands and walking backwards, scared. Ria running to support April while she collapses and starts breathing faster and faster. Me holding onto his body trying to keep him awake and stop the bleeding at the same time. I wanted to die so badly. I still want to. I need him to wake up.

Ally knocks on the open door, “We’re scavenging, you guys coming.”

“No.” April says, her voice is weak, quiet. You can hear the pain she’s feeling by a simple spoken, ‘No.’

“Sure.” I walk through the door and down the hallway.

Ria’s been looking after Logan, making sure he doesn’t hurt anyone, or himself. These aren’t my people, at least they weren’t before, I didn’t know Logan before this or what he was like. If Nitro did that to one of them would they react the same? I don’t think Logan deserves to die or even get left alone but why aren’t they more mad at him? If Nitro did this they’d treat him differently than how they’re treating Logan, I just know it. I could be overreacting, I love Nitro but it’s clear other people do too, people react differently, that’s obvious. April’s been by his side every waking hour and Eli, like me can’t bear to look at him. Ria wanted to look after Logan because she was afraid he’d hurt someone else and she didn’t want to go through that again.

Eli gets in the driver’s seat and Zander sits beside him, Ally and I sit in the first back row, the one sprayed with blood.

***

Our run went well today, we got bags of food, of course there were zombies but at least there weren’t people, they’re the ones you have to watch out for.

Ally rests her head against the window and closes her eyes, “I wonder why Logan shot him, he’s definitely been acting weirder than usual but that was so unexpected.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Eli scowels.

Zander begins, “Sounds like you know something dude. You don’t, do you? It’s just I know Logan and you are tight.”

“Shut up, Zander. I hate Logan more than ever right now, I wouldn’t ever ask him to hurt Nitro.

“But you know why he did?”

“Yeah.” he sighs, “The reason Logan hates Nitro is because I like him. It’s why he locked him outta the RV and has been so angry. He’s just a dick, and he took it way too far.”

“That’s tough, just don’t… do anything stupid. When Julia was shot I felt like dying right then and there, fuck I tried to, obviously it didn’t work but everyone would be pissed if you did the same. He’s gonna wake up, dude.”

***

And that night the son of a bitch woke up.