He got out of the car, the snow making a delicate crunch as his boots hit the ground. He made his way to the store, eyes wandering across the familiar environment. It was quiet, nobody in sight except a few soldiers with frozen rifles in hand, exhaustion plastered on their face as they patrolled the area. His eyes looked up catching the dim blue sun, giving off what little heat it could, covering the earth with a pale blue shadow.

He entered the store where he saw a familiar face. The man looked rushed and unkempt, packing a few things away in a box. His large figure moved about with surprising grace.

‘What’s the hurry,’ The young man questioned.

‘Kayn, glad you stopped by. We got moved up, gotta leave tomorrow now,’ the store owner replied with a husky voice.

‘Really, never heard of anyone moving up. Well congrats I guess, better sooner than later.’

He laughed. ‘yeah I guess it's for the better, this cold has been a nightmare. How's your sister doing.’

‘She’s doing pretty well, bit fed up with cabin fever, but we go out next week so we’re almost there.’

‘That's a relief, I've been worried about you. Still can't believe it, of all the ways, volcanoes, meteors, nuclear war, hell even zombies, yet we’re done in by a bit of space dust.’

Kayn chuckled, ‘I think it's more than just a bit’

‘Yeah, I know, I just so anticlimactic don't ya think.’

‘I don’t know… getting instantly vaporized by a nuclear warhead seems pretty uneventful to me.’

‘Haha, you're right there. Well is there anything you need? The shelves are almost empty but you can take what you want.’

‘Got any chocolate?’

‘Oh, I almost forgot, kept a box just for you, or should I say her.’ he said letting out a boisterous laugh.

Kayn nodded. ‘She does love her chocolate, almost an addict if you ask me.’

He shuffled around, digging through a cabinet until he found his target.

‘Careful though, this stuff is worth more than gold nowadays, anything else?’

‘No just came hoping for some sweets, we have the basics at home. Wait, do you happen to have any soda.’

‘Sorry ran out of that quite some time ago.’

‘Damn, was hoping to bring Nessa somethin.’

‘She heads out tomorrow too, right?’

‘Yeah, gonna hang out with her a bit before she goes.’

‘Don't forget about curfew, they moved it to 4 now.’

‘Yeah, I know, hard to forget with those speakers telling us every half an hour.’ Kayn looked at his watch. ‘It's only 2:12, still got some time.’

‘Well I wish you the best, probably should get going, you know how the missus worries.’

He put his hands on Kayn’s shoulders. ‘Listen, I know you have been through alot, I dont know whats on the other side, but promise me you won’t give up’ His eyes were gentle as he stared at him, one could tell he truly cared.

‘I won't’ Kayn said resolutely.

‘Good, thanks for the help you've given me over the years, it was always nice to have an extra pair of…’ He trailed off. ‘uh sorry, I.. didn't mean to,’ he flustered about, trying to find the right words.

Kayn gave a laugh to ease the atmosphere. ‘It’s fine, it's been a year. Besides, they said the other world would be better, maybe this won't be a problem soon.’

‘Yeah I hope so, just be careful, it is only natural they promise us with something better, only time will tell. Who knows, maybe they can shave off a few pounds too.’ He gave another laugh. ‘See ya on the other side kid.’

‘Yeah, See you later Dom.’

He gave a final nod, and walked out of the store. It was surreal. He built this place from the ground up, worked for thirty years rain or shine. And now he just left, lights on, door unlocked, register full of cash. He just left. Were we really not coming back.

Kayn paced through the aisles looking for anything that might taste better than the rations at home. He sighed, there really wasn't much. He grabbed a bag and put the chocolates in it and left the building, heading to the car. Stopping just in front of the car door, he turned and looked at the store one more time. This was really it. He turned back, apprehension filling his body, as his hand reached for the door, shaking ever so slightly. ‘It will be fine.’ He told himself as he took a deep breath and entered the car.

The drive to Nessa’s wasn’t long, the streets were virtually empty. He found the rather sizeable house as he pulled into the driveway.

Approaching the door he heard a soft humming coming from the house. He knocked, yet there was no response, the whir of the vacuum drowning out his attempt. He pressed the doorbell twice and the whir came to a stop. The door opened and a beautiful woman came into view.

‘Hey Tanya’ Kayn said with a sheepish grin.

‘Kayn! Come in sweetie it’s been forever. My, look at you, can't believe you were that runt who ran around my house somehow breaking everything he could find so many years ago.’

He walked in and closed the door, her hand struck out as she ruffled his hair.

‘Hmm same soft wavy brown hair, dull green eyes, and somehow as pale as I am. I’d say you should get some sun but it seems that that won’t do much nowadays.’

He gave a shy smile, a bit of embarrassment creeping up as her gaze scanned his body. Her eyes finally stopped fixed on one spot. Her face softened a hint of sadness seeping through. Her hand fell down as she gently grabbed his shoulder. He instinctively winced as he felt her hand.

‘Does it hurt.’

‘Every now and then but it’s not too bad.’

Her eyes narrowed, seemingly seeing right through his small lie. She waited a few seconds before she responded.

‘That’s good.’

Another pause. Her eyes stared gently into his.

‘How are you feeling?’ she asked, concern evident in her voice.

‘I’m fine.’ Kayn spoke, trying to sound as convincing as he could.

Her eyes squinted and a small frown formed on her face. She grabbed his arm and pulled him, leading him to the couch. ‘Sit,’ she commanded.

He did as he was told, and she sat down right beside him. She looked at him, her mouth opened and then closed it as she tried to find the right words. Her arms suddenly stretched out as she brought him into a tight embrace, his head falling right into her chest.

His arm reached around her as he hugged her, enjoying the warm comfort of her body. Her hand went through his hair. For a brief moment he felt as if all his worries faded away.

‘You don’t have to hide it from me, you know that right?’

‘I know,’ he responded as he began to feel his throat choking up.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

‘Good, you should always have someone to lean on, even an old woman like me.’

He laughed. She was only 37 and certainly didn’t look like she was. ‘What are you talking about? You don’t look a day past thirty.’

She gave a gentle chuckle.

She really didn’t, long her black hair, beautiful blue eyes, a near perfect figure and fairly generous in the right places. Kayn wasn’t the only one whose gaze lingered longer than it should.

He purposely let his head fall back on her soft chest, taking advantage of the opportunity that has presented itself. He closed his eyes, and listened to her faint heartbeat. It was soothing, the rhythm calming. He figured that he should probably go see Nessa soon, yet really didn’t want to move.

‘You’re really enjoying yourself aren't you,’ she said in a questioning tone.

He gulped, a burning feeling spread across his face. Raising his head, his face flinched as his eyes met her inquisitive stare.

‘I uhh… sorry,’ he apologized sheepishly.

She gave an amused laugh. ‘It was cute when you were a kid, but you’re an adult now, I mean it’s still adorable but a bit wrong don’t ya think,’ her eyebrow raised.

His facade began to crumble as grin grew on his face

‘Damn, can’t blame me for trying.’

‘Yes I can you brat, now get outta here. Nessa is in her room, good luck, she’s been pretty ornery lately.’

He got off the couch and scurried up the stairs. He stopped about half way looking over the railings at her.

‘It’ll never happen,' she said in a tone that seemingly tried too hard to sound serious.

He laughed. ‘Doesn’t mean I’ll give up.’

Her tongue stuck out as her hand made a waving motion telling him to leave. He made his way to Nessa’s room with a rather childish grin on his face.

She was sprawled on her bed, listening to music through her headphones. Wearing her typical sweatshirt with sweatpants that hid her toned body. She had short black hair that was typically messy, 5’8, and had her mother's eyes.

She noticed him as she turned her head and a smile grew on her face. He waved as she took off her headphones.

‘I was beginning to think you forgot about me,’ she said putting on a helpless face.

‘Can’t imagine how much easier my life would be if I could.’

‘Jerk’ Her smile quickly turned into a scowl. ‘What’s with that stupid grin.’

‘Can’t I be happy to see my best friend.’

‘Oh god, you were flirting with my mom again wern’t you.’

‘How did… You know I can’t help it,’ Kayn said, a bit flustered.

She rolled her eyes and made a gagging sound as she pretended to throw up.

Kayn sat on the giant bean bag in the middle of the floor. The room hasn't changed much, other than the giant pile of stuffed animals near her bed which seemed to grow larger and larger every time he came over.

She finally got out of the bed and crashed on the other side of the bean bag.

‘I’m a bit nervous, you know, of the other world.’

‘Yeah me too, it should be fine though, can’t be worse than the tundra we live in now’

‘True. Oh, I got something special, stole this from mom a while ago and forgot about it. Didn’t find it till I was cleaning my room the other day,’ She got up and walked to her nightstand rummaging through it, pulling out a mostly drunk bottle of vodka. She giggled. ‘Here take a swig.’

Kayn took the bottle and opened it, taking a rather generous drink. His throat burned as he swallowed, almost coughing it up.

‘Whew, don’t know how you guys drink this stuff’ he handed the bottle back to her as she took a drink.

‘Who knows, this might be the last bottle on the block,’ she waved it around then took another sip. ‘How much time do you have?’

‘About half an hour give or take.’

‘Hmm, wanna play a game?’ she said as she stood up turning on the tv, grabbing a controller as she sat back down. ‘Come on, the demons won’t shoot themselves.’ she said in a pleading voice.

Kayn relented, a squeal coming from her small mouth as he agreed. She kept her left hand on the controller as she moved it between them. He grabbed it with his hand as the game began. It was relaxing, well, as relaxing as sawing demons in half using a shotgun, with heavy metal screeching from the speakers, all while only controlling half of the character could be.

They played until an alarm went off. Kayn pressed a button on his phone to turn it off.

‘Do you have to go now?’ she asked.

‘I could probably squeak out a few minutes.’

She gave a loud sigh. ‘This sucks.’

‘It won’t be that bad, stop being such a pessimist.’

‘I know it’s just a lot to take in. I mean, we should be in college, studying, going to parties, getting laid, y’know. Instead we’re going to some bunker in the middle of nowhere where they stick us in some virtual reality,’ she said looking rather depressed.

‘Once things settle down it will be fine, there’s still gonna be school in the other world. Plenty of parties and stuff, besides, you getting laid, not likely anytime soon.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean!’

Kayn laughed. ‘Don’t you remember Jason, poor bastard finally got to second base, well for a bit, until you freaked out and kicked rather viciously between his legs.’

‘Awww, I should've never told you that.’ She pouted as she sat up and hugged her legs. ‘I still feel bad about that, really liked the guy too.’

‘And what about me. At least you’ve only kicked him once. I still wake up in cold sweats every now and then.’

A small smile crept up on her face. ‘Well yeah his was an accident,’ she said as she stuck her tongue out. ‘Not my fault if you snuck up on me last holloween with that stupid mask on.’

Kayn chuckled. ‘Yeah you screamed like a baby.’

‘And yet, your pitch was higher than mine,’ she retorted with a cheeky smile on her face.

Kayn shifted uncomfortably on the beanbag.’ Yeah that one hurt, still worth it though.’

She offered the bottle towards Kayn, shaking it slightly.

‘No thanks still gotta drive, so what are your plans for your last day on earth?’

She thought for a bit. ‘Well, don’t want this to go to waste,’ she waved the bottle. ‘After that, see if mom needs anything, maybe take one last shower. Say goodbye to these guys’, she gestured to the pile of stuffed animals. A perverted smile slowly crept up. ‘and if the mood is right maybe I’ll rub one out for good luck’

Kayn chuckled and rolled his eyes.

‘Aww you're no fun anymore, what happened to the Kayn I knew who would get all flustered’. She pretended to pout.

‘He met you, poor guy.’ Kayn said with a wistful look. He stood up, ‘well, I should get going.’

‘Yeah… oh wait’ she hopped up and started digging in the pile of animals. ‘Aha! Here he is.’ She pulled out a worn looking stuffed rabbit.

‘Isn’t that Mr. Whiffle’

‘Yup won him at a carnival game when I was five. He was my favorite for the longest time. Got me through a lot of tough times.’ She hesitated. ‘ and well when I was younger I promised that I would give him to my husband when I got married… well I uh well that’s not happening so I thought that my husband would be my best friend and well I have one of those and I thought…’ her voice grew quieter after each word until she came to a stop, her face bright red as she heard each word come out of her mouth. Her body was shifting as she couldn’t find the strength to continue.

I forgot how fucking adorable she could be, Kayn thought as he looked at her, listening to her ramble with a soft smile on his face. He still had a hard time justifying who she is now with how she usually was. The polar opposites threw him off every time. He realized that the gears in her head had long stopped turning as she looked like she was about to explode.

‘Are you sure I can have him? ‘

As if her brain kickstarted she quickly responded.

‘Uhh yeah, um, I got Mr. snuggles over there.’ She pointed to the only animal on her bed. ‘ so I think it would be nice if you had it. If you want, I know it’s kinda stupid, you don’t have to take it if you don’t want to.’ Her eyes shifted downward.

His hand quickly shot out as he took the animal from her . ‘Nice try, but no take backs,’ he said as he tried to help her. ‘Besides, you have Mr. Snuggles, lucky bastard, I can only imagine the things he’s seen’

She let out a small giggle. ‘You perv.’

‘Hey, he’s the one watching not me.’

‘Who said he was just watching?’ She said with a crude smile on her face.

Kayn choked a bit as he heard her remark, his face turning red.

‘Ah ha, finally got ya,’ she gloated with a triumphant smile.

Her smile began to fade as silence filled the room. She looked at him, worry, fear and sadness beginning to show on her face. She walked towards him and threw her arms around him. Kayn was a bit shocked at her sudden embrace as he put his arm around her. He felt her breathing begin to quicken as her body started to shake. He tried to separate but she held on, tightening her hug.

‘Don't push yourself,’ he said in a soft voice. He felt her body tense up, her breathing became more erratic. She slowly looked up, her eyes meeting his. He gave a gentle smile. ‘Everything will be ok,’ he said as he kissed her forehead.

She finally separated from the hug. Her eyes were closed as she took deep breaths trying her hardest not to have an attack. After about a minute she finally calmed down and opened her eyes.

‘Thanks,’ she said with a small smile on her face.

‘Yup, I think you’re getting better.’

‘Not really, if it’s you or mom it’s not too bad, anyone else though I get…’ She trailed off.

‘You’ll get there, just keep trying. I really should go now.’ She nodded, as he walked out of the room closing the door behind him.

She heard his steps get quieter as he went down the stairs. ‘Aaaahhhggg’ she quietly yelled with her hands covering her face. ‘Here’s a dirty stuffed animal that I’ve been drooling on since I was five, you fucking dumbass, why don’t you give him an dirty old sock as well.’ She fell onto her bed, her limbs sprawled out. Everything will be fine. Huh, you’re the one to talk, I’m worried about you the most. She gave a depressed sigh. Her fingers gently touched her forehead, a warm feeling spreading through her body. That was the second time. Her memories of that night a year ago swirled in her head. She turned to her side, a stuffed animal entering her sight. ‘You were watching this whole time, you perv,’ she spoke as she covered him with a blanket. She gave another sigh as her emotions got the best of her. ‘Well fuck, guess the mood’s right’ she proclaimed as she started her plans for the day out of order.