When Tundra woke up he had a pain in his neck and a burning pain in his hand. He ripped more sheet and changed the bandage on it. David was still asleep, and a cheeky smile appeared on his face when he got an idea. He looked through the apartment until he found a marker.

David was woken up by the smell of food being heated up over an improvised campfire. He smiled and got up, hungry. He didn’t notice anything strange or different from the previous night.

‘‘Good morning kid…’’ he yawned ‘‘What’re you heating up ?’’

‘‘Lentils.’’

‘‘That’s not a breakfast food.’’

‘‘Dude. The world ended, everyone died, and you still care about what is a socially acceptable breakfast ? I like lentils. So did whoever lived here, judging by the content of their cupboards.’’

‘‘Oh, okay… Well, I don’t hate them.’’

Tundra smiled and served him a bowl. They started eating, and for a while they were completely silent.

‘‘So anyway, what happened to you ? How did you get that injury on your forehead ? And how did you end up with my metal pipe ? You were really lucky that the place I crashed was within earshot of where you got attacked, by the way.’’

‘‘Well, the people who were looking for you didn’t really care about me, so they went after you and left me alone. Your bag’s in the street with the infected. Oh ! Has it turned back yet ?!’’

‘‘Well… It isn’t moving anymore. It’s still turned, but I’m actually not sure if it’s asleep or dead. I don’t plan on trying my luck, though…’’

‘‘That’s fair…’’

‘‘I haven’t heard or seen anything else around. I hope I’m not trapped here for three days like last time, Noche won’t be very happy with me if I leave him locked up alone that long…’’

‘‘Last time ?’’

‘‘None of your business.’’

‘‘Okay…’’

David looked out the window again, and sighed. The infected was still there. It still hadn’t moved. Maybe it really was dead…

‘‘Tundra, I vote we try walking out. I’m pretty sure this thing is dead, it still hasn’t moved…’’

‘‘Are you sure that’s a good idea ?’’

‘‘No, but we can’t stay locked up here forever…’’

‘‘You’re probably right.’’

Tundra was lying upside down on the couch, with his legs on the back and his head hanging over the edge. He spun around and stood up, then had to lean against the wall when his head felt weird. After that was done, he put his boots back on and followed David, who had already started down the stairs.

They cautiously pushed the door open. Outside everything was silent and still. The thing seemed to be dead, it didn’t look like it was breathing. The knife was still in its shoulder.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

‘‘Should I get my knife back ?’’

‘‘Er… I don’t know… How can we be sure that it’s dead ?’’

‘‘Well, it’s not breathing.’’

‘‘This is a man infected with an illness from space that physically transforms people. As far as we know, turned people might not need to breath…’’

‘‘Well, I guess that’s fair, but it’s a good knife.’’

‘‘If you want to take that risk, you wait for me to be back inside a building.’’

‘‘Get my pack and go inside, old man.’’

The old man didn’t comment on his new nickname and grabbed the pack before heading back towards the door.

‘‘Heh. If this was a show the music would be getting really tense and then it would suddenly die down when I grab the knife.’’

‘‘What ?’’

‘‘Nothing…’’

‘‘Okay…’’

Before the old man had gotten back inside, Tundra grabbed the knife and yanked it out. The two of them went very still, staring at the thing and not daring to move. Nothing happened. David let out a breath he hadn’t realised he was holding in. Then it twitched. They both bolted down the street.

They didn’t stop running until they were back at the apartment where Noche was waiting. He meowed angrily at them, hungry and angry at being locked up alone for so long. Tundra crashed on the couch and ignored him, which earned him a scratch on the arm.

‘‘Ow ! Noche ! I’m too exhausted to move…’’

David entered the room and Tundra couldn’t hold back a laugh when he saw his face.

‘‘What ? What’s so funny, kid ?’’

‘‘It’s nothing, I’d just forgotten I’d done that…’’

‘‘Done what ?’’

‘‘N- nothiiiiiing…’’

‘‘No, seriously, what did you do ?’’

‘‘Nothing serious, don’t worry…’’ he laughed again.

‘‘Are you making fun of me ?’’

‘‘No !’’

‘‘Right, okay, well I’m gonna feed this poor cat and then I am going to find a mirror. Where can I find food ?’’

‘‘Well, generally food is kept in the kitchen.’’

‘‘Okay, that was a stupid question…’’

He found a can of food suitable for Noche, ate a mouthful, and finally fed the poor starving cat. Then, he headed to the bathroom.

‘‘Tundra, what is this ?’’ he asked angrily.

‘‘A moustache.’’

‘‘Are you serious ? When did you do this ?’’

He was trying to sound annoyed, but he was already starting to laugh. He came back out of the bathroom and stared at the culprit, his arms crossed.

‘‘Have I been walking around with this all day ?’’

‘‘Yeah, I woke up before you this morning and you’re a heavy sleeper. I just couldn’t help myself, I had to. The opportunity was too huge for me to miss it.’’

‘‘I can’t believe it…’’

‘‘Yeah, actually, speaking of, how did you even make it this long when you’re this vulnerable ? No offence…’’

‘‘Well, I’ve just been unbelievably lucky, I guess. Or unlucky, depending on how you look at it. I was in this military camp with my family for a while, and since then I’ve kinda just… wandered.’’

‘‘Huh… Well, you’ve got me now !’’

‘‘Are you my protector or something ? Should I remind you that you nearly died because you tripped and fell ?’’

‘‘We will not speak of that particular incident. And yes, I am. I wouldn’t have been in that situation if I hadn’t been trying to save you in the first place !’’

‘‘Well okay then, tough guy…’’