Eli awoke shivering immensely, the chill that signified Winter's rapidly incoming approach was all too ruthless. He was still on the floor by the backdoor where he had collapsed in panic a few hours previously. His clothes were soaked through from his sweat, his hands and feet felt numb.

"Not good."

He wiggled around his fingers and toes trying to get blood flowing again so they'd warm up. At first they barely moved, gradually the movements became easier and the feeling returned once more.

The early morning light was beginning to shine down through the heavy cloud cover, resulting in everything it shined down on having a hint of grey to it.

Eli slowly sat up, trying to recall his conversation with the man, his head throbbing dully.

"Why did he have to find me?"

“Now it's only a matter of time."

"We need to leave."

"I need to leave."

He sighed deeply, which triggered a coughing fit.

"Damnit." He thought.

The stairs creaked loudly as someone came rushing down them. Eli quickly stood up, leaning against a kitchen chair to keep his balance as he did, and looked outside.

Silas came rushing around the corner, expecting there to be trouble.

Surprised to see none, he relaxed his hand which was gripping a knife.

"Is everything alright?" He asked.

Eli nodded, still looking outside.

"How long have you been down here?"

Eli shrugged, "Awhile."

"Couldn't sleep?" Silas asked, noticing Eli's clothes looked wet.

"Something like that." Eli responded softly before changing the subject, "We need to get going soon."

Silas nodded.

A memory of his conversation the night before flashed through his mind.

"In the morning check the medicine cabinet upstairs, I left you a little gift that should hopefully help the man's wife."

Eli's eyes almost went wide.

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"That's right!"

"We'll raid the house before we leave." Eli added on, after his recollection.

"I was going to." Silas responded.

That line shocked Eli.

"Maybe he’ll manage to survive in this world after all."

Glancing outside one more time, he turned and made his way to the stairs.

Careful not to show any urgency or unease, Eli made his way to the bathroom upstairs.

Ascending up them briskly, once he reached the top he slowed down to a normal pace and headed to the bathroom.

"You look like shit." He said to himself after seeing his reflection in the mirror.

He was much more pale than normal, almost sickly. The lack of food and fatigue from the last few days were finally starting to take its toll on him.

Shaking his thoughts aside, he opened up the medicine cabinet.

It was mostly empty. A few old nail polish bottles that were far beyond expired, a box of band-aids, and in the center of the middle shelf a white bottle with a note on it.

Eli grabbed it and read the note;

“For the man's wife."

He ripped the note off the bottle and opened it.

"At least he's honest." Eli thought to himself.

Just as the masked man had said, the bottle was full of pills.

Eli heard footsteps coming from down the hall. Quickly, he ripped off the note and crumpled it up in his hand.

"I didn't hear you come up." Silas said as he rounded the corner. He glanced down and noticed what Eli was holding in his hand, excitement washed across his face.

"Is that what I think it is?"

Eli nodded, a small grin grew on his face seeing Silas's reaction, "Yeah, it is."

Silas eagerly reached for the bottle and took it from Eli.

"Do you think it'll help?" He asked as he studied the bottle.

"We can only hope." Eli responded.

"Hope"

"Hope doesn't exist anymore"

"Hope is a delusion"

"Hope doesn't have a place in this world"

Silas looked Eli in the eyes, the struggle he was having inside showing faintly.

"Eli." Silas said.

He snapped out of it.

"Yes?"

"Thank you." Silas said, "Thank you for all your help, and for everything you've done for me and my Family."

He outstretched his hand.

Eli looked down at his hand.

"Family"

He grasped it and the two men shook hands in a moment that felt eternal to Eli.

"I'll go give Sebastian the good news." The cheer in Silas's voice faded as he continued. "He's still shaken up from the incident last night."

Eli nodded, "Is that the first time he's almost died?"

"As far as I know yes."

"It gets easier."

Silas looked up surprised, a dozen questions urging to be asked rolled through his mind, but all he saw was the pain hidden behind Eli's eyes once more.

"Poor kid." He thought. "One day, I'll get you to tell me what you've been through"

He spoke once more before his pause became noticeable, "I'll go give Sebastian the good news about what we found, with any luck that'll cheer him up."

He turned and walked out of the bathroom.

"Snap out of it"

"You didn't make it this far by feeling sorry for yourself"

“What would they say if they saw you like this"

"Keep going, for them"

He shook his head violently. Immediately after he stopped the room began feeling like it was spinning and he bent over against the sink to brace himself from falling. It subsided as suddenly as it began.

He carefully took a step forward.

"Nothing." He thought to himself.

Confident that the episode he had was now behind him he left the bathroom.

"That's great dad!" Sebastian said loudly from down the hall.

Eli turned and looked at them.

Sebastian hugged Silas tight after hearing the good news, tears forming in the corners of his eyes.

"Family"

He bowed his head and went into the room he'd slept in the previous night to retrieve his things.

"Family"

A few minutes later he came out, fully geared up. The other two men in the process of packing up.

"We're leaving shortly." Eli said to them, "If you've gotta piss do it now, it's already late enough as it is and we've got a long way to go before we get back."