Page 18 of The Last of Love

Lena delivered a brutal headbutt to the leader, knocking him out cold. “Did you get them?” she called, breathless, as she tied the leader’s hands behind his back.

“Yeah, I think so,” Fleur replied, still holding the gun, her hands shaking slightly.

Lena checked the bodies. The men were dead. The woman who had been waving at them earlier was fleeing into the distance. Without a second thought, Lena grabbed the gun and took aim. She fired, the shot hitting the woman in the leg. The woman collapsed, screaming in agony. The noise was too much; the dead would be approaching any minute now. They had to move, fast.

“What should we do with him?” Fleur asked, her voice quiet but steady, her eyes fixed on the bound leader.

Lena glanced at him, her mind racing through their options.

“Leave him to the dead. He won’t last long out here,” Lena huffed as she grabbed her weapons and placed them in her rucksack.

“Come on,” Fleur said softly, taking Lena’s hand in hers. “Let’s get out of here before more show up.”

Lena squeezed her hand in response, and together they walked away, leaving the carnage behind them.

As they continued walking, the thick canopy of trees behind them slowly gave way to the jagged outlines of a city. Broken buildings loomed like skeletons, their windows shattered, empty shells of a thriving hub. The air was filled with an eerie silence. There was no movement, no sound of life or death, just the occasional gust of wind.

They made their way cautiously into the ruined city, through the empty streets, their eyes scanning the surroundings, alert to any dead hiding in the shadows.

"Let’s get higher up and see what we’re dealing with. I’m sure we’re close, but the city could be a dangerous zone," Lenasuggested, nodding toward a tall building nearby. Fleur agreed, and they quietly made their way up the building's stairwell, the sound of their boots against the concrete the only noise in the cold, hollow space.

When they finally reached the rooftop, the city stretched out below them, a sea of crumbling ruins and forgotten streets. Certain areas were strewn with zombies roaming around looking for something to eat. Lena stood at the edge, looking down at the world below. It had been a while since she’d seen a big city like this, and the deterioration was quite unsettling. But, at the same time, nature had started to emerge, too. The city had been left to grow wild. The destruction by humans had come to a halt, and the dead had taken over in their wild habitat.

“It’s strange,” Lena said softly, her voice breaking the silence. “I used to look at cities like this and think of everything they had to offer, the people, stories, lives. Now, it’s just…” She trailed off, the weight of the emptiness heavy in the air.

Fleur’s eyes remained on the horizon. “We’ve survived this long. There’s something to be said for that.”

Lena looked at her and saw the sunset reflected in Fleur’s eyes.

“I’m just… relieved we are here,” Lena admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. She took a deep breath. She felt more than that, but letting her emotional guard down sometimes felt like too much of a risk.

Fleur’s eyes softened as she looked at Lena. There was a vulnerability there, a silent understanding that she liked. Without a word, she stepped closer, her hand brushing lightly against Lena’s arm. The touch was so simple, but the energy that transpired felt so intense.

Their eyes locked, and for a moment, everything else seemed to fade away. The chill in the air, the ruins of the city, the danger that surrounded them. It all disappeared.

A short moment passed and Fleur leaned in, kissing Lena softly. Pressing her body into her for a tight hug.

“Let’s stay here a little longer. It’s starting to get dark, so it’s good we have a safe spot,” Lena whispered, her voice barely audible against the wind.

Fleur nodded, her eyes still locked with Lena’s. “Okay. I am exhausted, and we need to stay sharp.”

Lena took her hand and led them inside the building, an old office block which seemed almost untouched. They found a quiet corner by a desk and set up an area with the blankets out of their bags.

“Come lay down with me, let’s stay warm and close,” Lena whispered.

Lena’s hands rested on Fleur’s hips, her fingers firm but gentle. For a moment, they both stilled, savoring the heat of their bodies close together.

Fleur kissed Lena and began to move her hands slowly over her body.

“I really like you,” Fleur whispered.

“And I like you too. So much. It scares me though, feeling this way in this fucked-up world.”

“It scares me too. But I can’t help how I feel,” Fleur replied quietly.

After a moment, Lena sighed, the weight of reality creeping in. “We should sleep,” she murmured. “We need our strength.”

Fleur nodded, offering one last gentle kiss before curling up beside her. The wind thrashed against the building, but somehow they drifted into the deepest sleep.

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