Page 11 of The Last of Love

As she wandered back into her room, the quiet between them seemed heavier now, filled with the weight of everything they had shared. After their conversation, Fleur couldn’t help but feel closer to Lena.

It was unexpected, this connection she had found. She had opened up to Lena in a way she hadn’t allowed herself to in years, and in return, she’d glimpsed a side of Lena she hadn’t anticipated. The layers of cold, business-like demeanor peeled back, revealing someone who still trusted others despite all the reasons not to. Fleur admired that, even envied it a little.

Settling into bed, Fleur found her mind wandering to Lena, to their conversations, to the gentle fire between them. She had thought of Lena as distant, hardened by the years of leading and fighting, but now she saw the softness beneath, the optimism, the belief in people. It made her heart stir in a way she hadn’t expected.

She didn’t want to think about what the future might hold, didn’t want to complicate things further. But now, with the silence of the night pressing in, she couldn’t help it. Could this, whatever it was between them, be more? Or was it just the circumstances, this apocalyptic world pushing them together? Fleur’s thoughts swirled as she drifted off, Lena’s presence lingering in her mind long after the room went dark.

5

LENA

It must’ve been around 5 a.m., the quietest and coldest part of the morning. Lena could feel the weight of time pressing on her shoulders. They needed to move, and soon. If they didn’t reach the mountain path before midday, the journey would become a lot more dangerous. Once they got to the rough terrain, they’d have to leave the car behind, and the idea of hiking through unfamiliar paths in the dark didn’t sit well with her.

The night before was still replaying in Lena’s head, like a scene she couldn’t shake. Fleur had shown her a side she hadn’t expected, a side that was vulnerable yet guarded, intelligent but also deeply human. Sexy and addictive. It made Lena curious, more curious than she was comfortable admitting. She liked this new layer she had glimpsed. Beneath Fleur’s cool, confident exterior, there was something raw, something quietly simmering beneath the surface. It made Lena feel... something. But despite how much she liked seeing Fleur in this new light, it also left her with more questions than answers. She also needed to protect her heart and feelings.

Why were so many people so desperate to get to Fleur? The way they talked about her, as if she was some key to power or control in this chaotic world, Lena still couldn’t make sense of. There was something missing, a piece of the puzzle that Fleur hadn’t shared, and Lena could feel it. But pushing for more answers felt wrong.

She didn’t want to pester Fleur, especially after last night when they had finally connected on a more personal level. The weight of Fleur’s past still hung between them, unspoken and heavy. Lena knew whatever it was that made Fleur such a target had to be dangerous, something that could shift the balance of power in ways she couldn’t fully understand. The way Fleur had avoided certain details in their conversations made it clear that she was carrying knowledge too risky to share, at least not yet.

Lena wanted to believe that Fleur had told her as much as she could, but a part of her also couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that there was more, something vital Fleur was holding back. It wasn’t just her curiosity, it was an instinct, the kind of gut feeling she’d relied on to keep her alive all these years. She knew Fleur wasn’t being dishonest, but Lena also knew that sometimes, protecting the truth was a form of survival.

But how long could that wall stand between them? Lena glanced at Fleur, who was quietly preparing for the hike, her face calm but her eyes betraying a hint of the storm that likely raged beneath her composed exterior. She wondered if, when the time came, Fleur would trust her enough to share the full story, to let her in completely.

Lena wandered into the kitchen, grabbing whatever food she could find, a few cans, and stuffing them into her pack. Her mind was already calculating the distance ahead, the potential hazards. Then she moved to wake Fleur.

“Time to?—”

But Fleur was already awake, standing by the door, dressed and ready to go.

“Did you sleep at all?” Lena asked, noticing the faint shadows under her eyes.

“I slept a bit,” Fleur shrugged, her voice nonchalant. “I’ll be fine.”

Lena eyed her for a second, unconvinced but choosing not to press the issue. “Okay. We need to get going. Today we drive to where we can but then leave the car behind and start hiking.”

“Yup. Got it,” Fleur said, her tone light, but Lena could hear the weariness creeping into her words.

“I’ll meet you in the car.”

By 5:30 a.m., they were on the road. The tension in the car was subtle, but the day ahead kept their minds busy. The sun began to rise higher, casting long shadows over the landscape as they drove. Within half an hour, the soft hum of the tires against the road and the gentle sway of the vehicle lulled Fleur to sleep. The occasional zombie lurked along the roadside. They were too slow to cause a threat. Too weak and too decayed.

Fleur’s head leaned against the window, and for the first time in a while, she looked peaceful.

Lena kept her eyes on the road, careful not to disturb Fleur. She needed the rest. The hike ahead would be brutal, and every bit of sleep would help. Lena’s thoughts drifted, lingering on the journey that lay ahead. The mountain pass was notoriously treacherous, with its jagged edges, hidden pitfalls, and the constant threat of the infected lurking in the deeper parts of the wilderness.

As the paved road gave way to dirt and gravel, Lena felt the car jolt with each bump. She winced every time the tires hit a pothole, but Fleur slept through it all, her exhaustion deeper than Lena had realized. The car finally came to a stop as the road disappeared entirely, swallowed by the looming forest ahead.

Lena cleared her throat, her voice gentle as she reached over and shook Fleur’s shoulder. “We’re here.”

Fleur stirred, blinking as she stretched. “Already? I didn’t even realize I’d fallen asleep.” She rubbed her eyes and yawned.

“You needed it,” Lena said, opening her door. The air outside was cool, crisp, and carried the scent of pine and damp earth. “But we’ve got to be quiet from here on. This mountain range isn’t just tough. It’s dangerous. You can fight, can’t you? Like really fight?”

“Okay, captain,” Fleur teased, her voice still groggy but playful. “I’ll be as silent as a mouse. And yes, I can fight pretty well. You haven’t seen my best ability just yet!”

Lena rolled her eyes, though she couldn’t hide the small smile that tugged at the corner of her lips. Despite the tension of the mission, Fleur’s lightheartedness had a way of softening the edges of her own seriousness. And the danger of their upcoming hike.

They stepped out of the car, and the forest loomed around them, thick with shadows and the rustling sounds of life hidden beneath the canopy. Lena’s muscles tensed, her instincts on high alert. She adjusted her pack and glanced over at Fleur, who was already scanning the area, her expression shifting from playful to focused. Lena took out her map, scanned it and looked up.

---