STATUS REPORT: PERSONELL HAVE ARRIVED TO NORTH DAKOTA
ORDERS GIVEN TO ROUND UP SURVIVORS WITHIN THE AREA FOR TRANSPORTATION TO LAB
SAFETY PRIORITIZED
ORDERS GIVEN TO PROTECT ANY SURVIVORS FOUND AND BROUGHT TO THE LAB
THESE PEOPLE ARE HUMANITIES LAST HOPE AT REBUILDING. THE MORE PEOPLE SAVED, THE BETTER
"Are you alright Seb? That ankle looks swollen."
"I-I'm fine. But.. what are you doing here? I thought mom said.."
He trails off, his eyes shifting away from Mark.
"..I'm sorry bud. I just- when I started hearing about those cases spreading here I got worried. I know you mother didn't want me back here, but I couldn't shake this bad feeling. I drove here and everything was already.. well, you know."
He trails off for a moment.
"But hey- it all worked out bud! I mean, we finally get to talk again. Blood is thicker than water after all, so we have to stick together, eh?"
Sebastian gives a bashful nod.
"Y-Yes, right."
Mark gives a jovial laugh.
"C'mon bud, lighten up! I know things may seem.. grim, but we'll make it through this together. That's what family does, through thick and thin. Now c'mon, lemme show you around."
Mark gets up, giving Sebastian a helping hand to move around as he gives his tour.
"Here is the kitchen- obviously. We'll need to be a bit stingy on food, there isn't much. Though prioritize yourself if we're in a bind. You need strength to survive. Besides, you're practically all bone!"
He continues.
"Over here is an extra room. Being in the high class neighborhood must've had its perks, huh? Anyways, you can stay here for now. It's not like the lifestyle you're used to, but it's safe, and.. relatively comfortable."
He motions to the closet.
"Store whatever in there. I'm not expecting you to go out and scavenge or something, you're.. what, thirteen from what I remember? I wouldn't ask that of you. But if you do end up finding something somehow, keep the food to the kitchen. Weapons are.."
He practically drags Seb upstairs.
"Right up here in the walk in."
"Uhm-.. I don't know how to use anything though. Besides.. I don't wanna hurt anyone."
"Kid- listen. This mess isn't going to improve anytime soon. It's dog eat dog now, and you will not be the one getting eaten. Understood?"
"..Y-Yes."
"Now then.. my room is over here. Make sure to knock if you wanna talk to me. Also- the sinks everywhere are still working. I'm not sure if that'll change in the near future, but you're free to use them for now."
Sebastian nods once again. A concerned thought runs through his head.
"..How is he so calm?"
He pushes the thought back, ignoring it best he can manage. But it still gnaws at him internally.
"Now- I'm heading out to find us some more food. DON'T let anyone in that isn't me, okay?"
"Right.."
With that, Mark quickly leaves the house. Sebastian limps his way up to his new room, sitting on the bed.
"..I can't believe Mark is here. The last time I saw him was when mom was.. yelling at him. Calling him a terrible person."
He sighs, trailing off.
"..I'm happy I get to see him again.. but I still don't know why mom was angry with him. ..She only ever told me that he was a bad man who needed help. But he.. he never seemed like that."
He falls back on the bed, deep in thought.
"..How is he so calm about everything though? ..He killed that.. thing without a second thought. I know it was trying to hurt me but.. eh. Plus he's already gotten this whole place set up? It's like he was preparing for this.."
He pauses for a moment.
"Still.. I should be happy that he's here. ..That thing would've got me if it wasn't for him. Then I'd have ended up like mom."
He shudders.
"..It's nice to have a familiar face here. I was starting to think I was the last person alive…"
He rubs his eyes, groaning.
"..I'm exhausted. The past few days have really taken everything out of me. Maybe I should rest. This place it.. it feels safe."
He stretches, pushing himself further up the bed. Moving to his side, he attempts to get comfortable. It's difficult, but he manages. After a few moments, he falls asleep.
But the dreams aren't sweet.
Sebastian wakes up in a void, nothing around him but darkness. He looks around for a moment, heavily confused.
Eventually a light shines through from a distance. Cautiously he approaches the light, seeing a figure come into view.
"..Mom?"
As he gets closer, the figure turns around to face him directly. Her face appears distorted, blood drips from her neck.
"Why did you leave me Sebby?"
"M-Mom I-"
"It's cold.. so cold. Why did my son leave me to die?"
"I-I'm sorry, I didn't.."
"It's your fault you know? You could have done something. But you sat back and watched.. you let this happen."
"N-No! No no no.."
The boy holds onto his head, eyes widened as the scene replays in his mind over and over again: The husks appearance, the splatter of blood from his mother, the body of the husk beside her, her failed attempts to speak.
"No-.. no no.. I don't want to see this.. please-.."
"Look at what you caused."
"No.. NO!"
Suddenly he jolts awake. Covered in sweat, breath quick and shallow. his surroundings are a blur for a moment, forcing him to calm down after some time to recall where he is, why he's here, that he's safe.
"..I-It was just a dream.."