The Loss

She must've sat there beside her bed for a while, unconsciously falling asleep. She dozed off for a long time as she saw the time on her phone's remaining battery. Her bag is still strapped to her shoulder making it easier for her to just go. She slowly approached her window to see if those things are still outside and thankfully they're gone. She checked her bag to see if there is still enough space for it, despite her urgency to leave she still checked what items she could bring knowing that she'll probably never return to her house. She took all the ammo left in the gift box and she also took out some of the clothes she'll need out of her closet. After she was done upstairs, she went to her Kitchen trying to see which foods she can bring. "The canned foods would be too heavy", she uttered to herself. Since there's no electricity she really has few options on what food she can bring. She can gather all the canned foods that she has, but it will gradually slow her down. Even though she plans to go to her Parent's house, she is still uncertain if they will be there when she arrives or if her plans will go right, so it's still better to be prepared.

She remembers the ration that she has sitting on the floor in her kitchen, she felt bad taking one that day but now she feels awful, knowing that she'll never use it. As she was rummaging through her food cabinets she did think twice about leaving her house. The nearest place she can go to is still far from where she is and the outside is unpredictable. Right now it's calm but who's to say that in a minute or two that it will stay the same. She want's to see her family, but of course will her decision to go outside now really give her that? She tries to silence her mind, not wanting to drown in her thoughts. But she knows she has to still think about it through before she commits to a plan. As she was standing there trying to think of the best way to go, she heard a knock on her door. She was startled by it, but not enough to make her make a loud sound. At first she thought she was hearing things, but there it was again. But something about it seemed off, it was slow and gentle knocking. From what she heard on the PSA, she can certainly remember that they don't knock, they don't, right? She might be scared on what's on the other side of the door but she also thinks that it might be someone looking for help.

She tried to follow the sound and its coming from the backdoor, thankfully there are windows on its side so she can peak through it first before opening. Whoever was there sounded more desperate to get in. The knock became harder but not loud, as she carefully makes her way to the window. She took a peak outside and was shocked to see who's on the other side. She quickly opened the door for Jonathan to get in. He was still and almost mannequin-like with how he acts, Catherine tried to talk with him but he is only looking far into the distance. She made him sat down and asked him once again what happened but he wasn't responding. She noticed the sweat all around his body and she excused herself to grab him some water. As she was getting him a cup to drink on, she heard sobbing. She quickly made her way to the living room to tend to her friend who is now sobbing continuously on her sofa with his hands covering his mouth. Catherine is trying her best to comfort him asking him what happened. Despite what Jonathan is feeling he still tried to tell her.

"The- they-they killed her.....they killed her and I couldn't do anything", Jonathan said as tears run down his cheeks.

"Who did?", Catherine asked while masking her the shock she heard from him.

"Those damn Creatures! They killed my Mother and I couldn't do anything but watch!", Jonathan Replied with an Angry and Irritated voice to Catherine. Jonathan in an Agitated manner started scanning the room almost as if he's looking for something before uttering the words, "The windows, close the damn windows!

Jonathan got up from the sofa and started running to the windows. Hysterically stating that it needs to be closed. Catherine is trying her best to calm him down, afraid that he'll attract the UFBO's outside. She tried to stop him and convince him that the Windows are closed and that there's nothing to worry about. After a few Minutes of convincing, Jonathan sat down on the floor again, crying and crying still shocked and in disbelief with what he just went through.

After a while, he stopped and Catherine got him to lie down on the sofa and in a few minutes he fell asleep. She feels bad for his friend, having to go through with losing his only parent left right in front of his eyes. She did feel a certain dread inside thinking how her own family is. She tried calling her family and Joseph, but they didn't pick it up. She instead left them each a message, one to her family telling them that she'll come and one to her boyfriend asking how he is. Time passed and Jonathan is in a deep sleep, she is in the kitchen preparing their meal when he wakes up. While she was there, she thought about her decision to leave the house earlier, had she not fallen asleep and left earlier, would Jonathan have been okay? She is glad that she did fall asleep specially now that her bestfriend desperately needs help and comfort. With him being there she now knows she might've to stay in her house for a little while just until Jonathan is back up on his feet. She went to her living room to see if Jonathan is still asleep and he is. She put the meal she prepared on top of the table in front of the sofa so when he wakes up he'll have something to eat right away. Its getting dark soon and without power they'd certainly feel the cold outside. Not only that but they will be shrouded in darkness later on. She thought about lighting some candles but her curtains aren't thick enough to mask the light which would just bring them attention.

She sat by her friend on the hard cold floor next to the sofa, hoping that eventually he would wake up. She finished her meal but he is still lying asleep on the sofa. Before the cold hits, she remembered the coats that she has. Some of them might not fit Jonathan but it could still help to warm him up. She went upstairs for a while to get the coats, and as she went upstairs she also went to her window trying to see the outside from a Vantage point. There isn't anything outside and she's at least glad for that, but as he sees the rays of the sun trying its best to peak through the clouds setting down, she began to feel fear. She's afraid of what lies ahead when pure darkness surrounds them.

After she got what she needed, she went downstairs and in perfect timing as her friend just woke up. She immediately came to him to see if he's okay.

"Hey I prepared some food for you, get some bites in your gonna need it", Catherine told his friend who is still just Processing where he is.

"Thanks, how about you did you eat already?", Jonathan asked.

"Yeah don't worry about me I just ate", Catherine replied.

"I'm sorry I went here, after what happened I.....didn't where else to go", Jonathan said in a quiet and soft voice with his sorrow still lingering behind it.

"You're always Welcome here and I'm glad you're here, it's been pretty lonely these past few days", Catherine Replied.

"This is really delicious you know that, what is it though?" Jonathan asked with a calm smile on his face

"It's just meatloaf and nothing else", Catherine replied humorously.

"Nah this isn't just meatloaf, this has got to be some fine dining in here.", Jonathan joked with a now a bigger smile on his face.

"100% serious! It's just meatloaf." Catherine replied with a huge smile on her face as well.

Despite the events earlier Catherine is happy that his bestfriend is now smiling and eating. It really has been lonely these past few days and now she is just happy that there is someone else in the house with her, although she wished the circumstances or cause were better. She did feel sad hearing what happened to his Mother, Mrs. Cromwell. She did spend a lot of time with her when they were kids, usually when she'd come over to their house. She's even more sad for Jonathan having now lost both of his Parents.

The cold did settle in for Jonathan halfway through his meal and Catherine presented him with some of the coats that she has, although it was small for him, it still fit and it fit enough to warm him up atleast. He jokingly said that he feels like a burrito with the coat but he thanked Catherine for giving him something to warm himself up. Catherine asked if he needed anything else and Jonathan asked if he could use the bathroom. Catherine obliged and Jonathan Proceeded to do his business. When he came out he told Catherine that isn't obvious she prepared after seeing all the containers of water in the Bathroom. Catherine admitted that she might've been too Paranoid and went a little bit overboard with it, but Jonathan assured him that it's okay and that's it better than Nothing.

Jonathan then realized that it was soon to be dark outside and since he just woke up, he volunteered to stay watch for the night while Catherine gets some sleep. Catherine doesn't really want him to, thinking he should just rest too, but Jonathan insisted. Despite Catherine's pleas that it's okay for him to rest, she eventually agreed. She asked him if he thinks that it's okay to light some candles but Jonathan disagreed and has the same idea as her that the light will only attract attention. While there is still some light she toured him around her house telling him everything that he needs to know, incase the worst case scenario happens. When she felt that she has told enough, she asked if it's okay for her to head upstairs. Jonathan told her to go ahead and get the rest that she needs, he added that if anything happens he'll be sure to wake her up. As the two parted ways with Catherine heading upstairs, she felt fear and sadness. Fear as she doesn't know what lies ahead when she close her eyes and what event's might play out after they manage to get through the night. Sadness, as what happened today only reminded her that some of her worst fears can be a reality anytime soon.