chapter 15: pretend
valentine evans
september 2023
about 16 months after outbreak
mandarin oriental hotel, miami
season 2
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"valentine, wake up."
"where are we?"
"we're inside a hotel, we got separated from the others, i killed the dead for you. you passed out, you're running a fever."
"arwen."
"valentine."
"i don't think i'm okay."
"you're gonna be fine, we're gonna make it back to the rest of the group. you probably caught some sort of bug or something, we can probably find medicine here, or maybe the others did-"
"i don't think you get it, arwen."
"what are you talking about?"
"i've been on meds, i got bit," i pulled up my sleeves and unwrapped the bandages slowly.
"what?"
"maverick tried to cut the bite out but the infection is still inside of me-"
"stop."
"i didn't want to tell you but i don't think i'm gonna be here much longer."
"you're gonna be fine, val."
"you don't need to waste your energy on me."
"valentine, i love you."
"don't do that to me-"
"i love you."
"you don't have to do that just because this is the end."
"it's not the fucking end, valentine! don't fucking do this to me, i can't lose you."
"it's not like i can control it, arwen-"
"then let's pretend, let's pretend like nothing's wrong and just find the others," they panicked, frantically.
"okay, let's find the others, they can't be too far."