Mourning (1)

The journey back to camp was one permeated with a heavy, palpable silence, punctuated only by the muffled rumble of the bus's engine.

When they finally parked in the familiar location they had previously occupied, the same area where a sense of hope had once prevailed, the atmosphere was undeniably different.

The first to disrupt the stillness was Aryton, his energetic steps hurried as he dashed towards the bus, a hopeful glint in his eyes.

Trailing behind him was Bob, his arms laden with intimidating wooden spikes, evidence of the camp staff's recent endeavors to chop down trees in their surroundings for fortifications.

The bus door creaked open, and out stepped Ed, the camp's unofficial leader.

He paused for a moment, taking in the scene: the children from their group, blissfully oblivious to the horrors outside, were gathered in the cafeteria, their chatter and laughter a stark contrast to the grim mood of the returning survivors.

Aya shifted slightly, allowing Cody the room he needed. With a deep, steadying breath, Cody rose, his arms cradling Lilly's draped form.

As he stepped down from the bus, every ounce of weight from the tragic loss evident in his stride, Aryton's gaze fixed on the unmistakable shape concealed beneath the blanket.

"What... happened?" Aryton's voice was soft, tremulous, his eyes darting between Cody and the lifeless form he carried.

Mr. Peterson's voice cracked with emotion as he started, "I'm so sorry, Aryton." Cody's reply was simple, heart-wrenching, "She didn't make it."

As the words sunk in, a paralysis of disbelief gripped Aryton, tears pooling in his eyes, threatening to spill.

"You're... you're just messing with me, right?" Desperation edged his voice, but Cody's solemn shake of his head shattered any lingering hope.

"We are burying her right now," he declared, his tone resolute yet laden with grief.

Without another word, he began to walk, heading to a quieter spot beside one of the buildings, the final resting place for their dear friend.

Mr. Peterson, his voice strained, turned to Bob, "Get Cody and me a shovel." Bob, his expression somber, nodded subtly in acknowledgment and walked off.

Rose approached Aryton, her eyes swollen and red. As he looked up, searching her face for any sign of hope, he asked, "Is it true?" Rose's response was a choked sob and a reluctant nod, confirming his worst fears.

Dr. Newton observed the camp's new additions, the survivors who had joined them on this harrowing journey.

As the group began to emerge from the bus, Ed addressed the assembly, his voice clear and unwavering.

"We found more people. Today, we will make this place home." His declaration echoed with determination, a beacon of hope amidst their shared sorrow.

Cody gently lowered Lilly's body, the blanket concealing her form, onto the ground. Her lifeless hand peeked out from beneath the cover. He took a shaky breath, his emotions swirling beneath the surface.

Mr. Peterson arrived, carrying two shovels, one of which he offered to Cody. The boy looked at it for a moment, his hand trembling as he accepted the tool.

"I can do it on my own," Cody mumbled, his voice unsteady, his eyes locked on the ground he was about to dig into.

"You'll be out here all night if you do," Mr. Peterson advised, making an attempt to share the burden.

Cody shook his head and pushed Mr. Peterson away with his elbow, his words breaking as he insisted, "Go away! I need to do this." A torrent of emotions surged within him, making it impossible to share the task.

He carried the shovel's weight on his own shoulders as he dug into the earth.

Mr. Peterson frowned at Cody's insistence, his weathered face reflecting his understanding of the pain the young man was experiencing.

He leaned the unused shovel against a nearby wall before taking his leave. "Holler if you're in trouble," he spoke, offering one final gesture of support, and then he walked away, leaving Cody to his solemn duty.

Dozens of minutes stretched into hours as Cody continued to dig, the effort causing beads of sweat to form on his forehead and roll down his face.

The painful memories, like haunting echoes, played back in his mind as he dug deeper into the earth. One particular memory emerged from the depths of his thoughts.

In the memory, Cody sat at his desk in a classroom, glancing around the empty room. He had arrived half an hour early, waiting patiently for Aya who had gone to speak with her friends.

Pulling out his binder, he focused on his homework, ensuring that the answers were correct.

Footsteps echoed through the classroom, signaling the arrival of another. "You're early too?" a familiar voice greeted him.

Cody turned to find Lilly, her bright smile lighting up the room, as she plopped down in the seat beside him. "I brought hella candy!" she announced with a giggle.

Cody playfully warned her, "If you keep eating hella candy, you'll get hella diabetes."

Lilly chuckled and nudged his shoulder, "Trust me, nothing is gonna get me, not even diabetes."

Cody raised an eyebrow, teasing her with a slight shake of his head. "Yah yah," he replied with a grin. "I can give you some candy, I know sometimes you don't pack lunches like an idiot."

"Calling me the idiot when all you pack is candy," Cody retorted, sharing a laugh. She peered over at Cody's homework and playfully expressed her gratitude, "Thanks for the answers."

Cody insisted, "Oi, forget that right now," refusing to let her dwell on schoolwork. Lilly nodded and agreed to set it aside.

The memory slowly dissipated, drifting away like a distant echo, as Cody continued to dig the grave, the nightfall gradually descending upon the camp.

Aryton approached, his senses heightened, his sharp nose detecting the scent of freshly disturbed soil, as the mournful task unfolded before him.

Amidst the deepening twilight, Aryton approached Cody, his expression somber.

The dimming light cast elongated shadows around them, creating an even more melancholic atmosphere.

The sound of the shovel breaking the earth resonated in the quiet of the evening, each motion echoing the weight of their grief.

"Can I help you bury her?" Aryton's voice was soft, just above a whisper, revealing the rawness of his emotions. He hesitated for a moment, awaiting Cody's response.

Cody paused, glancing up from his laborious task, his eyes searching Aryton's. The exhaustion and pain were evident in his gaze.

After what felt like an eternity, he nodded slowly. "Yeah... you can." His voice was a mere murmur, the words coming out with difficulty as the corners of his mouth turned down in a faint frown.

Respectfully, Aryton stepped closer, taking another shovel.

The two of them worked side by side, the rhythmic motion of their shoveling creating a harmonious yet melancholic cadence.

The crisp night air seemed to grow colder, and the sounds of nocturnal creatures began to echo in the distance.

As the two dug, Aryton ventured to voice the question that weighed heavily on his mind, his eyes never leaving the ground.

"How did she die?" The words came out hesitantly, brimming with a mixture of dread and curiosity. Each word seemed to hang in the air between them, waiting for Cody's response.