Against the Dawn

Dane's frantic search through the car came to an abrupt halt as he heard a sudden, rasping breath from Kade. His heart leaped in his chest, and he whipped his head around to face his friend, anxiety flooding through him. "Kade!" he exclaimed, urgency lacing his voice. "Hold on! Please, just hang in there! I'll find a way to help you."

His hands trembled as he rifled through the clutter of the car, desperation driving him. What was he looking for? Painkillers? Antibiotics? Anything that might ease Kade's suffering. But all he found were a few bandages and an empty bottle of water. Frustration boiled inside him, and he cursed under his breath, "What is going on? I need something fast! Come on!"

Dane quickly wrapped the bandages around Kade's wounds, his hands shaking with each movement. "This will have to do for now," he muttered, almost to himself. "It's not enough, but it's all I have." He looked down at Kade's pale face, wishing more than anything that he could trade places with him.

After securing the last bandage, he took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he had to do next. He needed to start the car and get out of here. They couldn't stay trapped like this, not with the horde outside. He turned the key in the ignition, but the engine coughed and sputtered before falling silent. Panic gripped him again.

"No! Not now!" he yelled, slamming his hand against the steering wheel, the frustration boiling over. "Why is everything against me? I need something to save him!" The noise echoed in the confined space, causing the nearby zombies to shift, their attention drawn to the sound.

Suddenly, an idea sparked in his mind, a desperate plan forming amidst the chaos. He needed to distract the zombies, to draw them away from Kade. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he quietly opened the door, careful not to make a sound.

Dane stepped outside, his heart racing, every instinct screaming at him to retreat. "I need something… anything to lure them away," he whispered to himself, scanning the ground. His eyes landed on a small flashlight lying in the debris, its glass cracked but still intact.

He rushed over, snatching it up. As he examined it, a flicker of hope ignited within him. Grabbing a torn piece of his clothing, he wrapped it around the flashlight's head and tore it free. "This could work," he muttered, a determined glint in his eye.

Dane lit the fabric, watching as the flames flickered to life, casting a warm glow against the cold, dark night. He took a deep breath, adrenaline surging through him, and hurled the makeshift distraction into the street outside the shop.

The fabric caught fire quickly, flames licking the air and sending up a plume of smoke. It landed just beyond the building, illuminating the area and sending the zombies into a frenzy of movement. They stumbled toward the light, their instinct to investigate overwhelming their hunger for flesh.

"Now!" Dane shouted, sprinting back to the car, his heart pounding. He knew he had only a few moments before they would realize he wasn't a part of the spectacle outside.

Dane knelt beside the crumpled car, his breath ragged as he whispered to himself, "I did it… but it's not over. Kade needs me now." He circled to the passenger side, his hands trembling as he pulled open the mangled door and lifted Kade's limp form carefully, his heart hammering in his chest. Gently, Dane laid Kade down on the ground, his eyes scanning his friend's bruised face, as memories of every time Kade had been there for him flickered like ghosts in his mind.

Clenching his fists, Dane muttered, "I can't even save one person… the one person who saved me, time and time again." He sank down beside Kade, his legs giving out as despair threatened to swallow him whole. His gaze fell on Kade's pale face, so still it seemed lifeless.

"Think, Dane. Come on, think," he murmured, his voice thick with desperation. "The hospital's too far… but maybe… maybe I can find something nearby." He glanced around the street, his eyes landing on a row of houses just a block away. The thought of carrying Kade there felt daunting, but a new resolve ignited within him. If there was a chance, even the smallest chance, he couldn't give up.

With a last breath of determination, he gently lifted Kade onto his back, carefully supporting his friend's weight as he began the grueling walk toward the nearest house. Every step felt like an eternity, his own legs burning as he whispered encouragement to Kade, his voice breaking. "Kade… I need you to hang in there, okay? Just a little longer. I promised I'd get you through this."

As they trudged onward, the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, casting a golden glow across the shattered cityscape. Rays of sunlight reflected off the glass of towering buildings, scattering warm light over the desolate streets. It was an almost peaceful contrast to the devastation surrounding them, and in that moment, Dane felt a flicker of hope.

Finally reaching the house, Dane staggered up the steps, his body on the brink of collapse. He gently lowered Kade onto the porch, pausing to catch his breath. His friend's eyes flickered open briefly, unfocused and hazy. "Dane…" Kade's voice was barely more than a whisper. "Where… are we?"

Dane knelt close to Kade, his voice trembling as he whispered, "Are you... are you okay? I was so scared... scared I'd lose you."

Kade managed a weak, pained smile, his eyes glazed with exhaustion. "Kid, it takes more than this to shake me off," he rasped, his voice barely a murmur. "You've got a lot more to see... a lot more to learn." A sudden cough wracked his body, and blood trickled down the corner of his mouth. He raised a hand to wipe it away, but paused, staring at the crimson stain on his fingers. "Guess… my time's running thin," he muttered with a sad grin. "Don't… wait around, kid. Go… finish what you've gotta do."

"No," Dane said, his hands shaking as he grabbed Kade's shoulder. "Don't talk like that. I'm not leaving you. Not now. You're going to stay with me, understand? Just… hang on, please."

Dane glanced desperately at the door, forcing himself to stand. A surge of fury and determination shot through him, and he slammed his fist against the glass, shattering it with a crash. Without a second thought, he reached through the shards and unlocked the door from the inside, ignoring the sting of glass cutting into his arm.

Once inside, Dane carefully lowered Kade onto the worn, dusty couch. "Stay here," he whispered, forcing calm into his voice, though inside he was trembling. "I'm going to find something to help you. Just… stay still, okay?"

As he turned to leave, Kade reached out, his hand gripping Dane's arm with surprising strength. "Kid," Kade said, his voice filled with a deadly seriousness. "This place… it's not safe. I won't be around to watch your back this time, so…" Kade held out his shotgun, pressing it into Dane's hand. "If something happens… if they come for you… don't hesitate. Do what you have to do."

Dane looked down at the shotgun, feeling its weight in his hands. "I… I don't know if I can," he murmured, swallowing hard as he gripped it, the barrel cold against his skin.

Kade gave him a slow, approving nod. "You're stronger than you think. Just remember… they aren't people anymore. Do what you have to, and get back here."

Dane took a deep breath, his fingers tightening around the shotgun as he gave a nod back, determination glinting in his eyes. He moved through the house, taking careful, deliberate steps, every creak of the floorboards echoing in the silence, his heart pounding with the fear of what might be lurking in the shadows.