Seventh Run

When Liam finally got out of the store, he shivered. He saw how the beautiful city he had been working in for years became desolate. Cars everywhere, bags and personal belongings lying on the floor, blood everywhere—the building almost got ruined. There’s no tsunami or earthquake, but what happened for the last two weeks makes things even worse than a natural disaster.

“We should go now. We have to leave this place as soon as possible. Even though this city is small, it’s still a city. A lot of people came by and worked here.”

Liam nodded his head, and his grip on his improvised baseball bat tightened. When he heard the growl and groans of the mindless creation, it left eerie feelings in the silence of the day.

Brandon put his weapon on his back and looked at Liam before he looked around and started to look for possible threats for the two of them. He calculated everything, even the mindless creature not far from them.

“Based on my observation for the last two days, these mindless zombies couldn’t see. They all just rely on their hearing. Thus, you must be careful when making loud noises. Even so, it does not mean they couldn’t smell you. They can't see you, but they can smell and hear you.”

Liam bit his lower lip and nodded his head. “Is talking alright?”

Brandon then nodded his head before looking away and answering, “Yes, as long as it’s not that loud.”

Brandon started to swing his weapon when a mindless creature started to mindlessly walk towards them. Even though Liam mentally prepared himself that these mindless creatures aren’t humans anymore, seeing them get beat up like this, he couldn’t help but feel pain for them.

“You don’t have to worry about them,” Brandon said as he saw Liam’s expression. “When you feel like they don’t deserve this, just remember that they are no longer human beings. The moment they got bitten is the moment they’re dead. Thus, if you wanted to survive, you must hit their head.”

Liam knew that what he said was right. However, he hasn’t killed anyone before. Even those who were killed before might find this difficult to accept. But he needed to survive.

“Un,” he uttered.

Brandon then turned to Liam with urgency in his eyes. “Come with me, Liam. This place is no longer as safe as it was when the first wave happened. As far as I know, there’s a safe sanctuary not far from here. If we go there, we might end up being protected,” Brandon urged, his voice low and steady.

Liam won't deny that he felt tempted. If there’s a safe place, then there’s no reason for him not to go there. However, he hesitated. His eyes flickered as he thought of his family. No, he can't go there yet. He hasn’t seen his family. What about his sisters? His brother? He won't go to the safe place where his siblings aren’t there.

The responsibility he felt for a long time is still carved into Liam’s bones. “I appreciate your help, Brandon. I really do. However, I can't go there, at least not yet.” He lowered his head as he stared at his feet. “I have siblings, and I can't just leave them be. I need to find my brother and my sisters. I know that it isn’t easy and that they might end up like those mindless creatures, but I can't feel at ease when I don’t know what happened to them. I don’t want to go to the safe place when they’re out there, trying to survive as well.”

Brandon did not speak; he only studied Liam’s expression and eyes for a moment. He senses that the person in front of him has a lot more unwavering resolve than he does. Brandon sighed. “I get it,” he said, nodding his head. “Family comes first, indeed. But out here, you're more likely to survive if you’re not alone.” He smiled, and Liam raised his head, curious and confused. “Let me help you find them, hmm? We can go to sanctuary after we find them; we’ll be safe together, deal?”

Liam froze. He stared at Brandon and couldn’t think of something that would make him go with him. Sure, they know each other, but only by name. The person he was with during work had abandoned him. He thought that after he voiced out the thing about his siblings, he'd leave him, but no. He’s wrong.

The person he just met doesn’t want to leave him alone. If it weren’t for the fact that things have gone sh*t right now, Liam is surely going to fall in love with this guy. Especially when all the qualities he's been trying to find in a man are in him. However, he doesn’t know what his preferences are.

Despite feeling like that, Liam regarded Brandon with a mix of gratitude and skepticism. The offer to help him find his siblings became his way of being a little more friendly towards Brandon. However, trying to trust a stranger in this unpredictable world required a leap of faith.

Liam and Brandon started walking in the direction of Liam's house. Fortunately, they will also pass the place where one of his sisters works and the school of his younger brother.

Liam asks, “Why are you helping me?” His voice was tinged with caution.

Brandon looked at Liam. He put his weapon back behind him again when he saw that there was no mindless creature around. "I've seen a lot of people who have become victims of today's events." Brandon's voice showed that he had really been through a lot before he even saw Liam. "One more thing, I promised you, didn't I? I intend to keep it. I won't leave you here, and I will help you find your family. It was part of my promise, right?"

Liam considered what Brandon said. Liam just smiled in front of Brandon, but inside, he was biting his handkerchief, and there were tears in his eyes.

Liam nodded after considering everything. "Alright, that's what you said. Let's find my brothers first, and then after that, we'll go to the sanctuary you're talking about. For now, I'll lead the way."

Liam didn't know if he was just blind or what. He saw a hint of a smile touch Brandon's lips. Liam thought, Why is this person so handsome? If only she had known this man before these things happened, maybe, with the attitude she has, she would have pursued and courted him.

"Deal," Brandon said. "Let's find them first to reassure you, Liam. Just now, I'm telling you, you're not alone, is that clear?"

Liam nodded, and they continued walking. The sanctuary Brandon is talking about is outside of Eldo City, between Eldo and Runa City. The destination for both of them is to enter Eldo. Liam's workplace is not the most central one in Eldo, but there are still a lot of people here. If there are many people here, there are more people in the deeper part of Eldo City.

As Liam and Brandon walk into Eldo City, the alliance they both have deepens as they look at each other's backs. They didn't speak; the two of them were always surrounded by silence, but for the two of them, it wasn't an obstacle. Rather, for them, they can move more smoothly.

Liam immediately stopped when he saw Brandon stop in front of a pharmacy. It is familiar to Liam because it is one of the three famous pharmacies in Eldo City.

"Is there a problem?"

Brandon turned around before answering Liam, "With what's going on right now, I'm sure the looters take food first. Even so, food is still important. Once we have a car, we can take food too."

Liam didn't answer and just nodded. They slowly opened the door of the pharmacy, and immediately the silence echoed all around. The eerie feelings that Liam was feeling got even worse when they both entered.

Because it was a pharmacy, Liam immediately smelled the familiar smell of medicine. He found the various classes of medicines complete and well organized.

As they approached the pharmacy counter, they heard a faint groan. Laim was immediately terrified. It wasn't the first time he heard something like this, but he still couldn't help but be terrified. Liam's gaze immediately followed where it was coming from, and he immediately looked at Brandon when he saw a mindless creature wearing a pharmacist's uniform.

The two of them shared a silent understanding—it was time to face the undead once again.

Even so, even before they fought, Brandon looked around and checked if there were any other undead besides this pharmacist. Luckily, no more.

Liam wasn't even ready when the undead creature, the pharmacist, suddenly jumped towards Brandon.

"Brandon!"

Brandon sidestepped smoothly, delivered a blow with his staff, and sent the creature crushing into a display of over-the-counter medications. Immediately, the medicine that was hit by the creature spilled out and spread.

Liam was relieved. He walked over to Brandon and grabbed his arm. "Are you okay?" is this worried question.

Brandon stopped at what Liam did, but Brandon's eyes brightened up at what Liam did.

Brandon smiled at Liam and patted his shoulder. "I'm fine; don't worry."

Liam was about to speak when he heard movement from the mindless creature that was the pharmacist. Even though he saw that this undead was struggling to stand up, he still couldn't help but be nervous. Because of that, he approached her and hit her on the head with his baseball bat, which had nails on the end.

Brandon laughed weakly. "You don't have to do that."

Liam turned and glared at Brandon. "What doesn't need to be done? Brandon, at this time, shouldn't everyone be sure?"

Brandon nodded slowly and didn't argue anymore. "You're right; everything must be sure."

Immediately, Liam's heart beat faster when he saw Brandon's smiles. For some unknown reason, he felt as if there was something strange there. Even so, he just let it go. It wasn't the right time, and they had just met. He had to stop himself because it was too early to fall in love with someone he had just met.

Even after Liam hit the mindless creature inside the pharmacy, his eyes widened when he suddenly advanced towards them. Liam's baseball bat and Brandon's metal rod were swinging with controlled aggression. Their blows are equally accurate, and they both hit the undead's vulnerable point. Not long after, there was another undead person from the second floor of the building who suddenly fell down the stairs.

"Shit!" Liam cursed.

The smell of rotting flesh immediately enveloped both of them, and because of Liam's weak stomach, he couldn't help but feel nauseous and throw up.

Even so, Liam still insisted on fighting. Working in tandem, Liam did not think that the cooperation between the two of them would be good. Both of them covered each other's backs and swung their weapons crazily. If anyone saw the two of them, they would surely think they were both crazy.

Brandon metal rod moved like an extension of himself; he swung it as if a dance of precision and efficiency. Liam doesn't see it, but if he does, he's sure to be amazed. Meanwhile, Liam, fueled by determination, fought with raw intensity. He is not like Brandon, who has a strong physical body, which is why he is struggling. Still, for Liam, it was easier than kneading the dough his older sister had made. Every stroke of Liam's baseball bat is a declaration of survival.

The inside of the pharmacy was filled with the sounds of their blows along with groans, clattering bottles, and sometimes the thud effects of their defeated creatures hitting the floor.

Liam didn't know when it would end, but what they didn't think was that the last mindless creature they could take down would be the last. Because of that, Liam felt momentary calm.

Breathing heavily, Brandon surveyed the area. He didn't let Liam go with him anymore because it was too dangerous. At least if he was in one place, Brandon would be safe.

Liam looked around when Brandon left for a moment. He was nervous because he didn't know that the undead they defeated might suddenly move, but he still tried to calm down. Not only that, he was nervous that Brandon might leave him.

Liam took a deep breath, immediately covered his nose, and almost vomited because he smelled the rotting flesh of the mindless creatures in front of him.

Forget it; it's better not to breathe in this area with your nose.

Liam saw the surroundings and winced. The once-orderly pharmacy is now a mess. There are many scattered medicines. He didn't wait for Brandon anymore and just started taking the medicine that he sought. Liam took boxes of different medications, such as antibiotics, cold medicine, cough medicine, and even the medicine for women that they drink during their monthly bleeding. He has sisters, and he is aware of how much it hurts for a woman. Liam also took first aid and various other types of equipment. He even took the asthma.

When Liam heard footsteps, he immediately froze where he was. When he saw that it was Brandon, he immediately relaxed.

Why did he think that Brandon would leave him? If he was able to make a promise to her, he would definitely not leave her. Also, they were too far from the place where they met. If Brandon intended to leave her, he would have left her as soon as he said he was going to find his brothers.

Liam didn't know if he could call himself a fool because he thought badly of the person helping him or if he was just being cautious. "Is it okay?" Liam asked, showing the boxes he had taken.

"We need to grab as much as we can," Brandon said, looking around. He scanned the shelves for essential supplies.

Brandon saw Liam nod out of the corner of his eyes.

Liam put the medicine he got in the bag they found along the way. "You're right about that. We don't know when we'll have another chance to enter something like this," he said while placing the medicine boxes. "Let's make it count," he added.

Brandon raised his eyebrows when he saw several boxes of medicine for women's monthly bleeding. "Why did you take those?"

Liam stopped and looked at the box he was holding. "Here? This is what my two sisters always buy me every time they have monthly bleeding. I bought it just to be sure because if they are both alive, they will definitely need it."

Brandon slowly nodded and turned in another direction, which Liam couldn't see. Brandon smiled and then started taking different types of medicine. The duo worked fast and efficiently, aware that time was of the essence. As they gathered much-needed supplies, they realized that it was already dusk.

With their backpacks filled with medicine, Brandon said, "We need to stay here." He stood up and then went to the door and locked it. "It's not safe at night. We can adjust our eyes in the dark, but they could see in the dark."

Liam's eyes widened. "I thought they couldn't see?"

Brandon nodded. "In the morning. So now, we'll stay here. Help me take these bodies away and let's clean it up so we can sleep. Let's just connect the two sofas to make a bed."

Liam's chest was pounding.

Attach to make a bed. Son of—don't tell them they'll be side by side? Somehow, Liam felt excited while at the same time being nervous.