Off The Cliff.

Sebastian

Year 2065. Sloradath.

“Help!”

“Somebody help us!”

I glanced up at the branch that was supposed to support my weight given how sturdy it was. But not when I was holding onto someone else too.

“Don't let go, Sebastian. Please.” John begged as I gripped his hand even tighter, looking up at the cliff we had fallen from.

“Just hold on tight. I'll get us out of here.” I promised, groaning when I felt the branch creak slightly. “Ria, can you hold on a bit more?” I called out but she wouldn't stop crying for help as she shook her head.

It was all my fault. We had been running from zombies and humans who wanted our supplies and just when we managed to escape their grip, we almost fell off this cliff.

“Alright, here's what we'll do.” I said shakily, glancing at John who was suspended in the air with his hands grabbing mine tightly. “I need you to move. If I move too much, the branch will let go and we'll both fall. So you need to give it your all.”

“O-okay. Tell me what to do.” He said shakily, his face stained with tears and I glanced up once again.

“I'll shove you forward. Grab the rock once I do that. I'll push you so you can climb up.” I muttered as Ria's screams pierced the air again.

She had to stop, or she would attract more zombies.

“Love, please.” I pleaded as she glanced at me, fear evident in her expression. “I won't be able to save you if more zombies attack us. You have to be silent.”

She ended up biting down on her bottom lip as she sobbed quietly, her hands and legs wrapped around a long branch that had supported her when she fell.

Thankfully, I pushed her towards it; who knows what would have happened if I hadn't?

“John, you ready?”

“Yes. Ready as ever.”

I gripped the branch tightly and using my other hand and leg, I pushed him forward, my heart pounding as I watched him grab the rock and plaster himself on it.

“Oh my word, you did it.” I said with wide eyes, my face lighting up as he climbed up the cliff with the rocks as support. 

When he made it to the top, he hurriedly went over to Ria's side and she shakily extended her hands as he dragged her off the tree. She finally made it to the top too, as she hugged John tightly, and I heaved out a sigh of relief.

She was fine. They were fine.

The branch creaked once again, and panic surged through me as I glanced up at my best friend and girlfriend, who seemed to be in their own world, not caring that I was here.

“John? I can barely hold on anymore, could you help?” I called out but they both turned to me without moving. “Guys?”

“It's your fault that we fell anyway.” Ria said shakily as she stepped away from the edge of the cliff.

I admitted that it was my fault. But it was John who asked us to take this route. 

“I know, I'm sorry. Just help me up, yeah? We can talk about this at the top.” I pleaded, grabbing the branch with both hands as my hand nearly slipped.

“The supplies are barely enough for three people anymore, man. Shouldn't you be considerate enough to let us survive so we can use them well?” John asked, crouching down to look at me before grabbing the bag by the side.

The bag I had spent my life filling up last night. 

“John, come on, we're best friends right?” I muttered, my voice strained as it was getting hard to hold on. “You can't possibly mean this. I did all the work while you both only tagged along. If you want, I can get more supplies—”

“Ah, my leg!” Ria cried out and John immediately ran over to her side as she crouched to the ground. “It hurts. Sebastian pushed me earlier and I scraped my knee on the rock.”

“I did that to save you!” I said in despair, a groan escaping my lips when my hands nearly slipped again.

“The zombies are coming, we gotta go.” John suddenly said as he slung the bag over his shoulder and then picked Ria up in his arms. “We'll use the supplies well, brother.”

“John, please—”

“Oh, and we know where you kept your hidden supplies. We'll take care of them just as well. Thank you for giving us the means to survive until we leave this city.” He whistled, and before I could speak, he was already off.

I wanted to yell for them to come back. To beg them to help me back up. But my throat was dry. 

I had hidden those supplies for when desperate times came. I did it for them. I risked my life multiple times for the two people I thought cared about me.

I would die if I didn't find a way out. So I glanced at the rock from earlier that John had climbed through and without thinking, I threw myself at it. When I opened my eyes, I was clinging to it tightly and I almost choked out a sob.

I had to survive first. Then think later.

I had always seen the way Ria complimented John all the time, putting him first and even treating him more importantly than me. But I always concluded that it was because I was never around.

We were a team, it never mattered. 

I was always busy finding supplies to keep the three of us alive. I never knew it would backfire on me so hard. I had been played like a fool.

With a grunt, I climbed up the rocks even though my arms were protesting. Just as I made it to the top, I stiffened when I saw that the cliff was already surrounded by zombies.

“Shit.” I whispered, looking around for a way to escape. There was none, unless I tried to climb a wall and I was no Spider-Man.

I took a step backwards, and a small branch in the ground snapped, turning their attention towards me. At this point, it was either I die or I die.

There was no two ways about it.

They came rushing at me and I tried to fight back, punching and kicking at zombies who came my way. But I was already too weak and I was pounced on within minutes.

Zombie teeth sank into my skin. I felt them on my shoulder, on my face, on my legs, they were definitely having the meal of their life while I groaned and yelled in pain.

That was a bigger mistake as more zombies kept coming in, trying to grab a bite. I finally gave up trying to fight as I stared at the open sky above me.

This was my end. And I didn't even blame them. I had been too naive that I did everything for them without ever thinking about myself.

I was bleeding profusely when the zombies finally left me and staggered away, growling. It was only a matter of time before I turned into a zombie too. But I didn't want that.

A bitter part of me wanted to become a zombie so I could hunt them down. But I knew deep down that zombies weren't people. I'd lose myself long before I ever found them.

With the last strength in me, I stumbled towards the edge of the cliff. 

“Please let me die before turning into a zombie.” I whispered, glancing down. “And if I can get another chance to start again, I won't be so weak. I won't be so loving. I won't even care about anyone anymore.”

I heard footsteps running from behind me, and I thought it was another zombie coming, so I pushed myself forward. But when I turned, I could see another human standing by the cliff, his hand extended like he wanted to grab me back up. 

I didn't get a good look at his face as tears blurred my vision.

Was it John? Someone else?

“Seb! No!” He called out as the wind whooshed through me and I knew it wasn't John. That voice was unfamiliar. But how come he knew my name?

I felt my body hit the ground and for a brief moment, I felt the searing pain of my bones snapping.

Then darkness.