Archive of Our Own

Work Text

Tommy stared out the window at the birds hiding within the leaves of the tall trees, listening to them chirp through the glass of the class window while he played with his bracelet. The two little record charms clinking lightly against one another.The teacher- Ms. Annie had been going on about chemical safety lessons because another kid thought it was the funniest thing to mix bleach and pneumonia so now they were all in trouble. It didn’t matter much to Tommy anyway, the school day was almost over so he could leave and go home to help Sam make a cake for Ponk.The smell of dry erase markers, the lavender cleaning supplies they use on the desks and the warm sunlight filtering through the window all distracted Tommy from Ms. Annie’s lecture. Ms. Annie was mid sentence when the bell rang, everyone getting up and rushing to clean up their note books and pencils to get to their busses or to just get home quickly. “Absolutely not! we are not done here. Sit down.” Was the woman’s Demand as she walked over to the door to block it. All the student groaned in protest and shouted of the unfair situation. This wasn’t something unheard of from this teacher, she was old and had control issues from a nasty divorce that she for some reason takes out on her students. Tommy huffed and plopped back down into his uncomfortable chair, a few students were still arguing with the woman who shouted back at them, she had a set of lungs on her, Tommy could give her that as he rub’s at his temple from her screechy shouting. The Blond caught his brothers stare from a few rows up. Toby looked back at Ms. Annie before slowly slipping from his chair with his bag and sneaking to the empty desk behind Tommy. That woman was to busy screaming at one of the poor girls in the front row for her to notice Toby’s swift switch. Tommy tilted his his head to Toby, keeping his eyes on the woman. “The kid who did it isn’t even here today” Toby whispered as Tommy scoffed at the information. “Then why are we here?” The blond asked rhetorically, still watching the older woman rant on about disrespect. Watching her every move, every time she slammed her hands on her desk, every sudden twist of her body to scream at another kid. “I don’t know about you but I wanna go grab something extra for Ponk’s birthday” Toby said before leaning on the desk, his arm hanging off the wood enough for Tommy to see his hand, Toby lifted his wrist and flashed a rolled up wad of cash in his sleeve. “Where’d you even get that?” Tommy asked a little wide-eyed as Toby’s lips pulled into a mischievous smile. “I may or may not have been selling test answers for some extra cash” The brunet whispered with a sly smirk. Tommy's lips quirked up at that before looking out the window. If they wanted to get out of here and still have time to get an extra gift for Ponk, they’d need to leave now- which wasn’t happening if their teacher continued to yap. They were on the second floor, not too high off the ground but still a decent drop, though the large plant boxes from the Horticulture class that made a stair case up to the second floor that was a perfect assistant to their escape. Even better when Tommy’s desk was right next to it if he got the window open. All he needed was a reason to get up and discreetly open the window enough for them to slip out, and with her poor vision the teacher wouldn’t even notice.The two boys had experience sneaking out of old foster homes before Sam and Ponk so executing this plan would be easy, all they had to do was play it right. “Psst” Tommy hissed, getting his brothers attention before gesturing over to the window with a tilt if his head. Toby looked for a moment, dark eyes analyzing carefully before nodding his head ever so slightly in agreement.With the silent plan set. It was time to put it into motion.Tommy carefully gathered his things, Toby watching Ms. Annie carefully and gently kicking Tommy’s leg when she looked over so he’d stop his task while Toby kept close to the wall to hide himself behind the taller brother. Not being noticed was how they got through life with little effort.Once all their stuff was in their bags and ready to go, Tommy leaned over to the kid next to him and tapped his desk to get his attention. “Hey, I got a job for you” Tommy whispered to Eryn, the boy with an evil look in his heterochromic eyes. “Oh? got a plan to get us outta here?” Eryn snickered lowly as he covered his mouth with his hand, attempting to hide that evil smirk of his. “Not you, but me and Toby” Tommy explained as Eryn raised an eyebrow. “I love the jobs you two cook up but whats the consequences?” Eryn asked with a toothy grin. “Get everyone up and in a riot, keep the teachers attention so we can slip out the window” Tommy explained, glancing around to make sure the coast was clear for this type of deal. “That will cost you, do you even got the money for a fall like that” Eryn asked with the tap of his fingers on his desk. They’ve done this type of thing before, giving each other odd ‘jobs’ for the better of entertainment or to get out of a tight spot. If they all could get off scot free, it wouldn’t cost anyone anything, it’d be ‘free entertainment’ but if someone had to take the fall for something then the other parties had to pay up for compensation. Getting in trouble at this school wasn’t something to take lightly. “Yeah yeah I got the money” Tommy complained as he searched around the inside of his uniform jacket, eventually taking out the wad of saved up lunch money, giving the darker hair boy a quick look to signal an exchange. Eryn looked away with a quick glance around before knocking over his pencil that was laying at the edge of his desk, the two leaned down to pick it up and Tommy slipped him the money discreetly. “Pleasure doing business with you Thomas ” Eryn grinned as he stashed away his new found cash before he cleared his throat for his grand performance.“God fuck this shit! I have stuff to do today and your constant bitching is making me run late!” Eryn shouted as he slammed his fist onto the desk and stood fast enough to knock over his chair. The other students around him flinched at the volume and stared at him wide eyed. The Teacher had a look of shock on her face at Eryn’s outburst, a look not long lived before she began screaming at him. “You will not use that tone with me young man! sit down this instance!” She screamed like she was inches from death. Eryn laughed “Yeah right, I’m gonna be late for practice if you keep me here any longer, we all got better shit to do than listen to you go on and on” Eryn spat, some of the other students nodding in agreement at his words, most if not all students going to this school had important things to do after classes. With that, Eryn began marching towards the door, the older woman quickly rushed to block him from leaving. That made everyone stand. This wasn’t a school for cowards, if you’re a student here you had important family that sent you here. Lawyers, Doters, Military, CEO’s, even royalty in a few cases. These students weren’t raised to sit and obey, they were raised to get what they want in sneaky and awful ways. Eryn was popular and influential enough to get anyone behind him, it’s why Tommy gives him such jobs, he’s good at swaying the conversation to better his defense. He’s the son of a top Cybernetics companies founder, he can make or break anything in the world of technology and everyone knew it too. Tommy and Toby stood calm, they knew that once one person stood up, the rest would follow like sheep. People were predictable to a fault and they would use that to their advantage. They watched as Eryn began screaming at the older woman, the other students quick to follow his lead as they cornered her at the door. With almost forty students blocking her view, Tommy and Toby were nothing but ghosts in the shadows.Tommy pressed his back to the window, hands behind himself just encase someone spotted him, as he carefully felt around the lock before popping it open and sliding the glass up enough for Toby to dump their bags. Someone would hear the shouting and screaming at any moment, if some of the students hadn’t already contacted someone to come get them. Phones weren’t allowed but some students didn’t need them to contact for help.Toby slid the bag out of the window quietly, holding onto the backpack’s grab handle as he leaned out the window to lessen the sound it’d make when hitting the flower bed. Not like they needed to do that, but it was better safe then sorry. It’s just how they’ve lived. Toby dropped the other bag down with a soft thump before straightening back up to stand next to the blond.“You go first” Tommy instructed, watching as some of the students began to spread out more, leaving gaps where they could get spotted through. “You sure? getting caught will not end well” Toby muttered, fiddling with his bee earring. “Yeah, your smaller, I’m faster, drop down, grab the bags and get to the bottom, I’ll follow when I know she won’t see me” Tommy explained, Sharpe icy eyes trained on the older woman getting in Eryn’s face. He could see her, meaning she could see them if they weren’t careful. Getting Toby out is first, always was. He’s never letting Toby go last ever again. Toby gave a swift nod in agreement and turned back to the window, Tommy stepping forwards to block him from any wondering eyes. Toby swung a leg out the window, getting a good grip on the sill and brought his other leg up to his chest then out the window as well. With a deep breath, Toby lowered himself down to be hanging by his hands before letting go and dropping. It wasn’t to far of a fall, he was short yes but the drop was only five feet, they’d both dropped further than that before so it wasn’t frightening.Toby snatched up their bags and started hoping down from one plant box to another, each only five or four feet making a very boxy staircase down.Tommy gave it a few more seconds before sliding the window open further so he’d be able to get himself out. Though he supposed his luck should have run out long before this as the window screeched in protest at being opened more than it was used too. Such noise had everyones eyes on him. Fuck. Tommy thought as he and Eryn locked eyes. The darker haired boy was quick to try and distract the teacher but she was already marching towards him with red hot hatred.Ms. Annie was not his favorite and he definitely wasn’t hers either. Tommy stepped away from the window as she began seething about the events that had played out. “This is your fault you little vermin, I know it is!” The woman nearly growled out as she jammed a finger into Tommy’s chest. He glared at her “I have no idea what you mean” He spat at her, slapping her hand away from him. “You know what I mean! whenever something happens your always up to something” She sneared with bared teeth. “Maybe its because I can control my surroundings, unlike you” Tommy commented, smiling at the woman, he could practically see the smoke coming from her ears. “You little-” The loud bang of the classroom door being opened and slammed into the wall made them both jump and look.Eryn grinned as he held the door to the wall, leaning against it as the whole class ran out of the room like the class was on fire. “Oops my apologies” Eryn snickered to the teacher. Eryn gave a wink and a nod before he booked it from the classroom himself.Tommy took a breath, turned and dove out the window before the teacher could regain composure of the situation. Tommy landed and rolled off one plant box to the next before gaining enough momentum to roll into a standing position and jumping down the rest of the flower beds to Toby who waited wide eyed at the bottom of the boxes. “Holy shit are you alright?!” Toby asked with wide eyes as Tommy rushed to grab his bag that Toby tossed to him. “Yep, nothing but some dirt, wont kill me” Tommy huffed as he brushed off his clothes. “You little shits get back here right now or so help me you’ll be expelled!” Their teacher voice rang out from the window Tommy had jumped from moments ago. The two boys turned and looked at her before quickly running off through the compound laughing like mad men as they did so. Tommy and Toby rushed around corners to make it to the back gates before security caught them and they got in trouble for running.Blending into the rush of students that were being picked up at the gate, the two slipped past security running off down the street with a Sharpe yell from the well built man to “Slow down a bit” which they yelled back apologies to. That security guard knew they walked home so he didn’t try to stop them from rushing off into town. Tommy and Toby ran like they always did, only stopping when they reached anintersection, huffing and leaning over to catch their breathes from their run, still managing a laugh or two between breathes. “Man…I’m never gonna get used to the amount of running we do” Toby coughed as he dug around for his water bottle. “Hah… running is the fun part though” Tommy smiled as he wiped his forehead with his sleeve. Toby rolled his eyes as he drank his water like he’d never taste a drop again. “Toby, take a breath” Tommy laughed as he snatched the water bottle away from the brunette with a choked gasp. “Hey!” Toby protested as Tommy took a swig before handing it back to the shorter. “Bitch” Toby spat as he took another quick drink before stashing the bottle into his bag once more. Tommy stuck his tongue out at him for that as Toby did the same. childish they were. Running from the rules of life just to enjoy it their own way with no one fast enough to catch them even if they tried. The sudden color switch from red to green caught their attention as they walked forewords onto the road to cross the street. The air was calm and warm, people walking about and cars driving on the road as they crossed. “So” Tommy began, ears perking at the sound of sirens wailing in the distance.“what were you thinking of buying with all that Money you conned?” Toby blew his hair from his face, his bangs were getting a bit long Tommy noticed. “I was thinking we get Ponk something extra since he’s been working so much the past few months- I know he and Sam said not to worry about it and all but…you know” Toby said as he tried and failed to find a good enough excuse to buy a gift themselves, feet scuffing on the concrete of the sidewalk. “You just wanna surprise Sam too don’t you?” Tommy teased with a smile as Toby shoved him a bit. “Not like you don’t wanna help me, you’re after the same thing” Toby scoffed as the two quickly ran across the road to get to the downtown shopping district.birds chirped quietly in the trees above as the cool breeze calmed the boys down from the rush of the sprint from earlier as they spit balled ideas for gifts.Tommy’s eyes wondered down to watch his red shoes scrape against the concrete of the sidewalk, clean and pristine shoes Sam bought him when he first had to go to this school. The shops seemed slow with only a few people walking about the streets with a couple browsing a shop through the large front window.Toby made a sound of thought that caught Tommy’s attention. “What about a watch? didn’t his old one break when he took us to the docks?” Toby questioned as Tommy nodded along. “Ooh yeah he definitely needs a new one so he can actually make it home on time since he never charges his phone” Tommy laughed as they walked over to the clock themed store.Pushing open the doors they were greeted with the smell of old wood and the soft sound of ticking clocks along with a tiny bell dinging to signal their entrance.The carpet was old and heavily worn into a hard flooring, no longer having its soft carpet feel after years of people standing on it. The man behind the counter was working on a wrist watch. “Welcome what can I get for you two?” The man asked not looking up right away from what he was working on. “Looking for a gift for a family member” Toby answered as he looked around, Tommy doing the same for anything that would catch their eyes as a police car quickly drove by, sirens blaring before an ambulance rushed quickly after it. Tommy eyed the window for a moment before going back to the clocks lining the wall. “What kind of gift? I may be able to help” the older man said as he placed his other project down to stand a little straighter with a patient smile. Toby fiddled with his earrings again as he spoke “We aren’t really sure yet, but he always works super late and he needs a new watch since his old one broke” Toby explained, pursing his lips at the lack of ideas. “But a normal watch doesn’t seem to fit his style, something more fun” Tommy butted in as he watched the moving cat clock. The older man gave a thoughtful look “Ah yes, something a bit more special to them” The man said to himself as he walked around looking at his collection along with the boys. “May I ask what he does for a job?” He asked after a moment, his voice gentle and calm. “He was a combat medic but is now a doctor at the hospital nearby” Toby explaind as Tommy shifted uncomfortably. He wasn’t a fan of telling strangers anything about his family. Always fearing it to be taken from him the moment people realize he’s got something good going for him. Tommy felt at his wrist to make sure his bracelet was still there, the little vinyl record charms jingled with his movement. “Oh I see, very respectful job for a very important man, I assume you don’t see him that much?” The man asked with a frown. Toby shook his head as Tommy jumped as a coo-coo clock jumped out near him.“Not as much anymore, he’s picked up more hours” Toby answered verbally as the man smiled at him. “I think I have something, you’ll have to give me a moment to dig it up” The man said as he quickly walked over to the door near the back that was covered with some fairy lights. He disappeared behind them for a moment, the sound of him rummaging around and calling for a woman, asking where something was before calling that he’d found it.The boy’s waited, never moving from their spots.He emerged with a smile on his face as he walked back over to the boys, presenting proudly a gold pocket watch the was beautifully ornate with sculpted plants and winding vines that looked like something from a fairy tail. The two boys stared in awe at the watch with open mouths as the gold shines in the sunlight like glass in water. The man handed it to them to look over, they handled it with care as it looked expensive. Opening the watch, it showed that the inside where the normal white backing would be was clear, giving full display of the small machine working away to keep the time. It did make it look quite ugly.The man seemed to notice the boys disappointment when opening it because he spoke up. “That backing is clear, it’s got a little spot to put a picture so when you open it, it’s also like a locket” the man explained with a small chuckle. The boys looked to one another with a better understanding to it now. “You two could probably run down to the printing store a few blocks down and ask the lady that works there to print it to size” He explained as he walked back behind the counter. “How much is it?” Tommy asked, slightly suspicious of the man’s friendly advice. Toby’s hands curling around the watch encase they had to dump the money and run for it. The man waved a dismissive hand. “I’ll give it to you for thirty five since the picture maybe a few dollars to print” he said as he ducked under the counter, seemingly searching for something else. Toby looked surprised at the amount. Nothing was cheap anymore and a watch this nice seemed to go for more than thirty dollars, it looks old, like it’s been through a part of history and will be for years to come. The two boys looked at one another for a moment eyes wide and eyebrows raised suspiciously, then back to the man before back to one another. A silent conversation with the smallest of changes to their faces as answers and questions, before finally they looked to the man again. “Okay” They said in unison as they stepped closer to the counter, placing the watch onto it while Toby dug out the money from his uniform sleeve and handed it to the man.The old man counted the money over, handed the boys the change and placed the watch into the decorative box for the two. “Where’d you two young boys get this kind of money?” the old man asked as Tommy shifted his weight from foot to foot.Toby straightened at the question and Tommy took hold of Toby’s bag strap as a way of keeping them together encase they had to run, or Tommy had to get Toby out of the way. “We picked up a few bucks by helping out the hospital my dad works at, like blood donation days when it’s really busy” Toby lied through his teeth with a smile and a nod. They weren’t old enough to do that yet, they had to be eighteen to at the very least help out since Ponk was a doctor and would be one of the people to organize those things. But whatever got them what they needed, they’d say or do. The man nodded in understanding as he handed the boys what they needed. “Well you two boys are something special” he said with a gentle smile. Tommy and Toby smiled back, nodding their heads as they walked out of the shop thanking the man.Stepping out and watching as three other police cars rush by along with a few more ambulances the two boys looked around for a moment. The streets were empty now, the wind colder than it was before as a large cloud passed over the sun, giving the city a dark and gloomy feel as the two walked down the road and watched as some of the stores closed early. Tommy felt uneasy as a shiver ran up his spine from the sudden cool shade and lack of human life. He felt a unease, a knowing feeling of something odd- perhaps it would storm. Toby seemed to feel the same as he shifted closer to Tommy, bumping shoulders to keep the contact as they continued walking to the photo shop.“Got a good picture we could use?” Tommy asked as an attempt to calm the stress that was creeping up on them for seemingly no reason.Toby thought for a moment,the silence made Tommy begin to fiddle with his backpack straps. “I got nothing on me but we can always use that one from the court case? It’s on the internet so I can get that sized” Toby suggested with a shrug. Tommy made a face to suggest other wise. “The one where we looked like we were being held at gun point? No thanks” Tommy said as they reached the store, the blond pushing open the door to the photo shop for Toby to walk in first before letting the door shut by itself. “Yeah…yeah that’s fair, we did look a little shell shocked” Toby held back a laugh at their younger selves. A younger lady behind the counter smiled and asked “What can I do for you today?” She said with a cheery voice. Toby walked forwards and placed the gift box on the counter, opening it carefully and taking out the watch, all while Tommy watched out the window of the shop with a feeling of being watched. “Can you print a picture to fit in here?” Toby asked as the lady took the watch with gentle hands, examining it with care. “Yes of course, do you have a picture in mind?” She asked as she carefully placed the watch back in its box before turning her back to the brunet to push a few buttons on a printer. “Oh yes but I was wondering if I could use a computer to search it up? I don’t have it on me” Toby admitted as the woman thought it over a second before nodding and beckoned him over to her computer, opening a new tab to let him search.Toby new the newspaper article like the back of his hand, people shoved it in his face at school more times than they ever tried threatening him. The bear trap case results. An invasive news report about the horrific case from a few years ago about two boys having awful lives and being saved by two military men. Toby still had no idea how these people got all this info or these pictures, but he wanted the one picture Ponk’s family took of them when they went to the Lemon farm one summer to help them open up a bit before getting them registered into school. Toby thinks it’s the first picture where they look like normal kids. Not dirty or covered in blood, smiling like they were laughing and enjoying their time instead of the threatening ‘do it or lose a finger’ huddled close in a hug of love and warmth rather then bruised and scared.Toby clicked on the image to enlarge it and hide the rest of the article before he turned to the woman who leaned closer to look at the picture. Her face carefully neutral as her eyes scanned over the image before nodding and smiling. The brunet stepped back out to let the woman do her job and wandered back to Tommy’s side.“Why’s it so quiet? It’s a Friday, people should be doing stuff” Tommy questioned aloud as Toby looked around, seeing no one in sight. “Not sure, maybe it’s just one of those quiet days? Can’t go thinking the world’s gonna end when the city’s having a quiet day” Toby laughed as Tommy scoffed. “Very funny, I just don’t like it” Tommy said as his final thought on the matter before switching the subject. “It’s a really nice day though, wanna head to the park? We still got an hour to burn before Sam gets home” Tommy offered with a raised eyebrow. Toby smiled. “Wanna head to the quite one?” Toby asked before the woman behind the counter called the two boys over. Toby turned and walked over quickly. “You’re all very cute in this picture” she gushes while handing the watch back to Toby, who opened it and looked it over. Seeing all their faces smiling and happy, huddled together like a loving family behind the ticking clock hands. “I also set the time so its correct” She added in. “the old man at the clock shop is nice isn’t he? you got this from him right?” She asked as Tommy leaned over to get a better look at the watch for himself. “Yes we did, he’s very nice for digging this up from the back room” Toby responded with a smile, still looking at the watch. “How much?” Tommy asked as Toby reached for the money he’d stuffed in his back pocket. “Oh it’s such a small picture so it’ll only be about fifteen dollars” she said with a smile, pressing a few buttons on the computer. Toby counted out the money twice to make sure it was the right amount and handed it to the woman with a thankful grin.The two packed up the watch and headed out of the shop, thanking the woman as they left. A strong gust of wind greeted the two and blew their hair back from their faces. Tommy laughed and pointed at Toby “Hey you can see now!” Toby glared at the taller. “Yeah I can see that massive forehead of yours dickshit” Toby spat back as Tommy gasped in shock that his brother could ever stoop so low. “How fucking dare you bitch!” Tommy yelled as Toby grinned evilly and jumped back when Tommy took a swipe at him, Toby turned and ran, Tommy chasing after the shorter with his arms raised to catch him, both now running down the street screaming profanities at one another and laughing like children. Even though they complained earlier about the running, the two boys ran all the way to Daisy park, a small plot of land that was supposed to fit a house instead had an over grown brick walkway that lead nowhere, the edge of the land had old rusty and worn fences that the large old trees merged with over time. There was an old and heavily rusted child swing that sat under a large shady tree with enough rust on it to give anyone tetanus with a single touch. It was a closed off and very quiet park, no one ever came to it so the two made it their little hangout, there was even a little convenient store a block away, one that they ran past still screaming and chasing one anther like animals.The two crash onto the swings, still laughing while trying to catch their breath. The two chatted for a few minutes before the loud sound of a chopper echoed around them. The two looked around for it, Toby pointed out where it was as it moves quickly towards the inner part of the city. “You think the end of the worlds happening? been pretty quiet” Tommy shrugged as he gently rocked himself on the swing, sneakers digging into the golden sand. “What’s that got to do with the end of the world? It’s probably just some fire- wasn’t there a fire truck near down town?” Toby asked as he kicked the side of Tommy’s leg, causing him to rock from side to side on the swing. “You know, like the calm before the storm type shit? like in movies where the birds all fly away after a long stretch of silence to scare everyone” Tommy explained with a wave of his hand. Toby laughed, shaking his head as he looked up to the trees. “I think there would be sirens and stuff, you know, the military coming in to take over, people would panic” Toby thought aloud “And besides, eventually things would straighten out, would feel like a pandemic in today’s age” Toby added, hanging lazily from his hands as they gripped the chain. “I’ve just had a bad feeling since lunch” Tommy muttered, looking around with a feeling of unease. There was no one outside, not a sound of people going about their life, or children that just got off school . Nothing. “Think your coming down with something? Sam was sick not long ago maybe its that?” Toby mentioned, reaching over to lay the back of his hand on the blonds forehead. “No I don’t think so” Tommy answered, swatting Toby’s hand away. “I’m not sick, just…paranoid I guess” Tommy muttered.The two sat in relative and unworldly silence after that. The only sound that did break that silence was more sirens from police or helicopters roaring above.
Normal city sounds.

Yeah…
 “We should get home” Toby declared, hoping off the swing and snatching his bag up from the ground. Tommy followed suit, dragging his feet as they walked from the quiet side of town, down and past many eerily quite houses, with each one there were more and more trees. Slowly it turned into a wooded area fenced off by rusty old metal, more for decoration than to actually keep anyone out.Like they always did, the two stepped over the fence and walked into the woods, following the path that they made over the many times they’d walked it. The swoosh of the leaves dancing in the wind brought a calm to Tommy as they walked deeper and deeper until they came upon a fork in the path. A tree stood tall between the two paths with a large plank of wood nailed to its trunk. “Press shift to run” was written in red paint on the wood. Not many people went this deep into the woods, so Tommy and Toby put that there for the fun of it. Also to mark off where their paths were. The one they were on lead to the park while the one to their left would lead to the back of the hospital Ponk worked at.The two went right. It only took a few minutes of walking to run into the waist high stone wall that belonged to the cemetery. With little effort the two boys hopped the wall and walked past the graves. Toby watched the bees buzz around the flowers left for the passed as Tommy stepped carefully around them.Surrounded by trees, with the neighboring house a good distance away for some privacy, was a two story dark blue house with blooming wild flowers all around. The old owner was the grounds keeper for the cemetery, so a little arch made of dark metal acted as a doorway onto the lawn. Tommy tapped the top of the metal arch as they passed it. Toby side stepped to the little decorative fountain with a blue crystal ball in the middle of it. Toby took the ball, flipping it over to see a pill bottle glued to the bottom. Toby popped open the bottle, took the key and tossed it to Tommy who was waiting at the front door. Tommy unlocked the door, tossed the key back and waited for Toby to stash the key in its spot. Tommy locked the door behind him as they walked inside, kicking off their shoes and turning on the TV.Toby grabbed Tommy’s bag, Tommy just shrugging it off and allowing his brother to take it before he flopped onto the couch. Toby wandered upstairs to dump their bags and probably work on the computer. Tommy flipped through channels, none sparking his interest what so ever- mostly just going on about some rich scientist guy that went missing in the arctic, so he got up and wandered to the kitchen just off from the living room. Stepping the single and only step up to the kitchen Tommy snagged a pear from the fruit bowl and took a bite.Leaning over the counter to look at the news paper Sam was reading this morning. Something, something, Arctic researchers lost contact, Blah Blah Blah, fruits on sale for fifty percent off, vaccines causing more harm then good, blah blah blah, crime at an all time high, nothing really screaming out to Tommy besides cherries on sale, he’d have to text Sam to see if he could pick some up after work. Finishing his pear and tossing it in the trash the blond wandered back out to the living room, Tommy plopped onto the white couch once more and switched to watch videos of some loud Irish dude playing games about wheels. It was maybe twenty-ish minutes later when he heard the front door open. Tommy glanced over to see Sam walk in humming a small tune, he was holding a brown paper bag that smelled of fast food. “Rough day?” Tommy asked from the couch. Sam looked at him- and even though he wore a heavy filter mask because of his allergies- Tommy could still see the tired smile on his face. “No, just a busy one, things have been crazy” Sam answered as he shut the door. “The amount of bar fights I had to break up was unbelievable, people are just nuts recently” Sam added as he pinched the bridge of his nose above his mask. Walking over to drop the food onto the kitchen island. “Really? it was all quiet where I was” Tommy mentioned as Sam called up the stairs for Toby. “Well I’m glad someone had a quiet day, apparently the hospital is packed from all the fighting that’s been happening recently” Sam commented as he unpacked the food from the bag. Tommy sat up at that. “Wait but Ponk wont miss tonight right?” Tommy asked with a pang of sadness. Ponk can’t miss his own birthday, they put so much effort to make it special for him.Sam and Ponk never skipped out on his or Toby’s birthdays, Tommy didn’t want to skip out on Ponk’s either.Sam tilted his head in thought. “He might just be late, I’ll let you two stay up since its Friday so we can surprise him when he gets home” Tommy frowned before standing to grab his food. Toby quickly ran down the stairs, wiping his hands on his shirt before walking into the kitchen with a smile.Sam sipped at his drink as he dug out cake mix’s from the cupboard with a hum of an old song Tommy couldn’t quite remember the name too. “Sam! your home!” Toby exclaimed with a toothy smile as he bounced over to rummage through the bag for his food. Sam laughed and ruffled his hair, Toby blowing his bangs from his face to take a bite of the food he’d gotten his hands on. “I’ll have to give your bangs a trim soon” Sam commented as he brushed the hair from the brunets eyes. Toby smiled at Sam, cheeks full of food.Sam turned back to continue rummage around the cupboards “Alright, what kind of cake are we making up?” Sam asked, taking out a few large mixing bowls.“Chocolate”“Vanilla”“Why did no one say lemon?” Sam laughed in bewilderment as he turned the oven on to preheat it, rolling his eyes. “Lemon flavored cake? really? that’s too much, my choice is better” Toby said with crossed arms, chin turned up with a pout on his lips. “I quiet like strawberry too” Tommy thought allowed with squinted eyes. “We having a Neapolitan cake?” Sam asked with a raised eyebrow, though the boys couldn’t see given that he was still digging through the cupboard. Tommy glaring at Toby who was spinning on his stool, kicking his shin every time he went around with a smile. Tommy kicked back, Toby almost falling of his stool with a choked sound before they both shot up and away from each other like nothing happened when Sam turned around, looking between the two boys for a moment with a suspicious look. The two boys, face stuffed with food, nodded their heads in agreement. Sam laughed and shook his head at the two. “Neapolitan cake it is then!” “Oh wait we can have lemon ice cream too!” Toby shouted with wide eyes at the realization. “Do we have lemon ice cream?” Tommy asked with a frown, doubting. “We can always pick some up after we make the cake” Sam said as he sipped at his drink some more while the two finished up their food. “What color icing should we make” Toby ask as Sam began measuring everything out beforehand to make the process easier and quicker.Tommy hummed in thought for a moment “I don’t know, maybe the colours of his mask, the one he always wears at the hospital” “The striped looking one?” Toby asked, thinking of the surgical mask he has to wear for surgeries. “Yeah the one he has on for style” Tommy answered, rolling his wrist to evaluate his point. “Who’s making the icing?” Sam asked, dumping a bag of icing sugar on the counter as he went off to grab the eggs from the fridge. “Me!” The boys both said in unison, sitting up and raising their hands like it was class. Sam pretend to think, finger tapping on his chin as he hummed long and loud. “If you both want to make the icing, who’s gonna make the cake?” Sam asked as he watched both boys volunteer before turning to each other and demanding the other could do the icing. Sam smiled at his children like they were the sun, moon, and stars. “Both of you can make the cake, I can mix up the icing easily myself” Sam explained simply, placing a large bowl in front of the two so they could mix up the cake. That sadly didn’t end well as they ended up throwing flour at one another and getting kicked out of the kitchen. Both boys not wanting to leave the comfort of their adoptive father, stayed in the living room adjacent to the kitchen, watching whatever show came on, though Toby wanted to listen to the news- to Tommy’s displeasure of course- both listened to the news guy talking with a group of other well dressed people explain an epidemic in some countries like Argentina, Australia, and though not a country, Africa was reported to have similar illness running around- and how they were sending medial and military to those countries for aid. Though Tommy wouldn’t dare say it out loud, he was glad Sam and Ponk were no longer part of the military, he really couldn’t handle losing them. The News guy went on about how they lost contact with some rich scientist belonging to a old family with a lot of power. Tommy couldn’t work out a load of his words, since they were all talking over one another in a simple argument about the situation and how these virus medical professionals were struggling to cure what was spreading quickly and that the best thing for people in high infectious areas was to say quarantined because of high crime rate following it. Tommy listened to this for a good two hours, Toby long since falling asleep on his brother and keeping him from finding the remote all while Sam hummed softly and cleaned up the kitchen from their mess. Even he was beginning to doze off from the chitchat and Sam’s calming presence. The house was quiet, the only light was the kitchen over head and the TV, other than that the house was dark and peaceful, Tommy sighed as he heard the soft pitter-patter of rain beginning to fall. The soft rumble of thunder in the distance made Tommy's eye lids heavy. Tommy blinked back to reality and lifted his head from the armrest when he heard Sam’s phone ringing on the counter, the familiar ringtone told him that Ponk was calling. Shifting his focus from the news lady going on about a thunder storm over head that could knock out power in the city to listen into the conversation. Leaning his head to get a better listen as Sam picked up the phone. Toby stirred in his sleep from the loud sound of sirens going by as Sam picked up.Sam answered the phone, smile on his face as he continued to wipe down the counter top. “Hey Ponk, When do you think-” his smile dropped and he froze where he was, listening closely to whatever Ponk was saying on the other end. Even Tommy could make out that the other man was shouting, though he couldn’t make out the words. Tommy’s brow knit in concern as he continued to listen, keeping his eyes on the TV screen so it didn’t seem like he was eavesdropping. Sam was observant, Tommy took it as a challenge.Besides what could be going on with Ponk that he’d need to call Sam about? was he not going to be able to make it home tonight? did he have to fly out for another fancy doctor meeting? Tommy’s heart ached at the thought they wouldn’t get to spend his birthday together. “Ponk what’s going on- Ponk slow down what are you talking about?!” Sam questioned, turning to pace the kitchen while he tried to decipher what Ponk was saying.Tommy leaned over more, not even trying to hide that he wanted to hear him better, Toby slumping over with his movment, waking him with a grumble and ruffled hair.“Ponk whats happening at the hospital? I- yes, the boys are home- why do the doors need to be locked?” Sam’s frantic questioning, along with his pacing was making Tommy nervous as he sat up more, pretty much leaning his whole upper body over the armrest. Toby yawned, still not fully awake enough to be in tune with the world around him.Tommy watched on the edge of the couch as Sam pressed his other hand to his ear, trying to hear Ponk better as he continued to stuttered over questions.Thunder boomed over head as the sound of the winds picking up enough to make the rain pound on the side of the house, it sounded like rocks being thrown full force. The news lady was live somewhere in the city, the weather was picking up, she was drenched and people were screaming in the background, first respondent’s working overtime as people were attacked by hospital patient’s. The TV was loud, and with Tommy focused on Sam, he didn’t hear the rapid banging on the door over the TV, over Sam- the thunderstorm right over head of them, his own thoughts- Sam was still trying to get a straight answer from Ponk with Tommy ready to stand and get closer himself. Toby rubbed at his eyes as he slid off the couch and hobbled to the front door, whoever was banging was relentless and desperate, Toby wondered if it was the police. He didn’t like bugging Sam when he’s on the phone, it might be his job or something and with Tommy not bothering, Toby thought he’d help out and answer the door. Shuffling up the small step to the front door, kicking Tommy’s shoes aside, he yawned again and unlocked the door and turned the knob opening the door just enough to see who it was and to not let the rain in.Toby recoiled and stepped back, almost falling down the step at the disheveled woman that shoved the door open the moment he’d cracked it open, stepping back with an audible “Whoa”. Tommy shot up at hearing his brother, and seeing the door open with some strange lady, he rushed to stand next to his brother in a moments notice as this woman gripped at the door frame, clawing at her throat that had a nasty wound that reviled her clavicle, bloody and mangled. She was pale, sickly looking and seeming like she’d been in a fight, clothes rumpled and mud smeared all over her. She was standing on shaky legs as she choked on something dark in her mouth, taking unsure steps into the house. “Help….me…” The woman gurgled, dark blood- almost black- spewing from her nose and mouth, her eyes wide and focused on the boys but glazed over and blood shot.Tommy stood shocked at the woman’s appearance, but Toby stepped forwards, a hand stretched out to help her balance but before Tommy could grab his arm in an attempt to stop him the woman snarled something inhuman and snatched Toby’s arm with an iron clad grip, one that got a yelp from Toby as the woman raised her arm to swiped at the Burnett- hard clawed and bloodied hand mere inches from Toby’s face. The womans wrist was snatched by a large hand and before either of the boys could blink, the woman was kicked square in her stomach and knocked out of the house, Tommy barely caught a glimpse of her landing on the damp porch before the door swiftly slammed shut afterwords.The boys stood wide eyed at Sam as he turned back to them, brow furrowed and eyes serious. “Listen carefully to what I’m gonna say” Sam began, a loud bang like someone slammed their whole body into the door rang out as Sam pressed his back to the splintering wood, shards of wood snapped from the frame, animalistic growling and the screeching of finger nails digging into wood had both boys screaming and stepping back. Tommy’s heart was in his throat as Toby began breathing rapidly. But both stood still in fear, they knew the sound of a desperate person, they’d heard it all their childhood. Sam dug his boots into the wood flooring to stop the door from breaking off its hinges as the woman slammed her body into the door with inhuman strength. He was glad he’d forgotten to take them off when he came home. “Listen up” Sam snapped, Tommy and Toby immediately tensed up and looked to Sam even in their fear. “Toby, I need you to take a breath and go upstairs to my room, in my bedside drawer is my hunting dagger, grab it and wait for Tommy before shutting the door and locking it” Sam instructed, never breaking eye contact as Toby nodded, turned and ran for the stairs. One child safe, Sam turned back to look at Tommy who looked to Sam with a fearful wobble to his bottom lip. Sam took a breath and turned to Tommy who had been torn between sticking with his brother and staying with Sam. “Tom, I need you to run down stairs, grab my gun, the one in the case I told you not to go near on the shelf at the back of the room, load it and come back to me, got it?” Sam asked, watching this fearful eleven year old boy stare up at him with tearful eyes. Sam kept his body pressed to the door, but placed his hand on the blonds small shoulder. “Tommy, your strong, now prove it.” Sam said, and Tommy took a breath and nodded, determined to do whatever Sam needed. Tommy turned and ran to the basement door that was opposite the front door, yanked the handle and almost falling down the stone stairs from how quickly he ran down them, thankful that he braced his arms on either wall to keep him upright. His heart was pounding in his ears, he needed to breath slower and think for a moment, but he didn’t know if he had a moment. Tommy hissed as his ankle rolled on the last step, but he ignored it and ran past thewasher and dryer, and up to an old metal door he’d only even been behind a few times. Tommy felt the cold cement floor through his socks as he yanked the door handle and got into the storage room and quickly made his way to the work bench at the end of the room, the shelf next to it had boxes full of Sam and Ponk’s military junk, at the very top was a case that held Sam’s Sig P320 XTen, some fancy thing Sam’s father gifted him when he left the military. Tommy quickly placed his foot on the shelf, and used it to boots himself up to grab another section, climbing up high enough to get his small hand onto the case handle. With shaking hands Tommy lugged the case from the shelf, the weight more than he though as he was yanked by the force of it off the shelf and crashing to the ground. Tommy bit his lip to hold back a scream of pain as he held his shoulder in pain, breathing through it, the boy grabbed the case that had slid away from him in the fall, pulling it towards him with the screech of plastic on uneven concrete. Flipping open the locking tabs, Tommy opened the case to receive the gun he’d been told to never touch.Ever since they adopted them, they’ve had to keep their military weapons in locked boxes because he once brought a dummy grenade to school for show and tell. Not his finest moment but at least he got the reputation he wanted. Hissing at the pain in his shoulder Tommy picked up the gun with a strain of his wrist, the weight unfamiliar as he took the loaded clip from the foam with a click of security. Tommy breathed hard as he stood, kicking the case out of his way and rushing out of the room and up the stairs, the loud sound of banging getting louder the more steps he climbed with shaking legs. Hearing Sam struggling, Tommy griped the gun tightly and climbed the last step, peering around the corner of the doorframe in fear, there stood Sam, but there were holes in the door, like the woman had punched through the wood.Tommy quickly rushed to Sam, who held out his hand for the gun, Tommy tossed it to him, not wanting to get too close to the door as the noises behind it became worse. Just as he was about to ask Sam what to do, a fist punched through the wood near Sam’s head, the hand scraped and searched for something to grab onto, managing to snag some of Sam’s green hair. Tommy screamed and Sam pointed the gun at the wrist and pulled the trigger, shooting the hand of the woman clean off with a splatter of dark blood. Sam then shoved the gun in the hole and started shooting. “Tommy, go to Toby now!” Sam yelled, Tommy didn’t need to be told twice, but he felt that door wasn’t going to hold. Something in his gut told him they’d be running. Taking a quick glance out he window, dark, stormy, cold, Tommy shifted his gazed to his and Toby’s shoes, rushing over he snatched them up as the door was hit so hard he saw the hinge get snapped from it’s place in the wood. He turned, shoes under one arm as he ran across the living room, jumping the couch he was once happily dozing off on and clambered up the stairs, knees scraping on the wood as he fell, trying and failing to not look back at Sam through the railing. He was so distracted from seeing the door break down and that thing get in on all fours like some animal- he didn’t notice he’d reached the top of the stairs until he ran straight into the wall, knocking the family photo off its spot and watching it fall to the ground and the glass shattered. Something downstairs screamed. Something monstrous. The sound of things breaking became loud as a few shot’s rang out. Even in this situation, that picture was important, so Tommy quickly got up on his hands and knees and pushed the glass aside, not caring that he got cut and collected the picture of his family. The door next to him opened, Toby stood there with wide eyes as he grabbed Tommy by his shirt and yanked him inside Sam and Ponk’s room, locking the door quickly.“What’s going on? are you okay? where’s Sam?!” Toby asked quickly, bombarding his brother with questions he didn’t have the answer to. “I don’t know but that lady is nuts!” He exclaimed, dropping his dirty sneakers on the nice carpeted floor and quickly shoving his foot inside, Toby wordlessly did the same. “Do you think its a mother from the case…?” Toby asked after some clear hesitation. “No she doesn’t look like anyone from the case” Tommy confirmed, face cold at the mention of their past and how some parents found them and blames them for their survival, and their child’s death. Tommy and Toby listened carefully to the struggle and horrific sounds coming from downstairs, both incredibly worried about Sam. Glass breaking, furniture being knocked over, walls breaking, dishes shattering.The two stood in fearful silence as they listened with bated breath. It felt like forever of never ending sounds before Toby suddenly turned, moving over to the TV in the bedroom, the one they watch Christmas movies on every year, and turned it on to the news. It was utter chaos, different clips of several hospitals on fire and overrun by crazy people, the military were gunning them down but they just weren’t dying. Fire and rescue were spread thin and people were being eaten on the streets as fire hissed and rain spattered down. It was like a horror movie, or those old disaster videos they found a few times on the internet. But one thing was for sure, neither boy saw Ponk’s hospital in the footage, that had to mean something. “Are we sick?” Tommy asked, heart in his throat as he heard the lady talk about some sickness those people were infected with making them go nuts. “No. There would be symptoms” Toby told, never taking his eyes off the screen. The more he knew, the better. “I was feeling bad all day what if-” Tommy shut up when he heard something large and loud coming up the stairs. Both boys turned to the door, they hadn’t notice the silence in the house because of the TV. Tommy hit the power button and went to grab Toby, planning to just hide in the closet but his brother rushed towards the bed, the bed that was next to the door. Tommy’s mind screamed danger as Toby yanked open Sam’s beside table and dug around, all while something on the other side of the door began messing with the handle and banging on the door trying to get in. Tommy ran to his brothers side, right as Toby lifted Sam’s dagger and took hold of his shirt collar, yanking him back as the door slammed open, reviling that…Thing.It resembled the young woman, her dark hair in a mess and her skin was covered in blood and gray like a corpse, lips quivering to show her teeth. Her mouth was wide open and sharp teeth hissing at the boys as she shambled closer to them. Tommy had Toby behind him, pushing him back until they hit the wall opposite the door, staring at this monster in tears as Toby hugged his brother.The woman looked at them like food, like a starved wolf seeing a rabbit caught in a bear trap, its meal unable to run as she drooled bloody saliva. Just as she seemed ready to jump at them, a shot rang out and blood splattered on the two as Toby screamed and Tommy gasped, the breath knocked from his lungs in shock. The shot from behind had the monsters attention at it stumbled forwards before turning and screamed at the attacker, lunging for it before a hand shot out from the dark hallway and took it by the neck, grip to tight he hear a few cracks of bones in the things neck as it was lifted from the ground by the hand. The thing thrashed wildly, hissing and spitting as the hand twisted quickly and snapped its neck. Tommy’s mouth fell open in horror as that thing kept wriggling.One of it’s hands managed to rip a piece and flesh from the arm of its attacker, in reaction, the attacker swung it around and into the wall next to the door full force, the wall caved in and cracked like glass as the attacker stepped into the room, grip never loosening from the monsters neck once. Tommy and Toby stood shocked at Sam, bloodied and bruised with that monster in a choke hold with a look of murder in his eye. They knew of his strength, but this was something else as they watched him take the monsters head in his hands like it was a ball, watched helplessly as the things hands clawed as his arms and face, how he didn’t even flinch as cuts were scratched into his flesh- as blood flowed from his body in dangerous quantities. He watched as Sam put a large hand on the things upper jaw, it tried biting his fingers off but was stopped when Sam crammed his hand into it mouth to hold its lower jaw, and slowly separated his hands, successfully ripping the things jaw from its head without even breaking a sweat. Tommy couldn’t breath as blood spewed form its head, all over the walls and carpet, the sound of bones cracking and tendons snapping like nothing was horrifying. Gut wrenching as a few teeth slipped from its gaping maw of blood and viscera.Sam let the thing fall to the ground in a crumpled mess of a body before he raised his boot high and slammed it down onto the creatures head, blood spraying out in every which way, Tommy flinched as the thick, hot blood splattered onto him. One thing was for certain, Sam had killed it. Sam was breathing oddly, and Toby held Tommy so he wouldn’t run to him with one hand, the other stressfuly rubbing at his bee earring. Something was wrong. Tommy was blind with faith, Toby was struck with realization. He was shaking and had his fists clenched, teeth bared as something dark dripped from his mouth, and when he turned, his once kind green eyes had gone dark, just like the woman’s had before she attacked Toby. He stepped towards to the two, it seemed like an issue for him, like he was struggling to stand, and when he placed his hand on the bloody wall, they saw it. A bite mark that had torn Sam’s skin down to the bone, green and black mixed with blood and dripped from his bones as he staggered to the boys with this odd gurgle as blood spat from his mouth. A tear slipped from Tommy’s eye as he heard Sam’s choked gurgle form a word- a name. “To-omm…y” he called, his large hand was reaching out for him as Tommy’s heart was pounding in his ears. Toby held his brother tightly, knife held in his hand that was looped around Tommy’s middle, he wasn’t going to let his brother go, even if they ended up like that woman. Sam’s shambling form stood tall in front of them. Tommy shut his eyes in anticipation as an inhuman growled left Sam’s mouth, Tommy knew.With a quick swipe, Tommy snatched the knife from Toby’s hand, leaving him with the guard as he griped the knife so tightly he swore he’d cracked the handle as he slashed up at Sam’s face.He stumbled back, hands going to cover his face as he tripped over the monsters leg and fell to the ground screaming in pain, but it wasn’t a human scream. Tommy watched for a moment as blood flowed from Sam’s face like a water fall onto the carpet. Soaking it in his life. Toby was gasping for breath as they stood there, waiting. Tommy still had the knife ready, just in case.In one moment, everything was still, the second, Sam lifted his head, his jaw dangling from one side as a long slash cut his mouth open and he screamed, his teeth suddenly sharper than they were before.Tommy stumbled away from Toby, managing to get to he TV stand before Sam leapt at him, Tommy ducking and rolling just in time as Sam crashed into the stand. Tommy clambered across the soggy floor, trying to keep Sam’s attention on him as he got to his feet, holding the knife at the ready. Toby pressed his back to the wall, looking between the two with a broken heart, Toby knew that wasn’t Sam anymore, as he shook his head in an attempt to bring Sam back, he’d never do this, he wouldn’t hurt them like this- this wasn’t Sam.He wanted to close his eyes, he wanted to curl up in Sam’s bed with Tommy and watch old movies- talk about the shitty CGI and eat some of Ponk’s ice-cream. Tommy screamed as Sam stood to his full height, and rushed him, felling the house shake with his staggering movements. Toby’s lip shook as he turned to his left and rushed for the window. They’d done it before, Ponk took them out on the roof and they would watched the stars.Toby pushed open the window, clenching his teeth as it screamed in protest before he quickly climbed through and onto the roof with a grunt of effort. Toby turned to get Tommy to come to him but froze at what he saw. Tommy was cornered on the wall next to the bedside table, knife held up with Sam’s hand impaled on it while his other hand held Sam’s wrist, all while he had his foot braced on Sam’s torso to keep him back.The two made eye contact and with shaking hands, Toby quickly climbed back into the room, and ran to his brother who shouted at him. Sa- the monster was to focused on Tommy, trying to take a chunk out of his head. With shaking steps, Toby ran into the hall. He needed to be quick, he needed a weapon, he needed Sam’s gun. The hall was covered in blood, as he rushed down the stairs, hand braced on the wall causing more blood to spread along it.Hitting the ground floor, Toby stood still at the damage of his once peaceful home. Couch flipped and ripped, the kitchen island was broken like something landed on it hard enough to collapse it. TV was shattered, bullet holes and large scratch marks everywhere. Blood splattered on every surface like a crime scene as Toby gagged from the smell alone. It only took him a moment to breath before he saw Sam’s gun, the black metal with dark green accents laying on the floor in the kitchen. Toby rushed over to it, jumping the little step into the raised kitchen and pretty much sliding down to snatch up the gun, turning so quickly that he ended up falling on his stomach, smacking his chin on the cold tile floor and scrambling to get back up and run to the stairs- to get back to Tommy. Toby smashed into the wall Tommy had minutes prier, and he would have kept running but a fist shot through the wall right in front of his head causing him to scream in surprise and fall back. The hand pawed around a moment, nails scratching at the pain and spreading blood along the wall. Toby, with shaking breath took the chance to duck and rushing back into the room with a yelp when he tripped over the corpses sprawled out in a pool of blood, hitting the floor hard.The monster turned his head at Toby’s arrival, Tommy was quick to jab his knife into his shoulder to keep it stuck where it was with one arm in the wall and it’s focus on Tommy.The blond had been struggling against Sam’s strength, he was still just a skinny eleven year old against a trained military Sargent, trying to keep him at bay without doing anymore damage because he frankly couldn’t handle staring at Sam’s dangling jaw and bloodied body much more without breaking down from his stupid decision. Toby managed to get up and run to the window, back to it, he raised the gun and shakily pointed it at the monster that was wrestling Tommy.He wasn’t a gun fanatic like Tommy, he didn’t listen to Sam when he taught Tommy how to use a gun safely in Ponk’s family barn, the smell of hay and old wood mixed with a summer breeze a the two did practice shots, the loud sound making the two boys jump before laughing in childish excitement that Tommy actually hit the target of hay- he didn’t know where the safety was- if it was loaded- hell! he didn’t even know how to aim the damn thing, always to busy chasing bees or listening to Ponk read his medical books like a children’s story. He didn’t know what he was doing- he couldn’t shoot him.Tommy turned his head, looking at Toby with wide eyes before turning back to Sam, shoving him back enough to yank the knife out, and quickly jump and roll across the bed to Toby and tackled him out the window. Huddled together, the boys collapsed onto the roof, Toby’s head cradled in Tommy’s hands as the rolled down the shingles, the rough material scrapping and snagging on their clothes and skin, rolling only once before they fell off the house, hitting the gutter and nearly missing the rose buss on the way down. They landed on their sides and fell apart from one another with a grunt of pain and a wheeze of air that rushed from their lungs.Toby rolled onto his other side with a cry as he tried to regain his breathing, Tommy held his throbbing ribs but managed to stand up with shaking arms. Rain poured down on them and the ground was slippery with the skies tears. He could hear the sound of people screaming in the streets, the smell of smoke in the air. It was dark, the streets full of rushing cars and running pedestrians. Hearing something shatter broke Tommy from his thoughts, eyes shooting up to the bedroom window they just leapt from and hearing that monster screaming and rummage around made Tommy’s bones ache as he scrambled to grab his brother from the ground. That thing was still looking for them and he wasn’t going to let it find them. Toby coughed wetly as Tommy hoisted him up by the arm, gun held tight in his hand like if he let go, it’d sink into the ground and disappear. Tommy quickly took it, instead giving Toby the knife given he’d know how to use it better than a gun. The rain beat down on them as Tommy took Toby’s hand, gun held ready in the other and dragged him through the garden, nearly slipping on the wet grass before they rushed through the gate and into the graveyard.Tommy shifted and swerved around all the jutting out tombstones, Toby stumbling along behind him when they came up upon the gate, the two stopping to climb over it when Toby spoke up.“What?” Tommy asked breathlessly, heart going a mile a minute as he worked to figure out what’s wrong with his brother.“My shoulder is dislocated-” Toby began as calmly as he could as he pressed his hand to his shoulder in an attempt to ease the pain. “What?!” Tommy cut off with a shout before he bit his lip to shut himself up, though he doubted anyone would hear or care over the rain and whatever the hell else was going on. Toby rolled his eyes as he continued. “I need you to pop it back into place, I can’t do it myself” Toby told, as Tommy stared at him wide eyed for a moment. “What..?” Tommy sputtered, looking from Toby’s face to his oddly hanging shoulder, he must have taken most of the fall. “I don’t know how to fix your shoulder- just wait a minute and we can get Ponk-”“No, we do it now and we can get to Ponk quicker. Remember when we were with Ponk at the skateboard park and that kid fell and dislocated his shoulder?” Toby asked, Tommy slowly nodded his head. “Yeah, that EMT was fresh outta school and was not prepared to help at all, Ponk had to do it for them- i can’t do that-”“I will talk you through it just like he did, it’s simple but it will hurt me so don’t hesitate Tommy” Toby instructed, Tommy shaking his head repeatedly as Toby kept talking. “I need you to take hold of my arm- the humerus is posterior- in front of my ribs, so all you need to do is bring my arm up like I’m flexing or going to give you a high five with a little pull and it should pop back into place, okay?” Toby instructed as Tommy nodded and gently placed his hands on his brothers arms, Tommy held back a gag at how limp it was. Tommy hesitated, he knew he shouldn’t, if he did he’d hurt Toby more than he already was with a fucked up shoulder. Toby had noticed, and with a curt nod said. “Nice and quick, just like ripping off a band-aid”“This is nothing like a fucking band-aid” Tommy snapped before he carefully lifted Toby’s arm to the side and up just enough that the horrid wet sound of the joint making a loud pop as it slid back into its socket with a seethed breath that turned into a groan of pain from Toby as he immediately rubbed at his shoulder to try and ease the pain with Sharpe breathes through his teeth, quickly regaining his mobility. Tommy hovered over Toby as the boy breathed through the pain and welling tears, he didn’t want to touch him just in case he caused more pain so he just worriedly retracted and extending his hands. All while Toby willed his faltering lungs to continue expanding, forcing himself to stay standing.Tommy barely heard it through the rain, but the loud sound of a door slamming open had Tommy grasping Toby by his arms and pulling his brother away from the sound. Toby to focused on not falling over from the pain as it stung up and over his side as Tommy shot up, looking over Toby’s head like a cat watching a bird only to see him leering out on the front porch. Even from so far away, he could see his dangling jaw in the porch light, see it swing limply as it scanned the area, body hunched over like it’d pounce at any moment. Tommy didn’t bother watching for long as he grabbed Toby’s other arm and quickly stepped over the fence, helping Toby do the same before they heard that inhuman screech making their Adrenalin spike in their veins as they booked it continuing their rush to safety as they scrapped their hands on passing trees, slipped on the muddy trail and getting their pants caught in the bushes from their desperate sprint. The woods were dark, with every little shadow making them jump at the though of more of those monsters as they kept running. Running its always running, they’ve been running since they knew how too- God their first cognitive memory was them running away. No matter what they do, where they are- who there with, it will always end with then running away, desperate to live, to survive one more day together. They had to get away from the house, to the hospital. The hospital had to be safer, they had to get to Ponk- he’d know what to do. He’d have too. They heard sirens, screaming, explosions for Gods sake they had no idea what was going on- was there an attack? some bomb? Tommy’s head was spinning with the thought alone. He’d heard hushed talk, the world going nuts, violence rats spiking through the roof- but this? this was fucking insane. Reaching the sign in the woods, one they passed hours ago on their daily walk home from school, a sign they put up for themselves. Something meant to be a spooky joke to anyone but them made his skin crawl at the looming message. Tommy took a quick moment to breath, squeezing Toby’s hand for reassurance as he spared a quick glance behind him, not being able to see much from the rain and fog that slithered around their ankles before heading down the path to the hospital, careful where he stepped in the dark as the ground sloped and branches jutted out- like buried hands ready to trip them and drag them to their deaths. The sound of panic and gunfire got louder as they traveled, only when they reached the edge of the woods did they see military men gunning down people in front of the hospital with all sorts of tents and supply crates around the parking lot. The two stood still for a moment, the relief of seeing the military evaporated like water in the desert.Tommy remembered what the News said, talking about military setting up emergency medical areas in other countries, the view they had looked scarily familiar to the News so they had to be helping some people. Military setting up at a functioning hospital to help as many people as they could, Toby remembered it was a way to expand what the hospital already had so they could help more people not shoot them down in cold blood. It was a good thing the woods stretched around back of the parking lot, the boys didn’t want to run up to military personnel and get shot for it, they knew how tense shooting a person could be, and running up to them might freak them out, Sam had always told them to not go up to military men if they seemed busy, that they might not like being disturbed. Instead they kept low, using the trees as cover until they reached the back of the hospital were there was a set of stairs and a back entrance for office workers and employees.Toby had been here many times, knew the place like the back of his hand. He used to sneak out at night back when the two military men first adopted them and walk into the hospital to find Ponk when he worked late, all the nurses loved him and always let him wait behind their desk while they paged Ponk. It happened enough times that Ponk was more worried security would try to keep Toby from entering- and if there was an actual emergency and needed Ponk? To the doctors credit, he did try to stop Toby from coming to the hospital to check on him but Toby just asked the nice nurse if he could sit in Ponk’s office, he would be out of the way and safe where Ponk could find him so she got the janitor to let him in so when Ponk came back to do paper work, his son was waiting for him. Toby could almost laugh at it now, Ponk had given him a key to his office and the back door code if Toby just needed to come watch over him. It was so bad Ponk had spare clothes for the morning for when Toby passed out reading books about wound treatment on his office couch. Tommy looked to Toby, glacier blue eyes meeting deep ocean blue eyes. Toby breathlessly nodded his head and stepped onto the parking lot. The brothers griped their hands tightly together as they ran through the parking lot, thankful for the rain so no one could hear them as they ducked behind tents with machines going and people shouting. The bright medical light in the tents allowing the two to see people moving about.Lightning hit before the bomb of thunder did, but when it did the shock wave of an explosion followed. They were about halfway to the door when the sky lit up in a cloud of fire as the ground shock so hard they lost their balance. The pavement hurt as they landed, scraping their already bloody knees and numb hand. Toby had gone to grab for Tommy but stopped short as fear froze him in place, they were to scared to make a sound as they both stared in horror as a few personnel were overwhelmed and dog-piled, screaming as more of those things ate them like a pack of wolves. They saw a mans throat get ripped up like those fake ass cheeses pizza commercials as blood sprayed and mixed with the down pouring rain. With a gag that almost took his dinner from his body, Tommy shakily got to his feet and dragged Toby to do the same as they kept going, no longer bothering with keeping quiet, they sprinted like they did when they ran from the cops, Tommy shoving Toby up the stairs to get him to the door quicker. The door was electronic, meaning it would hold up against those things better than a simple wood door, with quick fingers he pressed the buttons and unlocked the door with a beep, Tommy yanking the handle with a loud metal shutter as he pushed Toby inside, following close behind as he slammed the door shut behind him, hearing the doors locks click. Toby climbed about a single step before falling to sit on it and wheezing to catch his breath, Tommy collapsed against the door and coughing through his gasping breaths, body completely soaked but throat so dry it felt like sand paper. Too much had happened in the last hour for their bodies to stop shaking. Toby was trying to breath through the tears that wanted to fall so desperately. Tommy couldn’t even tell if he’d let them or not, they were both so fucking wet his tears would have mixed and slithered off him into the growing puddle on the floor. “We just need to get to the top floor. Ponk is there, in his office- if not we can at least call him there, I know he has a phone there” Toby panted, sluggishly pulling himself up with the railing to begin the climb to the seventh floor. Tommy did nothing but nod and clamber to his feet, joining his brother as they trudged up the stairs with loud echos following their steps and wet coughs as they struggled to catch their breath. Tommy’s legs shook with exhaustion as they climbed the stairs, each level they past got quieter and quieter, they most likely have too much going on in elevators to have people going up and down constantly. Though the quiet was nice, Tommy still felt his dinner churning in his stomach at the spiraling thoughts of what could be going on just beyond those employee doors. Sam’s gun was too heavy in his hands, Toby had long since tucked the knife and its sheath into his pants. Wiping off the cold sweat on his forehead, just imagining how they look almost brought a laugh to his lips. Two eleven year old boys covered in mud, blood, sweat, soaked to the bone and exhausted beyond their knowledge. By the time they got to the seventh floor, shoving open the doors, they all but fell into the hallway like drunk idiots outside a bar. They clung to one another in an attempt to keep going, to make the last stretch, to walk just a few more feet to the office Toby found himself in so often. Safety was so close, mind’s foggy with pain and confusion, just wanting to curl up and rest their bodies. “It’s…that one…on the right” Toby panted, pointing with a heavy arm as Tommy nodded half heartedly. The two shuffled, feet dragging on the floor as they walked up to the medical office that had a sign outside the door that had in nice print the name " Dr. 드롭스비” which was Ponk’s ridiculously hard to say last name from his Korean side. Tommy let go of Toby, who leaned hard on the wall with a thump, trying to calm his breathing, coughing into his arm and rubbing the sweat from his drenched bangs.The blond just reached for the door when it slammed open and a gun was pointed at his head in a second flat.Both boys stilled, to scared and too tired to keep fighting. Tommy was breathing hard as he stared down the barrel of a large gun, everything slightly blurry as he tried looking at the smooth black tunnel of death before it suddenly vanished and he was pulled into a rib crushing hug. Tommy gasped in pain as Ponk squeezed his bruised sides. Just as suddenly Tommy was wrenched away from Ponk so he could kneel down to look the blond in the eye.Ponk had a genetic condition that made his hair white, something the boys always found pretty in their eyes because it gave him angel white eye lashes. Ponk’s white curly hair was a mess though, his mask pulled down around his chin and his dark eyes manic and wide- but he was smiling.“How did you two get here? Why are you here? Where’s Sam?” Ponk asked all in one breath, patting over Tommy’s head and face. Tommy chocked back a sound at the mention of Sam. Toby letting his head fall as Ponk looked between the two with a confused look before it clicked. Ponk’s face went blank and Tommy sputtered to to answer him but Ponk stood suddenly, and turned back into his office. Ponk was a sporadic and lively man, he wasn’t ever so… cold and robotic like this. Toby looked near tears again as he followed him, Tommy not far behind as they watched Ponk rifle through papers scattered around the room, his modern and slick office looked like he was some cool super villain with all the power from one of their cartoons. Quickly typing away at his laptop and mumbling to himself like a mad man. “Ponk…?” Toby asked, reaching to place a hand on his arm, but was stopped when Ponk suddenly leaned down to Toby with this crazy look. Tommy had a sick feeling that Ponk wasn’t okay. He’d never seen him like this. He also didn’t know where he’d gotten an automatic gun that was now slung over his shoulder and resting on his back. “Toby- Honey bee I need you to go grab a bag from the closet and start putting everything in the office into it, yeah?” Ponk instructed with shaking hands against Toby’s face. “Go on, can you do that for me? We need to move all this research. Remember when I told you all this stuff was important for helping people?” Ponk explained softly with a nod to his head and a gentle, but shaky smile. Toby could do nothing but stare at his adoptive father in shock before hesitantly nodding himself, fingers rubbing at the bee earring Sam and Ponk gave him. Slowly moving to do as told with an almost robotic jerk to his body. Tommy stood more scared than anything. Watching his brother with knitted eyebrows before turning his attention to Ponk, who was typing away at his laptop.“Ponk?” Tommy called, but Ponk didn’t hear him. So with slightly shaky steps he walked over to Ponk, peering over his shoulder to see he was sporadically checking the cameras. The blond leaned his head over to look at Ponk to see his eyes scanning over every inch of the screen. “Ponk?” Tommy called a little louder, Ponk’s fingers stilled as he straightened up slowly, staring at the screen with wide eyes. “Ponk?” Tommy asked again, louder as his worry began to rise.Tommy furrowed his brows at the silence, then turned to the laptop and felt a shiver run up his spine. The cameras around the hospital, there was one facing the back, near where they’d come in from- and on those cameras, was Sam.Or better yet the thing he’d become after that monster bit him. He was lurking around, seemed to be searching for something near the trees before b-lining it for the door, like a cadaver dog with a lead. Its body moved like its bones didn’t fit in its skin and the swing of his jaw made Tommy looked away and hold a hand to his mouth to try and ease the light headed nausea that spiked at the sight.“He’s alive” Ponk muttered, turning and rushing off out of the room, Tommy hot on his heels to stop him, reaching out and grabbing at his lab coat. “No- Ponk, Sam’s not- he’s not him anymore- please- Ponk!” Tommy begged, trying and failing to explain what had happened- when he himself didn’t even know, Sam was hurt, and just went nuts. Ponk turned, dropping to one knee to be on Tommy’s level, placing his hands on his shoulders as he smiled sadly. “He’s infected. If he’s not with you then he must be dead- that’s what I thought but he’s not!” Ponk almost cheered. Tommy shook his head in disbelief. Whatever was wrong with Sam was worse than death. “I’ve been researching, taking notes, I can fix it- I can help him, I just need some time and some other infected to-” Ponk stopped, stood and backed away. Muttering that he just needed time. Tommy tried reaching out for him but footsteps echoing down the hall caught their attention. In instant, Tommy drew Sam’s gun and Ponk had his automatic that was slug over his shoulder pointed at who ever showed up. Jack stood with his hands raised in surrender. “Whoa, whoa, what the hell’s Tommy doing here?!” Jack asked Ponk with wide eyes, glancing between the doctor and shivering child. Jack was a younger military personnel that had been working with Ponk on his research. He was smart and Sam trusted him, he’d even come to dinner a few times, mostly to drag Ponk home so he didn’t work through the night again. Tommy liked him because he always worse these cool blue and red lenses glasses. Ponk shook his head, swings the gun around his shoulder again as he walked off into his office. He was acting like none of this was an issue, like there was something more pressing he’d continuously had to put of the back burner. Tommy looked between the two with panic. Jack let his hands falls and ran to Tommy, doing a frankly cool ass slide to his knees to be at Tommy’s level. “What the hell’s going on kid?” Jack asked, putting a hand on Sam’s gun to take it from the shivering boy.Tommy shook his head, unable to speak as silent tears started streaming down his face. Nothing was making sense anymore. Jack rubbed his arms in an attempt to comfort him. Ponk came back out with a packed bag and dropped it on the floor next to them. Jack looked at him for a moment. “Ponk, we need to leave. This place is overrun and evacuation has begun. Your top priority given your status, we need to leave” Jack urged, standing but keeping a hand on Tommy’s shoulder, with his other hand trying to take Ponk’s arm to lead him out. Ponk stepped back shaking his head. “No, I can’t go, Sam needs me” Ponk said, but looked back into the office to Toby who was still grabbing medical books and enough gauze to perform heart surgery. “Take Tommy and Toby to the evacuation camp, they need to be safe while I look after Sam-” Ponk put a hand in Tommy’s hair when he started yelling in protest. Holding him in place and talking to Jack like he wasn’t his fucking kid- like he wasn’t there.Jack raised a hand and placed it on Ponk’s shoulder. “Look after Sam? what happened to Sam, is he alright?” Jack asked in a rush. Sam was one of his friends, Ponk tilted his head with this crazed look in his eyes. “I can make him better, I just need time, I can’t do that looking after Tommy and Toby. I need you to take them with you and watch out for them Jack, that’s all I need from you” Ponk explained simply. Tommy was screaming at Ponk, trying to kick and hit the man as Toby had ran out with bags larger than he was on either shoulder looking between all of them with scared eyes.“Whoa wait a second, Ponk I’m here to look after you and the research, that’s why they sent me here. I can’t leave your side, your information is key to fixing all this!” Jack reinforced with furrowed brows and a raised voice. Ponk just smiled with knitted brows. “I swore to look after Sam long before I chose to look after the boys, when you find someone you love, you’ll do anything for them, even if it means hurting others who love you” Jack looked at Ponk for a moment, trying to understand what he was going on about. Why he was talking like Sam was dead. “And I’ll let this world burn if you try to stop me from going to him” Ponk threatened. Jack steeped back. Even Tommy knew Ponk would withhold whatever he damn well please if Sam was at risk. “Oh my god…” Toby broke the tense silence, all three turned to him. Toby had dumped the bags at his side, head turned to the office laptop that showed the cameras, and when Tommy followed his gaze his stomach dropped so fast he got lightheaded. The cameras showed the stairs, the ones they just went up, showing he was inside the hospital and coming for them.Jack’s eyes widened at the laptop, Tommy shook his head in disbelief and grabbed onto Jack’s pant leg. Ponk reached for Jack, grabbing his arm to bring him closer to himself as Tommy and Toby took each others hands.“You bring my kids to Evac Jack, you keep them safe or so help me God, there wont be any world left for you to survive in” Ponk told, face serious and cold. He was choosing his husband over his children, but he was still their father and would be damned if they got hurt. Jack could only nod his head in agreement. What else could he do? these kids looked worse than soldiers he’d seen in the war zone. Ponk was his commander, he had to do whatever he asked of him, Ponk didn’t let go immediately, making sure Jack didn’t back out. A warning. A threat. Toby nervously looked between Ponk and the laptop, not wanting to see that thing again as it neared their floor. He could hear it’s inhuman screeching.Ponk stepped away from Jack, the man looking down in thought as the doctor took Sam’s gun from Jack and placed it in Tommy’s hand. “There’s ammo in the safe, the code is Sam’s birthday, yours, then Toby’s. Grab as much as you can carry and come back out to Jack, got it?” Ponk asked, Tommy shook his head, opening his mouth the protest but got shut down when Ponk furrowed his brows and frowned deeply at him, showing his lack of care for Tommy’s resistance. With a deep breath, Tommy turned and ran to the safe under Ponk’s desk. Why the hell did he have this type of ammo in his safe? Ponk turned to the other brother kneeling down in front of Toby and placed a hand on his dirty and blood covered cheek. “My honey bee, You are so smart and have such a beautiful mind, I’ve taught you so much to keep your brother safe from getting killed. He will get hurt, he will fall and bleed- but as long as your with him, he will heal and become so much stronger” Ponk smiled as Toby let tears fall from his eyes. He knew what this was, and he couldn’t choke back that sob that escaped him with he realized it. Not again. Please. Ponk turned to Jack, reaching into his coat and handing him a well loved journal. Jack took it and flipped open to a random page. It was the research Ponk’s been documenting second hand with the Arctic team. Jack bit his lips to keep himself from speaking. He knew what Ponk meant now, he knew what this was. So he gently pulled the book to his chest and tucked it into his vest. he had his orders now. There was suddenly a loud bang on the door at the end of the hall, an electric one that the boys hadn’t even realized they’d gotten past, it must have locked itself down or Ponk had locked it from his laptop because that door didn’t open. The three looked back in horror to see red eyes glowing with hunger through the glass window of the door. The scraping of hands following suit. large and clawed shadows pawing at the reinforced glass.Tommy ran out, gun aimed and ready with clips of ammo stuffed into his pockets. He saw him on the cameras, he knew he was here, to kill them, to finish the job. He should have known he wasn’t himself anymore, he should have killed him- put him out of his misery- Ponk calmly walked down the hall to the doors like a moth to a flame. Tommy rushing after to stop him with a yell of his name in fear he’d be burned by it. Toby would have followed but Jack stopped him with a gentle hand on his shoulder.Ponk was face to face with the glass, with misty and tearful eyes as he looked at his lover turned monster behind the door. the monster hit the door with such force it dented the metal, Tommy screamed at the sound but Ponk didn’t even move, completely entranced. Tommy grabbed at his coat, ripping it down one side from the force alone as he begging him to turn back. “You know I can’t come with you, the two of you are safer with Jack, he’s smart and strong, just like me and Sam…I just need to help him get better.” Ponk whispered, never taking his eyes off the monster behind the door as Tommy beat at his sides in anger. “You can’t leave us! you can’t! w- we can’t do this without you please! I’ll protect you- Sam taught me how, so- so just please!” Tommy screamed, as Ponk stood still, hand on the metal door as the monster screamed something inhuman at him trough the glass. Tommy couldn’t do this. Not again, not after he’d gone so long with Ponk and Sam he fears he wouldn’t survive without them, not again- not when he know what love is, what he’d be missing every second with out his dad’s. Gunfire was picking up to the point they could all hear it up on the top floor. The hospital was long since compromised, they were only waiting on Ponk. The monster slammed into the door more forcefully this time, the locks snapping and door bending under the strength of it. It wasn’t safe for them anymore. “Tommy, you are so strong, and as long as your with you’re brother you can beat this world that will be in such ruin when you leave this building” Ponk began, falling to his knees to hug the blond close. His child no matter his past. “I wish I could be half as strong as you or Sam, and I know he’d never want to see you cry, so please” The man pulled away, cupping the child’s face and smiling as tears fell from his dark eyes. “Smile in the face of death and danger that so many would cower at, and prove to the world just how strong we know you to be” Ponk finished with a kiss to the blonds hair. Tommy couldn’t’ breath, this couldn’t be happening, why him? again of all things he was losing everyone he loved to this cruel world that never gave him a second thought. Was he truly so undeserving of love that the devil made his own father be the person to push him away? had he not said he’d loved them enough times when they left for work? how much he loved watching them joke around, how much he loved their hugs and little things they’d get for him and Toby? Was he simply not enough for Ponk to go with them?The door bent inwards more with each passing second each second Tommy was failing to get Ponk to leave with them. There was a large enough hole that his clawed fingers scratched painful at the metal. In a moment, Tommy felt a hand on his shoulder, trying to lead him away from Ponk. He fought, he didn’t care what anyone else wanted he just wanted his family. he would be as selfish as he damn well pleased, he didn’t care about the world, he doesn’t care about how many corpses he’s seen, if it meant he was with his family he’d kill someone again. Smacking the hand away from his, he felt Toby crash into his side, hugging him as tears rushed down their faces. Begging him to stop and just let Ponk go. Tommy would rather die. He couldn’t hear right, his vision was tunneling, he felt sick with the thought alone. Tommy shoved away from him, trying to grab at Ponk again to stay with him. Ponk looked past him and with a single word- a single order, he was being lifted from the ground by a strong arm around his middle and slung over Jack’s shoulder like a sak of potatoes.Tommy screamed - sobbed and beat at Jack’s back, but he had the bags Toby had stuffed with supplies protected him from his anger as he kicked and screamed in protest. Toby had been heaved under Jack’s arm like a football as the man turned and rushed down the hall away from Ponk and the monster pawing at the door. They were leaving him behind. Ponk turned to his children as Tommy screamed for his father, and with a sad smile, he tilted his head and saluted the blond. Toby had his hand over his mouth as he sobbed violently, even in this moment, they could feel how tense jack was himself, as he took both the doctors children and tore them away from their father. Toby, though he wished he hadn’t, had accepted what has happened, he knew he shouldn’t have gotten comfortable, knew that one day his love and happiness would be ripped from his hands again, this was simply how the world worked. Something so beautiful like love is simply not meant to last in a world full of death and hatred. Tommy’s vision blurred with tears, and the moment he took an actual gasp of oxygen, his brain caught up to his grief then suddenly, Tommy knew what this was. It was a goodbye.Toby was full on sobbing in Jack’s other arm, struggling to breath through his tears. Tommy didn’t even register when Jack kicked open the fire exit, Tommy stopped thinking, stopped letting the world around his even affect him, just let his head fall as he death gripped the bag on Jack’s shoulder, let the man take him and his brother. When Jack reached the parking lot, his muscles aching in pain at having to run down seven flights of stairs with two sobbing children and bags that weighed more than they did on his back all while trying to not break down in front of these children at the horrors of his own actions. He smelt fire and gunpowder, fresh rain and irony blood as he rounded a corner to see other military personnel were packing up quick and taking off in their in vehicles, he’d gotten the same order, to leave the hospital and head to Evac.There were infected still attacking, God Jack didn’t even know if half of them were even infected or just hurt and searching for help- and the military were just gunning them down like nothing. Hell the kids looked half dead, and with that though, Jack tightens his grip on the two rather limp children in his arms.The rain beat down on them, large puddles on the ground reflecting the beautiful orange and reds of fires that burned bright in the distance as the blonds ears rung from the gunshots firing off. Jack was thankful his headset was still on to muffle some of it. He was also thankful he didn’t park his jeep far, he gently dropped Toby to the ground before he yanked the back seat door open and pressed a hand to Toby’s back to get him up the tall step into the jeep. Jack lifted the other child from his shoulder and dumped him into the seat next to his brother before shutting the door and quickly swinging off the bags in one smooth motion to drop them into the open backed trunk. Jack opened his own door with a little too much force as he jumped into the driver seat, hitting the gas within the second he had his hands on the wheel. Not even bothering with a seat belt Jack breathed heavily as he, backed out of the parking spot before flooring it away from the hospital and further out of the city. Jack was thankful he’d known where the E.V camp is to get them all to safety. He can’t image trying to get through all this with no idea of a destination. The jeep was dead silent besides the muttering chatter of Jack’s headset and the muffled sounds of screaming outside the car. Tommy staring at the back of the passenger seat with a vacant look as he struggled to processed the nights events as tears free fell from his dirty cheeks. Toby stared out the window at the burning buildings and screaming people as Jack drove through the streets following the other military trucks. no one stopped for the begging people, Toby distastefully watched one truck run a woman over and not even falter in speed. Jack swerved a little to not hit her again when they passed. Jack’s knuckles were paper white as he gripped the wheel, listening intently to the chatter in from the radio through the headset he was wearing, being sure he was on the right path to the E.V camp. Jaw clenched as he heard the horror stories on the other end.Hesitantly, jack peeked up into the rear view mirror, looking at the poor boys in his backseat. Glacier eyes met his bluey green ones. jack’s heart broke as he looked away in shame. He followed his orders.This world was in ruin, and people were dying on the street while others ate the fallen in an animalistic hunger that had Toby taking Tommy’s limp hand in his. It was maybe an hour of silent driving between the passengers of Jack’s jeep before the trucks in front slowed to a stop and other personnel came to his windows with flashlights. Jack lowered his window and flashed the man his I.D, before explaining who the boys were as the man nodded for them to continue onward into the walled off area.Jack got out of the jeep, feeling numb but glad he had something to keep busy with now that he was back at the E.V base. He stepped back and opened the door for Toby to slid out and onto the pavement, Tommy sluggishly doing the same, the two immediately linked hands and Tommy grabbed Jack’s pant leg with enough force to scratch at Jack’s skin under the think fabric. He forced himself not the let the sting affect him as Medics came over and ushered Jack and the boys into a tent, sitting them down on some cots as they began examining them. Tommy and Toby were near catatonic as they stared off into nothingness. Jack watched them worriedly, but silently. The medics took their blood, temperature, did a basic check over of their physical to check for any infected injuries before clearing them for the moment and moving onto the next people that came in.Jack stood, headset around his neck as he asked one of the medics for a washcloth, she looked at him oddly for a moment, silencing her radio and placing her pen down as she then looked over at the boys, she looked back at him before pointing over to a sink area, a few towels folded nicely on the table. Jack thanked her and let her get back to work, quickly going over and filling up a small bowl with warm water and soap before gathering his supplies and heading back over to the boys. He felt like a fool, he didn’t know why he was doing this but he just needed something to do to help them at least a little bit. Soaking the cloth, jack rung it out and gently wiped away at the mixture of blood dirt and tears on the boy’s faces and hands. Shockingly they let him. Jack had heard how long it’d taken Sam and Ponk to gain any form of physical touch privilege from them. They’d been through so much from such a young age- even now they weren’t even teenagers yet and have lived so many life times of pain. “Will you leave us Jack?” Tommy muttered as Jack carefully dragged the cloth over his shaking hands. Jack furrowed his brows but held the boys hand tightly in his own. Don’t be a fucking idiot Jack. “No, I will do everything I can to fulfill Ponk’s last order and look out for you as best I can” Jack promised. Tommy just nodded and went silent again. “Sargent Manifold, a few words” Jack nearly jumped out of his skin as the sound of the Colonel. He turned to see him and a few other men with the tent pulled back, jerking their head to signal him to follow them.Jack stood and walked over to the men, stepping out of the tent and standing just outside it.“What can I do for you sir?” Jack asked with a serious look. He knew this was coming.“Where is the Doctor? his information is crucial in this pandemic, we don’t need you babysitting” The Colonel explained with an unimpressed look on his face. Two others soldiers stood off to his sides.“With all due respect sir, my last order from the Doctor was to babysit his children while he stayed behind at the hospital” Jack said, leaning back ever so slightly to not get a back hand. “Pardon me?” The Colonel asked him with furious eyes. Jack took a breath and stood his ground.“I have the information, I have his books, notes, his children, ammo, medical supplies- I did not come empty handed-” Jack tried to defend but got that back hand across the face he expected. It stung but it didn’t hurt as much as he thought.“You had one job! to protect and retrieve the Doctor with his research to move out and to the C.D.C! Are you telling me you failed?!” The Colonel screamed, a few people turning their heads to them as Jack took it head on. “I may not have the Doctor but at least I have answers. He would have burned it if I tried forcing him- he made that damn well clear, so I saved the research and did as he told me and brought his children to safety.” Jack smeared back. Jabbing a finger at the taller man with furrowed brows. “That hospital was going down, people were rioting and infected were attacking everyone, you haven’t see shit all cozy in here behind the walls of safety and on call with executives. I was out there- I was the one who saw the bodies. Not you.” Jack spat and turned away, walking back over to the boys and taking their hands. “Where are we going?” Toby asked, hoping off the cot and holding Tommy’s hand as he stared off into space, still not with them fully.“Somewhere private to talk” Jack answered, pushing the tent aside to let the boys through, the soldiers still standing there shocked at Jack’s out burst, the boys quickly rushed past them, Jack not even bothering to throw a glare as he watched over the boy’s as they began to weave past the hustling soldiers and refugees. The camp was made from the parking lot of a Walmart that was being built, the walls surrounding it were made of Military trucks, sand bags and wood planks from the storage areas. Jack was careful as he lead the boys around the side of the buildings, people were in a panic as they worried about their loved ones and the people they lost as medics and other personnel tried everything they could to keep a semblance of peace.There was a firetruck parked at the side of the building, the ladder extended to reach up to the roof. Jack helped the boys up onto the truck and climbed the ladder, Jack going first so he could lift them onto the rood safely. The slate rocks shifted audibly from their walking, the roof was large and bare, a few air conditioners here and there and a man with a rifle stood watching over the camp.Jack waved to the man who came over with the gun ready. “Why are you up here?” The man asked, peering at the boys Jack had on either side of him.“Taking over watch” Jack lied, watching the man continue to eye up the boys. Jack fakes surprise, “Oh yeah, they didn’t want to be alone, so I’ll keep them with me” Jack explain in a light voice as the man seemed to think it over. “Alright, here. Be sure to keep an eye on the entrance” The man said, lifting off his gun and handing it to Jack who thanked him. With that the man began walking his way over to the firetruck and out of their sight. The boys watched him leave as Jack walked over to edge and take a seat while looking over the camp. Tommy and Toby slowly came over and sat with him. Legs dangling over the edge. Tommy crossed his arms as he watched people going about their panicked life down in the parking lot like ants running about in the dirt. Though, even with all the panic, it was still well organized, set up like they had time to plan this.“They wouldn’t have been able to put this up within a few hours, this is too organized even for military” Tommy spat, glaring at the soldiers wandering about with guns loaded and heads tilted. “It wasn’t, they were working on this for months, trying to figure it out, slow it down, but when it spread past their reinforcements, they doubled down on recon and evacuation.” Jack informed with a shake of his head. Both boys turned to Jack with wide eyes. “They knew- You knew about all this? why was no one informed! people died- are dying!” Tommy sneered, as Jack nodded his head with a solemn look. “This is why I brought you up here. Ponk kept secrets, ones that got people killed in his desperate attempt to- I don’t even know, but I don’t want to do that, keep secrets that get people killed.” Jack confessed, turning to the boys with a sad look on his face. “Ask questions, I’ll answer to the best of my abilities.” Jack informed, leaning back on his hands, one leg bough up to his chest as the other hung from the building. The boys looked to one another for a moment before Toby spoke. “If they knew about whatever this is, why was there no waning?” Toby raised an eyebrow, watching the city as orange lights bloomed deep in the streets. Car wrecks, fires, Toby wondered what it all was, why nothing seemed to be helping. “They thought it was just a sickness that would pass over like a flue, but Ponk was demanding that we set up precaution- world war type precaution that he didn’t have time to explain” Jack recounted with a roll of his eyes.“Why would he do that? how does he know any of this- a doctor can’t control military direction” Tommy spoke with confusion. “Ponk was brought on to a team of Arctic researchers by a privet military run by the Blade family’s heir, a very important man in both science and combat. He and his team went to the Arctic to excavate some unusual readings they’d discovered a few years ago. Ponk was to record and keep notes on everything and do outside research on samples they sent to him and other C.D.C’s across the world.” Jack began, Tommy remembering about the news lady going on about some scientist in the Arctic. “So there was something in the Arctic that makes people sick?” Toby asks. Jack nodded.“From what I know it’s an old fungus from a long time ago, they found remains of people infected with this fungus and took the bodies to figure out more about this infection because the bodies were mutated and almost nonhuman” Jack continued trying to explain their questions as simply as he could to two children. “If it was in the Arctic, then how are people sick here?” Toby questioned.“And the Arctic people were just on the news, how could they let things get so out of hand so quickly?” Tommy demanded. “The researchers stopped communication months before, military didn’t inform the news until just a few hours ago because of the families demand. They had talked about sickness among the crew and that they were doing what they could to find a cure or vaccine within the time frame they had- Ponk was doing the same but without fresh samples to work with he couldn’t do loads to help them. After a while, they stopped communication all together, something about the right hand going missing and the head researcher disappearing soon after. After that, places closest to the Arctic like Argentina, Australia even Africa started reporting a virus going around, making people go nuts, but they passed it off like simple viruses that would kill a few and then blow over” Jack went on, finally able to get all this off his chest after nearly three years of well kept secrets. “But if this all happened months ago why is the military only doing something about it now! if this was up weeks ago why didn’t they say something, inform people about all this shit! people wouldn’t be dead then!” Tommy yelled, pushing himself off the ledge and kicking the rocks in frustration.“Because we didn’t know anything about it, Ponk kept that information quiet and only told us what to and what not to do, kept going on about the violence rate rising-” Toby shook his head and raised his hand in question. “What’s that got to do with it?” Toby asked.“Because when people get sick, their blood and the bacteria in their saliva, its infectious. Just like if someones sick, and gives blood, it makes that other person sick too, and just as any bite that breaks skin is very bad for anyone’s health, these ones are worse. So people get bitten by some raging person, goes to the hospital and the hospitals overrun by sick people and doctors are spread thin, one wrong move, one person not being watched suddenly goes mad and then starts hurting others. One hospital down. All because some random person is violent in the store or the streets and suddenly there’s too many for medical personnel to cover” Jack explains with a sad frown. He remembered being in the ground floor of the hospital, the ER was a war zone, doctors unable to help so many as nurses put up quarantine tarps and rolled people into hallways, unable to room them. Then the screaming, he’d gone to help, thinking someone was getting aggressive with a nurse, only to find a woman sinking her teeth into a mans arm like a animal. “So how are they going to stop it from spreading if we don’t have a cure?” Toby hesitated.“Keep people quarantined, do regular tests, only let trained people outside of safe zones, there are loads of ways that we can keep people safe once martial law is in place and the military can organize the people and put up more refugee camps then more medics can try to find cures themselves” Jack spoke positively, trying to lift the mood a bit from the rather drab information dump. “How long would that last?” Tommy asked, plopping back down next to Toby. “The world ending and all that” Tommy added with a mumble. “The world isn’t ending, its just nature trying to correct itself after we messed around in her businesses, they’ll figure something out” Jack shrugged with a smile. He knew that something this severe wouldn’t blow over like people said, but the world wasn’t ending. He’d see the things in Ponk’s book, the monsters this virus created, he was scared, but then again, he was just a weapons expert, something might change for the better. Toby and Tommy seemed to buy it, with a small nod and smile, the two turned to one another with a hopeful look. Jack couldn’t help the wide smile that tugged at his lips. These kids have survived so much already, but still have hope for better lives. All three jumped when Jack’s radio went off. He’d unplugged it from his head set to focus on the kids and forgot to turn off the radio itself.Jack pressed the button, leaning his head down to his chest were the radio was strapped, asking for the caller to repeat. “We got instructions from higher ups. Who ever is within the zone is all we’re taking without more information and a proper virus detector, over.” The woman informed, her voice cold.Jack knew it was the right thing to do at this very moment. We didn’t know how to tell normal from sick, physical checks wouldn’t be enough and there couldn’t be a chance taken, not when it’s as easy as getting a cut on you hand and pressing it to an infected person. It was too risky to let people in willy-nilly without more measures. “Roger that, I’ll go through the information and inform the Colonel of any findings to assist in the situation, over.” Jack spoke, letting the button go to listen if she had anything else to add. “There’s more Sargent. Over” The woman informed, almost hesitant sounding. Jack furrowed his brows at this.“What is it? and if its the Colonel, I know he’s pissed at me, he’ll get over it” Jack rolled his eyes at the though of the Colonel going off on the others for his mistakes.“No Sargent, the higher ups are planning to enact Martial law before… before sending bombers to every major city to contain the threat…Over” She said it with a shake to her voice that he could tell she broke orders by telling him. “There are still civilians, bombing should be a last resort” Jack explained, standing up as the boys looked at him with worry and confusion.“Wait- wait there bombing?!” Tommy asked, standing with Jack as he began marching towards the ladder. They were out of the city but not by much, if they bombed there would be shock waves and shrapnel that could reach them within the safe zone. “The Bombers have already been deployed Jack. I’m telling you against the Colonel’s wishes informing you of it. Keep those boys close. Over and out.” Jack stopped still at the confession, her voice was familiar, most likely one of the medics. Tommy and Toby were at his at his side in an instant, looking up at him with scared eyes. Jack breathed deeply, calming his racing heart as best he could to talk to the boys. He couldn’t show how shaky he was, they were looking to him for protection and information, he couldn’t falter now. Sighing in defeat, jack turned to them but before any words made it past his lips, an ear piercing rumbling of jets slicing through the air and towards the center of the city had the three covering their ears. Jack swore as the boys ducked down to try and escape the noise and screwed their eyes shut at the deafening sound. Jack turned, following the jets with his eyes where the jets flew off too and his eyes widen as his heart stopped at the first explosion.The boys slowly lowered their hands from their ears and with shaking forms they watched beside Jack as the military jets soar through the air and dropped napalm bombs on the larger parts of the city. Tommy and Toby stood shocked and still at the fire and explosions that sent shock waves that shook the ground destroying the city with each quake of the ground.“Why- wh- but- there’s people…” Toby stammered, covering his mouth as Jack cursed before quickly running off to the ladder, screaming about martial law. Tommy and Toby stood atop the roof staring at the military’s masterpiece as gold and red lit up the sky as fire burned high enough to topple buildings. They watched in shocked horror as a building screeched before it snapped in the middle and leaned, intending to fall but was stopped at it collided with other building, stopping its descent.Just like that. Everything they ever loved. Was gone. One after another, time after time, again and again this world reminds them that joy is nothing but a lie and home is but a wish. Tommy reached for the first thing that brought him joy, a simple red chain bracelet with two vinyl music disc charms Sam and Ponk had given him.The blond glanced over at his brother, watching him play with the bee earrings he’d also gotten as a gift from their family. A family that was gone. Tommy reached into his pocket, feeling the slightly wet and plasticy paper that he’d folded up and stuffed there. He carefully unfolded the picture as Toby wiped his tears as he saw the people in the picture, Ponk’s calm and gentle eyes, Sam’s green hair and angle kissed skin under his mask. Their two children smiling and showing off the charm they all had made from some old ass space rock. Sam’ bomb necklace, Ponk’s lemon ring, Toby’s bee earring, his own music disc bracelet. Their house was probably gone, the hospital too, this was all they had and all it did was make him feel sick looking at his parent’s faces, how they changed, how their last moments went, the pain in their eyes- how they weren’t here.All they had was blood on the walls and tears. Sam and Ponk were dead, their home was gone. All they had was one another. Just like old times. Tommy held the picture to his chest, Toby taking his free hand with shaky but firm fingers as gold lit up their vision. Two brothers against the world of monsters.