Both spent the night guarding each other, each of them had a time where one rested and the other kept guard if there were any enemies close by. After some time it was Marcus's turn to guard. He saw Noah getting ready and was about to lay down. Marcus kept watch beside the near door in the room they were resting in, as time passed Marcus felt tired and he accidentally fell asleep while keeping guard.
Something peculiar happened while Marcus fell asleep, it wasn't bad nor was it good. While Marcus was sleeping Noah was awake and he had been trying to uncover what the note was about. It was clear the note was important but why would he uncover it in secret? As Noah pondered for minutes trying to uncover the code, he saw a stamp that symbolizes the enemy kingdom, realization hit him in the head.
Before he met Marcus, he overheard enemy soldiers talking about a conflict within the Empire of Ruhdavetekha. These soldiers talked about how a code was missing because someone had invaded the kingdom's main source of information and security. Though Noah did not know what exactly the conflict was, there was a lot of possibilities that this paper contained a code to stop a nuclear war.
Noah knew this could stop the war yet he wasn't planning on doing so. It was too dangerous. If Marcus knew about this then he would gladly risk everything just to stop the war happening between the two kingdoms, Noah was different he knew how to think unlike Marcus who'd act on instinct.
Sunrise came and both had rested well. Noah stared into the wall thinking of a plan, contemplating whether or not he would tell Marcus about the paper. There was always a feeling that he should leave and take the paper with him. Noah kept staring at the empty wall looking stressed, he didn't know what he should do.
"Hey? Are you ok?"
The moment Marcus asked Noah snapped out of his blanked stated and answer him,
"Ah- Yes… I'm fine."
"Sure… tell me if you need anything."
At that moment Marcus knew something was off but decided not to ask further questions. He thought that something might have happened when Noah was guarding so he decided to investigate for himself.
Later that evening Marcus decided to confront Noah about his state earlier but Noah could not give him a proper answer which led to the two having a small fight. While fighting, both had a heated argument and because of Noah's impulsiveness, he unsheathed his knife and threatened Marcus with it.
Marcus looked at Noah with wide eyes, thoughts running through his mind.
"Noah, put that knife down. I'm serious." Marcus spoke out, his hands raised up.
Noah glared at Marcus, "I don't get why you care about me so much. I was just a little out of it and you made such a big fuss about it, do you know just how annoying that is?" Noah complained without a care, just saying what was on his mind, he didn't even care if his words were harsh. Marcus just stood there dumbfounded.
"I mean, seeing how dramatic you are over me, would you risk your life to save me?"
Marcus kept silent, not because he was hurt, but because it was all true. He would risk his own life just to save Noah, yet he didn't want to admit it. "I.." Marcus spoke but quickly cut himself off as he saw a figure behind Noah. "Noah, watch out!"
A quick flash of light went by and at that moment Marcus had gone to Noah to shield him from the figure that was about to attack. Noah reacted instinctively and plunged the knife into the zombie's skull with a swift motion. The creature collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
After a brief moment of shock, Marcus felt a sting in his arm. He hadn't realized that by shielding Noah he had been scratched by the zombie. The two looked at each other in silence trying to process what had just happened. Marcus knew he was infected so he decided to accept his fate.
"Noah, leave me here. I'll only hinder you if you try to save me" As Marcus spoke, Noah felt a wave of guilt coming through him, his remorseful and regretful expression was easy to see.
"No, there's a way to save you. Don't be so negative." Noah had remembered hearing about a rescue team together with medical experts roaming around ruins in search for survivors and knew they had to be nearby.
At that moment Noah utters words Marcus thought he would never say in his life.
"Get on my back, I'll carry you there"
"What-? You-You're not serious are you?"
"I am, besides this is nothing. You risked your life trying to save me."
"No. I did that of my own will. You don't have to.."
"I want to. I'm not taking no for an answer. Get on." Noah insisted.
Marcus reluctantly got on Noah's back and both started to search and hike for a few hours, trying to find the nearby rescue team. After a while, Noah hears muffled sounds of vehicles nearby and he knew that they had to be the rescue team. Marcus unconsciously passed out due to the infection caused by the scratch and Noah had put him down on a nearby tree promising to come back for him.
After Marcus regained his consciousness, He waited patiently for Noah but the Virus spread rationally as it was at its peak. Marcus knew it was far too late to save him from the virus and could only thank Noah silently for trying to save him. A few minutes went by and Noah came back and told Marcus about the good news, that the rescue team is nearby and that he'll be safe now.
At that moment Marcus shook his head and told Noah to just kill him. A moment of silence had gone by, Noah wanted to disagree but Marcus kept insisting to let him die. Noah, even though it was hard for him, nodded and grabbed his dagger that was in his pocket, and was about to kill Noah. A few seconds before he was about to strike, he had a change of mind and instead struck the ground. He then threw the dagger and kneeled down in front of Marcus, he gave Marcus a hug and apologized.
"I'm sorry- I just can't…I can't kill you"
"Noah-! Let go, I might lose control!"
Marcus panicked and told Noah that he had to, or else he'll get bitten by him.
"If you can't be saved, then this is it."
______________________________________________________________________
Marcus looked at Noah "Like I said, if you stay I'll definitely lose control! Please, just leave. Just go!"
"How am I supposed to leave you, when you never left me!? You saved me from a literal zombie!"
"Oh, shut it and save yourself! At this rate, I'll definitely attack you!"
"If it means that I can stay with you, go ahead. Because I wouldn't know how to live without you."
"Save yourself!"
"No. You're my best friend. I won't leave you here. If you attack me then so be it. I would rather throw away my life to stay with you than be forced to kill you."
Marcus saw no point in arguing further since Noah kept persisting and it looked like he wasn't taking no for an answer.
"Are you really sure you want to stay?"
"Yes. I'm sure."
Marcus saw the determination in Noah's eyes and finally let him stay, though it meant both of them will get infected by this virus, at least in another life, in another universe they can say they have stuck together till death.