We stood at the heavy iron gates of the Stronghold, the gears groaning as they began to pull back. Outside, the world was a graveyard of gray ash and jagged ruins, but inside the gate, we were still trying to pretend.
Leon was at the front, bouncing on the balls of his feet. He had his old rusted pipe slung over his shoulder, whistling a tune that was just a bit too cheerful for a suicide mission. He turned back to us, shaking his tush in a ridiculous, over-the-top dance.
"Alright, Midgets!" Leon shouted, his voice echoing against the cold metal walls. "Today's the day! We grab the tech, we kill a few uglies, and we come back in time for me to burn some more stew! Who's with me?"
Maverick snorted, checking the magazine on his rifle. "Just keep your head down, Leo. Don't go trying to be a hero and get us all killed."
"Me? A hero?" Leon scoffed, giving a mock salute that looked exactly like the one he used to give when we were five. "I'm just the entertainment! Jay, tell him I'm just the entertainment."
I looked at him, and for a second, the morning light hit his face. His skin looked pale, almost translucent, and the black veins on his neck seemed to be creeping higher toward his jawline.
It was turning him into something that none of us could fix…not even me. Now, I regret not seeing anything. I regret not telling him to open up. I was taking his jokes for granted; we all were. We were all trying to grab onto one light bulb that was soon going to lose its light and shatter.
"Yeah," I forced a dry nod, pushing the unsteady feeling back down. "Just watch where you're going, Leo. I don't want to have to carry you back because you twisted an ankle being a dork."
"Sir, yes, sir!" Leon chirped.
Behind us, I heard Aaron let out a sharp, frustrated breath. He was clutching his pulse-emitter so hard his knuckles were white. He knew. He was the only one who wasn't trying to hold onto the light bulb, because he could already see the glass starting to crack.
The gate fully opened with a final, echoing thud.
"Move out," Maya commanded.
As we stepped into the ash, I kept my eyes fixed on the back of Leon's head. I saw him stumble once..just a tiny, tiny trip..and I told myself it was just the gravel. I ignored the fact that as we walked into the Dead Zone, his footsteps didn't make any sound at all.