Hayden's arms tightened around Owen, holding him close. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice filled with gratitude.
Owen's anger had dissipated, replaced by a mix of relief and lingering hurt. He pulled back, his eyes searching Hayden's face. "So, what's going to happen now?"
Hayden's expression turned serious. "We'll take things slow, get to know each other better. And I'll make sure to earn your trust back."
Owen nodded, his eyes never leaving Hayden's. "Okay."
Hayden's lips curved into a small smile. "And maybe we can start with a redo? A proper date, just the two of us?"
Owen's heart skipped a beat, and he felt a flutter in his chest. "I'd like that," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Hayden's eyes lit up, and he leaned in, his lips brushing against Owen's. It was a soft, gentle kiss, but it spoke volumes about their feelings.
Just as they were getting lost in the moment, Blake burst into the room, a big grin on his face. "Hey, guys!
Owen's face flushed, and he pulled back, laughing. Hayden chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Thanks for the interruption, bro," he said, woking at Blake.
Blake winked. "Anytime, little bro
Hayden turned to Blake, his expression serious. "Hey, you're not upset or mad, are you? About Owen and me?"
Blake shook his head, a smile on his face. "Nah, I'm good, Hayden. I wasn't having a relationship with Owen, we just went on a few dates."
Hayden raised an eyebard. "Really?
Blake nodded. "Yeah, but it was just casual. Owen himself told me he always wanted to be with me but recently he loves someone but he wasn't sure if the person felt the same way."
Hayden's eyes widened in understanding, his face softening. "He told you that?"
Blake nodded. "Yeah, we talked about it. I told him to go for it, to take a chance. but I'm glad you finally have hi
Hayden's face broke into a relieved smile, and he clapped Blake on the back. "Thanks, bro. I owe you one."
Blake grinned. "You don't owe me anything, just be good to him, okay?"
Hayden's expression turned serious, and he nodded. "I will, I promise."
Owen, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, felt a warmth spread through his chest. He smiled, feeling a sense of relief and happiness but was broken when
Blake said, "Maybe Hayden should make one of those cures you did with dad long time ago."
Hayden's face hardened, and he responded, "Maybe you should ask the scientist," before walking out.
Owen was stunned, so he asked Blake, "Why is Hayden like that?"
Blake sighed and explained, "our dad was a scientist, and Hayden wanted to be too. But one day, as they were working on the lab, unfortunate events occurred where they lost their father. That's why Hayden quit being a scientist and started doctor occupation."
Owen's eyes widened in shock, and he nodded. "But can Hayden make a cure for the zombie?" he asked.
Blake responded, "I'm not sure, but I'm sure he can make something to prevent people from getting affected."
Owen nodded, just as they were talking, they heard everyone gasp. So they walked outside, seeing everyone watching TV - news. The speaker was attached by a zombie as she's speaking.
Minutes later
The darkness of the night seemed to swallow everything, except for the eerie silhouettes of zombies shuffling around in the distance. Hayden and Owen stood at the edge of the city, the silence between them a mix of comfort and tension.
Owen broke the silence, his voice low. "Hey, about what Blake said...about making a cure."
Hayden's expression was hard to read in the dark, but Owen could sense a hint of tension. "I've been thinking about it," Hayden said, his voice neutral.
Owen took a step closer, his eyes on the zombies below. "Do you think you can do it? Make something to stop this?"
Hayden sighed, his breath visible in the moonless night. "I don't know, Owen. It's not just about making a cure...it's about facing things I left behind."
Owen's eyes turned to Hayden, his voice soft. "You mean your dad's work?"
Hayden nodded, though Owen couldn't see it. "Yeah. I walked away from all that. I don't know if I can just pick it up like nothing happened."
Owen reached out, his hand finding Hayden's in the darkness. "You are not alone anymore,you have Blake and me" he said, his voice filled with conviction.
Hayden's fingers intertwined with Owen's, his grip tight. "I'll try," he said, his voice low and determined.
The moment hung in the air, the weight of Hayden's words settling between them. Owen's thumb brushed against Hayden's hand, a gentle reassurance.
"When do you start?" Owen asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Hayden's gaze drifted back to the zombies below. "Tomorrow. I'll need to go through my dad's old notes, see if there's anything...useful."
Owen nodded, though Hayden wasn't looking. "I'll help you," he said, his voice firm.
Hayden turned to him, a hint of a smile on his face. "I like that."
The sound of shuffling feet and g moans drifted up from below, a reminder of the chaos outside. Hayden's eyes locked onto Owen's. "We should get back inside. It's not safe out here."
Owen nodded, and together they turned to head back to the relative safety of their shelter.
It was a makeshift arrangement, but it worked for now. The group had settled into their temporary home, trying to make the best of the situation.
Blake shared a room with Emily, share a room
Midnight
The night wore on, the sounds of the zombies outside growing more sporadic as the hours passed. In their small rooms, the group tried to rest, but sleep was hard to come by.
In Blake's room, Emily was already asleep, her gentle snores a soothing background noise. Blake, on the other hand, was wide awake, his mind racing with thoughts of the day's events.
He tossed and turned, his eyes adjusting to the darkness. Suddenly, he heard a faint noise from the room next door. It was Owen and Hayden's room.
Blake's ears perked up, and he listened intently. He could hear the sound of hushed whispers, and a soft laugh. A smile crept onto his face.
"Those two," he thought to himself, shaking his head in amusement.
In Owen's room, Hayden was teasing Owen about something, his voice low and playful. Owen was laughing, trying to shush him, but Hayden wouldn't stop.
"I'm serious, Owen, you have to admit it," Hayden said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Owen's response was a soft "no way," followed by a playful push.
Hayden chuckled, and the sound was muffled as he buried his face in a pillow.
The room fell silent, except for the sound of their quiet breathing. Blake, in the next room, smiled and turned over, finally able to drift off to sleep
Meanwhile as Owen fall asleep, Hayden quietly leave the room,to the balcony where the lab is...he sighs..I still don't understand why Blake is still staying in our family house, and he's very comfortable too.
Hayden turned on the lights. He stood at the doorway, his eyes scanning the room with a mix of nostalgia and pain.
Everything was exactly as it was years ago - the cluttered workbenches, the scattered notes and diagrams, even the faint scent of disinfectant and forgotten dreams. Hayden's gaze lingered on the spot where his father's last experiment had gone wrong, where the accident had taken his life and altered Hayden's own path forever.
He took a deep breath, the weight of memories settling in his chest. He had avoided this place for years, trying to bury the pain and guilt. But now, with the world crumbling outside, he had come back to face the ghosts of his past.
Hayden's eyes landed on the old lab notebook, still open to the page his father had last written on. He picked it up, his fingers tracing the familiar handwriting.
"This is it," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "This is the cure plans we were about to create.
As he flipped through the pages, a plan began to form in his mind. It was a long shot, but it was worth a try. He needed to recreate his father's work, to see if it could hold the key to stopping the outbreak.
With newfound determination, Hayden started gathering equipment and supplies, the lab's machinery humming to life around him. The night was still young, and he had a cure to create 😊.