It was late at night. Silent, the group was still in that service station, they decided to stay put for the night and hope nothing finds them.
The gas station was quiet except for the hum of the flickering overhead lights that are somehow still on.. They should've been out by now or at least blown, whatever though. Juno sat on the floor between two empty shelves, knees pulled up, arms wrapped around herself. She'd tucked herself into the corner like she wanted to disappear into the drywall.
She glanced at her arm that was still throbbing with pain she was wondering how long until she turned. Or if she even would.. No one knows how this virus works yet. Hell. Hunter wasn't even bitten but he somehow was infected.. Maybe it was some type of bacterial thing, she didn't know. But he never turned he was more like rotting. Slowly. No one knew what to do to help the poor kid.
As her mind raced, trying to figure out how much longer this damn infection would take..
Mateo spotted her from across the area he was two aisles down, he noticed her curled up against the wall, he frowned.
He hesitated — just for a second — then walked toward her.
His footsteps echoed in the empty aisles. Juno didn't look up. Didn't acknowledge him. Didn't move. Her eyes focused on her sleeve.
He stopped a few feet away, hands at his sides, chest rising and falling too fast, he tilted his head just to the right slightly, his hair falling with, bangs going into his face.
"Juno baby," he said softly. "Talk to me."
Nothing.
She stared at the floor like it was safer than looking at him, like this whole mess wasn't even real.
Mateo took a slow breath. "You've been avoiding me all day. You've been avoiding everyone."
Silence.
"You didn't sit with us. You didn't help with supplies. You didn't even look at me."
Juno's jaw tightened, but she didn't speak.
Mateo stepped closer bending down slightly to try and make her look up at him.. "I'm trying here. I'm trying to understand what's going on with you."
Still nothing.
Her fingers curled around her sleeve, tugging it down over her wrist. She shifted slightly, like she was hiding her arm from him.
Mateo noticed. He didn't comment. But it twisted something in his chest with a dull heavy feeling.
"Juno… please." His voice cracked. "Say something.. yell. Scream just say something."
She finally spoke — barely, it sounded horse and shaky. "I don't want to talk."
Mateo swallowed hard he bent down more; his pointer finger curled and went under her chin making her look at him. "You never want to talk."
"Then stop asking."
He stared at her, stunned. "Stop asking? Juno, I'm your boyfriend your supposed to talk to me when things get bad, not clam up, I'm trying to help. I can't help if you won't talk to me."
She flinched like the words hurt.
Mateo got onto his knees forcing her chin up more, "I love you. I'm worried about you. You're shutting me out, pushing me away, acting like I'm some stranger."
Juno's voice was sharp, defensive. "I said I'm fine." She pulled her head away, with an annoyed look on her face she scooched back just a bit until she couldn't move anymore.
"You're not fine." His tone hardened. "You're being cruel. You're being rude. You're acting like you don't care about me at all."
Her breath hitched, but she didn't look up.
Mateo's voice dropped, low and trembling. "Did I do something?"
"No."
"Then why are you treating me like this?"
She shrugged. "Maybe I don't want you in my face. Maybe I don't want you up my ass. When I say I'm fine. I'm fine." Her nails dug into her legs.
Mateo stared at her — really stared — and the hurt on his face was unmistakable.
He stood up slowly, like the weight of the moment was dragging him to his feet, he crossed his arms and clenched his jaw.. he watched as her head went back down to look at the sleeve again..
"Grow up," he said quietly.
Juno's head snapped up, eyes wide.
Mateo's voice shook with heartbreak. "Either grow up… or we're done."
The words hung in the air like a gunshot.
Juno's breath stuttered. "Mateo—"
"No." He shook his head, eyes glassy. "I can't keep doing this. I can't keep begging you to let me in. I can't keep pretending everything's okay while you treat me like I'm nothing."
She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
Mateo looked at her sleeve again — the way she held her arm close, the way she winced when she shifted — but he didn't push it. Not yet.
"I'm here," he said softly. "I've always been here. But if you keep shutting me out like this… I won't be. I'm also hurting Juno. I mean.. what the fuck do you think I felt when you yelled at a 2-year-old?? For what? Her wanting your attention? When you decided to stay away from everyone instead of talking like a damn adult, you are a child Juno."
Juno's eyes filled, but she didn't speak, she clenched her jaw tightly a muscle twitching.
Mateo looked away and turned his back to her, the sound of heavy boots hit the linoleum with each step, his shoulders tense.. He walked past the door, he didn't know anyone was in what he assumed was the storage room, his eyes glanced over then down, seeing a zombie just outside of the door with its head bashed in.. Maybe that's where Sebastian bashed the head in.. he glanced around for the two. Didn't see them.. nor did he see Ezekial, he just hoped none of them heard the conversation..
On the other side of the door Owen was leaning his head up against the door, the cold metal dug into the side of his head and palms, he strained to hear what was going on, he had heard muffled voices and well he abandoned Ezekial to hear what was going on, his eyes were wide.. He honestly lived for drama. But what he didn't expect is what Mateo said. Those two have been together since eighth grade.
"Owen, the fuck are you doing?" Ezekial's voice cut through the silence, in a whisper yell, Owen perked up and looked to the older man, his blonde hair moving with him, bangs going into his eyes, "Drama." The young man said and Ezekial shook his head and sighed.
"Get back to looking for shit kid, stop eavesdropping on whoever is out there."
"I'm bored, and haven't watched TV in like 2 years, I love and live for drama, you just don't understand because all you've had growing up watching the dinosaurs." Owen spat back and pressed his ear up against the door again.
Ezekial's mouth barely up lifted, he hummed and just looked at the younger man, "Hey. I'm not that old."
"You look like it."
Ezekial shook his head and grabbed Owen by the upper arm dragging him off while the blonde grumbled about Ezekial being unfun and too serious.
Sebastian watched from a distance; Hope nuzzled into his arms still surprisingly asleep; he tilted his head to the side just a bit, his long brown hair shifting in the messy bun a few strands framing his sharp jawline.
His dark green eyes followed Owens' movements or well. Forced movements, he watched as Ezekial lead the younger man away from the door, Sebastian had his eyebrow raised and shook his head going back to looking for enough supplies for the group.
Ezekial let Owens arm go, "Get back to looking, I'm going back to the others." And with that he made his way to the door, grabbing the handle and walking out shutting the door behind him, his rifle on his back, his hands shoved into his pockets, he made his way to the others..
The building groaned in the wind. Dust shifted under his boots.
By the time he rounded the corner, the rest of the group had gathered near the front of the station — Ryan checking the windows favoriting one leg, hunter clung to his brothers side eyes closed, Max and Jasmine whispering over a map his daughter somehow found a pen and was circling an area, Max had his head tilted as his finger pointed to another area, Mateo pacing, a finger to his mouth biting his thumb nail his demeanor seemed.. tense, Judy keeping watch with her arms folded tight beside her Amara stood, she was still nursing on her concussion. Both of the woman was talking in hushed voices.
The two women were talking in hushed voices..
Ezekiel joined them, the tension still clinging to him like the cold air.
He didn't announce himself, but Judy's eyes flicked toward him the second he stepped close. She shifted just enough to make space at her side, her arm brushing his as he settled in beside her.
Her presence grounded him. But not enough to erase the irritation still tightening his jaw, her arm wrapped around his shoulder making him get a little closer.
His eyes glanced around the area.. His voice came out a bit quietly only to where his wife could hear him. "Where's that dog.." he asked her, which in return she shrugged, he watched as she looked around as well.
"She's probably outside nearby. Why? Are you worried about her?" Judy asked with a small smile, looking down at her shorter husband with affection. Ezekiel had never cared much for animals, but Bear was the exception. She was a good dog. "She'll be back soon. Don't get your panties in a twist."
Ezekiel rolled his eyes and looked out the window. The sky was darkening, and leaves drifted from the half-dead trees as rogue branches scraped against the service station's roof.
Amara stood off the side.. She felt a little awkward.. man.. This guy was shorter than she thought. She shook her head as she decided to walk over to Ryan and the younger boy next to him.. she had her arms crossed, "..So, uh." She said awkwardly as she looked at Ryan who was still looking out of the window, he barely glanced her way, his heterochromia eyes scanning the parking lot, road..
"Let me see your leg," she said. Ryan finally turned toward her, shifting his weight onto his uninjured left leg so she could examine the other one. As he looked back out the window, Amara lowered herself to her knees and moved the cloth aside. She muttered under her breath when she realized she had no gloves; all her supplies were still in the ambulance. Then she nudged her glasses higher on her nose, annoyed by the crack running through one lens.
She looked at his leg.. dried blood. Which honestly was already a bad sign she hoped the wound wasn't that bad..
But, as she turned his leg enough to see the calf..
Her breath caught.
Fresh blood still seeped in thin, clumsy lines from the deep wound, cutting through the crusted, dark flakes that clung to his skin. The gash wasn't just deep; it was catastrophic. The torn muscle had split wide enough for her to see the fractured bone beneath, a pale, jagged edge pushing forward like it was trying to escape his body. It wasn't supposed to look like that. No one stayed standing with an injury like that.
But Ryan was.
He stood rigid, weight shifted onto his good leg, staring out the window like the world outside mattered more than the fact that his own body was failing. Adrenaline had him in a chokehold — she could see it in the way his jaw clenched, in the distant, unfocused look in his eyes. He didn't even seem aware of the blood still leaking down the back of his calf, his eyes focused on the land ahead, he saw a glimpse of the Rough Collie running around nearby.. Bear looked like she was having the time of her life honestly.. He just hoped that she wouldn't draw zombies. Everyone needed a break.
"Ryan…" Amara's voice cracked before she could stop it. She tried to get a glimpse of his face, leaning to the side — and what she saw made her stomach twist. His skin had gone gray around the edges, his eyes half‑lidded, exhaustion and pain fighting for dominance. He wasn't just hurt; he was fading. Ther waws a slight shake in his body, his eyes looked shaky, almost as if his body was finally catching up to his wound.
"Hey— hey, look at me," she said, rising quickly. "You need to sit down. Right now."
He didn't move.
Amara stepped closer, placing a steadying hand on his arm, guiding him away from the window. "Ryan, your leg is uh.. hurt" Her eyes glanced over at the younger boy beside Ryan.. she didn't want him to panic, the younger boy looked out of it though.. but still. She needed to do a check up on him as well while she was at this. She looked back at Ryan with a slight look of desperation.. "You're bleeding. You're going to pass out if you don't sit." Her voice was firmer now, threaded with fear she didn't have time to hide.
His gaze finally flicked toward her, unfocused and slow, like he was only just realizing she was there.
"That's it," she murmured, easing him toward the nearest chair, crate, anything that could hold him. "Come on. Sit. Let me help you before you fall over.. uh. you" she called out at whoever was close which was Mateo.. she really needed to get to know everyone's name taller male standing nearby still biting at his nails.. god all these people need help huh?
"Get me a chair or something.. please." She watched as Mateo grabbed something and brought it to her and set it down. She nodded as a thanks and watched the male walk off, she guided Ryan to the chair and set his down.. Hunter was about to follow but got stopped by Amara..
"Bud.. Why don't you go uh.. to that dirty blonde girl..?" She gestured over to Jasmine.
The young boy hesitated but walked off to Jasmine..
Amara then dropped to her knees again, the navy fabric of her tactical shirt brushing the floor. Up close, the wound looked even worse than before. Blood still seeped in slow, stubborn pulses from the torn flesh, cutting through the brittle crust that clung to his skin. The fractured bone was visible — a pale, jagged shard pushing forward beneath shredded muscle.
Her breath hitched. "Ryan… this is a full break."
He didn't react. His head hung backwards resting onto a shelf nearby, eyes half‑closed, breath shallow. Adrenaline had him upright, but barely — he wasn't even registering the pain.
Amara scanned the room again. Nothing. No kits. No gloves. No gauze. Just her, him, and a wound that should have put him on the ground minutes ago.
Her hand went to her shirt. "Alright… I can work with this."
She grabbed the bottom hem of her tactical button‑down and tore. The fabric resisted — thick, reinforced — but she yanked until it gave, ripping off a long strip. She tore another from the sleeve, the seam snapping loudly in the quiet room which made Ezekial, Judy look over..
"Ryan, I'm going to wrap your leg," she said, even though he wasn't listening. His eyes were drifting, unfocused, like he was slipping into a sleep, the adrenalin was now wearing off since well.. They were finally taking a break.
She folded the first strip and pressed it firmly against the wound. Warm blood soaked through instantly, spreading across the navy cloth. She swallowed hard and pressed harder, using her forearm to keep pressure, while her other hand wrapped the second strip around his calf.
The makeshift bandage tightened with each loop, her fingers working fast and rough. She tied it off with a hard knot, then reached instinctively for her utility belt. Heavy-duty nylon, multiple pouches — maybe something, anything.
She flipped one pouch open. Empty. Another — nothing but a broken pen, a gum wrapper and some sticky notes that were crumbled. The third — a small metal clip she'd forgotten she had. Not ideal, but it would hold until they could get something for the wound.. She hoped there was an first aid around somewhere, maybe one of the others would find something.
"Gott sei Dank.. (Thank God)" she muttered under her breath.
She used the clip to secure the bandage, locking the fabric in place so it wouldn't slip. Then she tore another strip from her shirt and wrapped it over the first layer, building pressure the way she'd been trained — even if this was nothing like the controlled environment she was used to.
"Come on," she whispered, checking his face again. His face had gone pale as if his body was slowly realizing something was up, almost gray around his calf, and his eyelids fluttered like he was fighting for sleep he couldn't afford.
She slid a hand behind his back, steadying him. "Ryan, you need to lean back. You're losing blood."
He blinked slowly, barely registering her voice.
"That's it," she murmured, guiding him until his weight settled. "Just stay with me. I've got you. I'm not letting you go down."
She pressed her palm against the bandage again, feeling the warmth beneath it, feeling her own hands tremble. It wasn't perfect. It wasn't even close. But it was the only thing she could do until she got him somewhere safe.
And she wasn't letting him slip away before then.
She looked around and at the two older people off to the right, then to the back of the station, the door then opened with Owen walking out now carrying his little sister in his arm, while the other arm had a bag of food and maybe some supplies, she watched as Sebastian then walked out from behind them with more stuff.. she looked away and back at the group. There was more food with the others at least.. when those other kids went to go look as well. They couldn't find as much, but well it looked like the others found more. She hoped they had found bandages or something..
She looked back out of the window where Ryan had been looking. There was frantic barking.. she noticed the dog running towards the station.. what she didn't notice what was behind the dog following after..