Chapter Text
The warehouse was quiet enough that Yuder could hear his own breath quiver. The air still carried the fresh scent of blood—metallic and sharp, an echo of the beastly happenings that transpired only moments ago.
It was not the blood, nor the mutilated corpses of the undead that made Yuder falter. His eyes were locked on the lone figure amidst it all, under the overhead lights flickering like dying flames.
Kishiar stood tall, despite his tattered and bloodstained clothes. Even from behind, his usually neat golden hair was a mess. Panic seized him. His heart sank as he moved to rush forward, to urge him to get help when—
“Please do not come any closer.”
Kishiar's voice stopped him. To anyone else, it would sound even and controlled beyond measure. But Yuder knew better. There was a desperation to it so unlike Kishiar it froze him in place, even as his chest tightened and his legs ached to move forward.
Yuder exhaled a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart as he spoke, “Are you injured?”
He did not receive a response. Instead, the silence wafted in the air like smoke, carrying a sense of impending doom. Yuder couldn't take it. He wanted to seize his husband by his collar and force him to say he is alright—he has to be.
He opened his mouth and then closed it again. All he could do was wait in the stillness. The air seemed to shift, like the warehouse was holding its breath.
Slowly, Kishiar turned— and Yuder saw it—a dark, spreading stain that marred his pale neck. His stomach twisted. He did not want to believe it. “No. There is still time, Kishiar. If I bring you to Enon right now—”
“I'm sorry,” Kishiar smiled, but it did nothing to calm Yuder's shaking world. The next moment, a dagger was drawn up in Kishiar's hand, the same one that Alik had spent months developing. The only dagger that worked on the infected.
“If I turn… If I turn… I can't risk it—”
“Kishiar!”
The dagger met stone, falling to the ground with a clank. Kishiar had dropped to one knee, convulsing violently as he coughed. This time, Yuder did not hesitate. He rushed forwards, and knelt beside Kishiar, soothing his back.
Red spread across the concrete beneath them with each passing second. Finally, the coughing subsided as Kishiar spoke in a hoarse, low voice, “Go, Yuder… Please.”
A protest naturally rose up in Yuder's throat, urgent and raw. He wanted to tell Kishiar that wherever he goes, Yuder would follow so he shouldn't be left alone. But he couldn't.
Because at that moment, Kishiar looked up. Golden hair clung to his pale, bloodless face and red eyes that were curved with exhaustion. A faint, wet line ran down his cheek, but to Yuder—that small streak told him everything Kishiar couldn't say.
Kishiar's mind screamed, but his heart only whispered one command—to protect Yuder.
“My… dear, you're shaking.” Kishiar smiled, though his lips trembled. He cupped Yuder's cheek, stroking gently. “I'm leaving first… but you have to survive. Promise me.”
In a few moments, Kishiar would transform into one of the undead and forget everything. Including Yuder. But in this moment, Kishiar spoke as if trying to comfort Yuder like he wasn't the one dying.
In that fleeting moment, there were only the two of them—two lovers who dared to reach for something larger than life, yet, were at the end, only among the countless flickering candles. And still, this fragile fire kept them from dissolving entirely into smoke.
So, Yuder kissed him, tasting the faint copper of blood, carrying their ending and eternity like a promise. And Kishiar? He gasped into it like any breath might be his last.
—
「“I love you. Don't ever forget that, Yuder.” 」
Kishiar had told him three years ago, before his chest stopped moving and his body felt cold.
And yet, today, that voice rang in his head clearer than ever. Perhaps because he was finally going to see him again.
Yuder spoke into the comms, grasping his bleeding stomach, “Ever. Evacuate everyone from the base immediately. It's not safe anymore. Move to the priorly arranged place without delay. And once you're there, do not wait for me.”
There was a small pause, and Yuder could hear Ever's hesitation. But none of it mattered. They hadn't been particularly close, well, Yuder had been distant with everyone for the last three years. There was no reason for Ever or anyone to care whether he lived or not.
Ever, perhaps knowing this, only sighed. “Understood. Please be careful.”
The comms cut off. Yuder's vision wavered, as he let himself lay on the snow. His chest ached, and he struggled to keep his eyes open with every breath. Did Kishiar feel like this when he killed himself after forcing Yuder to leave? Just so he wouldn't hurt him?
He laid there for a long time, mulling over what went wrong. It didn't matter anymore, did it? Yuder's lips curved into a rare smile, albeit bitter.
Before he closed his eyes, he thought he saw someone he hadn't seen for a very long time. It was a radiant figure, extending his hand out to Yuder as if in an invitation to dance.
The memory of that one dance came flooding back, as if the world was offering him a second chance.
Somehow, he knew, he wasn't meant to dance alone this time.
—
When Yuder awoke, it wasn't to the familiar military-like setting, or the coldness he had grown used to in the past decade. Everything felt wrong.
Instead, the sun penetrated through the blinds of the window, casting a shadow on his face.
When he looked outside, he did not see cracks or the undead roaming around in search of victims, but citizens roaming around like the world had reverted to ten years back.
And at that moment, all he could think was,
‘...What is this?’