Get a hold of yourself.

Kay blushes when you place one hand on her arm and cup her face with the other, slowly and gently pulling the girl towards you. When her face is only inches away from yours, when she can feel your quickened breath on her small, cherry lips, you realize that your body seems to be moving on its own. Kay’s soft voice brings you back from this dreamy state.

“John... Is... Is everything alright?”

You notice that your friend has tears in her eyes and looks very worried; almost scared. The events of the last few weeks affected her as well and you never wondered how she must have felt since the two of you escaped from the biosphere. Selfish. Not the first time you acted that way.

You wipe the tears from Kay’s face and embrace her. The girl clings to you as if she has been waiting for this a long time.

“I was so afraid when I found you. I was sure you were dead.” she sobs as you caress her hair. “Please, John. Please don’t do it again. Don’t leave me.”

You rescued her from the horror-infested facility when seemingly all hope was lost. You were taking care of her each day of your travels. Even though she liked to act tough when you were around, she must have been dying of anxiety each time you left her behind whether to scout the surroundings or hunt for something to eat. In many ways Kay was still a child. She needed someone to rely on. She needed you.

“Don’t worry, sweetie.” you whisper, hoping to comfort the girl in your arms, the only friend you have left. “I’m with you. I always will be.”

The morning sun caught the two of you asleep, hugging on the back seat. The sunlight crept along your skin slowly and not until its rays tickled your closed eyes did you wake up.

You open your eyes to see Kay’s beautiful, bird-like body lying next to you, blissfully asleep, bathed in the morning light. You kiss her lips gently before she wakes up. Nothing happened between the two of you during the night (not what you wanted at least) but you feel it is better that way. The least you can do is not to misuse the trust placed in you.

The sun is setting on the far horizon when you arrive at the ruins of an old factory. You take a shotgun this time and check the ammo twice before leaving the car. You’re wearing black tank top, a pair of military, khaki trousers and a pair of stout, black military boots. You have a pair of leather, fingerless gloves protecting your hands and - just in case - you're carrying a combat knife; it's sheath is attached to your calf. It is still very warm outside but that will change when the night comes. Still, you should be able to clear the place of whatever vermin that could have made a nest here by nightfall. You take a few steps towards the building before you hear the car door open behind you.

“I thought I told you to stay in the car.” you tell your teammate but you don’t put your heart into making it sound like a dismissal.

She stands next to you, wearing a gun holster over the thin, black pullover which accentuates her fine features. You can’t help but admire how neatly her dark blue jeans envelop her legs.

As usual, Kay is holding her pistol a bit awkwardly but you know well that she can use it with frightening efficiency.

“And I thought I told you that you’re not leaving without me.” she snaps back in her usual way.

You smile. She does care for you.

“Here we go, then.” you sigh when you say this.