Apocalypse: Fractured Forever

Chapter Four (Completed): The Edge of Survival

Ethan's consciousness swam in and out as they stumbled through the ruins. His boots scraped against jagged concrete, and every breath felt like fire in his chest. The woman beside him bore her own injuries but managed to keep him steady. Her vigilance never faltered; her eyes scanned every shadow, every corner, ready for an ambush.

They found temporary shelter in a crumbling warehouse, its roof partially intact and walls lined with rusted shelves. The air was thick with the scent of decay, but it was better than nothing.

"Sit," the woman ordered, her voice sharp but tinged with concern.

Ethan complied without a word, collapsing against a stack of crates. His breathing was shallow, his skin pale. The gash across his abdomen was still bleeding despite her earlier attempt to bind it.

"Let me look," she said, kneeling beside him and pulling his makeshift bandage aside.

Ethan flinched but didn't protest. His cold blue eyes remained fixed on the entrance, ever watchful. "If they're tracking us, we won't have much time."

"I know," she replied curtly. "But if you bleed out, it won't matter how much time we have."

---

She worked quickly, tearing strips of cloth from her already tattered jacket to reinforce the bandages. Her hands trembled slightly, but her expression was one of determination.

"You're lucky the bullet missed anything vital," she muttered, pressing down to staunch the bleeding.

"Luck had nothing to do with it," Ethan replied, his voice flat.

She shot him a look but didn't argue.

The silence stretched between them, broken only by the distant sounds of the wasteland—howls of mutants and the faint crackle of something burning in the distance.

"What's your name?" she asked suddenly, her tone casual but her eyes sharp.

Ethan didn't answer immediately. His gaze flicked to her before returning to the door. "Ethan."

"I'm Kara," she offered, her voice softening slightly.

"I didn't ask," he replied.

Kara's lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn't rise to his coldness. "Well, now you know."

---

They rested briefly, but the distant sounds of footsteps jolted them back into action. Ethan forced himself to his feet despite the protest of his injuries.

"You shouldn't be moving," Kara hissed.

"If we stay, we're dead," Ethan said, his tone brooking no argument.

Kara bit her lip but nodded, helping him steady himself. Together, they slipped back into the shadows of the ruins, moving as quickly as they could.

---

The chase resumed. The scavengers were relentless, their shouts echoing through the crumbling streets. Kara supported Ethan as best she could, but his weight slowed them down.

"Go," Ethan rasped. "You'll move faster without me."

"Shut up," Kara snapped. "I'm not leaving you."

Ethan's cold gaze met hers, but he didn't argue further.

They ducked into an alley, pressing themselves against the wall as the scavengers passed by. Kara held her breath, her grip on her machete tightening.

When the footsteps faded, they continued their escape, weaving through the labyrinth of ruins.

---

They finally found refuge in a small, hidden basement beneath a collapsed building. The air was damp and stale, but it was a safe distance from their pursuers.

Ethan slumped against the wall, his vision blurring. Kara knelt beside him, her face etched with concern.

"You're worse off than I thought," she muttered, examining his bandages.

"Save your energy," Ethan said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Kara ignored him, focusing on stabilizing his condition. She poured what little water they had over his wounds to clean them, her hands working with a mix of urgency and care.

"You're stubborn," she said, her tone light but edged with frustration.

Ethan didn't respond. His eyes were half-closed, his body trembling from exhaustion and blood loss.

---

Hours passed in tense silence. Kara kept watch, her machete resting across her lap. Her own injuries throbbed, but she refused to let herself rest.

When Ethan finally lost consciousness, she sighed softly, her shoulders slumping.

"You're impossible," she muttered, her gaze lingering on his pale face.

She adjusted his bandages one last time before settling against the wall. Sleep wouldn't come easily, but for now, they were alive.

The wasteland outside was still dangerous, but for the moment, they had a chance to recover. And in the wasteland, a chance was all they could ask for.