Hayden's voice was calm and firm as he grasped Owen's shoulders, giving him a gentle shake. "Hey, look at me. We're going to be okay."
Owen's eyes were wide with fear as he stared at Hayden. "What... what's going on? Are we going to die? What if there's no cure?"
Hayden's grip on his shoulders tightened, his eyes locked onto Owen's. "We're going to do everything we can to survive. We have a team of skilled doctors and nurses here, and we're going to work together to find a way out of this."
Owen's breathing was rapid, and he was starting to hyperventilate. Hayden pulled him into a gentle hug, his voice soft and soothing. "Shh, it's okay. I've got you. You're not alone."
As Owen buried his face in Hayden's chest, he felt a sense of calm wash over him. Hayden's warmth and strength were reassuring, and he felt his fear start to recede.
"I'm here," Hayden whispered, his lips brushing against Owen's ear. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you."
The sound of security doors locking and alarms blaring in the background faded into the distance as Owen focused on Hayden's words, his heart beating in sync with the steady rhythm of Hayden's.
For a moment, they just stood there, holding onto each other, as the world outside descended into chaos 😊.
Hours later
Owen walked out of the hospital, phone pressed to his ear, as he talked to his mother on the other end.
"Mom, I told you, it's okay. We're doing everything we can to stay safe," Owen said, trying to reassure her.
His mother's voice was laced with worry. "Owen, I want you to get on a flight and come home right now. This is getting serious."
Owen sighed, looking around the deserted streets. "Mom, all the airports are closed. No one's going out or coming in. I'm stuck here."
His mother's voice cracked with concern. "Owen, I'm worried about you. What if... what if something happens?"
Owen's grip on the phone tightened. "Mom, I promise I'll be okay. It's just a few days, and everything will go back to normal. I have to go, I love you."
He hung up the phone, feeling a sense of unease wash over him. He looked at his watch - 9:00 PM. He was miles away from the hospital, and the streets were eerily quiet.
As he turned to head back, he heard a shuffling sound behind him. He spun around, turning on his phone's light. "Who's there?" he asked, his voice shaking slightly.
The light cast a dim glow on a figure, and Owen's eyes widened in horror. A zombie, blood on its mouth, clothes torn apart, stumbled towards him.
Owen took a step back, his phone slipping from his grasp, hitting the ground with a clatter.
Just as the zombie was about to pounce, a figure lunged forward, pulling Owen behind a car. Hayden's hand covered Owen's mouth, his eyes wild with fear.
Owen's eyes widened, and he wrapped his arms around Hayden, burying his face in his chest. "Please don't leave me," he whispered, shaking with fright 😊.
Hayden's grip on Owen tightened, his voice barely audible. "I'm here. I've got you."
Hayden peeked out from behind the car, his eyes fixed on the zombie stumbling towards them. He grabbed a nearby metal pipe and turned to Owen, his voice barely above a whisper. "Stay quiet."
The zombie lurched closer, its arms outstretched, its eyes fixed on the spot where they were hiding. Hayden's grip on the pipe tightened, and he waited until the zombie was almost on top of them.
With a swift swing, Hayden brought the pipe down on the zombie's head, sending it crashing to the ground. The zombie groaned and flailed, but Hayden wasn't finished. He struck again and again, his face set in a determined expression.
Finally, the zombie lay still, its body motionless on the ground. Hayden stood up, breathing heavily, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any other threats.
Owen watched in terror, his eyes fixed on the zombie's lifeless body. As Hayden turned to him, Owen's face crumbled, and he rushed to Hayden's side. "Are you okay? Please tell me you're not hurt," he asked, his voice shaking with worry.
Hayden nodded, his chest heaving with exhaustion. "I'm fine, nothing happened," he said, trying to reassure Owen.
But before he could say another word, Owen's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed in fright, losing consciousness. Hayden caught him just in time, scooping him up in a bridal style.
As he carried Owen back to the hospital, his face was set in a worried expression. He had to get Owen to safety, and fast. The streets were no longer safe, and he wasn't sure what other dangers lurked in the shadows 😊.
The hospital
As Hayden carried Owen back to the hospital, the dimly lit corridors seemed to stretch on forever. The sounds of panic and chaos had died down, replaced by an eerie silence. The hospital staff had managed to lock down the building, but the tension was palpable.
Hayden's footsteps echoed off the walls as he made his way to the makeshift infirmary. Dr. Patel, the hospital's head of medicine, looked up from her station, her eyes widening in concern.
"What's happened?" she asked, rushing over to examine Owen.
"Zombies," Hayden replied, his voice low and even. "He saw one. I had to... take care of it."
Dr. Patel's expression turned grim. "Bring him over here. I'll take a look."
Hayden gently laid Owen on a nearby bed, his eyes scanning the young nurse's face. He looked so pale, so fragile. Guilt washed over him - he should have been watching him more closely.
As Dr. Patel began to examine Owen, Hayden stepped back, his eyes never leaving the young nurse's face. He was going to be okay. He had to be.
Just then, one of the security guards burst into the infirmary, his face white with fear. "Doc... you have to see this. It's... it's getting worse out there."
Dr. Patel's expression turned grimmer, and she followed the guard out of the infirmary, leaving Hayden alone with Owen.
Hayden's eyes returned to Owen's face, his expression softening. He reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair out of Owen's face. "You're going to be okay," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
As he stood there, a sense of determination washed over him. He wasn't going to let anything happen to Owen. Not now, not ever
10:30pm
Owen's eyelids fluttered open, and he was met with the dim glow of the hospital room. He groggily took in his surroundings, trying to remember what had happened. The zombie, Hayden saving him, the chaos...
As he turned his head, he spotted Hayden, sitting on a chair beside him, fast asleep. His hands were wrapped around Owen's, holding it tightly, as if he was afraid to let go.
Owen's heart swelled with emotion as he gazed at Hayden's face, relaxed in sleep. He looked younger, more vulnerable, and Owen felt a pang of affection for the man.
He tried to move, to squeeze Hayden's hand, but a soft groan escaped his lips. Hayden's eyes snapped open, and he was instantly alert, his gaze locking onto Owen's.
"Owen?" he whispered, his voice rough with sleep. "You're awake."
Owen smiled weakly, his throat dry. "Yeah... what... what happened?"
Hayden's grip on his hand tightened. "You fainted. I brought you back here."
Owen's eyes widened as memories came flooding back. "The zombie..."
Hayden's expression turned grim. "It's okay. I took care of it."
Owen's gaze searched Hayden's face, looking for reassurance. "You're... you're not hurt?"
Hayden shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "I'm fine. I promise."
The two men locked eyes, the tension between them palpable. Owen felt a flutter in his chest as Hayden's gaze held his, warm and gentle.
"Thank you," Owen whispered, his voice barely audible.
Hayden's expression softened, and he leaned forward, his face inches from Owen's. "Anytime," he whispered back.
The moment hung between them, suspended in time, as they gazed into each other's eyes.
Finally, Hayden broke the silence, his voice low and rough. "You scared me, Owen."
Owen's heart skipped a beat as he realized the depth of Hayden's feelings. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice trembling.
Hayden's grip on his hand tightened, and he leaned back, his eyes never leaving Owen's face. "Don't be. I'm just glad you're okay."
As they sat there, hands entwined, the chaos outside seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them, lost in their own little world 😊.