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Word count: 1586
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Gabriel

I peek around the corner slowly with Payton beside me to spy on what's going on. There is a-lot of new people here all of a sudden. The Hospital stopped taking patients early on in the day so how did these people gain admittance?

And then I see it, her. She's one of Cresent-Port's government officials and around my age and Holly's. We're all a little older than Payton and I look over her blazer and short, straight blonde hair with few curls.

"Who is it you're looking at?" Payton asks. "I'm not cheating." I respond back quickly. "Gabe." She pushes.

"That's Anna Cheshire." I tell her, pointing. "She's from the government body here."

"Well, finally they're moving plans along hopefully. I mean, I'm thankful we both we're rescued, but..." She trails off.

And then I see her eyes widen. "What is it?" I ask. "And there's a member of my city's government!" She smiles, pointing to a young man with scruffy hair.

"Johnathan Myer."

"The AMA and CDC board has been notified, Holly. They're on their way." Johnathan Myer says. His speaking to Holly and so is Anna Cheshire too.

"Uh, cool. That's great! Cause we're hauling bodies right now in the morgue and it's quickly getting out of hand.

They need to be disposed of, and this is a Hospital. We have alot of healthy people who we don't want getting sick and we're short-staffed and pushed for resources and beds, sissy." Holly complains and Payton turns to look at me at the word, 'morgue'

I hope she doesn't begin to remember what she saw...

"Wait, sissy?" Payton comments and then we realize that Anna and Holly are sharing a hug. Holly's badge... The last name on it is Cheshire.

"Sisters?" We both say at the same time, but then both scale back. "Either half, no-identical or one is adopted." I tell her and she nods softly.

"What's the total death toll looking at, at the moment? And what's the Crescent-Port & Sully's next course of action going to be? Has contact been made with other city's?" Holly questions.

"1,745 people in Sully & 2,569 here in Crescent. We don't know what's causing people to turn into mindless, flesh-eating monsters and all contact outside of both out city's has been lost and with outside the country.

We're all alone now, only have eachother to depend on. The decision has been made that both our boarders will remain closed indefinitely.

Looks like this is the end of the world, Holly." Anna explains. Holly gasps audibly and places a hand on heart.

"What? N-no... My friends, extended family..." Payton chokes out and she starts sinking to the floor. "Payton, shh, it's okay. We still have eachother, you and me. Holly's here too and our city's are still standing. Even if this is it, we can still survive this."

"B-but people are dead..."

"And we've both lost people..."

And she starts crying harder and pulls out of my gentle embrace and runs towards Johnathan. I see fear run through him and Anna. I see a slither of a bullet proof vest peek out underneath their clothes and they're armed.

"No, stop! She's human, human!" I shout, pushing myself to spring and manage to catch up to Payton and pull her into a hug, my back to Anna and Johnathan who have guns in their hands now, loaded.

"If you want to kill her, kill me too." I tell them confidentially. "Alright, no, no, no one's being shot through the head!" Holly speaks up, having them back off and they place the safety back on their weapons and conceal them.

"Johnathan, Anna, this is Gabriel and Payton. They're both my patients. Gabriel and Payton, this is Johnathan, board member from Sully and Anna from Crescent's."

"We know who they both are." We snap at the same time.

"Holly, is it over for us?" Payton asks, trying to squirm out of my protective hug.

"What do you mean, Payton?" She responds.

"You said the CDC is on it's way here and we can't contact anyone else. Are we doomed, going to die?"

"No one's going to die on our watch, guys. Sully and Crescent have signed a treaty.

We've got eachothers backs and will do our best to clean up this mess so life can go back to being as normal as it can be, but if you want us to be honest, this is the end of the world, but around us, not inside.

Our borders will be closed indefinitely here-forth." Anna explains. Payton looks sad and more stressed out.

"Do you want to talk, Payton?" Holly offers, gesturing to our room. She backs away from Holly and quickly shakes her head. "Is she okay? Is their anything we can do to help?" Anna speaks up.

"Afraid not, and we have a shortage of beds everywhere, but we'll transfer her when we can." Holly answers.

"Hey, if you don't mind me asking, are you Gabriel-" But Johnathan doesn't get to finish.

"Yes, but make that ex singer-songwriter, model and actor. My agent and I had a falling out. Now, I'm stuck with a public lawyer cause I'm broke, too ashamed to call my parents, and my friends are dead.

My only ally's right now are Payton and Holly here, and waiting on adult social services and I have a drug and alcohol problem and there is no bed for rehab for me.

My life is far from the glamorous life people think we live and truth be told, I'm ashamed of the person I've become."

"Wow..." Anna trails off. "Uh, I mean, at-least you were honest? Y-you can change. And don't worry, all of this will be sorted out guys, soon enough." Johnathan adds on.

"Can I still be a Vet?" I hear Payton whisper quietly beside me. "What do you ask, sweetie?" Holly questions.

"Can I still be a Vet?"

"You should be able too, but Payton, you need to take a break first in order to get well and you should be able to finish your studies late. Plus, many things will be suspended while the cities are being sorted out.

You won't miss class, I promise." Holly smiles and Payton nods softly.

"You're Miss Payton Alexander Rosemary?" A voice calls out and we turn to see a man standing there in a suit with a file in hand. "Uh, who are you?" Holly asks, stepping forward. "Because Payton here is not cleared for guests."

"I'm Tyler Andronicas. Lawyer for Carl Stephen. His death was reported earlier today by this hospital and his shop found abandoned when police searched it in Sully.

A document was discovered on his desk and it appears his changed his will and I'm here to honor his final wishes."

"Oh my god..." Payton whispers. "You can't please, sir!"

"His final wishes are legally binding miss Payton. And to inform you, his six sons have all perished and so have your co-workers.

There is no one to contest his will in court and all beneficiaries except for you are dead."

"Payton, explanation?!" Holly shouts confused.

"So I'm happy to inform you, that your boss, Karl has left you a total of $600,000, his threeo bedroom apartment, fully paid off in Sully."

"I don't know what to say..." Payton whispers. "Well, congratulations! You're rich as fuck now while I'm broke as a joke.

You can forget ever having to work to pay for a roof over your head,and have $600,000 at your disposable." I laugh, high-fiving her.

"Thank you, Gabe." She giggles. "So, um, it will be some time before property and funds can be released to you, but here's my business card and tracking you down wasn't tedious thankfully." The Lawyer says, offering his card to Payton who accepts it.

The lawyer then bids farewell. "Gabe." She says, turning to me. "Y-yes?" I stammer.

"I can share some money with you, but I'll need you to sign a contract or you can marry me." She jokes.

"Well, we got the ring." I joke.

"I'm sorry, what?" Holly laughs confused. I and Payton share a concerned glance and I see Holly's drop.

"Hold on, what? Are you both a couple? Since when? You both didn't know eachother less than 24 hours ago."

"Is it legal?" Anna questions. "They're both adults." Johnathan shrugs. "But guys, if you're going to date, really get to know eachother.

Seriously, I'm not joking. You both should be happy, but don't do this in the environment you're in right now."

"And Gabe, you're a celebrity. The second the public finds out you and the 'girl next door' are dating, shit will hit the fan." Anna warns. "You both will have no privacy."

"What privacy? I had none as it was, ha and it'll won't matter, bcause across the tabloids already or soon is that my PR agent's agent has dropped me and I'm in rehab too." I laugh.

"Gabe, were just trying to warn you." Holly states boldly. "Now, I'd like to talk about why you and Payton are compatible. This changes both your circumstances now.

In your room, please. Let's go." She demands, ushering us and calls over her shoulder to Anna. "Anna, I'll call you later! I promise!"

I'm sorry you had to come out all this way to see me because I wasn't returning your calls and texts."