Both made their way to Luka who had just invited them. Although he didn't want to admit it, Oliver was glad. Every time he was there, he could eat as much as he liked. Like this, the young men could save at least one ration from their stock.

Luka tried to be as friendly as possible, but Oliver noticed how difficult it was for her at times. Nevertheless, he just couldn't hate her. She was the one that helped Yohio and Oliver out to times the epidemic had its outburst. Only because of that, the two of them got to know each other in the first place, for what they were eternally grateful.

A small smile flashed over Oliver's face as he thought once again about how Yohio and he had spent the days together as children. He remembered well how often he had waited for his friend longingly, playing together to be distracted from reality for just a moment. Not only that, but Yohio had always taught him something new in the progress - just like a big brother.

Soon enough, Oliver had started calling him one as well and still does up to this day. He has been there instead of his real family - that got infected - and cared for him.

"What's on your mind?" Oliver heard a voice right next to him and flinched. With widened eyes, he looked around and stopped at Yohio who frowned at the younger one's reaction. Only after some time Oliver realized that Yohio had actually asked a question and breathed out to relax a little again.

"That what had happened two years ago."

"Don't always see things so negatively," Yohio said and chuckled a little. "You're way too serious for your age."

"At least I know with twelve years not to eat raw meat," Oliver retorted and lifted up his chin. Nagging between the two of them was one of Oliver's favorite habits, especially to the times he seemed superior.

His counterpart laughed as he brought the moment back to mind.

"That was an emergency, okay? I hadn't thought that through."

Also Oliver started laughing now and looked out to the scenery around him. Everything was abandoned. The buildings shouldn't be entered, as long as you didn't intend to get buried under them once they would break down. Moreover, infected people lingered behind every corner. Only once in his life, Oliver had experienced being attacked by one. He had been small and didn't understand what had happened. He himself would have also turned into one if Yohio hadn't saved him in the last moment.

He could never forget about those soulless eyes facing him or the scrawny fingers reaching for him. The froth dripping out of the corner of their mouth.

Oliver's body shook. He frequently had nightmares about it, but he didn't complain. He preferred it over being a monster himself.

He sighted two buildings in front of him that stood out from the entirely sparse scenery. Both were in a nearly pristine condition, the facade decorated and smoke ascended out of the chimneys into the air. Both of these houses belonged to the other survivors - also known as the adolescents' friends. They were already grown adults and actually managed to built up a comfortable shelter under those circumstances.

Oliver liked the inside of these houses. It was warm and blankets, pillows as well as other cozy objects helped to endure the rough winter in a more pleasant way. In the contrary, he was happy to have at least one blanket and a pillow in his house.

They both stepped to the wooden door with engraved symbols. The door knob was made of gold, but came from the times before the epidemic. Nowadays, it was impossible to buy something like this. However, Oliver has never seen it yet, but Yohio had told him once that not too far away, there was a station located where you could actually place an order, needless to say only for high charges.

For those that asked for a special delivery, there was a stranger hiding with his family in that place, just to earn a bit of money in order to survive by sending those letters to the west. How exactly all of that worked was unknown to Oliver. He couldn't care less either as Yohio and he didn't have enough money to treat themselves anyway. In contrast to them, the residents of these houses surely could do so occasionally.

Oliver reached for the door knob and knocked with his other hand - a strange habit of his. After a short time of waiting, the door got opened and a pastel pink shock of hair, followed by crystal blue eyes, stretched out of the building. With a welcoming smile, Luka greeted the men and let them come into her house. Both of them did as told and Oliver sighed in relief as he felt his feet warming up again.

"Come along, I prepared a few dishes."

The young woman waved them to follow her to the main room of the building - the living room. Perfectly fitting for the rough season, everywhere lay woolen blankets and plushy pillows. The chimney frizzled quietly in the backround and a few candles flickered, even if they weren't of need. The light was switched on as well; she could afford it, after all.

Yohio and Oliver sat down next to each other on the well-set table. The variety of food was mesmerizing. In their home, something like this didn't even exist in their dreams; they had to divide it to fitting rations. Luka took a seat towards them and looked at them in curiosity, a bride smile appeared on her face.

"And, how are you doing?"

"Quite good. The house is still as habitable and prepared for the winter," Yohio answered and smiled as well. However, Oliver barely wanted to speak up and rather looked at his plate. He didn't like conversations like these. Luka noticed Oliver's apathic behavior and leaned over to him.

"And how do you do, Oliver?" The said one looked up and shrugged. "I'm fine."

His gaze continued to rest on Luka as she turned around to call out for her husband. The said one didn't need too long to enter the living room as well; a bottle of wine in his hands. Oliver took a closer look at him. For the blond, it seemed like the adult was constantly drunk due to his strange way of talking. It was so formal that it intimidated the others at times and even his way of dressing was something that you needed to get used to.

"Oh my, now look who found their way to our home. Yohioloid and Oliver, it's a pleasure to see you again," The man laughed and opened the bottle of wine. He poured himself and his wife a glass each out as he directed the bottle towards Yohio as well.

"Does our cherished young guest wish for a glass of wine as well?"

Yohio chuckled lightly and shook his head, pointing to Oliver right next to him. "I need to bring the little guy over here back home after all."

Oliver acted as if he hadn't heard that comment, but couldn't put his pride aside completely and huffed irritated, averting his face to the window. He constantly got teased because of his age.

"Oh, dear, the situation is really miserable. The epidemic just won't pass and the scientists don't seem to find out much about it either," Luka sighed and closed her eyes in concern. Yohio nodded in agreement.

"That's not much of a surprise for me. As long as nobody of them dares to come here, there is not much that can be changed."

"But they have to grant us a possibility to survive. They just can't let us stay here for eternity," The man with the long, purple hair objected slightly upset. He nudged his wife who looked up at him but understood right away what he meant. She clapped her hands, terribly startling Oliver in the progress, and laughed.

"Excuse my rude behavior. Let us rather eat something than thinking of the situation with such negative thoughts!"