Erika's screams echoed through the forest, a raw, heartbreaking sound that seemed to pierce the very fabric of the world around them. She knelt beside Tommy, her hands trembling as she reached out to touch him.
"No, no, no! Tommy, stay with me!" she cried, her voice breaking.
Tommy's face was pale, his eyes fluttering shut as his small body went limp. The sight of him lying there, so still and vulnerable, shattered Erika's heart into a million pieces. She could barely breathe, her chest heaving with sobs.
Jason stood a few feet away, his face a mask of anguish. He wanted to comfort Erika, to tell her that everything would be alright, but he knew better. The bite was deep, and the infection spread quickly. Time was running out.
"Erika," Jason said softly, his voice trembling. "We need to move. We can't stay here."
But Erika didn't hear him. She was lost in her grief, her hands gently stroking Tommy's hair. "Tommy, please wake up. Please," she whispered, tears streaming down her face.
Suddenly, Tommy's body began to twitch violently. His limbs jerked uncontrollably, and a guttural, inhuman sound escaped his lips. Erika recoiled in shock, her eyes wide with terror.
"Tommy!" she screamed, reaching out to him.
Jason lunged forward, grabbing Erika by the shoulders and pulling her back. "No, Erika! You can't go near him!"
"But he's my brother! I have to help him!" Erika sobbed, struggling against Jason's grip.
"He's not your brother anymore," Jason said, his voice filled with sorrow. "He's turning."
Erika's eyes filled with horror as she looked at Tommy. His skin had taken on a sickly, grayish hue, and his eyes were glazed over, devoid of any recognition. He let out another guttural snarl, his movements becoming more erratic.
"No, this can't be happening," Erika whispered, her voice barely audible. "Tommy, please come back to me."
Jason tightened his grip on Erika, his heart breaking at the sight of her pain. "We have to go, Erika. Now."
Erika shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "I can't leave him. I can't."
Jason's eyes filled with tears as he looked at Tommy, the boy who had brought them so much joy and hope in this dark world. But now, he was a danger to them all. They couldn't afford to stay.
"I'm sorry, Erika," Jason said, his voice choked with emotion. "But we have to survive."
Erika's body went limp in Jason's arms, her sobs wracking her entire being. She knew he was right, but the thought of leaving Tommy behind was unbearable.
With a heavy heart, Jason began to pull Erika away from the clearing, his eyes never leaving Tommy's twitching form. The forest seemed to close in around them, the shadows growing darker and more oppressive.
Tommy's transformation was swift and brutal. His small body convulsed violently, bones cracking and reshaping beneath his skin. His fingers twisted into claws, his mouth opening in a silent scream that revealed jagged, monstrous teeth. The child they had known and loved was gone, replaced by a horrifying creature.
Erika broke free from Jason's grasp, her desperation driving her forward. "No! Tommy, no!" she screamed, rushing back to him. She grabbed a nearby stone, her hands shaking uncontrollably. "Please, God, forgive me," she whispered through her sobs.
The creature that had once been Tommy snarled, lunging at her with a feral intensity. Erika's heart shattered as she raised the stone, bringing it down with all her strength. The first impact made a sickening thud, but it wasn't enough. The creature's eyes, void of any recognition, still burned with hunger.
"I'm so sorry," Erika sobbed, her voice breaking. She struck again, and again, each blow tearing her apart inside. Blood splattered across her face, mingling with her tears, but she didn't stop. She couldn't. She had to end it.
Jason watched in horror, his own heart breaking at the sight. He wanted to help, to take away her pain, but he knew this was something she had to do. He stood there, frozen, as Erika continued to strike, her sobs growing louder and more desperate.
Finally, the creature's body went still, the life draining from its eyes. Erika collapsed beside it, the stone slipping from her bloodied hands. She buried her face in her hands, her entire body shaking with uncontrollable sobs.
Jason rushed to her side, pulling her into his arms. "I'm here, Erika. I'm here," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. He kissed her temples, trying to offer some semblance of comfort in the midst of their shared nightmare.
Erika clung to him, her sobs wracking her body. "He was my brother, Jason. He was just a boy," she cried, her voice breaking with grief.
"I know," Jason said softly, his own tears falling freely. "I know."
They stayed like that for what felt like an eternity, holding each other in the midst of their shattered world. The forest around them seemed to close in, the shadows growing darker and more oppressive. But in that moment, all that mattered was the shared grief and the bond that held them together.
Eventually, Erika's sobs began to subside, her body still trembling with the aftershocks of her pain. She looked up at Jason, her eyes red and swollen. "What do we do now?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Jason took a deep breath, his resolve hardening. "We survive," he said, his voice filled with determination. "We keep going, for Tommy. We don't let his death be in vain."
Erika nodded, her grief still raw but a spark of determination igniting within her. "For Tommy," she echoed, her voice steadier.
The forest closed in around them, a suffocating presence that seemed to crush any remaining hope. Erika glanced at Tommy's lifeless form, her heart breaking anew. Each step away from him felt like a betrayal, but she knew they had to keep moving.
Jason led the way, his eyes scanning the dense foliage for any signs of danger. Erika followed closely, her mind replaying the horrific scene over and over. The weight of what she had done pressed down on her, threatening to consume her.
They stumbled upon a small clearing, the moonlight filtering through the trees, casting an eerie glow. Jason stopped, turning to Erika. "We need to rest," he said softly, his voice barely more than a whisper.
Erika nodded, sinking to the ground. Her body felt heavy, as if all the strength had been drained from her. Jason sat beside her, his arm wrapping around her shoulders. She leaned into him, finding some small comfort in his presence.
"Do you think he knew?" Erika asked, her voice trembling. "Do you think he knew it was me?"
Jason's heart ached at the question. He wanted to say something comforting, something that would ease her pain, but he knew the truth would only hurt more. "I don't know," he admitted, his voice filled with sorrow. "But he was suffering. You ended that."
Erika's tears flowed freely, her sobs shaking her entire body. "I killed him, Jason. I killed my own brother."
Jason held her tighter, his own tears falling. "You saved him from something worse. You did what you had to do."
The night seemed endless, the darkness pressing in on them. Erika's grief was a tangible thing, a weight that threatened to crush her. Jason stayed by her side, offering what little comfort he could.
As the first light of dawn broke through the trees, Erika wiped her eyes, her resolve hardening. "We have to keep going," she said, her voice stronger now. "For Tommy."
Jason nodded, helping her to her feet. "For Tommy," he echoed.
They walked on, the memory of Tommy driving them forward. The world was a dark and dangerous place, but they clung to the hope that somewhere, somehow, they would find a way to survive.
With each step, Erika felt a piece of her old self slip away. The world had changed, and so had she. But she would keep going, for Tommy, and for the hope of a better future.
*****