Endless Night: Day Ten (Alli Hohshen)

Alli was furious. Who did Artemis think he was? King George? "Ha!" Alli said aloud. Who was it that saved him from the horde at the yellow house? Alli. And who held off the infected for Artemis while the others escaped at the barn, long ago? Once again, Alli. Multiple other instances of Alli's rescuing raced through her mind. Alli saw the ice cream stand. She suddenly got too choked up to order anything, and sat on the sidewalk. She looked down the street, but there was no sign of Artemis. Suddenly, an ice cream sandwich, still wrapped, fell into her lap. Alli looked up, but Artemis was already too far down the street for her to thank him. She stood up, and quickly devoured the ice cream sandwich. Alli wanted to thank him, but she couldn't form the words. To hell with planning, she thought as she approached Artemis. She stammered aloud, "I'm sorry! I, I just..." Artemis turned around, and spoke in a 'f**k-you' tone, "Oh, it's you." Alli wanted to smack him, but she kept going, and regretted instantly what she said. "I-I've got an extra room at my place, if you need one." Artemis nodded, muttered thanks and Alli tossed him a notepad with the address on it. Artemis read it. Alli told him, "Just be sure to be there at 6:00 PM. That's the curfew for here. Artemis looked at Alli like she had two heads, and said, "A curfew? Are you kidding me? My god..." Artemis mumbled something and kept going down the street. He turned his head back once and smiled, and then, just then, did Alli think she had the real Artemis back. She thought some more, and came to her apartment door. Any relationship you thought you had is over, idiot! There's no way you can fall in love with someone like him! He's... He's... Different. Alli had an intense debate in her head. She knew Artemis was different, and she knew the relationship she thought she could have with him was over. But why did she still feel so strongly for him? Alli thought her head would split with all of this, but she just fell over onto her bed once she got into her apartment. She laughed. Apartments in a world like this. And Steve Jobs is my father! Alli thought. A utopia like this won't last. She felt it in her gut. Just when would the place go to Hell, not how. Alli knew the zombies would overtake it eventually. The question gnawing at her was when. Tomorrow? Three months from now? Five minutes from now? Thirty seconds from now? She looked at the clock on the bed table. 5:59. Geez! It's practically 6:00! Where was... The door opened. Artemis appeared in the doorway. Alli bolted to sit up, and Artemis asked, "So the other bedroom is this?" He gestured towards the other room, and Alli nodded. Artemis smiled, and Alli jumped up before he left. "Art." Artemis flinched at his most hated nickname. Artemis said, "Yeah?" Alli felt her face turning pink. "Um..." Artemis stood there, looking puzzled. "Do..." Alli's throat. Alli couldn't stand it anymore. She stood up, and fell into Artemis' arms. Artemis gave a 'What the hell?!' face, as Alli wrapped her arms around him and started bawling into his jacket. Alli spoke in a choked voice, "I'm sorry... I'm a coward." Artemis sat on the carpet, and Alli fell into his lap. He ran his fingers through her hair. "Hey... Who's saying that? Your the bravest person I've ever met." Alli nodded, tears still streaming down her face. "B-But... I can f-fight zombies b-but I can't s-say that I... That I l-love you when it matters m-most." Alli stammered, and Artemis suddenly understood why it was hard for Alli to say what she said. Artemis moved away the dyed black and purple hair covering the left side of her face. Artemis let her cry into his jacket, slowly rocking back and forth, the hair covering his scars swishing with his gentle rocking. Slowly, Alli's breathing become regular and deep. Artemis knew she was asleep. He picked her up and set her on her bed. He sighed, and spoke in a scratchy, tired voice: "Night, Alli. Heh, who knew." Artemis left the room, just as the sun went down.