In the End of It All

Torn
Max stood between his two bestest friends in the world. Damien was hastily packing only the necessities, urging his friend to make up his mind. Alex was standing awkwardly by the front door, occasionally giving his boyfriend a pitiful look. It hurt his heart to know that things had come to this.
“Well, Max? What is it?” Damien threw the last item into his duffle bag and slung it over his shoulder. “It’s… not a big deal if you go with him. I… I understand. I do.”
Max pressed his lips and clasped his hands together. “Mm uhh… I… uh…”
The border collie was about to head out to his car, but stopped. “Max… it’s okay.” He set his bag down and looked his best friend in the eyes. “We’ve been through a lot, man. A LOT. I would love, love, to have you by my side when it happens.”
“Yeah.” Max quietly replied.
Dame looked at Alex. “But I know you love him. So go with him. I’ve got Danny. I’m not going to be alone. It’s okay. So don’t feel like you’re abandoning me or somethin’. Okay?”
The rabbit took a long, haggard sigh. Tears formed in his eyes as he pulled Damien into a hug.
“It’ll be okay, Max. I’m okay.” He checked his phone. “I have to go. You know this. We all know this.”
“Yeah… yeah…”
All three of them headed outside. The air was warm and the sun was setting. Alex was holding back his own tears. Seeing his love in such a hard place struck a serious blow to his emotions. He watched as the two exchanged their final words together.
“Goodbye, Max.” He gave him a big hug. “…Thanks for everything.”
“Yeah…” The rabbit sniffled. “You too. Thanks for hanging out with me these past ten years. It’s been fun.”
“Through thick and thin.”
“Yeah, we’ve been through a lot, huh? Didn’t think it’d end like this.”
“Nothing lasts, man. Nothing lasts.” Damien brought him in again. “But… man, do I wish some things did…”
“Yeah…”
Dame gave him a teary eyed look. “But… take care of yourself. Take care of Alex too. Don’t know how much time we have left, but let’s all make sure we just make it count.”
Alex finally spoke up, “Yeah. You’re not going to get another chance to spend time with Danny, after all. They don’t even know you’re coming, what with the internet and cell towers being shut down.”
“That’s why I’m going. It’s only a couple hours’ drive to Red Bluff. I want to be there for them.”
“Then go.” Max said with determination through his tears. “Go. This is your one chance. I’ll be okay.”
Damien smiled, a rare sight from him, but one that was going to stick in Max’s mind for the rest of his life. “Yeah. That’s what I wanna hear.” He checked the time again. “Okay, I really gotta go now. For real this time.”
One last hug from two best friends who’d never see each other again. Even Alex joined in.
One last goodbye, one last wave to each other.

Our Final Rest
Max and Alex arrived at the cemetery. Alex’s dad was already there with his love. Riyad acknowledged the boys with a warm smile. The pangolin always knew how to keep a positive demeanor, even through the toughest times.
“Hello, boys.” He remarked, though with an underlying tone of sadness in his voice.
“Hi, Riyad…” Alex greeted, but trailed off as he really took in the situation.
There, everyone had gathered at his mother’s grave. ‘Dana Tavish’ was carved into the headstone. Even years later, the sight of her resting place disturbed Alex. He took trembling steps and collapsed to his knees. 
Dad comforted him. “I figured this was the best place to… well… you know.”
“Yeah…” Alex stuttered. “Yeah, I get it. It just… hurts. Hurts just… knowing that this is…” He couldn’t finish his sentence before burying his face into his hands.
Max comforted him this time. “It’s okay, Alex. We’re all here.”
“Indeed.” Riyad concurred. “You, me, your father, and your boyfriend. I couldn’t think of a happier place to be for this.”
Dad joined in on the hug. “We’re all here together. Her too.” He looked at his ex-wife’s grave. “I’m sure she’s happy for us, looking down from above.”
Alex wiped some of his tears, “Y-yeah, yeah. Better than doing this alone. A lot better. Wheah…”
“Together.” Max repeated.
“All together.”
“Together…”

A Place To Belong
Kimberly hobbled into her parents’ house, Rusker helping her out. Her freshly broken leg could’ve been a death sentence if he wasn’t there. The leather jacket she wore kept her comfortable, even in his warm air.
“Okay, we’re here, we’re here.” Rusker reassured her. “Uh, Kim’s parents? We made it.”
Dad eagerly came over to greet them, but his heart dropped seeing his daughter limping in. “KIMBERLY!” He shouted and lifted her up and placed her on the couch. “Are you okay? What happened?!”
“Ahh… hey dad.” She winced in pain. “Yeah, I got hit by a car on my way here. Someone was really really eager to get out of here. Geez.”
“Hmph. If things were different, I’d go find them and give ‘em what for.”
Kim giggled, “Yeah, I’m sure you’d actually do that. Ow! Watch that spot.”
“Ahh! Sorry, sorry!” Dad pulled back. “I never went to combat medic training. All I know is some basic field medical techniques.”
They shared a laugh. Rusker was sitting off to the side, watching. Mom came in after hearing Kim’s pain.
“Kimberly! What happened?!”
“I’m fine, mom. I got hit by a car. It hurts, but, ehh. It’s not like we’re leaving here ever again. Plus we don’t have to pay any medical bills, heh…”
Mom laughed nervously, “Yeah... I suppose not. Still, I’m happy you’re here.” She looked around. “Where… where’s Marius? And his dad? You didn’t bring them?”
Kim fell silent. She instinctively tried to tug her necklace, but it was missing. She tugged her shirt collar instead. “Uhm…”
“Oh, unless they wanted to spend their time together. Still, I do wish I could’ve seen them one last time…”
“Yeah,” Dad concurred. “Marius - his dad - was certainly a family friend. I… I was actually saving him a beer in the fridge. Guess I’ll have to drink ‘em myself. Heh…”
The room was silent. Rusker once again was relegated to just watching the Tsosies amongst themselves while he was left to the side. Why was it always like this with him? No one wanted to take him in for their last day. Everyone else had plans with someone else. Kim seemed like she didn’t want to take him too. If it wasn’t for that accident, he surely would be alone right now. It hurt to think of that alternate reality.
“Wait,” Mom asked. “What about Shaz? Where is he? Did he fly back to Brazil?”
Kim coughed, “No, he’s actually spending his day with…. Marius.”
Mom was bewildered. “What? Him? I didn’t think they shared any similarities.”
“It’s… complicated, mom. I’d love to tell you everything, but… well, me and Marius are… Our relationship is… Mmm.” Kim stammered. “Point is, he and Shaz are spending their day together. Bonding, one last time.”
“Hmm, I see. Everything okay between you two?”
“Things are strained right now, mom. But… with what’s going to happen, we figured we should try to make things up. Neither of us wanted these weird feelings to be the last thing we think of each other.” Kim hummed dejectedly. “That’s… that’s why I’m wearing one of Marius’s leather jackets. He gave one to me to remember him when he’s not there. I… I gave him my necklace. Because even though we couldn’t be there for each other, we wanted to have something to remember each other by before it ends.”
Mom almost teared up. She hugged her daughter tightly. “That’s so sweet of you two. I’m sorry you two couldn’t be there for each other.”
“It’s… okay, mom. We made our time last. We spent all of yesterday just making things up and making it count. But he wanted to spend today with Shaz, so that’s what’s happening. I’m happy, they’re happy.”
Dad patted her back. “That’s noble of you. But, what about him?” He pointed at the awkward Rusker sitting in the corner.
“Yeah! Yeah, uh, Rusker was there when that car hit me, so he helped me out. Honestly, I don’t know where else he was going to go, but he’s a friend. Right?”
Rusker finally spoke up, “Yeah, I didn’t have nowhere else. My family’s in Colorado and I ain’t hitchhikin’ my way back; I can tell ya that much. Soooo, I’m just here. Don’t mind me, really. You guys can enjoy yourselves.”
Kali wanted to say something reassuring, but she wasn’t sure what. She just nodded and smiled. The other Tsosies did the same, though dad said he was welcome here, as hollow as those words sounded to Rusker. He didn’t belong anywhere.
It’s a miracle that he was able to find a place to stay. With the cell towers nonfunctional, it was difficult to get everyone together in the first place. If it wasn’t for Kim, he’d probably just be sitting on a park bench or an alley. What a way to go.
“Hey, mutt. Come on. Come sit with us.” Kim patted a spot on the couch. “You’re welcome here, man.”
“Oh… me? Are you sure?”
She rolled her eyes and laughed. “Nah, man. Don’t need to be awkward. Just do it! Come here.”
Tentatively, Rusker got up and shuffled over to the spot offered. Kim surprised him with a shoulder hug. The aussie shepard’s ear perked up.
“You said it yourself, you've never belonged anywhere. No friends, no one to hang out with. But right now? You have your chance. You deserve to feel what you’ve never been able to before.”
Rusker crossed his arms passively “Man, if only I had all this before everything was about to end.”
Kim laughed. “Ahh, pessimist ‘til the end, huh? Come here, mutt. Let’s all stay together.”

Doesn’t Matter Anymore
Xera drove through her empty neighborhood. Most of her old neighbors were hiding inside their homes, evidently. She remembered these streets well. Why did she ever decide to leave? She knew why.
1800 Whitebrick Terrace. Her childhood home. The place she was too good for, apparently. She sighed and got out. Ringing the doorbell, she expected to have the door shut in her face the moment they saw it was her.
“Is this really worth it? I probably wouldn’t forgive me. But… I’d want to be forgiven. I’d want to be, but...”
She waited for a good while. She observed her dead silent neighborhood while she waited. Xera sighed and almost turned around, but heard the door unlocking. Her dad peeked through the crack and observed her.
“Xera? You’re back?” Dad was taken aback.
“D-dad… yeah. Yeah, I am.”
He opened the door wider. “I didn’t expect to see you. No one did.”
“Yeah… I guess that makes sense. I mean, if you don’t want me back, that’s fine. I have someplace I can be. My apartment is… well.”
Dad sighed, “...It’s been a rough couple years between us. Lots of fighting, bickering.”
“I know, dad…” Xera lowered her head. “I know.”
“A-and… well, given what’s going to happen in an hour or so…” He opened the door even wider. “Does… does any of that really matter anymore?”
Xera’s eyes threatened to tear up, but she held herself. “N-no. Not really.” She took a step forward. “C-can I come in?”
She saw her dad smile at her for the first time in years. “Of course you can, Xera. Come in, come in. Welcome home.”
The dragoness timidly made her way inside the large family home. She missed her upper middle class life after having moved out. But she wasn’t here to return to her wealthy life. She was here for her family. To make amends before it was too late.
Mom came out of the kitchen. “Xera…” She looked relieved to see her. “Oh… Xera… I didn’t think I’d ever see you again…”
“M-mom…” She gave her a hug. “I know. I know things have been rough. But…”
A tear threatened once again to drip down from her eye, but she blinked it back. She sighed and sat down at the kitchen table. She took several deep breaths.
“Are you feeling okay, Xera?”
She shook her head. “Mmm. I was… I know how I’ve acted. Too prideful. Too haughty. I didn’t want to listen to anything you had to say. I had my own goals and thought I was going to do them, without your help. I…”
It was getting harder to resist crying. She dug her hands through her hair and removed her glasses.
“I’m sorry, o-okay? I’m a mean girl. I’m not nice to people. I’m not nice to… you. You guys gave me everything. I took it all for granted. Your support, your love. I threw it all away because I felt like I knew better.”
Xera planted her face in her arms on the table. She was definitely crying now. For the first time in several years, she cried openly. Her sniffling and shaking made it hard to talk.
“I should’ve listened. I should’ve just… swallowed my pride and just… did better. I work at a gas station, for god’s sake! I live in a cheap apartment! All my friends moved away! I…”
The dragoness’s state devolved into outright bawling as she got it all out. Mom came and comforted her. Dad, too, came over and gave her a reassuring rub on the back.
“There, there. It’s okay, Xera.”
“It’s… It’s NOT OKAY!” She cried. “We’re at the end of it all and only now I’m making up for it all? Now? When it doesn’t even matter anymore?! I’m a horrible person! A horrible daughter!”
“Xera, Xera, no…” Mom spoke. “It’s okay. We understand what you’re doing, coming here.”
“You… you do?”
“Xera, if you didn’t care, you wouldn’t be here right now. You wouldn’t be here apologizing and letting it all out a-and…” Mom was starting to cry too. “It- It means so much that you wanted to make sure we knew you were sorry right before the end. It really does.”
“Y-yeah… I…” He sniffled. “I’m sorry, mom. I’m sorry, dad. For all the vile comments. For the snarky attitude. For… I’m sorry…”
Xera dug herself into her mother’s shoulder and let it all out. Dad hugged her from the side. The family stayed that way for a good long while.

Far  Away
Damien drove extremely dangerously through traffic. He had to hurry to Danny’s side. The radio in his car was transmitting that same EAS message, but he completely tuned it out; it was all stuff he already knew anyway. Not that any of their advice mattered. It was all over.
He managed to find Danny’s rural trailer home just outside of town. Red Bluff was a pretty small place, luckily. A lot smaller than Farmington. He noticed that neither of Danny’s parents’ cars were parked out front. Why wouldn’t they be home for this? He got out quickly and knocked on the door.
“Danny? Dan! You here?!”
Finding the door unlocked, Damien peeked inside. 
He heard Danny’s voice coming from down the hall. “Dame! Hey! I’m in my room.”
Feeling relieved, he slammed the door shut and hurried to their side. Looking as chillax as ever, was Danny, sitting back in their bed.
“Hey, dude.”
“Danny… I should’ve known you’d be nonchalant about all this. That’s so you.”
They shrugged, “Hey, it is what it is. No need getting worked up about it, ya know? Especially when I know you’re here with me.”
Damien managed a chuckle, “Heh, y-yeah I guess that makes sense. I wish I had your mellowness.” 
“Yep yep! Heh.”
“Wait… how did you know I was actually coming? I mean, sure, we mentioned it before the internet went out, but you were really that confident I’d show up?”
They giggled, “I couldn’t be sure. I still had my parents, so I knew I wasn’t going to die alone.”
“Y-yeah, but, uhm…” He looked away. “Where… where are your parents?”
Danny’s laid back attitude dropped. “Uhm… I…” They shifted uncomfortably in their spot. “They said they had to do something. A friend - a good friend they’d known since high school - that they wanted to pick up. They said they’d be back…”
“Oh…” Damien’s heart sank. He looked out the window, at the dirt road that led here. Nothing. “How long ago..?”
“I… I don’t remember. A couple hours ago?” They rubbed their hands together. “I mean, surely there’s a good reason, right?
“Um… I… dunno.” He laid down next to them. “You… gonna be okay?”
Danny took a long time to respond. “I don’t know. I mean, they’ll get back whenever they do. No need to worry about it, r-right?” They tried to ease the tension with a chuckle.
It did little to actually fix anything, however. Damien and Danny shared an awkward moment. They laid down together, just staring up at the ceiling. Nothing but silence.
“What…” Danny broke the ice. “What are you thinking about now?”
“...I don’t know. Just.” He turned on his side. “What if they don’t come back? Before it’s…”
“...” Danny whimpered and palmed their face. A sigh. “Mannn…”
Damien pressed his lips. “S-sorry, Dan. I didn’t mean to ruin this for us.”
“Yeah… it’s… it’s okay.” They looked at him. “I have you, don’t I? I’m not gonna die alone.”
They exchanged chuckles again, this time it actually helped the mood. Danny kissed him. Damien hugged back, gently, so as not to break their bones. Danny decided to play some music. Some classic 70’s hits, as much as Damien disliked that genre. But he didn’t care. It was their favorite. And to be honest, it wasn’t that bad.

Closer Than You Think
Karina and Sage found themselves together at her house. The exhaustion and worry was evident in their eyes. They had sat silently ever since Sage showed up. Nothing to say, really. Sage didn’t have anyone to go back to, and Karina’s boyfriend broke up with her only a few months ago. All they had left was each other.
But there was someone missing. Their mutual friend; Karina’s brother, Sage’s best friend. It felt empty without the malamute. It hurt even more knowing they couldn’t even get their goodbyes in before the end.
“What if…” Sage started.
“Don’t even.” Karina said sternly. “He’s okay. I can feel it.” She held her hands close to her chest.
Sage looked down sadly, and Karina put a hand on his shoulder, a sad smile on her face.
“I wish we could be with him too. If I knew all this was going to happen, I would’ve booked tickets to the US for the both of us. Spend all our money, because it’s not like we’re going to take it with us when we go.”
This only made Sage sadder. He whined and laid his head on the table. “Mmm…”
“Hey,” She reassured, “It’s okay though. He’s still here, in our hearts. That’s what he said before he left, right? No matter where we are, no matter what situation, he’d always be here in our hearts.”
“Mm heh…” Sage fought back tears. “Yeah… yeah…”
“And I think… he’d want us to spend our last moments being happy. Not moping or being sad. Happy.”
Karina opened her arms to offer a hug. Sage pondered for a moment. His mouth quivered and he eagerly accepted the hug. The closest thing he’d get to hugging Shaz right now.

Stay Close To Those You Love
Marius and Shaz sat in the middle of the desert outside Kim’s house, alone. Almost alone. Marius’s dad was there, but he sat off to the side. Dad wanted to be here with his son. They did share a moment together, but his son expressed that it was important that he wanted his time with Shaz. As much as it pained Dad, he allowed it. He allowed it because he wanted his son’s last memories to be happy.
Their setup was very basic. Just enough stuff Marius could gather during the looting. A card table and three lawn chairs, one for everyone. A liter of Prof. Pepper, a thing of Strange Orange soda. Marius brought his sketchbook to doodle on while they waited. Shaz typed away on his laptop.
“How’s it comin’, Shaz?” He asked, taking a drink.
“It’s… almost done!” He cheered.
“That’s good.” 
Marius dangled Kimberly’s necklace in front of him. He stared at it for a long while. It really hurt not having her here. In hindsight, maybe they didn’t have to hang out in the middle of the desert. The Tsosie’s backyard would’ve worked just fine, actually. Well… shoot.
It didn’t matter now. They said their goodbyes. She has one of his leather jackets, he has her necklace. They both have a piece of each other to remember each other by; a memento to keep close before the end. He gripped the edgy jewelry tightly and closely.
Across the table was a pin belonging to Shaz. Or at least, a pin that used to belong to him. ‘My bf is an otter’, it read. A gift from Alex when they first moved in together. Shaz wore it every day back then. Now? Alex had returned it to him to make up for everything in the past. Neither of them wanted their last memories of each other to be negative.
Marius wore a pin too. A purple pin with a pink heart. He knew this one well, because it belonged to Shaz. He decided to give it to him to express his affection toward him during their last moments. It was originally a gift from his ex, Sage, while they were dating, and now it’s a gift to him. Marius kept it pinned on his jacket collar.
“I think… Oh… I think…!” Shaz tapped the last few keys purposely. “Okay!! I… I think it’s finished!”
He turned the laptop around, revealing the .txt document he was working on. A fanfiction, but not any old one. A story he’s had the idea for for years. One he’s always been meaning to get around to. One that he worked on on/off again and again. But now, at their darkest hour, he finally finished it. He wanted to finally have closure on it. And right now, he just finished the last paragraph.
Marius read through the final chapter. He had already read the whole thing over the past few months as Shaz worked overtime to get it done. It was now or never, after all. Marius didn’t fully understand it. In fact, he was completely unfamiliar with the universe that he was basing on entirely. Kingdom Spades? Eden’s First Darkness? He forgot; Shaz played a lot of games he wasn’t into.
“It’s pretty good, Shaz.” Marius nodded. “It’s… actually amazing, really. You really have talent.”
Shaz wagged his tail as the praise. “Oh, thank you! I worked really hard, as you’ve seen!”
“Yep. Anytime, bud.” He took a drink. “So, five years, huh?”
“Yeah. I first got the idea for this story while living with Alex. He helped me with a lot of the details. I gave him a spot in the credits. See? Next to you!”
“I saw that, heh.” 
Marius showed him a couple of his doodles. He hated that he just wasn’t in the drawing headspace right now. Feeling unmotivated. If this is going to be the last thing he ever draws, it should count. But all he’s gotten out are things he’d draw in the margins on a math test.
“Man, I brought my charcoal pencils and everything. I just don’t know what to draw.”
“It’s okay, Mari! I still love what you make.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you do. Still. If it’s going to be my last, I want something substantial. You know?”
“Yeaaaahhh…”
Marius stared at the horizon. He expected it any minute now. He kicked his foot in the dirt idly.
“Anything you want to say before…?”
“Hmm? What do you mean?”
He shrugged. “I dunno. Secrets? Regrets? Confessions?”
“Uhm… I like you?”
“Heh, yeah, I already know that.”
“Well… I dunno! You pretty much know everything about my thoughts! What about you?”
“Me? Well.” He eyed Kim’s necklace again and sighed. “Man. I just wish I was a better person. Wish it didn’t have to end the way it did with Kim.”
“Well… you guys made up, didn’t you? You guys spent all of last night together.”
“Yeah, yeah, we did. But I just mean in general. I was a pretty bad person overall. Especially to you.” He coughed. “S-sorry, again, Shaz. I am.”
“It’s okay, Mari. I forgive you.”
“Heh, yeah. Not much room to hold grudges now anymore, huh? But… we don’t want those weird feelings to be the last things we ever think of each other. I didn’t want me and Kim’s relationship to be soured and that was the last we ever saw each other. Nope. I wanted to make sure things were fixed before the end. Just like you and Alex.”
Shaz picked up his otter pin and examined it. “Yeah. If it's all over, then we should set aside our grudges and make up for things.”
“I’ll drink to that.” Marius held up his red cup of orange soda and nodded. 
Shaz mirrored it. “To friendship.”
“To friendship.”
Dad watched his son in his happiest moment. He so desperately wished he could be there, together. But this is what he wanted, and he wasn’t about to deny him that. If he wanted to spend the last moments with his best friend, so be it. Dad had always been a loner all his life. Alone through his life, and alone in the end, it seemed. At least he gave him his very last hug and told him he loved him. It was the best he could do.
Just then, a bright light shot up over the horizon. Blindingly bright.  It had begun. They looked away from the orange glare, lest they blind themselves. The ground shook and the sky turned red. Only seconds now.
Marius took a drink and thought out loud. “I wonder what everyone’s doing right now…”
Max, Alex, Dad, and Riyad were all huddled around Dana grave in a big group hug.
Kim, Dad, and Mom were also simply sitting in a hug, waiting for the end. Rusker sat next to them, leaning against Kim.
Xera was still crying into her parent’s shoulders, apologizing again and again for everything that happened.
Damien and Danny were sharing earbuds, listening to her favorite 70’s song.
Sage and Karina were huddled together, having no one left.
Shaz and Marius shared a smile and a giggle. Tears streamed down their eyes. Marius took a sip from his orange soda and toasted.
“Been nice knowin’ ya, Shaz. Thanks for being my friend. Even if I was a jerk at first. Love ya, bud.”
“Me too, Mar–”

And then there was nothing.