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Ellis smiled warmly as a regular customer of his entered the little auto repair shop. The woman was tall, thin, with bleached blonde hair and brown eyes. And as usual, she had her two daughters in tow with her.

"Hey Ellis!" she greeted warmly. "Is my Dad's car done yet? He sent me and the girls to pick it up."

Ellis stepped out from behind the counter and nodded.

"Sure is Sharon. I'll have Keith bring it around front just as soon as he finishes up the routine wax. He's just about done!" Ellis responded happily. He knelt down onto the level of the young girls, each with pretty curly auburn hair, and bright blue eyes.

"Hey Hannah. Ester. You enjoyin' yer outtin'?" Ellis greeted. They each nodded.

"Yup!" Ester exclaimed. Hannah blushed a little and stepped forward, holding out a dandilion shyly for Ellis. Ellis grinned and looked down at the yellow flower.

"Awe. Didjya go an' pick that for me?" he asked with a little laugh. She nodded and Ellis reached out a greasey hand, careful not to touch the little girl and get her dirty as he did so.

"It's pretty. Thank you Hannah." Ellis said, watching as the shy little girl's face lit up like the fourth of July. Her more rambuncious twin was already running off to pester Dave who was working underneath a near by car. Ellis stood and carefully put the flower in the breast pocket of his jumpsuit. Sharon smiled softly and nodded to him.

"This little place is the best repair shop in all of Savannah." she commented. She looked over at Ester who Dave had come out from under the car to speak with, a genuine warm smile on his face as she pet his fluffy brown beard in fascination.

Ellis chuckled softly.

"Thank ya kindly ma'am. We love havin' ya."

Keith came around from the back, his cap on backwards as usual, some of his messy blonde hair sticking out of the adjustment strap hole as, the rest framing his scruffy face. He smiled warmly at Sharon and Hannah just as Ellis had, cleaning up his hands with a red rag.

"Hey there Sharon. Your dad's car is just about ready to Go. Just need ya to fill out that there paper work and I'll bring it 'round front." Keith said with a smile, pointing to the papers Ellis pulled out from behind the counter. Sharon nodded.

"All right." she said, going over and signing the papers and then handing over her fathers credit card. Ellis quickly swiped the card and completed the transaction before Keith headed back to get the car. Sharon took Hannah by the hand and looked over to Ester to see her still giggling with Dave who was glad to humor her.

"He's so good with the girls..." she said softly, looking at him with a whimsical smile. Ellis nodded.

"Yes ma'am... He really does love 'em... You all would make quite the cute little family..." Ellis said. Sharon blushed and laughed a little, fiddling with the ring on her finger.

"It's only a matter of time." she replied. Ellis nodded.

"I best be gettin' an invite." he said teasingly. Sharon chuckled softly and nodded. The sound of a horn being honked caught their attention and they turned to see Keith in front of the garage, stepping out of the car with a grin.

"She's all yers!" he called. Sharon looked over at Ester.

"Ester! Time to go sweetie!!" she beckoned, waving her daughter over. Dave smiled at Sharon and waved a little himself. Sharon blushed and took Ester's hand as well when her daughter came into reach.

"Bye Ellis." Hannah said softly as her mother lead them to the car. Keith jogged over to Ellis, the sunset coming through the garage door making his hair look a pretty golden color and his green eyes sparkle.

"Quittin' time in five... Wanna go down to the bar and grab a few before headin' home?" Keith asked. Ellis watched as Sharon loaded her daughters into the car, the two little seven year olds both laughing happily. Ellis nodded.

"Yeah. Sounds great." he said, leaning in and pecking Keith's cheek. "Dave closin' up shop tonight?"

Keith nodded.

"Yup. Since it's after all... Our seven year anniversary tomorrow." Keith teased. Ellis rolled his eyes.

"And you say I'm the sensitive one." he teased, punching Keith playfully in the arm. Keith grinned.

"Nah. I'm just lookin' forward to the sex really."

Ellis flushed.

"Yer a pig."

Keith nodded.

"Yes. But I'm yer pig."



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"Man gimme another beer Keith!" Ellis ordered with a laugh and a grin, slinging an arm over his friend's shoulders, a goofy sort of expression over taking his face. Keith chuckled and looked to his friend, watching the young man tilt his head back and polish off his sixth mug of beer. Keith was much calmer when he got drunk than Ellis, but the two of them leveled one another out quite well. It was peaceful moments like this, sitting in a booth in the back of the town bar that just felt like home to Ellis. Keith shook his head.

"Naw El. I think ya'll need to slow down on that drinkin' er' ya'll be so drunk I'll have ta take advantage..." Keith slurred, smiling at Ellis lazily. Ellis blushed a little.

"What if I wantchya to take advantage....?" Ellis offered, leaning in close, about to kiss Keith when the man pulled his head away. Ellis pouted a little.

"Awe c'mon now..." Ellis protested. Keith shook his head, grinning and pointing towards the bathrooms.

"In there." he said in a husky whisper. Ellis beamed, obviously excited and headed off into the bathroom. Keith waited a bit before following after him, going into the bathroom. Ellis yanked Keith into a stall before the other man even had a chance to look for him. Keith found himself pressed against the stall door, Ellis' hungry lips on his own in a heartbeat. He smiled against Ellis' eager mouth, his chin length, dirty blonde hair fell around his face as Ellis took his hat from him and tossed it aside, running his fingers through the soft tresses. Keith melted into Ellis' familiar warmth. No one knew him as well as Ellis did and Ellis felt the same about Keith. They'd spent every moment they could together since childhood. Their mother's had been friends in high school, and so they were too...

It was perfection when they were together. Keith unzipped Ellis' jumpsuit, slipping it off his shoulders, letting it hand around his waist so he could rub his hands against Ellis' chest lovingly, wanting to be closer. His drunken hands were clumsy but fervent and caring none the less. Ellis ran his hands up and down Keith's sides, pressing their pelvises together and rubbing against him hungrily. Keith groaned into his mouth and gripped Ellis' shoulders tightly, his strong hands clinging to him tightly. Suddenly the bathroom door swung open and someone stumbled in, and Ellis broke away from Keith. He frowned at the grunting noises he heard from the man outside the stall. Keith furrowed his brows and pushed Ellis back a bit. Ellis reached down and tied the sleeves of his jumpsuit to hold it up around his waist as he Keith pushed open the stall door. The echoing splat of vomit hitting the floor startled both young men. They looked on as this gooey, dead looking bloody substance spilled from the mouth of a very pale looking man.

"Hey dude, are you okay?" Ellis asked. The guy collapsed seconds later and shuddered violently before he became very still. Ellis ran to the door.

"Hey we need some help in--" he stopped mid sentance as he opened the door, looking to see all but the bar tender had collapsed just as the man in the bathroom had, the disgusting blood everywhere.

"What the hell is this s**t.....?" Ellis asked, fear overtaking his face. There was a long quiet moment before the tender turned and picked up the phone, calling 9-1-1. Keith screamed rather suddenly and Ellis turned to see the man had come back to life and had sunk his teeth into Keith's forearm.

"AH! GET THIS ******** OFF ME!!!" Ellis ran at the man and yanked him back, before bashing his skull against the sink, killing him instantly. Again. Keith groaned loudly and shuddered in pain, looking down at his arm which was now gushing profusely. Ellis looked around frantically before pulling paper towels off the roll and carefully packing them in the wound and then he tore a piece of the dead man's shirt off and used it to bandage Keith up. There was suddenly a loud commotion and the sound of screaming from the bar. Ellis looked back and slowly stood, pushing the door open to see all the formerly dead patrons rushing the bartender, tearing him to shreads. Ellis pulled the door shut.

"Oh s**t. Ooooh s**t.. Oh s**t oh s**t oh s**t...!" Ellis said in a worried tone. Keith looked up at him with wide and fearful eyes.

"There are ********' zombies out there man!" Ellis hissed. "Zombies!!"

Keith bit his lower lip nervously before looking to the window.

"We can climb out that. Run to the shop. Dave'll know what to do..." he rasped, holding onto his injured arm, growing incredibly pale when he heard what Ellis had to say. Ellis nodded and walked over to the window, pushing it open and clambering out before reaching his hand out to help Keith through it. Keith struggled out and then, with Ellis' fingers laced with that of his un injured arm's hand, they ran to the shop as quickly as they could.



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Ellis unlocked the door, quickly getting inside the shop, Keith's breathing was labored and he was getting pale, it made Ellis worry.

"Ellis... Ellis I don't think I can go on man... I need t'... Rest..." Keith panted. Ellis sighed and helped Keith to sit down, gently brushing his fingers over his cheek.

"All right. Rest here. Ima go find Dave... He can't of left yet..." Ellis said softly, before heading into the work area of the garage. Sure enough, Dave was there, loading his shot gun.

"Dave man. What's goin' on...?" Ellis asked warily. Dave looked up at Ellis.

"Haven't you noticed? There's some kinda disease spreadin' through the air. Maybe we didn't get affected. We must be immune 'er somethin'... Don't mean we can't get it... I'm gonna go get Sharon and the kids. Or die tryin'. The government's gonna git involved here soon. An' Lord knows that ain't gonna help nothin'. I'm gittin' them out an' anyone else I kin find an' headin' south. You should do th' same... An'.... Wait a minute... Where's Keith?"

Dave frowned deeply, praying their friend hadn't been infected. Ellis sighed.

"He's restin' in the breakroom... He uh... He's fine." Ellis said, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "We're gonna wait fer rescue I think... Cause he's hurt real bad an'... An' I don't think he can take no more runnin'..."

Dave narrowed his eyes.

"All right Ellis... you know where the guns are. An' there's an emergency health kit under the sink in the break room... Just... be careful..." Dave said quietly. Ellis nodded and let the older man hug him, before he watched him head out through the side door. Ellis set to barricading all the doors, grabbing everything he could to help protect them. The two pistols in the managers office and under the register. The health kit, and a fire ax. He headed into the break room once more and smiled sadly at his weak friend.

"I gotchya some real first aid now Keith. Lessee that bite..." Ellis said, going over and setting the large kit on the table. Keith lifted his arm and set it on the table, letting Ellis remove the shirt strip and the soaked paper towel. The wound looked like it was rotting and smelled like it too. Ellis tried not to make a face but Keith went positively green. Ellis pulled out the alcohol from the kit.

"This is really gonna sting... But I gotta clean that up..." Ellis explained softly as he unscrewed the cap. Keith looked away, holding out his arm and closing his eyes tight.

"Jus' do it man..." he wheezed. Ellis poured the liquid over the wound, ripping a healthy groan from Keith's clenched jaw. Ellis quickly packed the wound with gauze and wrapped it up.

"There. That should heal it up much better." Ellis said weakly, closing the kit and setting it aside. Keith looked at Ellis, shaking his head.

"I ain't gonna make it Ellis... I just ain't..." he said softly. Ellis shook his head.

"Oh hogwash... You'll make it." he scolded lightly, kissing his cheek, though his nervous expression told Keith that he wasn't as confident as he wished he could be.



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The two days that pased went by achingly slow. It was nearly four in the afternoon when Ellis heard something he'd never thought he'd be so relieve to hear. Helicopters. Loudspeaker announcements high above him about Evacuation... Good news... Ellis headed back into the break room from the garage and went to Keith's side. Keith had grown more and more irritable, his skine getting paler and greasy, as if he was starting to go bad like a vegetable left in the sun. He was shaky, his eyes sunken in and dark red rings were growing around them. Their green color was slowly fading away. He looked like he was near death. Ellis however, refused to accept that.

"Keith. They're gonna rescue us. We're gonna gitchyou outta here... An' to a hospital..." Ellis said, a smile coming to his face, tears welling in his eyes. "We're gonna make it out Keith."

Keith shook his head.

"Ellis... I'm... I'm not so sure... I think... I'm gonna be like them... You seen the movies... You get bit you turn into a zombie..." he rasped weakly, his lips cracked and chapped. Ellis shook his head.

"This ain't a movie Keith. C'mon. We're gonna gitchyou some help." Ellis urged, placing a pistol in his hand, helping him to his feet.

"C'mon Keith. We gotta git to the roof of that big ol' hotel near by. One of the choppers'll git us there." he said, taking Keith's free hand and guiding him outside. There were infected scattered everywhere, and Ellis helped Keith weave through and avoid as many as possible, shooting others, trying to conserve what little bullets they had. Keith was unable to help but stumble, his legs aching and his body feeling so cold.

"Ellis... Ellis I'm... I'm not feelin' too hot..." Keith protested, but Ellis was determined. He wouldn't hear it... Not now... He ran passed a nearby park, glancing at what looked like a grave in the dirt there, with rocks marking the headstone. He could only hope he was wrong in thinking so. The thought was despairing. Ellis was trying to keep his spirits up, but a hard frown was set on his features. He knew that their situation was dire. They only had a little time... They had to get there and fast. Keith could hardly get his legs to work the way he wanted and was holding Ellis back. He knew it.

Blood was beginning to rise in his throat but he kept swallowing it down. He knew he was turning... He knew it and it broke his heart. He couldn't help but collapse to his knees.

"Ellis... Ellis... Stop..." he choked, blood finally sputtering from his lips as he coughed. It was sticky and blackening. He hated the thought of this...

"Ellis ya have to shoot me... Now... lemme die with some humanity..." Keith pleaded. Ellis stopped and dropped to his knees in front of Keith.

"No! No Keith you're gonna be fine. C'mon git up!" Ellis urged. Keith shook his head.

"No! Ellis listen to me! Ya know I'm right... Please Ellis... You gotta... If you love me at all ya'll best kill me..." Keith ordered firmly. Ellis fought tears as he stood, looking down at the gun and then looking to Keith, he pointed it shakily at his best friend... His lover... His everything.... He closed his eyes tight, memories of their life together flooding his mind... He couldn't bring himself to pull the trigger...

"I can't Keith... I can't kill you..." Ellis sobbed, breaking down into tears. Keith picked up his own gun, looking at Ellis.

"Well then I gotta..." he replied. "I love you."

"Keith no!"

Keith put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger as Ellis reached for him, his blood spattering onto Ellis shirt and jumpsuit, and his body falling limply to the side. Ellis stood there, stunned for a moment. He couldn't help it. He was in shock. He didn't know what to do... When he saw two people jogging towards him he was pulled from his daze. A young black woman, and an older black gentleman.

"Come on you! If you're not infected you better hurry up and get to the Evac station!" the woman directed. Ellis was pulled from his daze and he nodded, running with them. Not far up the way, they caught up to a man in a suit who began to run with them to the to the hotel. They were all determined to survive....

They had a common goal...

And Ellis had to let the memory of Keith go... For his own sake... And as he ran, he convinced himself that everything was gonna be okay. And he was able to put a smile on...

He was going to survive... He just had to...