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4C thought a lot of things were strange. He swore the world wasn’t always like this.
It couldn’t be, after all. All the overgrown moss and trees on the ground, vines slithering up the walls and reaching towards the tops of the tallest skyscrapers. There was no way the world was always like this, so bleak and quiet, empty and rundown, rotting and dystopian.
It was a shame, because 4C couldn’t even remember how it used to be. Sometimes, he’d recall a few things; vague, fleeting memories that were covered behind a thick and foggy layer of frosted glass. He could never truly grasp onto those memories, and either way, he wasn’t sure if any of them came before or after the supposed fall of society.
He swore he didn’t have that bad of a memory, though. 4C remembered a lot of things. He remembered Spidey’s name, he knew where the rollercoaster was, he remembered he liked… ice cream, and bridges, and statues, and that rollercoaster, and…
…A lot of other things. Of course.
But it was fine, it didn’t matter what 4C remembered or didn’t. Because right now, he sat atop the roof of a rickety old wooden building he couldn’t recall the exact name of. The shimmering light of the sun filtered through the gaps between the skyscrapers and buildings, warm rays shining upon him like a spotlight. 4C didn’t know how or when he got up here, but now that he thought about it a bit more…
Hey, that was another thing he knew! 4C liked the sunrise. It was so nice to watch such a beautiful view despite its normalcy, something that occurred each and every day. It was breathtaking, and 4C swore he could watch it over and over and over again. He didn’t know why he hadn’t thought of watching the sunrise like this sooner, it was so calming!
The man kicked his feet back and forth as they hung over the edge of the roof, heels thudding lightly against the wood. It felt scarily unstable at times, but 4C was sure he’d be fine. He wouldn’t fall– he’d never fallen off anything in his life! He wasn’t about to break that record now. He’d still make sure to be careful, especially when climbing down.
Speaking of… which was was down? 4C glanced behind him, brows furrowed as he scanned the empty roof for any spot to climb down from. Weird, he swore there was a way down. It would probably be the same way where he came from, right? How did he get up here again…
…It was whatever. 4C shrugged, looking back at the bright sunrise. He’d worry about that when it came.
The sunrise was so nice and calming. The start of a brand new day, wrapped in a shining yellow light and a faint warm breeze. It was breathtaking, and 4C swore he could watch it over and over and over again. He didn’t know why he hadn’t thought of watching the sunrise like this sooner, it was so calming! He should really do this again sometime.
Below him, he heard a faint voice call out, but 4C payed no mind. He rubbed his arm, taking his eyes off of the sun to focus on the city itself. The light reflected across panes of glass enveloping the skyscrapers, burning his eyes and forcing him to look away. The trees were large and overgrown, vines crawling across streets filled with cars and towers filled with glass that reflected the sunlight and burned his eyes, forcing him to look away, streetlights and telephone poles that had long since been left out of use. 4C wondered what it would take to get them working again.
A few creatures roamed across the streets, skin green and blemished and rotting, jaws hung open and drool dripping from the corners of their mouths as they dragged each foot forwards, steps slow and sluggish. 4C didn’t know what they were, but they looked like something he didn’t want to interact with. He ripped his eyes away, instead admiring the tall buildings. The glass reflected the sunlight, burning his eyes and forcing him to look away.
A voice called out, less muffled. He heard the creaking of wood and a sharp huff, before a girl appeared in the peripherals of his vision. She sat down beside 4C, looking at him with a bright smile.
“I thought I’d find you here again!” She piped up, kicking her legs back and forth just as he had. “You’re watching the sunrise again! You should’ve told me earlier, 4C, I wanted to join you!”
Again? 4C?
The boy paused, mind blank as he stared at the girl in front of him with his lips slightly parted. Who was—
“It’s me, Spidey!” As if reading his mind, the girl chirped once more. A bell rang in his head, something familiar, something he remembered—
Spidey. Spidey, Spidey…
“I know you.” 4C blurted out.
“You do!” Spidey nodded, “We’re best friends! And we rode a rollercoaster together, remember?”
4C hummed, nodding in return. “Yeah,” He replied, “I do. We’re friends.”
He paused, “Do you wanna watch the sunrise with me?”
Spidey pat his shoulder, “Of course I do! It’s so pretty, isn’t it?”
“It is.” 4C agreed. “I love the sunrise.”
“That makes two of us!” Spidey chimed. She leaned back, hands planted on the wooden planks behind her. She inhaled slowly, letting the fresh air of the quiet morning fill her lungs. In spite of all the ruin, it was strangely calm.
The end of the world was much quieter than anyone had expected. Although, it wasn’t an end, it was more of a new beginning. New memories, new city, new friends, new goals and opportunities.
There were a lot of people here in the church, Spidey thought to herself. And even more in the city. There was a scientist, and she knew Johnathan (name still pending, he still refused to tell her his real name which was quite the shame) had tons of notes on the infected as well, so maybe they would find a cure!
Spidey wouldn’t mind looking for a cure with the others. She was sure it’d be an amazing adventure, and when they found it, they’d be heroes! They could heal the zombies and save the world. To think that they had the opportunity to save the world…
Ah. Speaking of cures, Spidey wondered if there was a cure for 4C’s memory. For now, they were making do with all the signs on the church (she wouldn’t ever forget how the very first messages he wrote mentioned her being his friend, that was so sweet), but there were only so much of them. They really should get a journal or something for him to write in soon.
Now that she thought about it, they should ask the doctor about it as well. He’d probably know something about it, right? She knew that something like this was likely a medical thing, but Spidey herself didn’t know much about it, so surely a doctor would have more knowledge.
She turned back at 4C, who coughed and cleared his throat before looking back up at the sky. An empty canvas of the unknown, a gradient of blue layered with light yellows, warm oranges and even specks of vibrant red outlining the thin cotton balls stretched out across the atmosphere itself.
“The sunrise is really pretty,” Spidey breathed out, sighing contently.
4C nodded in agreement, looking away from the glass of the skyscrapers. The panes reflected the bright light and burned his eyes. “It is. I love the sunrise.”
Spidey snickered. He’d said that already.
“Hey,” She nudged the boy beside him. “Next time when you come up here, wake me up too, okay? We’ll go together. Can you remember that?”
“Of course I can!” 4C replied confidently. “I have a really good memory.”
“Okay~!” Spidey turned away. She knew he’d forget anyway. She just liked saying it. This was, what, the fifth time?
But it was okay. Getting to watch the sunrise like this with her best friend was always amazing. She’d do it again and again, remind him again and again, no matter how many times he forgot. They were best friends, after all– what sort of friends didn’t look out for each other?
From the corner of her eye, 4C coughed again, rubbing his arm.