We Are All Strangers Read Online Free Page A

noticeable.”
    “It’s spreading,” I whisper, backing away from Keegan.
    “Yes,” he sighs. “Harper, I didn’t mean to worry you. I’m not like them . Not yet. I brought you up here because I wanted to spend my last few hours of humanity feeling as those they meant something. I wanted to remember what it was like to live before the outbreak.”
    I should be screaming for help. My instincts are telling me to run, to crawl back inside. But I can’t. I can’t find it in me to leave him alone. I understand what it feels like to want to hang onto your life. I know what it feels like to want to live. And that is enough to keep me here beside him.
    “Keegan.” I stretch my hand out for him to grab onto. “I don’t know you. I don’t know who you were before this all happened. The fact is I don’t know much besides your name, but I do know what it’s like to crave life. I know what it feels like to want to live again. This place,” I gesture towards the building. “This isn’t life.”
    “Will you stay with me then?” he asks. “Until I change?”
    “Yes.”
    He grabs a hold of my hand and pulls my body against his. “Thank you,” he whispers. I can hear his heart pounding against my ear as the disease seeps into his bloodstream. I know that the longer I stay near him, the more danger I will be in. But I can’t find it in myself to care. I want to remember what it is like to be human, to feel.
    When he releases me, I pull him down to the floor and lean back against the wall. His skin is changing from pale white to gray, darkening with every passing minute. He presses his head against my shoulder and sighs. “Can I ask you something?”
    “Depends,” I joke.
    “Given they’ll probably kill me in a few hours...”
    “Let me guess, you’re trying to ask if I would kiss you?”
    “Something like that.” He shrugs and then breaks into a laughing fit. “Yes.”
    I lean down and brush my hair behind my ear. The arrogance I’d become used to Keegan displaying had now faded; it had been replaced by a nervous boy.
    I press my lips against his, allowing the warmth to flow throughout my body. I pull away, confused by the feeling taking over me. I want to stay here in this moment for as long as possible, even though I know this will all be taken from me shortly. I want this. I want him. I want to press my lips against Keegan’s again and never stop.
    He reminds me of the warmth I’ve been craving. And now that I have it, I don’t want to let it go.
    “What is it?” he asks.
    I don’t say a word. I lean down and press my lips against his again. At first he is hesitant, unsure of what I am doing, but soon after he presses back just as hard. Each movement, each breath, makes me quiver. When I finally pull away, Keegan just stares at me. “Well, that was more than I thought I’d get out of you.”
    “Yeah, about that...” I laugh, trying to compose myself. “I’ve been alone for a while, unable to even so much speak to another person. Then you came along, and everything I’ve been craving, you’ve made a reality.”
    “Don’t get all lovey-dovey on me, Harper.” He winks at me, pulling himself into a sitting position, entwining his fingers in with mine. “After all, I hardly know you.”
    “Love? Yeah, no...more like lust.”
    “Well now, I can deal with that.”
    “Glad to hear that.” I lean over and rest my head on his shoulder. His skin is beginning to darken; he looks as though he is covered in ash now. As long as my brains remain intact, I don’t mind. He has managed to give me everything that I’ve desired since my parents both died. He has given me my sense of humanity back.
    “What do you think they’ll do when they find us up here?” I ask.
    “Chances are they’ll shoot me, and you...well, they’ll probably feed you to the other zombies.” He nudges me in my side and smiles. “I’m glad I met you, Harper.”
    “Me too.” I lower my face; avoiding meeting his gaze.