They could hear them. And that alone scared both men to the point tears threatened the edges of their eyes. West normally functioned well under pressure, but this… This was too much. Swallowing with a tight throat, West moved closer to Reno.

“Hold me, Rere,” he said in a choked up, wavering voice. The twenty-two-year-old would normally have never said anything like this. But he knew this would be it.

Reno complied, pulling the smaller, lankier male into a kind of hug. West returned the favor tearfully. “This is it, friend,” Reno said quietly. West nodded slowly, flinching as another undead freak slammed into the feeble wooden door.

“Bros ’till the end, Reno?”

“Bros ’till the end man.”

Sniffing, West drew the pistol from his hip. Giving a shuttering breath, he clicked his last bullet into place.

“Then let’s do this. I won’t let you turn.” There was a pause, and both men stared at each other through teary eyes, silent.

“Because you’re better than that.”