Surviving the Apocalypse With My Yandere Ex-Girlfriend

Chapter 210: What’s chosen, is chosen

Aubrey wiped at her eyes for what felt like the hundredth time.

She wasn’t even sure how long they’d been sitting there anymore.

Minutes.

Hours.

It all blurred together.

The ache in her chest hadn’t changed. If anything, it had settled deeper. Become heavier. The kind of hurt that sat behind your ribs and refused to move no matter how many tears you cried.

At least the crying itself had slowed.

Mostly.

A shaky sound escaped her throat as she dragged the heel of her palm across her face.

Beside her, Isabella remained silent.

Patient.

Steady.

One hand rested against Aubrey’s thigh, rubbing slow circles through the fabric of her jeans.

No words had been exchanged since Isabella pulled her away from everyone else.

There hadn’t been a need for them.

After everything that happened with Lila.

After seeing Adrian’s face bleeding.

After watching Terri nearly break apart in front of everyone.

After realizing they had to leave Maine tomorrow.

They were exhausted.

Emotionally.

Physically.

Spiritually.

Just exhausted.

Normally, silence between them was easy.

Comfortable.

Something warm.

Tonight it felt different.

Heavier.

Isabella found herself studying Aubrey’s face.

Searching for something.

Anything.

Some sign that she was starting to feel better.

But Aubrey just kept wiping away tears that refused to stop appearing.

Isabella had seen Aubrey angry.

Seen her scared.

Seen her frustrated.

Seen her laugh so hard she nearly fell out of a chair.

But this?

This was different.

Aubrey looked genuinely heartbroken.

And that scared her.

Several moments passed.

Then several more.

Finally Isabella broke.

"Aubrey..."

Aubrey sniffled.

Without a word, she leaned sideways until her head rested against Isabella’s shoulder.

Isabella immediately wrapped an arm around her.

Pulling her closer.

Holding her tighter.

"...he was just so willing, you know?"

The words came out small.

Raw.

Isabella looked down at her.

"To just abandon me like that..."

Something twisted inside Isabella’s chest.

Me?

Not us.

...Me.

She tried not to think about it.

Tried.

"I mean...he does it all the—"

She hiccuped.

"All the fucking time..."

Aubrey’s voice cracked.

"It’s like he’s so willing to be with that psycho instead of people who actually give a shit about him."

Isabella rested her cheek against Aubrey’s head.

"I know, Aubrey."

Her fingers found Aubrey’s hand.

Held it.

"I know."

The room fell quiet again.

Five more minutes passed.

Maybe longer.

Neither of them moved.

Neither of them spoke.

Then Isabella finally asked the question she’d been sitting on for weeks.

"Hey, Aubrey?"

A quiet hum answered her.

"Yeah, what is it, Izzy?"

Isabella swallowed.

Hard.

Her thumb continued rubbing the back of Aubrey’s hand.

Trying to calm herself.

Trying to convince herself not to ask.

But she did anyway.

"I just want you to be honest with me."

That got Aubrey’s attention.

She lifted her head.

The concern on her face was immediate.

"What’s wrong?"

Isabella took a breath.

Then another.

Then finally forced the words out.

"Do you still like Adrian?"

Silence.

The air changed instantly.

Aubrey sat up straight.

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

Isabella immediately regretted it.

Not because she didn’t want an answer.

Because she knew exactly how bad the question sounded.

But it was too late now.

The words were already out there.

"You heard me."

"No, seriously, what the fuck are you talking about?"

"I just—"

"No."

Aubrey pointed at her.

"No. Explain."

Isabella rubbed her forehead.

"Sometimes the way you look at him—"

"Oh my God."

"The way you react whenever Lila does something—"

"Oh my God, Isabella."

"And what you said just now."

Aubrey stared.

"What?"

"’Abandon me.’"

Aubrey blinked.

Then laughed.

A short disbelieving laugh.

"You cannot be serious."

"You could’ve said us."

"So fucking what?"

"You could have."

Aubrey threw both hands into the air.

"Now my fucking wording is a problem?"

"I’m saying it sounded weird."

"It sounded weird?"

"Yes."

Aubrey scoffed.

"He’s my friend."

"Your ex."

"My friend."

"Your ex."

"Jesus Christ."

Aubrey stood up.

Immediately pacing.

"I can’t believe we’re having this conversation."

Isabella stood too.

"Then tell me I’m wrong."

"I am telling you you’re wrong!"

The frustration in Aubrey’s voice bounced off the walls.

"You keep saying I look at him a certain way. How the fuck am I supposed to look at him?"

She gestured wildly.

"His ’girlfriend’ is fucking infected!!!"

Another gesture.

"She’s unstable."

Another.

"She literally clawed his face open."

Another.

"She’s one bad day away from killing somebody."

Her voice cracked.

"So yeah. Forgive me, maybe I look fucking concerned."

Silence followed.

Heavy.

Uncomfortable.

The sounds of the night outside seemed louder now.

Like even the world was listening.

Eventually Isabella spoke again.

"If that’s who he chose..."

Her voice was quieter now.

"...then that’s who he chose."

For the briefest moment, something ugly flashed across Aubrey’s face.

Something bitter.

Something angry.

Gone almost immediately.

But Isabella saw it.

And that made everything worse.

Aubrey turned away.

Dragging both hands through her hair.

"We are seriously not doing this."

"I’m not trying to do anything."

"You literally brought it up."

"Because you’ve been acting weird!"

"And you’re making it weirder!"

Aubrey spun around.

Eyes shining.

Face red.

"You know what? I can’t even look at you right now."

The words landed harder than either of them expected.

Isabella physically flinched.

But she pushed through it.

"Look."

Her voice softened.

"All I wanted was reassurance."

Aubrey stared.

"That my girlfriend isn’t still obsessed with her ex-boyfriend."

The expression on Aubrey’s face changed immediately.

Shock.

Then anger.

Then hurt.

Deep hurt.

"Obsessed?"

She laughed once.

Cold.

"Why the fuck would I be obsessed with Adrian?"

"I don’t know."

"Then maybe don’t accuse me of it."

"I wasn’t accusing—"

"Fuck you, Isabella."

The words came out flat.

Sharp.

Final.

Then Aubrey walked away.

"Aubrey—"

No response.

"Aubrey, wait."

The door opened.

Then slammed shut.

And Isabella was left standing there.

Alone.

With guilt settling into her stomach like a stone.

—

In the other room, water dripped somewhere in the darkness.

Slow. Irregular.

The boarded windows let thin streaks of wind slip through the cracks, cutting the room into cold pieces.

I lay still, staring at the ceiling.

Lila was beside me, turned slightly on her side, one hand buried in my hair. She moved slowly, absentmindedly, threading strands through her fingers, letting them fall, then repeating the motion again like she was memorizing it.

"Mm," she hummed softly, just watching me.

I did not respond.

"You know what I miss about being alone with you?" she asked after a moment.

I turned my head slightly.

She brushed a strand of hair from my face.

I frowned.

She smiled faintly.

"Showing how much I love every part of you without any rats eavesdropping on us." she said, tilting her head toward the door.

I looked at the door.

There was nothing there.

When I looked back, she was still smiling.

"You’re being weird, Lila."

"But you like this kind of weird, don’t you?"

I did not answer.

She leaned in and kissed my neck.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

"Mmm... come on. Tell me you do."

Something about her felt off.

Not emotionally.

Physically.

Warm.

Too warm.

I reached up and pressed my hand against her forehead.

She blinked.

"...do you have a fever?"

For a moment she just stared at me.

Then she smiled.

"Awwwww. You’re so adorable, Adrian."

"I’m serious, Lila."

"So am I."

Her hand came up to my face, holding it gently.

"To answer your question, sweetie—...no...no I don’t have a fever."

I simply looked at her then.

Those words didn’t seem convincing to me. Not convincing enough.

My intuition told me that it had something to do with how weird she’d been acting.

And I guess—...she picked up on the shift in my eyes quicker than I expected. My realization.

Enough for her to say—

"I’m just so hot from how... horny you’ve got me."

I froze.

My face burned instantly.

I knew that wasn’t true...it couldn’t be. But still...her honeyed words were enough to distract me.

Damn it.

"That’s not—" I started, but the words failed before they could form properly.

She was already moving.

Climbing over me.

Kissing me.

Slow.

Certain.

And I did not stop her.

—

Lila’s lips pressed into Adrian’s in soft, intermediate motions as she wrapped her arms around his neck, her hands trailing towards his head, locking him in place.

Then— her eyes shifted briefly toward the door mid-kiss.

Dark.

Focused.

Then she closed them again and pulled him closer.

—

Outside the room, Aubrey stumbled away from the door.

Not enough that anyone could hear her outside, but enough for her to almost fall on her back had it not been for the walk behind her.

Her heart beating fast from the adrenaline of being caught and something much worse—

Her stomach twisted.

She hated herself for understanding what it was.

She stood there for a moment, unsteady.

Then turned away.

Her face was tight, unreadable, and something heavy sat in her chest as she walked off into the dark hallway without making a sound.