Notes

Irwin had the feeling in hus chsst all week. That light tingling sensation he had grown to despite. He knew he was in for another asthma attack and kept pushing aside the thought. He didnt want to have another attack. He really didnt. His last one was horrible, left him gasping for air on the ground surrounded by people that hadn't a clue what to do. This time though, Irwin knew it was coming. He had the chance to inform the members he was currently travelling with about it but.. he didnt. Every so often Irwin cleared his throat. He was constantly taking drinks from his water bottle and he had reached the point where he had completely emptied the bottle and decided to leave it behind. Not a single droplet of water remained in it anyways. He cleared his throat once more, struggling not to start coughing. As he waslked he had his hands in his jacket pockets. He clutched onto his inhaler from inside the pocket, knowing it would happen at any second. Yet when it happened, he was still unprepared. His eyes watered from lack of air and his face paled. The man broke into a fit of coughs that stopped him in his tracks and turned his face a white color. "Irwin?" Lolli asked, turning to face him. Ashton too turned, he mustve recognized the look on Irwins face because he instantly snapped to attention. "I-I think hes having an asthma attack..!" Ashton stuttered to Lolli. Irwin grunted, falling forward onto his knees. One hand still remained in his pocket while the other hand was balled into a fist infront of his mouth. Irwin clutched tighter at the inhaler and ripped it out of his pocket, yet it was no use. He ended up being too weak to stay in that position and fell face first down. The inhaler flew from his hand and lodged itself under something. "Irwin!" Lolli exclaimed and rushed up to him. Ash followed close behind. The two of thrm shoved Irwin onto his back. "Breathe!" Ashton yelled at him uselessly. Irwin shut his eyes tight. He couldnt, air wasnt entering his lungs. "Wheres your inhaler?" Lolli asked, then remembered its location and plunged her hand into his pocket. Raising a shaking hand, Irwin pointed to the side where his inhaler had fallen. Ash sprinted over to it, trying to pick it up but it was lodged under something. "I-Its stuck!" Ashton exclaimed in a panicked frenzy. "What?!" Lolli exclaimed enraged and rushed to him, she began to help pull it loose. Irwin clutched at the ground, his hands balling into fists as he tugged at the grass next to him. His lips were turning a pale blue color. The two managed to free the inhaler, and they rushed up to Irwin. Lolli shoved the thing in his mouth without warning. Irwin's light panicked eyes stared up at her. "Inhale in three.. tw-" Irwin cut her off, attempting to reach up and press down on the device himself. "No-" Lolli started, but Ash shoved her aside and pressed down on the inhaler. Irwin's pupils shrunk and he pulled harder at the grass. Poor naive Ash pressed down on it again. Irwin inhaled sharply and struggled to get air into his lungs. Lolli pushed him up into a sitting position and patted his back. The man coughed roughly, it shook his entire body. After a few minutes of him coughing and attempting to catch his ragged breath it had eventually slowed. Lolli pulled her hand away and turned to Ash, the two of tjem exchanged a few concerned looks before glancing back at Irwin. The man opened his mouth to speak, but was unable to and grunted. He clenched at the grass tightly once more. Lolli continued patting his back, he coughed a few more times before shakily reaching his hand out. "S-Stop.." he wheezed. Lolli again pulled her hand away, she moved so she was sitting infront of him. "Are you alright? Do you need anything?" She asked, beginning to ramble. "Water.." Irwin croaked and glanced painfully at the two. Ash hurried into his backpack, digging for a bottle of water and quickly finding one. He pushed the bottle at Irwin. Irwin's hands shook as he quickly twisted off the cap, dropping the small lid and quickly gulping down mouthfuls of water. He panted after that, and dropped the empty bottle on the ground, breaking into another coughing fit. His right hand was balled into a fist, held up by his mouth that he coughed into. His left was again clutching at the grass. Lolli started to pat him on the back again, he grunted. "Don-t-" he coughed with a gasp. Lolli once more took her hand away. Ash glanced towards Lolli. "A-Are you ok?" Ash asked Irwin cautiously. Irwin nodded his head up and down slowly. "Can you walk?" Lolli seemed to ask urgently. Irwin didnt even try. He shook his head no and cut off his breathing with another two coughs. He inhaled slowly, and let out the breath in a shaky exhale. The man pulled his arm up to his face, glancing down at his watch. His heart started to beat in his chest like a lion attempting to break free of its cage in a zoo. It had been at least an hour and a half. "Oh shit Irwin d-dont.." Ash began, seeing the look on his face. "Im ok." Irwin said in a shaking whisper and stood on unsteady legs to prove it to them. Lolli and Ash both rushed forward but sotpped when Irwin gave the two a warning glance. He tried to prove he was alright, but his next step forward sent his vision swimming. Lolli and Ash both grabbed Irwin before he fell and helped to lower him down to the ground. Irwin blinked a few times. "I-I cant see." He said. Lolli exchanged another concerned and confused glance with one another. Irwin's glasses /were/ on. Why was h- "Theres black dots every where." He said and closed his eyes. Oh. Irwin was about to black out. "Wait Irwi-" The mans body convulsed, he opened his mouth with a pained expression and he fell backwards limp. . "God dammit." Lolli hissed looking stressed. Sbe pulled at the hair on her head and then turned to Ash. "We've got to get him out of here. Theres no way the dead didnt hear that. C-Can you carry him?" She asked. Ash bent down next to Irwin and put his hand under his knees and the other under his head, he looked like he was preparing for Irwin to be heavy. The expression changed from one of a challenge to one of confusion as Ash lifted Irwin. The man was rather light. "Hes.. light." Ash commented with a look of suprise to Lolli. "Well. In general thats bad-" she bent down to grab Ash's backpack. "But for now thats good. Come on." She began heading in a different direction from where the camp was located. Irwins breathing sounded labored and somewhat wheezy. "Base is the other way though.." Ash said hesitantly. "With him breathing like that the dead will be on our tails. We've got to stay somewhere else for tonight." She explained quickly. Ash paused, then nodded and got a better grip on Irwin. "Lead the way." Ash said.

This next time that Irwin woke up, the black dots were still in his eyes. But as he blinked they faded away. He opened his mouth to speak, but instead gasped sharply and broke into s fit of coughs. Lolli and Ash exchanged concerned and scared looks before returning their gaze to Irwin. "We have to be quiet." Lolli whispered, her voice quavering. Irwin made a quiet grunt sound as he forced himself to stop coughing. He glanced down at his watch, pressing a few buttons. "Where are we?" Irwin asked in a whisper, his pale face looked pained as he spoke. "Hiding.." Lolli began. "From..?" Irwin asked gently. He was usually cranky after asthma attacks and avoided acting in such a way as best as he could. "Walkers." Ash whispered and pulled aside a blind. Irwin grunted once more. It was uncontrollable. It was so tight in the spot they were at. Squinting, Irwin realized it wasnt a blind. It was a type of rag they had used to cover up a hole. Irwin crawled closer to Lolli and Ash, he looked in pain. "I-" Irwin began and rushed his hand to his mouth, forcing down a cough. "I cant exactly.. breathe.. in here.." he whispered with struggle. "We cant go anywhere for now. Do you thonk you can sit tight? This swarm of them doesnt seem /too/ large.. it may thin out soon." Lolli explained. Irwin nodded and closed his eyes tight for a moment. He was aqare of Ash watching him and opened his eyes, connecting their gazes and forcing a smile at Ash. "Follow me." Ash said and crawled away from Lolli, heading to a larger area under whatthey hid beneath. Ash patted the ground as if for Irwin to sit down. Irwin knealed over there and plopped down. He leaned his back against the wooden wall behind him and threw clenched shut teeth took in slow deep breaths. Irwin wrapped his arms around his chest. "Whats wrong? Do you need water?" Ash asked, beginning to grow concerned. Irwin grunted and turned to Ash, staring into his eyes and shook his head. "Its not that." He stated and gasped for a breath of air. "What is it then?" Ash whispered. Irwin kept his eyes closed. "I-It hurts.." Irwin whispered, his words so quiet they were almost inaudible. Ash paused and leaned back, away from Irwin. He hadnt expected that as a response. Irwin was the leader, he wasnt suppose to be seen as weak- wait, what was he thinking? Irwin just had an asthma attack. Of course his lungs hurt. It wasnt fair for Ash to assume he was perfectly alright. "Im sorry." Ash said. Irwin grunted, his nails dug into his shirt. "Its not.. your fau-lt.." he struggled the words out of him. He felt like the air was getting thinner and thinner. Ash said something else that irwin didnt catch. The man was hunched over himself panting. "Irwin?" Ash asked. Irwin responded with a groan. "L-Lolli!" Ash exclaimed in a whisper, drawing her attention to Irwin. Irwin leaned back, once kore against the wall. His hands were over his face and his chest rose and fell as he breathed raggedly. Lolli hurried over to him, she pur her hands on his shoulders. "Irwin. Focus, breathe." She said, but it was clear she wasnt very familiar at all with asthma. Irwin groaned and dropped his hands from hie face. "T-They're not working...!" He gasped and moaned. "Shh!" Lolli exclaimed. "Whats not working?" Lolli adked. Irwin winced, Lolli shook him. "Irwin!" Ash exclaimed in a whisper. "My-" he couldnt get the words out of him. The man made a sound of pain as he took in another deep breath "l-lungs" he winced. Tears formed in the corners of his eyes from the pain. "Thats it. Were leaving. Ash, carry irwin." Ash did so, grabbing Irwin and standing. There wasnt much room whrre they were but they were luckily next to the hatch on the ceiling. Lolli kicked it open and climbed out, helping pull up the two of them. They hurried out the back exit and raced down the street when suddenly Irwin pushed ar Ash's chet. Irwin felt like he was going to throw up once the cold fresh air hit his lungs. It was refreshing, but sudden. Ash let go of Irwin, the man fell to his knees and lurched forward retching out whatever he had left in him, which wasnt much at all. He gagged and gasped. "We dont have time!" Lolli grabbed Irwins wrisr and tugged him. Irwin fell forward. "S-Stop i-" his hand went up to his face again, he groaned. Ash started towards him to help him up. Suddenly his body convulsed as he coughed. Blood splattered from his mouth onto the ground. Lolli and Ash did nothing to help him, they didnt know what it was they even could do, but the sight of Irwin coughing blood horrified them. That was when they realized Irwin's asthma attacks were very serious and he needed a lot of time to recover from them. Unfortunately, they didnt have a lot of time. Shakily, Irin lushed himself up. Ash reached out his hand for Irwin to grab. Irwin didnt take his hand. He stood on his own and wrapped his arms aeound his side. The man was shaking. "Lead the way." He whispered.