Chapter 14

UNEDITED-

Marisol POV-

I looked over to Alex who was now back in the car with two of the dead banging on the window.. one more was on the driver's side reaching in.. I ran to the car dodging and weaving my way through the shuffling bodies. Quickly pulling the biter out of the car window and launching him backwards 10 feet. I jumped into the car attempting to start it.. I tried and tried, but it didn't start. "Fuck!" I smashed my hands into the steering wheel. I must have shot the fucking car. Which means petrol is probably leaking.. shit I can smell it. "We need to go.." I took the sheath and my backpack, smashing the car door into a dead lady as she approached, I exited the car. "Alex now!" I swung my katana into the heads of three biters on my way around to the passenger door, opening it. She still wasn't moving, I swung at another of the dead, taking its head off at the neck before grabbing Alexs hand and dragging her out of the car. She quickly grabbed the crossbow and backpack then we were running off down the street.

I pushed her over someone's back garden fence and quickly jumped over myself. As soon as I was over the dead were already banging on it. I ushered her to the next one and pushed her over it.. I looked back to see one of the dead climbing over the others and falling onto the lawn. Before he could get to his feet I was already over the fence. We hopped over one more just to be safe.

I cautiously made my way over to the glass sliding back door and peered through. I saw no obvious signs of the dead but decided to lightly tap the glass just to be safe. Soon enough a greyish man appeared, covered in died burgundy blood, a woman in her nightgown followed a few seconds later, half of her face and chest is missing. It's clear to see what has happened here. I ushered Alex backwards with my hand and opened the door before they could start banging on it and drawing the attention of the herd, that was still stumbling around only a few gardens away.

The man came out first, clumsily jogging towards me, I thrust my blade forward into his eye socket, twisting and pulling it out he dropped to the floor with a thud. Only a second past before the woman came towards me. I swung the katana upwards towards her head, splitting it in two diagonally. She dropped onto her knees and fell forwards with the rest of her brain dropping into the floor infront of me, some of the black goop splashed onto my trainers.

Alex stood quietly waiting for me to enter the house first.. which I quickly did and she followed, closing the door behind her.. "Are you okay?" I asked in a hushed voice lifting my hand to her eyebrow, where she had an open wound from the gun. She nodded and wiped her eyebrow with the bottom of her shirt exposing her stomach. I looked down for a moment before glancing away awkwardly. A shuffling from upstairs drew my attention.

I placed my hand gently onto Alexs arm to let her know something was up.. she visibly jumped and I pulled my hand back quickly. "I'm sorry. I just, I think someone is upstairs" I spoke in a hushed tone.. she just nodded. She looks so uncomfortable, so on edge.. I can't imagine what she is thinking. Probably wishing she never came with me.

Without saying anything else I silently moved through the house, the second to last floorboard of the stairs creaked, the sound echoed through the house and the activity in the room increased. I could hear the groans now.. I saw the five closed doors that faced me, two on the corridor either side of me and one at the end. Slowly I walked down the end of the corridor, where I knew the sound was coming from. I tapped lightly on the door to get it to come close, as soon as it banged on the door once, I flung the door open into its face. The body fell backwards into the floor, it quickly rolled over and made its way to its feet..

Another young boy, he has no visible wounds, I'm guessing he died when he caught the virus. His fluffy blonde hair of course reminded me of my little brother.. I internally cursed the universe for constantly reminding me of my biggest failure. He clumsily began running at me and I thrust my blade forward, straight into his open mouth, I pulled it out as he hit the floor. Looking down at his pale little face all I could see was Forrest. The pressure that I held in my chest began to burst, before I knew it I was wrecking this child's room. I smashed my fist through the door of his wardrobe and pulled the rest of it off the hinges and threw it across the room into his wall mounted TV, which sparked as the screen smashed to bits. I picked up his large wooden dresser and threw it across the room.. I was about to smash something else when a peircing sound invaded my eardrums. A car alarm going off not far from the house. Quickly running to the window and peering out with my hands over my ears I saw where the sound was coming from. The dresser that I'd thrown must have flown out the window and into a parked car. It seems the ones that had began gathering as they heard my tantrum have stumbled off towards the car as well. Besides the pain in my ears perhaps this could benefit us. They should just wander off when it stops.

My hands did little to take away the pain in my eardrums. I sat down against the wall bellow the window as the splitting pain continued.. my whole body was littered with cuts and bruises that did nothing to distract me from the pain inside my head. A pair of hands over mine forced me to open my eye, where Alex was knelt looking back with a questioning gaze.. 'What happened?' I read her lips as all I could hear was the screeching siren.

"The sound.. it hurts" I closed my eyes again. She took her hands away from mine for a minute then tapped me. I opened my eyes to see her holding her hands out with two balled up peices of fabric.. I looked up into her eyes where she still looked worried. Taking the fabric I shoved them into both of my ears.. it is better but still excruciating, my brain feels like it's bouncing around inside my head and turning to mush. I held my hands back over my ears straight away, barely able to mutter "Thank you"..

I'm not sure if Alex said anything but she quickly pulled me to my feet and walked me into the furthest bedroom in the house and closed the door.. the sound though was still almost able to incapacitate me. Alex sat me down on the end of the double bed and I felt her climb in behind me, a few seconds later she pulled me backwards on top of her. I moved my hands away from my ears to brace myself holding on to her. I was about to protest but surprisingly the sound of her heartbeat began to mesmerise me.. As she held both of her hands on my other ear I could barely hear the siren over the rythmic thumping.

Closing my eyes I finally relaxed.. I'm not sure how much time past before the alarm stopped as I had managed to fall asleep. When I awoke my head was still laid on Alexs chest with her arms wrapped around it. I carefully freed myself from Alexs grip and stood up, taking note of the time on my watch that she still wore around her wrist. It's only been about an hour an a half since we came in here.. it's now 3:34pm. The pain that was covering my body before was already subsiding. I looked at my hands to see my cuts had already vanished. Alex looks so peaceful.. despite everything else that I'm feeling, I couldn't help but smile.

Quietly leaving the room and removing my handmade earplugs I went to look out the window at the car that had been blaring. Sure enough most of the biters had wondered off. A few were still dotted around the street, shuffling aimlessly, just waiting for something to call their attention. I need to use my brain next time.. hopefully avoid being the reason we die.

I heard footsteps in the hall behind me, then "Sol?" She called out in a quiet, cautious voice..

Quickly walking towards the door and into her view I responded "I'm here, are you alright?" I asked seeing her worried expression.. she soon sighed a breath of relief.

"I thought.. never mind" Alex shook her head shutting herself down.

"What is it?" I asked as I walked towards her..

"I thought, you might have left"

I couldn't help but smile and her eyebrows furrowed.. "I could never leave you..", I wasn't expecting those words to come out of my mouth.. "-what made you think that?" I quickly asked.

Her face visibly relaxed as she replied "You just, well you don't seem like yourself.."

"That's because I'm not myself.." I'm dangerous.. "Maybe I should take August and Betty away with me, where there is no chance we could hurt any of you.." I thought aloud.

"What happened to 'I could could never leave you' hm?.." Alex furrowed her eyebrows again.

"I was talking about right now. But maybe it would be for the best.. just think about it. We are dangerous, I'm dangerous, you know that.." I looked down to the floor.. I don't want to leave Alex, I don't want to leave Sam either.. but just the thought that Betty or August could be involuntarily tearing into Samantha this second is making me feel sick. I know they can still stomach food right now but what if they stop being able to.. and they loose control like I did. I haven't even began to think about what my next meal will be.

I wasn't expecting what happened next. Alex came walking over to me with a new air about her. As soon as she got to me she pushed me backwards two steps, until my body hit against the wall with a thud and she held me in place clutching the fabric of my jumper.. "We're not doing this again.."

"Alexa please.." I pleaded in a weak voice, I wasn't even sure what for.. Physically I could have easily thrown her off me, but she held me there by sheer emotion. I only want her to be safe.

"No 'Marisol'.." She said my full name with emphasis, clearly pissed off that I'd used hers. She let go of me and took a small step back. "If we get home and you still decide to go through with this.. I promise it will be the last time I loose you".. loose me? what?..

"I'm trying to keep you safe.. can't you see that?"

"No Sol, I really can't.." Her crystal blue eyes bore into mine, my heart aches at the thought of being without the people I care about, but still I think it will be safer for us to be apart. I've always been good at separating my feelings from whatever situation I'm in but for some strange reason, she's making it difficult for me.

"I could've killed you.." She really needs to understand the severity of the situation.

"What?" Her eyebrows furrowed again..

"This morning, even after I saw your face I just.."

"-You stopped yourself.."

"What if next time I can't? And even if I can this isn't just about me.." Appearing to have no more argument left in her, Alex finally turned away from me and walked off down the stairs. I feel like a piece of my heart jumped out of my chest and went with her. Since when did I start caring about her this much?. But I've already decided.. them being safe is more important than either of us being happy. I'll go back occasionally to check on them but there is no way that we can stay together. I can't believe I just told her that I wouldn't leave her, in the same conversation as telling her I have to leave her. Now I feel like an even shittier person.

Against my better judgement I followed Alex down the stairs.. "Alex, I just need you to trust me.." She stopped in the downstairs hall way three feet infront of me, she turned around..

"Great now we're back to 'Alex'.." She rolled her eyes and turned to continue on into the kitchen.

"Alex.."

"You want me to trust you, but you don't even trust you.." I opened my mouth to reply but she spoke again turning to me emotionless.. "Let's just get home.. then you can do whatever you want.." I could only nod unable to say anything else.. I turned and wandered back through the house, glancing at some family photos hung on the walls. The man and woman with their son and who looks like their daughter maybe a few years older. They are standing at the top of a mountain embracing eachother.. it looks like their daughter wasn't home at the time.

I went through the door that led to the garage and was surprised to find a black Kawasaki ninja.. I glanced over to some hooks on the wall and found the key. Taking it off the hook I walked straight back to Alex. "Do you by any chance know how to ride a motorbike?"..

"I do.. why?"..

"Why else would I ask?" I held the key up for her to see..

We quickly got our stuff together and entered the garage.. I found the helmet sitting on an old washing machine and handed it to Alex.. She put it on and put the key in the bike, taking it off the stand and getting on. I opened the garage door and she made her way out of the garage. By now the few dead ones walking around in the street heard the garage door opening.. "Let's go" I said as I got onto the back of the bike and holding one arm around her waist. A second later she turned the key in the bike and we set off.

I can't believe I never knew she could ride motorcycles.. and I mean, she was swerving in and out like a pro. I couldn't help but feel somewhat relaxed as the wind whipped through my hair. It's probably a mess but right now I couldn't care less. In no time at all we were almost home. I tapped her shoulder a street away from my house for her to pull over. If we drive all the way to the house, the loud sound of the engine would lure them right to us.

I hopped off the back of the bike, decapitating the only grey faced man in the street.. I looked back the way we came to see a group of the dead following, the first ones 60 ft away. Alex turned off the engine and jumped off. I took the bike from her and stood it in someone's front garden mostly out of view from the road. She took the helmet off and placed it on the handlebars, putting the key in her pocket.

We ran between the houses and quickly made our way to the front door.. I unlocked it with Forrest's key and we both walked in. Sam stood in the hallway katana drawn. "Finally.." She sighed a breath of relief sheathing the blade. I saw Bella and Betty smile from behind her with August.. Their faces soon changed to slight worry, then I remembered that I'm covered in blood, some of it my own but most of it wasn't.

"Are you alright Sol?" August asked.. I feel like that's all everyone's been saying lately.

"I'm okay.." I faked my best smile and he bought it.."Are you okay?.. have you been having fun with Sam?"

"We were playing monopoly but Sammy kept cheating.."

"I did not"..

"Sam you know we all saw you?" Bella laughed..

"That's what you get when you make Sam the banker.. August you should know better.." I couldn't help but get caught up in this unusually normal conversation as we all stood and talked in the hallway. Betty chuckled as she left us and went back into the living room.

"I thought she might have grown up since then" He replied simply and everyone but Sam began fully laughing.

"Some people never grow up.." Bella smiled as she lightly shoved Sam. If I didn't know better I'd say she was flirting. Sam chuckled lightly in response.

"I'm hungry.." August said out of nowhere and my stomach churned. I saw Alex glance towards me out of the corner of my eye and back to Auggie..

"Why don't you get something from the freezer and I'll cook it for you?" I think I covered my fear well.

"Okay.." He replied simply..

"Why don't I do that and you two get cleaned up?.." Sam offered and I remembered the state I was in.

"Yeah.. okay" I nodded and everyone but me and Alex dispersed from the hallway.

"We'll be alright together.." Alex gently took my hand and I held it for a moment, trying to capture the feeling of it in my mind so that I'd never forget..

"No we won't.." I let go and made my way upstairs leaving Alex in the hallway alone.

NOTES-

Thank you for reading, there are probably many mistakes, for that I apologise, please correct me if you see any. I hope despite this your still enjoying the story. I'm appreciative of any kind of feedback so feel free to comment. Thanks again. Peace.