Hey I hope you all like my new story! I've been reading a lot of I Am Legend fics and I am sad to report that there are only few with Robert romance stories. Now I'm going to be honest from the start, I haven't read the book but I'm in love with the movie! So Dr. Robert is going to be described as the person who portrayed him (will smith).
Disclaimer: I own none of Richard Matheson's characters.
Chapter 1: A Few More Nights
" Now if she moves like this, will you move it like that? Come on! Shake shake, shake shake, uh shake it!"
The familiar music blasted through my headphones and into my ears as I lay stretched out in the back seat of the SUV. I mindlessly stroked the sleeping feline on my stomach my eyes focused on the gray ceiling of the car. The lull of the speeding vehicle calmed me as my eyes started to droop; tired from the early start my small group had.
" Are we there yet?" I questioned, removing one of my headphones.
" Soon, we don't have much sunlight left." Came a gruff voice from the driver's seat.
His response caused me to prop myself up on one elbow, my neck straining upwards to see the window. I silently confirmed the statement as the sun's rays started to seep down behind the tall buildings. The scene blurred as I felt the car accelerating, a race against the lowering sun. Suddenly I became alarmed as I sat up, fear suddenly pulsing into my veins. Causing the disgruntled pet to leap from my lap as it gave a hiss of protest.
" Jake?" I asked, my toned colored with worry.
" The safe house is only minutes away," The driver answered. " We'll be there in minutes."
I looked at the back of Jake's dark hair, noticing his white knuckles while his hands gripped the steering wheel. I leaned back into my seat, trying to subdue my thudding heart. The sound of the disgruntled cat reached my ears as I gathered the animal into my lap.
" Shh, it's alright." I soothed, stroking the cat's brown mane.
The cat relaxed under my hands as it curled up into a ball, its yellow eyes closing soon after. I stared at the cat in a moment of envy, wishing that I could fall asleep so easily. Feeling safe in someones arms, knowing that everything would be alright when I woke up. Knowing that I would be able to do the same the next night and the night after that. I've been denied the luxury for so long, the memory of it caused a familiar pang in my chest.
" Okay there Abbie?" Another familiar voice spoke from the passenger seat.
I looked up, recognizing my nickname, at the frowning man facing me. His eyebrows furrowed in worry, reflecting troubled blue eyes.
" I'm fine Parry." I lied, my expression relaxing from the frown it once held.
" If you say so." The man answered disbelievingly in his thick Australian accent. His pointed look telling me that we would discuss this later.
" So where are we again?" I questioned, changing the subject.
" Oak Hill, West Virginia." Parry answered, turning his eyes back towards the road.
" How much longer 'till New York?" I asked tiredly.
" A few more days." Jake stated, his brown eyes colliding with mine in the rear view mirror.
Great, that means a few more nights.
I sighed heavily turning my attention back towards the window, my alarm instantly raising to see that we only had a matter of minutes left of safety.
" Jacob!" I called my companion by full name.
" I know!" He answered back in a frustrated tone. Suddenly his brakes squealed to a jerking stop. " We're here. Quick we need to get in."
Our group wordlessly piled out of the car as we our feet crunched beneath the forest floor. We looked at the one story brick house that seemed out of place with its natural surroundings. Our fear increasing as we looked at its dark windows and the almost non existent sunlight.
" Do we have time to check it out?" Parry questioned, grabbing his rifle and stuffing a few knives within his belt.
" We don't have much of a choice." Jake's sarcastic tone ripped through the air.
" Fine, just let me put Snickers back." I stated, my head motioning towards the sleeping cat within my arms.
Jake nodded wordlessly while Parry sent me a nervous glance. He always got like this whenever I was about to go with them to look for infected. As if I was a breakable little eight-year-old, I'm nineteen years old for crying out loud! Although the anger became a good distraction from the butterflies fluttering nervously in my stomach. I put the cat back in the back seat and traded her for two loaded pistols and a flashlight. By the time I shut the door Jake was already walking slowly towards the supposedly safe hose built by the few who survived last year.
Jake waited for me with nervous eyes while I handed him the flashlight. My shaking hand slid into his as I passed him the flashlight. His stare intensified when I quickly snapped my hand from his, wishing that he didn't notice my unsteady stance.
" Hurry up!" I sharp mutter cut through the air.
I looked up to see a very impatient Jake waiting by the porch stairs of the house. His eyes on the last rays of the sun, while his mouth set in a grim line.
" Come on." I whispered, taking one of the pistols from my left hand.
" Stay behind me." Parry replied protectively.
I just nodded although found that it didn't matter what I did because Parry had already started towards the house. I gripiped the firearms within my sweaty palms, my index finger twitching towards the trigger. I could never get used to how heavy the guns felt or feel the calm control that Jake or Parry had with them. Maybe it was a guy thing but whatever it was it didn't matter. Within the pass few years I've had to use it more than once, much to my dislike but without the weapons I wouldn't have survived for as long as I have.
I followed behind the two men as we creeped up the porch stairs. They creaked from the pressure under our feet as I silently prayed that there was nothing within the house to hear it. I could hear Jake jiggling the handle for a few moments before he finally pushed it open with a swift kick. I caught a glimpse of Jake charging forward as he pointed his gun in all directions of the dark house. A flicker of a flashlight shone from the doorway.
Parry slowly followed Jake as they slowly entered the front of the house, I followed after we piled inside the dark living room. I looked around to see that the living room split into three different doorways, one to the right with a swinging door. The other two doors located on opposite sides of the back wall to the left.
" I'm going into this one." Jake whispered, his gun pointing to the swinging door on the right.
" Parry, you go to the door farthest to left. Abigail," He addressed me by full name, I hated that. " You go through the room on the right of Parry's."
" 'kay." I muttered, gripping the pistols even tighter.
" Jake, maybe I should go with her." Parry suggested, the nervous glint never leaving his eyes.
" She's a big girl, Parry." Jake answered irritated.
I would've thanked him if I wasn't so scared.
" Plus, you know all she has to do is scream and we'll both be there." He continued looking into Perry's eyes seriously. " Now hurry we only have ten minutes before the infected come out to play."
With a nod from Perry we each set off in different directions. Parry and I reached our doors as we looked at each other for a moment, saying a silent goodbye just in case. I then focused on the white door in front of me, while I shifted to the opposite side of the handle. I slowly turned the handle to it's limit before giving the door a soft push as it creaked open. I waited for a reaction, if anything was on the other side of the door it should have jumped out.
Although that's not always the case, sometimes they hide in the closet or take refuge from underneath the bed. I know this from experience unfortunately, searching a house was more like a sick version of playing hide and go seek. I silently pushed the door open until it hit the wall with a soft thud. Instantly I was in defense mode as I raise the pistols up to the level of my chest. I scanned the room and made sure that it was clear before searching for the light switch. My hand ran against the wall until I found the familiar button and with a push of my index finger the room lit up from the lamp above.
The room revealed a simple queen size bed, with a dresser and vanity. The window was nailed shut with wooden boards and barred, although no light shined from within the crevices of the wooden panels suggesting another source of protection was placed. I looked at the bed as my pistol lowered to the dark space beneath it, I silently walked towards it before slowly crouching down to one knee. In one quick motion I pulled back the dark blue bedspread and pointed my pistol underneath as my vision scanned for anything unusual. Luckily all I saw was carpet and the back wall.
With a sigh of relief I pushed myself off the floor as I noticed another door on the right wall. Guessing it was a closet, I redied my pistols as I approached the door. Repeating the same procedure I did with the bedroom door I gave it a soft push, no reaction. I gave it another shove, harder than I had anticipated as it flew back and hit the back of the wall. I rushed through the door pistols raised, only to see a figure standing in the darkness.
Fear flooded within me as I hurriedly cocked my pistol although before I could squeeze the trigger light suddenly flooded into my eyes. I quickly blinked, my eyes taking seconds to clear away the spots dotting my vision.
" Shit Abbie." A voice breathed.
I found myself staring down the end of a gun barrel before it hurriedly dropped away from my face. I then found myself face to face with a very agitated yet relieved Parry Mason. I looked around the wondering why he was standing in a closet, only to discover it wasn't a closet at all. My gaze traveled to the left to see a toilet and shower, I wonder if the pipes still work. Then to my left was a large cabinet complete with sinks and unused toiletries. The door behind Parry open, leading into what seemed another bedroom; a conjoining bathroom.
" Sorry Par, thought this was a closet." I shrugged, my face heating up from my mistake.
" All clear?" He questioned, changing the subject.
" Yea, you?"
With a nod from Parry we set off to check with Jake, relieved to see him standing in the living room in one piece. We all agreed that it was safe and realized we only had a minute max to get necessities out of the car. We ran from the house as the men went to the trunk, while I headed straight for Snickers. I grabbed the cat as she purred against my shoulder. Suddenly the light of the sun barely made it between the trunks of the trees as we ran into the safe house.
Jake was the last one in as he took out a large jug of vinegar and spilled it across the porch steps. I heard him close the door as he bolted it, I was just glad that the door still worked after he kicked it in. Although that wasn't enough for typical Jake as he took the couch and pressed it up against the door. Accompanied by a fold out table, which I suppose came from the kitchen through the swinging door.
" So I guess we're not going to sleep on the couch." I whispered, a smile tugging at my lips.
" Sheila's right ya' know." Parry cut in, " I'm not too fond of the floor."
" Well I'm guessing there's a bedroom." Jake stated, crossing his arms.
" There's two, over there." I supplied pointing too the rooms, shifting Snickers into one arm.
" Well let's get Abbie settled then." Jake answered, looking at the door wearily.
" Excuse me, I'm almost twenty." I whispered fiercely turning into the brightened room.
My hand paused at the light switch, knowing that I had to turn off all lights before it drew attention from the Infected. Before I could look over my shoulder Jake and Parry were beside me, giving me a feeling of fatherly protection. I relaxed and pushed the button as the light slowly faded away. Jake moved to get the light in the next room which we left on in our rush to get things from the car.
Soon the house took a sinister form as shadows morphed into long human shapes. I lowered my eyes to the bed where Parry was already spreading out the sleeping beds. Only to find that only two sleeping bags would fit on the bed. The situation took a tense turn as I was used to being side by side with my protective companions. That's how its been since the rest of the others died out. There use to be eighteen of us since I was sixteen, although we started off from the west coast. Slowly but surely as we made our way across the country, bouncing from un-infected communities to safe house left behind from the others. Our goal was to make it to Manhattan, New York. We heard over one of our radios that Dr. Neville was still alive and well. We also know that he may be the only person who can save us and provide a cure for others.
" I can take the room next door." Jake's voice spoke coming in the room.
" 'Bout time you gave me and Abbie some privacy." Parry joked with a wink, trying to lighten the mood.
" Watch it bud." Jake warned, a teasing glint in his eyes. Yet his voice was serious.
" Okay just, can you leave the doors open so I can see your room?" I questioned, trying not to sound too much like a pathetic child. Even though I couldn't help it, these guys are the only things that are keeping me alive. Let alone being my support system and getting me through the day.
" No problem." Jake answered, letting his soft side show.
" Night Jake." Parry whispered.
" Night." I whispered, launching myself into his arms.
Jake answered back with a squeeze before walking across to the other room, sleeping bag and gun in hand. I turned back to Parry and gave him a sad smile as I set Snickers on the pillow next to me. I then removed my shoes and took out the tight ponytail tying my short, brown hair back. I wordlessly climbed into my sleeping bag as Parry followed suite, I instantly snuggled up to his body heat, bringing Snickers closer at the same time.
I supposed we had just made it in time, because as soon as I became comfortable a familiar screaming filled the air. Screams of animals being torn apart, of it's wild killers screaming in hunger and victory. Although we have must have been deeper within the woods for they were softer than usual. Softer, but haunting all the same.
" AAhhh!"
" Night Parry." I whispered, my mind begging for blissful unconsciousness.
" Night."
With that I fell into a familiar dark abyss, hoping to dream of the day when I didn't have to hear those screams any more.
So there goes chapter 1! Hoped you liked it! Review! Oh yea sorry for grammatical and spelling mistakes, it's about 3:30 am at the time I'm finishing and posting the story and I'm uber tired. So again sorry and don't forget to REVIEW!
