"You know," Katherine started. "We could always try to find your family?"
"And why would I want to do that?"
I kneeled down to pulled the knife out of a walkers head while giving her a look of utter confusion.
"I see you staring at that picture all the time, and I thought maybe... You'd want to meet them... But you know, we don't have too... I mean..." She trailed off.
On habit I reached my hand back to make sure the picture was still securely in my back pocket. After that I stood up slowly while wiping the last of the blood on my blade, along the dead walkers ripped shirt. I placed it into the slit I had cut into the side of my pants. Looking up at Katherine I could tell she was trying not be awkward. She played with one of the tips of her arrows. I couldn't help a hopeless smile while I took a step closer to her.
"If you really want, we can head south and give it a go."
Her head shot up while her smile beamed. I reached one hand to rest on her cheek so my finger tips lingered in her hair. I leaned in for a quick kiss. I moved less then an inch away, just lingering there. I slid my thumb along her cheek bone softly. Her smile grew even bigger. She placed her hand over mine lacing our fingers together.
"We'll check this place, and next door then rest for tonight and leave tomorrow. Okay?"
She nodded. I smiled at how happy she looked. I moved my hand away from her cheek. I turned around to look down the hallway. Two arc ways. I walked ahead with Katherine behind me. Even though I knew we got all the walkers I poked my head around the arc way. I only caught sight of a kitchen covered in dust on the benches. I looked back to Katherine Nudging my head in the general direction. She walked passed me pulling a face making me giggle a little. Which resulted in a very loud growling sound. I looked over the other arc way to see a dog. It was old, a thin. Thin enough I could probably wrap my fingers around it stomach and have them touching. There was a collar with a snapped leash hanging off it.
It growled deeply at us. I could tell Katherine was looking at me. I wave my hand behind my back telling her to keep looking in the kitchen. Without argument she did as I said. As she move the dog head snapped her way. A warning growl. I moved forwarded grabbing it attention again. It bared it teeth again. I slowly moved closer reaching one hand back. I slid it in one of my bags side pockets. I reached around trying to find any food I had left. Just as my fingers wrapped around it the dog started to move forward. I quick fumbled to pull out the rabbit foot.
When I did I dropped down to my knees sliding it towards the dog. He stumbled back scared at first. I watched slowly as he moved towards it with caution. He sniffed a few times. Soon enough he had sunk his teeth into it. I decided to slowly slid closer... And Closer... And closer. By now I was about a foot away from him. I looked at his collar while he munched on the rabbit foot. Boomer... Boomer?
"Boomer?" The dog head shot up in my direction. "I guess you're boomer then."
"Who is Boo- Is that the last rabbit foot?" She squealed.
I looked over my shoulder to stare up at a horrified looking Katherine. I gave her a loped sided smile before shrugging. Boomer whimpered at the loud noise running to my side. I didn't look back when I reached beside me to pat his head softly.
"Sh, you're scaring him." I mocked quietly. Before changing the subject. "Can we keep him?"
"You really think thats a smart idea?"
I shrugged not bothering to answer. We both knew either way I was keeping the dog. She kneeled down beside me. She slid her bag off her back. She zipped it open placing in a few items. Bandages, bandaids, tiny jar of honey, even a few small but sharp knifes. I went back to patted Boomer, trying to use my other hand to get off the snapped leash. I heard Katherine zip up her bag and throw it onto her shoulders. I glanced up at her to watching her as she stood up. I quickly followed grabbing up Boomer into my arms. Katherine looked at Boomer then me. She simply shock her head before walking to the front door. I followed slowly staying a few steps behind her. Boomer squirmed in my arms a little moving so I was carrying him little a 2 year old infant. His head was resting over my shoulder while the rest of his body rested in my arms.
I looked away from Boomer to see Katherine waiting outside the front door. Bow and arrow in hand. She had a single eyebrow arched up in annoyance. I used my free hand to grasp the handle of my bag. I zipped it open enough to sit Boomer inside. I placed the bag back on my back. Boomer squirmed again but again quickly stopped. I guess lack of food would drown anyone or anything. I continued walking to stand in front of Katherine giving her a crooked smile. I sneaked a kiss on her cheek before walking off to the neighbouring house. This one was a double story.
I could almost feel Katherine rolling her eyes. A small smirk made it way across my face as I ended up banging my fist against the front door. I waited out for the noises of moving walkers. But nothing. I looked up at Katherine. Her respond was just to shrug. I opened the door slowly. She raised her bow ready to shot the first walker in sight. But, again took the first few steps in. I followed behind finger lightly around the handle of my blade. I walked passed Katherine to glance up the flight of stairs. Nothing.
"I'll check upstairs." I offered.
Just as I made my way to stairs I felt Katherine's hand grab mine. I looked back at her. Like always she had a look of unnecessary worry. I playful rolled my eyes. I took my bag off my back to lay on the ground by our feet. Boomer whimpered but came out to stand near us looking slightly terrified.
"Keep my dog safe, and I'll be fine. Swears?" I held out my pinky.
She let out a half hearted laugh before wrapping her pinky around mine.
"All good now?" I questioned.
She simply nodded. We dropped our hands so they were placed down at our sides but still held on to each other. We slowly walked through the house. I looked around a corner seeing a dinning room and kitchen. Without words Katherine let go of my hand to walk in looking for supplies. I kept going walking to the stair case. I banged on the walk checking for any walkers. I could hear a growl and banging. I quickly dragged my blade out holding it steady in my hand. I slowly walked up the stairs having my back close to the wall. I get to the top step hearing the bangs get louder.
I look around seeing a door shaking. Walker. I move to stand in front of the door. There is a message in giant chalk writing. 'WALKER INSIDE. GOT MY SHOE, DIDN'T GET ME.' I couldn't help the amused smile as I looked at the fading message. I wonder if this guy was still alive.I wrapped my hand around the door handle. Pulling my knife out the same time I forced the door open. The walker came falling out at the same moment. Without hesitation I plunged my blade down so it pierced through its skull. The groaning noises cut off. I yanked my knife out. Cleaning it on its shirt.
Getting up I placed it back in my pants rip. I looked in the room cautiously looking around for the shoe. After a minute or so I found it kicked in front of a closet. I picked up the shoe holding it proudly in the air. At that moment Katherine walked through the door. She gave me a strange look, throwing me my bag. I put the shoe inside. I zipped it closed and placed it back on my back.
Katherine giggled. "What are you doing you weirdo?"
"Maybe, in looking for my family we'll find the owner of the shoe." I pointed out.
"May-be." Katherine mocked.
I rolled my eyes before giving her a mischievous smile. I moved towards her stepping over the dead walker and around Boomer. I placed my hand on either side of her waist. I pulled her closer, ducking my head to lightly kiss the side of neck. She moved her hands so they laced around the back of my neck and her finger tips tangled in my hair.
"So, we going to find the parents room? Or just do it in the hallway?" I mumbled into her neck. "I'm not picky."
Katherine pulled back as her head leaned back while she laughed.
"Charming, Love, really charming."
