Linger 3
A Shout Out
Jim would not be on my list for a long time.
The virus would have her hold on him for a long time.
If only they knew.
I remember looking down at his family. They ran so franticly. Jim in front, then their sons Jake and Arthur and then the wife at the rear, her name was Laura. There was screaming at shouting and crying.
When walkers or simply the diseased caught up with them there simply was no energy left for Laura to move faster. How could she? She wouldn't endanger her children, she would sacrifice herself.
If anything it's the Mothers who restore my faith in humanity.
However they are another story, let's move on and follow the Atlanta Survivors.
When I followed them on their path to the CDC it was because there was a soul calling out for me.
I don't follow the living, but this soul seemed worth it.
Andrea was just singing my name. Her dark thoughts yearned for me in ways I would rather not be. She was sad, depressed and no amount of chatter can stop the thoughts from running their course. Dale, the poor man tried to understand. He was full of sympathy and understanding.
However another is calling to me. Gently and does so silently. Others do not notice because she hides it so well. It is her who I come for.
Of course I watched as Jim slipped away. I just didn't want to be there. A part of me was tired and too sad to deal with a soul I couldn't carry. The tearful unbelieving explanation, then me leave them.
It was something new every time. I am so use to humans looking at me with relief. I do not wish to crush their hope.
Jim wouldn't be with his loved ones for a while.
Jacqui welcoming thoughts stopped for a moment. The moment when her hope was renewed. I've been to the CDC plenty of times. Many have ended their own lives and then others would let their souls go free. However there are plenty stuff there.
I feel them tugging at me begging me to take them. I have to tell them I can't. It's hard.
"I'm sorry sweetheart but you can't be lifted."
"No it's not your fault."
"I will come back, I promise."
My pleas to calm them down do nothing. They still watch as their jaws snap at the group. They watch as I ignore the rest of their moans.
"Don't leave me here."
"I was such a good Christian."
"I can't take it any longer."
I feel guilty and sad with each step. I slide my way through the CDC remembering all the bodies I took from here, the lucky ones.
I remember Dr. Jenner and his wife. He saved her from a terrible fate that so many suffered. He doesn't know it yet but he'll end up with her again soon.
Or maybe he does. He has been calling to me for a while. He knows that the building will blow up yet he allows these people in.
Has he become a murderer?
I watch was a careful I. Each of these faces I will carry up sooner or later, but for now here in the elevator everything seems fine.
I hover above them watching the tense but grateful faces.
"Doctors always go around packing heat like that?" Daryl says from the side.
"There were plenty lying around I familiarized myself with a few." Ed Jenner said as he looks back and then he looks down at Carl, "But you look harmless enough, except you, I'll have to keep my eye on you."
I swing around to take a look at how things have changed while they settle in and get to know what the CDC is like.
I can hear laughter from afar, something I haven't heard in a while.
I see that most of the building is locked down to save energy and resources. I look at the bodies piled up down the halls far away from where Dr. Jenner and the rest are. Although it isn't a terribly pleasing sight at least I know they're not bound in this earth anymore.
I wander around remembering their faces and reactions to seeing me. A lot of tem where very happy to see me, others were sad but willing to go. No one wanted to stay here for very long.
Everyone but Candace, she was a different one.
She wanted to stay and watch over Ed, made sure he kept his promise.
I remember, she was a pretty lady with a nice smile. She was gentle but firm when needed.
She lingered near Ed, touching his shoulders as he wept. She watched as he worked as I brought souls up and carried more and more.
She was always there looking over his shoulder.
I took her when she began to lose hope in him. She was so tearful when she came to me.
"He doesn't want to be there anymore. How-how can he go on when he believes he has nothing to live for? How can I stay here, drained each day, each moment seeing him so distraught? Please, I'm ready now."
I held her as we floated up her eyes never left the building, never left the CDC.
"If only I could have stayed with him. Maybe things would be different." She lies her head down on my chest I was a man than, a strong man with deep brown eyes.
But now I'm here lingering. Watching them sleep looking so happy, well except for Shane and Andrea, but everyone seemed to know they're safe something they haven't felt for a long time now.
Glenn even in his drunk state was happy; he had a big smile as he slept. T-Dog looked comfortable and made himself at home.
Carol stayed up to read until she finally turned in, sleeping next to Sofia. Lori, Rick and Carl all huddle together happy and a bit dazed in their relief.
Dale fell asleep safe and secure.
Daryl face had a calm look he never had before. No longer was he scared of being killed, beaten and bruised by the dead or undead.
Jacqui was lost in her own daze snuggled tight in the blankets. Even though it's Georgia in the heat, hot the AC was cranked up and she had a slight chill.
I looked at the clock slowly ticking, the hours turned to 3 and then they started to wake. First T-Dog who went to the Kitchen then Daryl whom flopped back on the seat and dozed off again, letting his guard down.
I watched as each woke up, the adults in various stages of hangover and contempt.
As the time dwindles Dr. Jenner's soul began more willing to come to me. I knew what the time meant. It meant 1 hour and 10 minutes before everyone in this room dies.
When they found out what I already knew the anger rushed out.
Sofia and Carol started crying. Shane, Rick, T-Dog, and Daryl were all angry. Extremely pissed they attempted to get out. Glenn and Lori seemed to think it was a joke, as if this couldn't happen.
Only Andrea and Jacqui seemed to understand and accept their fate.
Andreas thought were simple, "My sister, dead, gone, how do I go on without her? My family is dead, there is nothing left to protect, to love, to live for."
Jacqui were different. She never had a family. She never came with anyone. She was on her own, "They do not need me. I do not need them. I accept this. I know there is no hope for the human race anymore. Everyone has given up and left. How can I make an impact? My family is gone, my friends, everyone. I can't sand to see anyone suffer anymore."
I just simply watched. I knew what would happen. Andrea wouldn't die today.
I watched as they left and then finally Dale got Andrea to leave.
My job isn't to watch the living.
I sat with Jacqui and Dr. Jenner simply waiting for the tie to tick.
I was always known for being patient.
When the air turned into fire I didn't feel a thing. Gratefully neither did Dr. Jenner or Jacqui. They bodies burned to bits and as their souls stayed to watch.
"You're going to bring us to heaven now aren't you?" Dr. Jenner said his voice was calm; this was after all they wanted.
There were no tears, not regrets. Nothing. I just simply took them and left. Leaving the others behind to start over.
I wish I could say I wouldn't see them for a long time. But we all know that I come back to them.
