Mason moved down the middle of the street passing the seemly deserted houses, rifle pocketed in his shoulder and eyes sweeping ever window and doorway. He would have liked to search the houses but he felt like they didn't have the time. Plus if they made good time they could reach the COP before nightfall. Mason moved placing each booted foot with careful precision everything that had been drill into him was screaming at him that he was wrong. That he shouldn't been in the middle of the street in the open. He should be near cover watching the roof tops for snipers or piles of trash for IEDs. However the enemy he was now fighting was different, forcing him to fight differently as well.
Mason risked a quick glance behind him to look at Liz as she followed him. She was the complete opposite of him. Where he was tense and alert coiled to strike at any second. She meanwhile was relaxed and lose. She walked with a slight bounce in her step, she even had a slight content smile on her face. It was as if she was just strolling down the street on the way to work or meeting friends for lunch. That's when Mason realized that this was no longer his world but hers. Where everyone in this new world wanted to kill him, she was one of them. She had nothing to really fear for them unlike him.
Mason looked forward again as they passed an abounded car as a force of habit he gave it a wide arc incase it was a VBIED. After he swept the side alley and windows for lurking infected, he pulled his map from his breast pocket. It was folded so the section of map of their location was already on top, saving him some time in not having to unfold it and refold it. They only had to make it through this neighborhood, turn down a side street, then onto a highway that would lead them right past the COP. He was gambling that there wouldn't be too many infected near a (hopefully)deserted highway. They just had to make it though this neighborhood, and try to avoid any infected that were in this area. Mason was also betting that the infected would have retreated indoors due to the rain.
A crack of thunder followed by a gust of chilled wind roused Mason from his thoughts. He looked up at the sky and saw that it had gotten dark and overcast again. Must going to rain again, he thought as he looked up at the swirling clouds stuffing the map back in his pocket. As if to confirm his theory a single raindrop fell and landed on his cheek. He looked over at Liz and her glowing eyes that were looking up at the sky as well. Sighing Mason droped to a knee removing his rucksack from his shoulders and set it on the ground. He opened it up and rummaged around inside till he pulled out his poncho, like everything else of his, was done up in woodland camouflage. He secured his rucksack back on his shoulders before he walked over to Liz.
"It going to rain again soon," Mason said holding out the poncho. "Put this on." She accepted the poncho and Mason helped her put it on. Once she had it on, the hood pulled over the boonie hat Mason stepped back. It was big and looked more like a shapeless dress on her then a poncho.
"Look I just like you now," Liz said happily. Mason looked her over and had to admit she kind of had a point. The woodland camo did match perfectly with his uniform's camouflage, then when she held her hands at her side the long garment hid her claws. The only thing that would give her away as a Witch would be the glowing eyes but even that would be hard to see with the hood pulled up. As he looked at her a funny idea began to form in the back of his mind. As more raindrops started to fall faster landing on his helmet and shoulders he pushed the thought to the back of his mind. He turned around and started to press forward again the rain starting to come down faster. "Hey what about you?" Liz asked as she noticed he didn't have any protection from the rain.
"I'll be fine," Mason said a hollow smile touching his lips. "If it ani't raining you ani't training."
"What that mean?" Liz asked walking behind Mason who still had his rifle pressed to his shoulder.
"Nothing," Mason said taking point again sweeping the area in front of him. "It was just something that my drill sergeants would sa-" He stopped suddenly when he thought he heard something even though the rain. Mason came to a stop and started to aim higher sweeping roof tops and higher windows. The sound he thought he heard was a cough but not just any cough a deep cough of someone with damaged lungs: a smoker's cough. He knew then that a Gene was nearby. He also knew that civilians called them Smokers but couldn't really understand why. The only thing they had to do with their name was the cloud of spores that surrounded them and the cloud of smoke they released when they were killed. The name didn't really reflex how they attacked or hunted. If he had to pick the name he would have called them Lickers or something along those lines. Either way he had to find the bastard before he could grab him. A ear splitting shriek caused Mason to whip around just in time to see a long tongue ensnare Liz and yank her up and away.
"LIZ!" Mason shouted as he watched her being lifted into the air pulled towards the roof of a building. He snapped his rifle up trying to see the target but unable to, due to the rain.
"MASON HELP! PLEASE!" Liz cried out struggling as she was pulled farther away. Not being able to see the target and hearing Liz scream caused him to do the one thing his drill sergeants told him never to do: panic. Mason fired at the building at random hitting it high near the roof or the rounds passed just over it. As he fired he could see Liz was only getting pulled farther away till her back slammed into the side of the building he was shooting at. He then watched in horror as she was pulled up and had almost reached the roof. Something slammed into his back knocking him to the concrete splashing up a puddle of water.
He knew what it was the second it started to snarl and growl as it ripped at his rucksack, an infected that had snuck up on him. He couldn't believe that he had and was making so many mistakes. But that stops now, Mason thought as he used a considerable amount of strength to roll over pinning the infected to the ground with his rucksack. He then quickly slipped out of the straps and got to his feet placing a boot on his rucksack to keep the infected pinned. Mason shouldered his rifle aiming at the infected's forehead as he still struggled his arms and legs pinned under Mason's rucksack. He fired once point blank the round punching a neat hole through the infected's head finally quieting him. His rifle's bolt locked back having just fired the last round in the magazine. As he dropped the empty mag and shoved a new one in he watched the rain already washing the blood away that was leaking from the infected's head.
A shriek of more infected caused him to snap his head back up. More infected were running at him their feet splashing up water. He then watched, as his stomach dropped, as more infected came out of buildings and into the street. It seemed Liz's scream and his gunshots had gotten their attention as all the infected in the neighborhood were rushing towards him. Mason glanced back behind him just in time to see Liz's feet disappear as she was pulled completely up to the roof of the building. He turned to watch the infected as they continued to charge him.
"I don't have fucking time for this!" Mason growled as he slapped the side of his rifle hitting the bolt release, ridding the bolt forward. He snapped his rifle up and fired a burst at the closest infected hitting him center mass dropping him hard. Mason took a step back getting closer to the building Liz was pulled to. He fired again dropping another infected he then took another step back. Mason felt and heard footsteps behind him and turned to see even more infected running at him from the opposite direction. He fired twice more killing one more infected and wounding another when his magazine ran dry. Mason swore as he dropped the empty mag letting it chatter to the pavement. He shoved a full one in and slapped the bolt release as he started to back up from the second group of infected firing as he did so. He whipped back around just as the lead infected of the first group was almost in arms reach. He fired point blank knocking the infected to the ground some of her blood splashing on the front of his uniform, the rain already starting to wash it away.
Mason continued to fire into the first group as he backed up getting closer to the second one. Mason swung 180 again and fired into the second group that was quickly gaining on him. He fired switching between the two groups as they continued to gain ground on him as he tried to move closer to the building Liz was abducted to. He pressed his back against the door and fired one more burst dropping an infected that lunged at him emptying a third magazine. Both groups were dangerously close to him now as he reloaded. He spun around squaring up with the door and planted his right foot just about the doorknob, kicking it in. Mason rushed in feeling the hands of the infected just miss him as he rushed inside the building. He turned around and fired into the infected that were massed in the doorway.
The doorway acted as a fetal funnel Mason was able to exploit keeping the remaining infected bunched up and unable to get to him. After two more mag changes the remaining infected were finally killed leaving a large pile of bodies in front of the door. Mason stood up having dropped to a knee to fire more accurately. He then started to sweep the building which was a mom and pop pizza joint. As he walked water dripped from his uniform and rifle leaving a trail of water droplets. He just had to find the way to the roof, kill the infected mutated bastard that took Liz and get her out of here. He found a metal door with mechanical and roof access written on it. Convenient, Mason thought as he tried to the doorknob to find it locked. He squared up with the door and kicked his foot out as hard as he could planting it in the same place as before. The door shuttered but didn't give way.
"Son of a bitch!" Mason shouted as he fell to the ground grabbing his knee. "What I wouldn't give for a damn breaching charge or fucking shotgun!" Mason managed through gritted teeth as his hugged his injured knee closer to his chest. Knowing he didn't have time for a break he got shakily to his feet trying to keep as much weight of his right leg as possible. He started to throw his shoulder against the door getting as much weight behind it as he could. After doing that and having nothing to show for it expect a hurting left shoulder. Mason fell to the ground in defeat as he nursed both an injured knee and wounded shoulder. He snatched up his rifle and pulled the half full magazine from it. He pulled a magazine from his web gear that had a ring of red tape around the bottom. He looked at the rounds inside to see they had black painted tips, armor piercing rounds with solid steel cores and full copper jackets. He tapped the magazine against his helmet to ensure they were seated in the magazine correctly before shoving it into his rifle.
Mason placed the rifle's stock against his right hip as he got to his feet again. He gritted his teeth as he fired pulling the trigger quickly only loosely aiming. He fired hitting the door, doorknob and doorframe punching neat holes all the way through. Once he had empty his magazine the doorknob and around it looked like Swiss cheese. Mason reloaded and took a deep breath as he readied himself. As he exhaled he started to run at the door lowering his left shoulder to slam it into the door. This time when he slammed into it the door swung open and Mason stumbled into a dark room with a water heater, boiler and ladder bolted to the cinder block wall. He slung his rife across his back as he started to climb the ladder keeping his right leg off of it the best he could.
Meanwhile on the roof that Mason was currently climbing to was a very pissed off Witch and confused Smoker. The two were currently face to face, he still hard her ensnared in his tongue. When he had first pulled her up he had thought her a human and was truly surprised to turn her around and see her glowing eyes kept in shadow by the poncho's hood. The taller infected didn't know what to do as they locked eyes.
"Release me at once," Liz demanded speaking as an infected once again.
"You're a Witch," The Smoker said his speech not hindered by his tongue being wrapped around Liz.
"Indeed and release me at once or suffer!" Liz demanded trying to struggled against her bounds.
"That seems like a excellent reason for me not to set you free," The Smoker said regaining his composer. "Tell me, why are you traveling with a human?"
"I wasn't traveling with a human," Liz lied still trying to break free. "I was hunting him." The Smoker arched an eyebrow.
"I have never seen your kind hunt like that," The Smoker remarked. "Why do you wear that?" He asked using a hand to lift up some of the large flowing poncho.
"To hide who...what I really am," Liz explained coming up with a lie quickly. "So I could get closer to my prey."
"You know I could help you," The Smoker said. "I could grab the human and we could both feast upon him. In fact I could do it right know." He started to lower her to the ground and turn around.
"NO!" Liz shouted causing him to lift her back up and turn around eyeing her evilly.
"I knew it," The Smoker growled. "You think I am stupid? I heard you call his name in his speech as I pulled you away. I thought you were just a human imagine my surprise to find out you were an infected. You fancy him don't you?"
"Let me go," Liz growled her eyes glowing a piercing red.
"I don't think I will," The Smoker said bringing her closer to him. "In fact since I can't really eat you I'll just have to settle for your human pet."
"No please don't," Liz begged her eyes dulling.
"And why shouldn't I?" The Smoker demanded. He then pulled her hood down and placed a hand on the side of her face gently caressing it. "Perhaps you could give me something else instead."
"If I do you'll leave him be?" Liz asked lowering her head in shame.
"You have my word," The Smoker whispered rubbing the side of her face. He then pushed her to the roof top keeping her entangled with in his tongue. He then lay on top of her and whispered in her ear. "You know there are over 30 infected in this area and I haven't heard your human pet use his weapon in a long while. I fear he might be dead my dear." Tears started to swell in her eyes and fall down her cheeks. He broke his tongue off but she was still trapped as he bent down and licked the side of her face with his rapidly re-growing tongue. She closed her eyes as she couldn't believe Mason was dead and now this was happening to her. Suddenly something warm, warmer then the raindrops, landed on her cheeks and forehead. She opened her eyes and saw that it was his back tainted blood dripping from his mouth his one good eye wide in shock and pain. She then watched stunned as he got off of her and she was able to see why.
It was Mason and he had his bayonet that was still attached to his rifle jammed into the middle of the Smoker's back. Mason had done this for when he had reached the roof he was able to see the Smoker lower Liz to the ground. He couldn't risk shooting it and hitting Liz in the process. So he had limped over on his bad knee and throbbing shoulder, thrusting his bayonet into his back. Mason used that to pull him off of her and forced him to his knees as blood dripped out of the Smoker's mouth. Liz watched Mason happy that he was alive but a little fearful of him as well for his eyes were deathly narrow and he wore a sinister sneer.
"See the Gene dressed in black," Mason growled through gritted teeth both from anger and pain. "He is the one with my bayonet in his back." Mason twisted his rifle twisting the blade as he said it. The Smoker tried to cry out in pain but only blood bubbled from his mouth. "I am the one that he did not see." Mason growled as he pushed the blade deeper into his back forcing the Smoker onto his stomach. Mason then wiggled the bayonet still logged in the Smoker back causing more blood to come out of its mouth and back. He then pulled the blade out suddenly and limped to the Smoker's side. Mason then used a foot to roll the Smoker over onto his back. "Queen of the battle US Infantry." Mason then fired one round through the bastard's head causing a cloud of smoke to erupt from his body. He walked out of the cloud of smoke the rain was quickly dispersing. When Liz saw him walk out of the smoke she reacted in fear trying to shield herself but the Smoker's tongue still restrained her. However his face had soften his eyes back to their normal size and the sneer was replaced with a look of concern. Mason limped over to where Liz lay and knelt beside her.
"You ok?" Mason asked removing the tongue from around her. Liz looked at Mason not believing he could ask her such a question when he wasn't. One of the many perks of being an infected she could tell when a human was injured, how badly and where. The worst was still his right forearm where the Hunter had scratched him. Then his right knee, which was a new injury, was clearly causing him a large amount of pain. Next was his face which wasn't life threatening or hindering him in anyway but must sting and burn still causing him pain. Lastly was his left shoulder it was going to burse and probably swell. Then he was unprotected from the rain unlike her. His uniform was completely soaked through and she could see his body temperature had dropped slightly. "Hey are you ok?" Mason asked again pulling Liz to her feet real concern in his eyes.
"Yeah I am fine," Liz said. "Are you o-"
"I'm fine," Mason said before she could even finish. "Let's go." Liz watched him as he started to limp towards the door that would allow them to climb down. She watched as he wanted to bring a hand to his sore shoulder but brought it down quickly when it was halfway up. She wanted him to rest but knew he never would, thinking he had to place her needs and safety above his own. So she quickly came up with a idea. She took one step on his right foot and cried out in fake pain as she collapsed to the ground. Mason whipped back around at her cry of pain the concern ever present in his eyes. "What's wrong?" Mason asked heading back over to where she lay.
"My," Liz started but had forgotten the name of the body part the was suppose to hurt. She point at her ankle.
"Ankle?" Mason asked kneeing beside her again.
"Yes," She said nodding quickly. "My ankle hurt. Cannot walk."
"That's ok," Mason said reaching down and scooping her up. He placed her arms over his shoulders and leaned forward her stomach pressing into his back. Most of her weight was now on Mason as he used a combat carry to carry her. His right hand was still free so he could fire his rifle one handed if need be. "Keep as much weight off your bad ankle as you can."
"Ok," Liz said gripping his chest tightly. She swore inside of her head instead of helping she only burdened him even more. Once he reached the ladder he let his rifle hang by its sling around one arm. He then reached down and placed a arm under her butt and this caused a shiver of heat to run up her spine at his touch.
"Wrap your legs around my waist," Mason ordered.
"Ok," Liz said her knees feeling a little weak from his arm under her butt. She warped her legs around his trim waist crossing her ankles in front of his stomach. When she did that he removed his arm from under her butt and mounted the ladder. He grunted in pain as he was forced to put equal weight on both legs as Liz's added weight was too much for one leg to hold. After they reached the bottom and he stepped out of the mechanical room she removed her legs from around him relieving him of some of her weight. He carried her to the dining room of the pizza joint and set her down in a chair.
"You wait right here," Mason said with a sneeze followed by a quick shiver. "I'll be right back."
"Ok," Liz said as she watched him leave the restaurant entering the rain once again. She quickly lost sight of him and this caused fear and sorrow to well inside of her chest. However she saw him return now wearing his heavy rucksack his limp worse due to it. He walked back inside and up to her water dripping off of his helmet.
"Give me your arm," Mason said. "We have to make the COP before nightfall."
"I fine now," Liz said jumping to her feet. "I can walk now." Mason's eyes widened in surprise and shock when he saw this. "We heal fast." Liz said tapping her chest. Mason knowing nothing about how the infected healed accepted this as fact and just nodded.
"Ok," Mason said turning to leave. "Let's go. Let me know if you need a break."
"What about you?" Liz asked walking up behind them. "You in pain."
"Pain is a good thing," Mason said with a half chuckle. "It is weakness leaving the body. It is your body making you stronger. And the best thing about pain is it lets you know you're still alive." Liz's mouth open in shock of what he just said.
"Who teach you such horrible things?" Liz demanded.
"Army drill sergeants," Mason said dryly moving out into the rain shouldering his rifle again. Having very little choice she followed him into the ran again moving behind him. 10 minutes later they had made it to the highway and with the exception of a few abandoned cars and dead bodies it was deserted. They walked in silence the once content half smile on Liz's face now gone replaced with concern for Mason. His limp had only worsen and she could almost see the grimace on his face as he walked. It had gotten to the point where he was using his rifle as a crutch. He would place the stock on the ground lean heavily upon it and then take a step with his right leg. They stopped to eat a quick wet lunch of MREs Mason preparing both of them one for him and one for her. She didn't find them that bad, not that great but not that bad either.
After lunch and Mason swallowed a handful of pain killers they started to walk again. Night was starting to fall making Liz nervous, not for her safety for she could see quite well in the dark but for Mason's. Mason suddenly stopped in front of a gravel turn off from the main highway. He removed the rifle from the ground and pocketed in his shoulder again as he waited for Liz to catch up. The gravel road lead to a large flat clearing also covered in gravel but encircled in razor wire. There were several large tents set up with quiet generators nearby cables running to the tents. Floodlights were spotted around the outpost along with a small motor pool with a few Humvees and a truck were parked in. However most of their hoods were open wires and tubes hanging out. It was clear to Mason that this were the vehicles that were cannibalized for parts as the working ones were already gone.
Set in front of the outpost and at the end of the short road was an armed checkpoint. It was two machinegun nests made out of a U of sandbags at chest height. Plastic road dividers sat in between the two nests set up so an approaching car would have to slow and zig zag between them to get into the COP. The usually signs were posted in front of the checkpoint. Stating this was a military outpost, to slow their vehicles down and may be subject to searches. Being noncompliant will get you shot. A M240B, the predecessor of the M60, sat on each nest belts of ammo still dangled from their feed trays. Spent shell casings lettered the ground around the checkpoint. The ground and few trees in front of the checkpoint was pock marked and a few bodies of infected were in on the ground in front of the checkpoint. Maybe they really do eat their dead, Mason thought as he slowly started to walk towards the checkpoint.
The machinegun nests were still manned by the bodies of fallen comrades. Their skin was pale almost gray with chunks missing from their face, neck and arms. Still their faded and torn uniforms were clearly visible. The gunner had died his hand still around the machinegun's grip and had fallen forward his body resting on the weapon itself. The assistant gunner was laying on his back mouth stuck in a scream as he stared up at the sky his mouth filling with rain water. The other machinegun nest was just as bad. Mason felt a shame grow inside of him. These four soldiers didn't abandon their post but stayed and had paid the price. Still their sacrifice might have been worth it since Mason couldn't see many bodies in the outpost itself. Mason knelt and checked the unit patch of the dead assistant gunner to find him part of the 15th Infantry Company. His unit's sister company, same battalion different company. Mason checked his neck and found he still wore his dog tags, so he removed one of them and added them to his sleeve pocket.
"At ease private," Mason said speaking softly. "You're relieved now." Mason patted the dead man's shoulder as he got to his feet again. He then collected the rest of the dog tags of the defenders before pushing deeper into the outpost Liz at his back. She could tell seeing the dead soldiers had gotten to him, could tell by the look in his eyes and the slight droop in his shoulders. She decided not to bring it up yet as she followed him. "ANYONE HERE!" Mason shouted once he reached the middle of the camp. "SOUND OFF!" A loud muffled growl caused both Liz and Mason to face the tent from which it had come from. A former soldier rushed out of the tent and stopped in the open as he looked around trying to find who had shouted. He was still in full battle rattle to include body armor, web gear(with grenades and magazines still attached), and helmet. He even wore his gasmask hiding his face expect for his white lifeless eyes that were visible from the mask's lenses. His rifle hung from its slung that was still around him the rifle itself in front of his chest. He let out a screech that was muffled by the mask as he rushed Mason and Liz.
Mason snapped his rifle up but held his fire letting the former comrade get closer. Once he was only a few feet away he fired just once taking the infected in the forehead punching a hole through his mask. Mason watched as the infected fell backwards landing hard on his back. He them moved into the tent they had came from stepping over the dead infected clicking on his flashlight. The inside of the tent was a mess. Over turned cots and clothing throw everywhere but no bodies or blood. It seemed that the machine gunner's sacrifice had paid off letting most of the soldiers station here escape. Mason walked back out into the rain and looked at the sun to see it setting quickly. Mason checked the tent next to the one the soldier had came from. This one was also empty with only a few things left behind the cots were even still set up. When they evaced they did it quickly taking only what they could grab quickly and what vehicles that ran.
"In here!" Mason shouted over his shoulder to Liz. She walked in happy to get out of the rain. Mason set his rucksack down on a cot the water already dripping off and onto the cot. He then found a battery powered lantern and turned it on, it casted a soft blue light inside the dark tent. Mason then helped Liz get her soaked poncho off and hung it up. He then removed his helmet, web gear, BDU jacket, pants and socks hanging them up so they could dry as well. He then took off his olive drab shirt so he wore only his boxers seeming to forget Liz was in there with him. He seemed to suddenly remember as he looked behind him to see her staring at him. He blushed as he quickly dug into his rucksack the water poof bag keeping the rest of his cloths dry. He pulled on another shirt and another pair of dry BDU pants. "Sorry." Mason mumbled.
"You have done nothing wrong," Liz said secretly wishing he would have stayed undressed. She then started to strip as well even though her cloths had remained mostly dry under the poncho's protection. Soon she wore only her undergarments her kind was known for and his boonie hat. Mason coughed awkwardly as he turned his attention back to the MRE's he was preparing. Once they were ready he took them over and placed them on an unclaimed cot and sat on the one next to it. Liz sat on the one across from the food and smiled happily at Mason. He smiled back as he looked at his knee it was swollen and tender to the touch. He then turned back to his MRE and the rib shaped BBQ flavored 'pork' patty.
"Why do you wear only that?" Mason asked blushing lightly again.
"I make deal," Liz said with a wicked smile. "You ask question I answer. Then I ask question you answer. Deal?"
"Yeah sure," Mason said.
"Ok," Liz said. "I wear only this." Liz pointing at her undergarments. "For I feel...I know it is the best way to attract-." She suddenly stopped clamping her mouth shut as Mason jerked up.
"Attract what?" Mason asked.
"Prey," Liz said sighing deeply. Mason's eyes widen when he realized she was right. The crying with the state of undress was what had drawn Baker in wanting to help a seemingly lost and poor survivor. Then there was the sick bastards that might have had something else on their minds.
"Oh," Was all Mason could think of to say.
"Why do you not like I wear this?" Liz asked.
"Well," Mason started his blush deepening. "You're a very beautiful...woman with large er..uhm nice...a good...prefect...beautiful body. And you shouldn't show it off to someone like me. Unless you...never mind. I just shouldn't see you almost naked is all."
"Do you not like me?" Liz asked cocking her head to the side.
"No," Mason said quickly his face only growing more red. "I mean I do like you but not in that way." The last part was a half lie.
"Oh," Liz said sadly dropping her gaze.
"No not like that either," Mason said quickly. "I mean you're very beautiful and if we had meet under different circumstances and you weren't a...I would ask you out in a heartbeat."
"You think I'm beautiful," Liz said slyly blushing a little.
"Yes," Mason admitted
"Ok," Liz said perking up again. "My question."
"You already ask me a question," Mason said.
"About your question," Liz explained. "You have seen dead warriors before?"
"Yes," Mason said.
"Why did seeing those dead ones outside make you feel sad?" Liz asked.
"Because I should be dead," Mason said somberly. Liz's eyes widened in confusion. "One of the first things they teach you when you arrive for basic training is your general orders. General order number one: I will guard everything within the limits of my post and quit my post only when properly relieved. If I would have followed that I would have been killed but I could have maybe saved the lives of others. Those four soldiers did that, gave their lives and saved countless others. Seeing them just reminded me that I'm a coward and a deserter."
"You are no coward," Liz said place a claw on the side of his face. The two locked eyes as they stared at each other. She them moved her face closer to him as he stared wide eyed. Before he could do anything or she could change her mind she placed a quick kiss on his lips. Her strangely soft and smooth lips lightly brushing his dry and cracked ones. "You save me many time." She then let go of him as his face burned a deep red.
"You should get some sleep," Mason said getting to his feet too quickly forgetting about his bad knee and almost fell down.
"What about you?" Liz asked as she moved so she was lying on the cot.
"I've got to stand watch," Mason said picking up his rifle and setting on a cot near the tent's flap. "We can't lock a door so I'll stand guard. You sleep though." Mason then preparing himself for a long argument with her.
"Ok," Liz said surprising him as she laid on her back and closed her eyes. Mason watched her and the way her chest rose and fell evenly making him think she was asleep. He then placed his rifle across his lap and stared at the tent flap. Mason rubbed his hurting knee through his pants, he couldn't let Liz know how much he was truly hurting. His head was pounding, his knee throbbed, his arm and shoulder were sore, his face stung and he felt a little feverish for staying out in the rain. He looked back at the tent flap to see his vision had changed as if he was looking at it through a tunnel. He could feel like his heart was start to slow and knew he was going to pass out.
"No," Mason grunted through gritted teeth. "I've got to stay awake, for her." But it was in vain as he blacked out falling to the gravel floor the tent was pitched on. Mason had finally succumbed to the exhaustion, wounds and sickness he had gotten recently. It was nothing short of a miracle that he was able to stay conscious and on his feet for that long. It spoke volumes about his true character and determination. Liz, who had never actually gone to sleep, got up and walked over to Mason. She picked him up and placed him back on the cot on his back.
"I will stand watch," Liz whispered. She then bent down and kissed him longer and passionately on the lips. In his current state he didn't wake up. "I love you." Liz whispered as she sat down on the cot. She then saw his flush cheeks and touched his forehead with the back of her hand. She could feel that he was running a fever and a kind of selfish, hopeful smile touched her lips. "You and me shall be the same soon." She whispered before she kissed him again. She then turned to watch the tent flap looking meaningfully at her claws.
