Francis frowned, mumbled something, then shouted and jerked, tilting the chair backwards and falling down, landing hard. He groaned, holding his head. "Ow..."
He blinked, looking around in confusion, slowly rolling himself off the chair, wincing as the back dug sharply into his side. Where was he? He spotted a mirror, then the sink. "Oh... I'm in... the bathroom? What the hell?"
He stood, holding his head still, rubbing the back. He looked out, then saw Allie curled up on his bed, shivering softly. Then he remembered, and smiled softly. He walked over to the bed, then got on it, trying not to wake Allie. He laid between her and the wall, slowly resting on his side. He noticed her shivering, then gently pulled her close, rubbing her arm, side, and leg gently to warm her, hugging her. She went still after a while, and smiled, snuggling tightly against him. Tears sprung in his eyes, but he held them back. Hugging her closely, he went back to get some much needed sleep, falling asleep to her gently breathing.
She woke a few hours later, then smiled widely when she felt Francis behind her. She rolled over and buried her face against his chest, sighing into it. Francis shuddered and woke with a start, feeling as if ice was pressed against his chest. He looked down, and noticed that she'd turned over, breathing against his chest. He noticed she was awake and looking up at him. "Allie?"
She blinked. "Yes?"
He smiled softly. "If you get cold from your breath, imagine how I feel."
Allie frowned, then pulled back, lying on her back. "Sorry. It's just... you're so warm."
Francis laughed softly. "Yes, perhaps, but your breath is fricken cold. Feels like I'm sleeping with ice."
Allie's frown deepened slightly, and she looked away. Francis sighed, reached across, and gently turned her back. "That's not a bad thing. Wait until summer. Then I'll be asking for it. Begging even."
She looked out, then back at him. "How long until summer?"
Francis shrugged. "I dunno. Coupl'a months, maybe? Time'll fly, you'll see."
Allie sighed, then turned over and laid against him again, her back against his skin. "If you stay like this. I still feel your slaps."
He cringed, not wanting to remember hurting her. He put a hand on her shoulder and gently rubbed down her arm, then back up. "Tell me if I start to get bad in the future. I... don't think I could pull myself back together if I hurt you again. Especially if it's like this."
He gingerly touched her cheek, and she steeled herself, not flinching. He smiled, then rubbed her arm again. "That's my strong girl."
Allie grinned widely, tears falling. She turned slightly and hugged his arm. He wrapped his arm around her torso and hugged her tightly but gently, kissing the top of her head. "You're all I got, girl. Promise me you'll stay?"
Allie nodded. He looked at her. "Through thick and thin?"
She paused and thought about it. "To a reasonable thin. A bloody cheek from a slap and I'm out."
He cringed again. "It's bad enough I have to look at what I did... Allie, I don't think I can ever show how sorry I am that I did that. But the alcohol, plus Zoey... it added up to more than I could handle. I took it out on the first person I could think of. And since my mind was on Zoey, naturally it strayed to you. I am sorry I took it out on you."
She smiled softly and nodded. "I understand. I really do. And I forgive you... there's no reason for you to explain what happened and why it happened." She turned, and looked up at him. "I still love you. I'll always love you, kinda like a dad, no matter what you do. It's only a fear for my life that I'd leave."
Francis looked at her, then gathered her up and a big, long, loving hug. He kissed her forehead. She smiled, then kissed his cheek, returning the hug. He then cleared his throat, and checked the time. "They're probably serving breakfast. I'm going to go get some. Want any- never mind. I'll just give you the sweet treat and packet. If you're hungry."
Allie nodded. "Famished."
Francis grinned, then got up, carefully got over her, then walked out and down towards the mess hall. Allie sighed, then stretched and got up, sighing, and walked out. She wanted some fresh air, and the only way to get that was the top deck. She slowly climbed the ladder, then stood on the deck, breathing deeply. She breathed just right and doubled over, coughing, blood dribbling out of her mouth. She stood straight, took a deep breath, and let the blood out, not holding it back.
She turned around, and screamed. Marines had come up behind her, off to the side of the ladder, their guns pointed at her. Quick as lightning she jumped down, sliding the whole way. She hit the bottom and started running, the Marines seconds behind her. She sped down the hall, hands in front of her, her front bloody, screaming. She neared their room, and considered ducking in, but realized she'd be a sitting duck if she did. So she continued, towards the mess hall. Francis is there! He'll protect me!
She ran into the mess hall. "Francis!"
Francis turned, and saw her. He grabbed her up in his arms as she neared, holding her protectively. The Marines skidded to a halt, their guns trained on the little girl's heaving form. Francis scowled. "What are you doing? Trying to scare her to death?"
One of the soldiers shook his head, lowering the weapon in his hands. "No. W-we were chasing a Witch. She was all b-bloody, so we-we thought she'd... she'd..."
Francis rubbed her back, trying to calm her. "Well, she didn't. She was either up for fresh air or searching for me. Most likely fresh air since she knew I was here."
The other soldiers, except for one, lowered their weapons as well. He then pulled his pistol, aiming it at Francis. "Put her down. She's Infected, and she has no right to be on this ship. It's for Carriers and Immune only."
Francis looked at him nonchalantly, tightening his grip on Allie for a moment, then loosened it, pulling her away slightly to look at her face. "Allie? Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"
Allie wiped her eyes, shaking her head. He smiled, then shouted and fell when the soldier shot him in the leg. Allie landed jarringly on her ass, then saw the blood pumping out of the wound. She screamed in anger, got up, turned, and rushed the soldier. He switched back to his shotgun, then clipped her on the side of the head. She stumbled, dazed, to the side. The soldier turned, leveled his shotgun, and fired.
Allie gasped and screamed, her scream cut off by the second shot. Blood and guts splattered the wall behind her after the third shot. She looked down, her mouth open, twisted in pain. She fell to her knees, trying to breath, half of her lungs gone. A sizable hole was present in her gut. Her lungs - what was left of them - the remains of her intestines, and some of her ribs were visible. Her heart as well. She fell, convulsing, landing on her back. Her arms stayed up at her sides, her hands partially flexed. She started choking, blood welling from between her lips, her eyes going blank.
Francis finally got his voice back. "Nooooooo!" He got up, then collapsed, slightly closer to her. She wasn't dead yet. Her heart was beating slowly, blood was pooling. Her head turned to the side, and her eyes fell on him. She convulsed again, more blood leaking out of her mouth. She opened her mouth, gagging, a bloodbubble forming. "Fr-"
Francis crawled closer, crying. "Fra-"
She blinked, then convulsed yet again, something snapping. He forced himself to look. Ribs. Her heart was beating forcefully, trying to thrive. She gagged again, and blood started dribbling out of her nose. "I... l-loo-loovvve..."
She convusled violently, more ribs snapping. Her heart beat, a pause, then beat again. She looked at him with blind, dead eyes. 'I love you.'
Thump...one...two... Thump...one...two...three... Thump...one...two...three...four... Thu-
Francis choked as her heart fell still. He reached up and stroked her forehead, then kissed it. He closed her eyes, then collapsed, crying so hard that he blacked out.
