SHERLOCK

The spiders spun magnificent webs over me last night. When they finished one, they would started another. They probably think of me as they do any other inanimate object. Except I can move. I tried not to, I didn't want to disturb them. One of them has settled on my nose and is looking at me. I'm far to big for him to eat and I am sure I would not taste very good. I guess he is lying in wait for some other bug to fly into the webs above me. I wonder what type of spider he is. I also wonder if he is even a he. He could be a she. I watch him slink away to fix something in one of the webs. He isn't the only spider on me. I believe at least ten are. There are more on the webs above me. This spider has rather a large family.

Is it almost morning? John might be up soon, or he might decide to sleep in. I am glad he doesn't believe I am a threat to him anymore. But should I get up? There really is no reason to yet. If I hear him I will get up. Until then, I will stay here.

I don't want to disturb the spiders.

JOHN

It's raining when I wake up, I love the sound of rain against the windows or their pitter patter upon the rooftop. I feel like I could just dive under the covers and stay there for the rest of the day. But I have to get up. If I don't I expect a concerned zombie would burst into the room to make sure I was still alive. Speaking of zombies, I wonder where he is? I pull of the covers and shiver. Fuck, it's gotten quite chilly during the night. I grab a blanket from the bed and make my way downstairs. A nice, warm cup of tea will do me good.

Lock isn't in the living room, or the kitchen. It's possible he has gone outside. Though he will be soaking wet when he returns. I turn the kettle on and select my tea. I'm going for something traditional this morning. I'll keep the weird flavours for later. It feel's so nice to be inside during a storm, with the tea kettle boiling, wrapped in a blanket. It feels normal. Perhaps because it is. I haven't done anything like this in a long time, just relaxing. I'm always so busy, there's barely time to just be yourself.

The kettle turns itself and I pour the water into my cup. That smell is heavenly. I sit down in the chair closest to the kitchen and pull my feet up. The tea warms me straight up but I wish there was a fire going. There is a fireplace but it looks like it hasn't been used in years. Which would make sense. Maybe theres something I can use as kindling...

I should ask Lock first, I don't want to anger a zombie whilst dressed in a blanket, with tea. Where is he?

"Lock?"

I call, hoping he can hear me. I leave the living room and walked through the kitchen to his bedroom. Nope, not in there. He wasn't in flat below this one either. Or the basement. Where could he be? There's only one room left. And if he's not there, he must be outside somewhere. I don't suppose rain bothers a zombie. I place my teacup on the kitchen table and open the door to the bathroom. I'm glad I don't have to worry about him being naked and having a shower.

SHERLOCK

The door opens and I look up, it's John, in a blanket. Oh dear, this probably looks rather odd. I'd explain except I have no answers. He just keeps staring at me with his mouth open. It's quite interesting to watch. He's not sure if he should go over to me and help me or leave me to get up myself. He takes off the blanket and puts it outside and then closes the door. He folds up his sleeves and kneels next to the bath.

"Is this something you do often?" I want to nod but I can't.

"Yess."

"Why?" Ok, that was a hard question to answer. Because I can? Because it's interesting?

"B-bec-causse." Yes, perfect reply.

"Because is not an answer Lock."

"Is."

"No it's really isn't."

"...Is."

"Look, let's not do this. Are you staying there or not? Only it's fucking cold and I need something to start a fire."

Cold? What was cold? Oh, cold is why he's shivering. I can bring in the chairs from the cafe next door and he can burn those. I don't want him to burn my things. They are mine. I slowly, very slowly lifted my head and hit the tap above it. John winced on my behalf. I gently sat up and slowly began to stand. Most of the spiders leaped away onto the walls or they ran down my legs. Getting out of the bath was no problem, with all the pillows and blankets, it was no longer slippery.

There, out.

JOHN

He's... he's just covered in cobwebs. His shoes, his coat, his scarf, even his face and hair. Oh Lock, you are ridiculous. I brush away some of the webs from his coat just as a little spider begins his descent down Lock's face on a single piece of silk. Lock almost goes cross-eyed trying to look at him. There's another spider on his shoulder and a tiny one crawling up his chin. I apologise to the spiders as I flick them off and make sure he is spider free before I let him out of the bathroom.

"Now do you know where I can get firewood or kindling?"

He nods and tells me to stay. I watch him leave the hallway and down the stairs of the flat. He's very slow. And yet zombies can be incredibly fast. I guess they just have to be hungry. I pick up my blanket and wrap it back around my shoulders. I need something to eat. Jam and crackers again, delicious. I could live on this stuff. I technically am.

I think I want another cup of tea.

Lock returns forty-five minutes later with three wooden chairs. He is soaking wet. I feel cold just looking at him. His feet have left wet footprints all everywhere and he's now standing in a little puddle of his own making. His hair is flat against his face, still with a little curl though. I take the chairs of him and start to break them into pieces. Now to start the fire. Shit.. should have thought about that.

"You don't have matches do you?"

I watch his mind whirring. Lock turns towards the desk and pushes a pile of papers off to reveal a box of matches. Most of them have been used. But theres still a few left. Enough to keep a fire going for a few days. I throw the pieces into the fireplace and light them. I make sure to move the grill back in place. I don't want curious zombies trying to touch the fire. And I can tell the thought has just crossed his mind.

"No Lock."

He just looks at me and water droplets slide down his face. "Why?"

"Because it's dangerous."

"...D-dead."

"Yeah so your body doesn't heal like a human's. So stay away from the fire. Promise me." Do zombies even make promises?

"F-fine." Good. I'll hold you to that.

"Now go and...dry off or something. I feel cold just looking at you."

This really confuses him. He has probably been out in the rain loads of times and never dried himself off before.

"Dr-r-r-r...dr-ry off?"

Fine, I'll do it. Just this once. He's going to have to sit in front of the fire though. I tell him to do so and that if he so much as touches that grille I will tie his hands behind his back. He nods and sits in front of the fire and watches it. I search a few cupboard for towels and find a few large enough. I bring them back and start to dry him off. It's hard because he refuses to remove his coat, shoes or scarf. So I settle for drying them instead. He turns around whilst I'm doing it and watches me with open eyes. He scrunches them when I do his hair through. When I'm finished his hair resembles a mad scientists.

"There, you're mostly dry now. Stay in front of the fire until you are completely dry. Don't move from this spot."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to slip in a puddle you've made and break a leg or something."

"Why?"

"Because it hurts."

"Why?"

Oh God he's in the why stage. Why?! Oh very funny brain.

"Just because Lock, ok? Just because." I considered giving him a proper medical answer but I'm sure it would lead to more questions.

"N-not...g-good.?"

"Bit not good yeah."