Hi everyone! This chapter, just for the heck of it, I decided to switch to Richtofen's POV, though I'm not sure why... Anyways, hope you enjoy! And yes, the chapter title is something I took from somewhere(I wonder how many know what its from XD) Hint: I don't own that thing either...

Thanks everyone for the support and encouragement! :) Every review, fave and follow gives me inspiration(Whether its obvious or not).

Oh, and I apologize for the late update!

Thoughts from Tanya Dreiser - In retrospect

Those little...episodes...are so damned annoying at times. Fortunately, they don't happen too often. I think. Although, maybe that's because I have not had much contact with people in the past decade or so. Anyways, what happened has been very crazy, and these people who have intruded on my palace have...brought back unwanted memories, as you will soon discover. Oh well...

Chapter 12

Slaughter is the Best Medicine.

Richtofen's POV.

How strange this all has become.

Indeed, I never expected to see Tanya again. Much less did I expect to be so... drawn to this enigma that it signified. I did make her strong, but it is still hard to fathom how she managed to survive. Perhaps the copious amounts of the element in her bloodstream? That seemed the most likely hypothesis.

I churned my thoughts over in my mind like the gears of the Pack-a-Punch machine. So many thoughts to work over. So little time.

I paced through the house, my mind running through these uncertain musings. A mystery indeed, and until I figured it out, I'd be keeping tabs on the woman. I had her DNA, so I needn't worry about keeping her...intact. No. That wasn't right. The DNA didn't make everything! Much of it had to do with experiences, how much one ate, slept, etcetera...

She should stay alive. I got the feeling though that she could take care of that by herself just fine.

Alive...

When was the last time I gave any thought to someone staying alive?

Interesting, yes, interesting...

I chuckled. Everything was crazy, and I liked the insanity. The little touch of spice to life, I might say if I were asked. I liked the...mystery. The discovery. The chase. Ahhhh. It was just so...refreshing!

I heard a noise then. I located it silently. It seemed to be coming from outside.

Instantly I remembered the incident with the Illuminati thugs. I skipped over to the window, still feeling excitement. I peered outside through the dusty and torn curtains.

OH JOY! A minion was making its way along the yard, yellow eyes glowing brightly and jaw hanging loosely. It was a tall one, it's skin covered in welts and it's clothes hung in tatters on its decayed body. Right now, a bloodbath would make the perfect distraction. I shivered in anticipation and let out a little giggle.

I sprang over to the door lightly and flung it open.

"Welcome, my child!" I greeted. "I am your doctor!" I laughed.

The undead beast was coming towards me, arms raised now that it'd caught sight of me. I couldn't help but laugh again as I raised the Ray Gun that I'd brought with me on this venture. I unloaded several blasts of plasma on to the corpse, watching the wonderful burst of blood. Chunks of meat and flesh landed on the ground.

"You die so...beautifully!" I sighed, sucking air through my throat. "Ja...good!"

A power-up floated above the now-splattered corpse, glowing green, it's basic white color made me think of bones...and bone marrow. Delicious!

I noted that it was an Insta-Kill. The skull seemed to grin, its teeth shimmering in the green light. Wonderful!

I skipped outside, looking this way and that, keeping my eye out for more of my minions. It would do no good to get caught off-guard!

It turned out to be a good idea, as I was greeted with the sight of more of my lovelies.

They were staggering in from the road, howling angrily. Their gate was a lurching, lunging motion, but steady enough to remain on course. I found this rather amusing, the way I always did. Seeing, smelling and killing the dead never got old.

I touched the power up with the tip of my fingers.

"INSTA-KILL!" Samantha's terrible voice announced.

I shoved the Ray Gun into my belt and pulled out my knife, wetting my lips in anticipation of the glorious bloodshed to follow. I surged forward, muscles loose and obedient to my impulses. My shiny blade seemed to lead the way, and I was more than happy to follow.

My knife plunged gorgeously into a rotten jaw, crushing the bone like glass. Stale, warm liquid spattered on me, thick and fluid. I ripped the blade sideways, enjoying the guttural howl that followed. Shattered bone and pieces of ruined flesh spattered across my face amazingly.

Several rotten hands reached for me, and I laughed in a high pitch. My knife glinted as the serrated edge sliced through muscles and arteries. Tendons caught in the blade, severed. Skin peeled neatly and bloody rain showered from the wall of death I was creating in the carcasses.

I felt viscous, crimson syrup splatter on my face and brittle limbs break under my might. I tasted oxygen-stale iron and something sickeningly sweet and sour. I smelled decay and death, breathing it in. I heard the squish of moldered brains and the snaps of broken bones. I saw the ferocious carnage and the glowing, orange eyes.

I cried out at the glorious feelings I was experiencing from this.

"JA!"

I groaned, then giggled as a head toppled to the ground, severed neck-stump gushing red blood like a demented river.

"Oh, ja! You should duck next time!"

I dodged a swiping hand, plunging my blade into a rotten chest, watching more scarlet fall. My weapon, almost of its own accord, easily split another head like a watermelon as I made a spin that would have impressed Takeo if he were here(Which wasn't hard to do to begin with). Flesh parted before the sharpened point, and I swore I saw little bits of brain matter explode under the impact. Bodies collapsed as I kept at it, intent on using this Insta-Kill to its fullest.

"All the BODY PARTS! AHAHAHAHA! IT'S WONDERFUL!"

Then, to my disappointment, the Insta-Kill was over. But I didn't run. I yanked out my Ray Gun, spent a split-second aiming, and then began to unload the clip. Green rays tore through corpses, shattering bone and devouring flesh with ease. The cadavers tore in half, sometimes more, leaving splotches of red and gray gore all over the lawn. The messy piles grew and the few still-intact, glowing eyeballs punctuated them nicely, like Christmas lights.

How glorious!

I thoughtlessly continued, until, finally, the last maggot-ridden beast fell, lacking a head and stomach.

I chuckled and inhaled deeply. "Smells...so WUNDERBAR!"

I stood for a moment, reflecting on how wonderful the fights were. It kept me from thinking to hard. Luckily, it seemed to relax the voices in my mind too, for they weren't speaking anymore. They had been before.

Yes!

Thoughtless slaughter. It was the best medicine.

I turned and made for the doorway of the house, as though to enter. Tanya's mutt companion, Vormund, was sitting there watching, his black fur slightly ruffled. He let out a low growl that rumbled in his chest. I stopped and met his gaze. He stood up, but did not break eye contact.

The dog fidgeted.

After a moment, he barked and turned around, dashing into the darkened house.

I watched for a moment.

A look upward to the heavens informed me that it was probably sometime after noon, with the blazing-white sun hanging in the sky, shining on everything brightly. I grabbed the visor perched on my head and pulled it down to my eyes. I blinked in the shade.

"Take care of her, boy. I need her alive..." I whispered. "Hehehe..."

I walked down the pathway leading away from the house. I stared down the road, knowing there was something I needed to take care of. Something that had been a problem for a while. Something I'd be glad to say goodbye to.

Then I'd be back.

I kept walking until I was on the road. Then, I broke into a jog, in a hurry. I wanted to be done with this task, so I could get to my real goal.

There was now nothing but my own footsteps ringing in my ears.

Tanya's POV

Fireflies floated peacefully along in the air, flickering their lights gently. It was a soft, comforting, and irregular pulse. Like a soft, young heart, unsure of its place in life, it's role to fulfill. The beautiful insects danced just out of reach, and sometimes closer by. Green lights on an emerald meadow of shadowy grasses all around. The stars shone brilliantly overhead, but there was no evidence of the moon.

I stood in this meadow, entranced by the glow, the colors, the simple beauty of this... this peacefulness, something I had not acknowledged in a long time. Something left in the past.

It was good. Good to see that there was more out there than death, pain, and blood.

I'd never had serenity like this before. Or at least, not for a long time.

I walked along, noting the endlessness of the meadow, how it seemed that no matter how far I went, I'd still be here. Here in this place. This gentle, wonderful place. It was a fantasy for sure, but I didn't ponder it. Or question it.

I just kept going.

Hours, minutes, seconds. It seemed they all passed me by like strangers in a street.

That's when I heard a familiar voice. One I'd forgotten, but was sure I'd once known it well. It called to me, making me realize this meadow full of fireflies was an illusion. A mirage. A thing that did not exist, only in the imagination.

"Tanya!"

I turned my head, trying to find a source to the voice, but there was nothing but bright bugs and highlighted grasses. The sky seeped with a midnight blue, like an empty ocean in the dark.

"Tanya!"

I broke into a run, sprinting through the grass, feeling the wind tug at my hair as I ran. My feet swatted the grass, and the exotic air pressed against my face, soft and determined. I closed my eyes against it, feeling myself loosing this false image. I was going back to reality.

I didn't want it.

"Don't go!" I shouted at the meadow. The fireflies. The stars. "Don't leave me!"

But when I opened my eyes, they were gone...

Somehow, I was kneeling on the dirty floor of the theater stage, staring into blue-green eyes in a pale, sweat-lined face. Harsh breathing exhaled from his mouth. His rugged, once-handsome features now gaunt with a lack of food. Lines crinkled the skin on his forehead, his mouth, his eyes, showing the years of wear.

The source of distress was a terrible injury in his chest, blood seeping through the gaping wound. Deep gouges of ripped flesh were obvious through the torn uniform. Little bits of dirt were on the edge of the bruised, blackened skin. The rough fabric had also lost little, threads in the massive red mess.

I turned my head, feeling my sweat and blood caked hair fall across my face. Tears dripped down my cheeks. They dropped from my face, dark with dirt and grime and feel onto the ruined floor.

"Come on, come on..." I whispered, grabbing his hand tightly with my left hand. It felt cold. My other hand pressed a towel onto the wound now, trying to staunch the blood. "Don't die, don't die, don't die, don't die, don't die..." I repeated over and over, feeling tormented as I looked at him. My arms shook and my heart raced in anxiety.

"Tawny..." His voice spoke to me softly. It was too weak. Too faltering. "It's going to...to be okay...Tawny..."

Tawny, that soft voice was calling me by my nickname. More tears forced their way out of my eyes. Why? Why did this have to happen.

I felt his hand squeeze mine tightly. It was a weak gesture, trying to relax me. It was not helping. I felt terrified. Frightened.

Why?

I shivered and swallowed.

"I'm sorry..." I started shakily, staring into his pupils. "...I shouldn't have left your side, Rick...I shouldn't have..."

I felt more tears break out, pouring down my face. My throat burned, ached.

"Hey..." he said, trying for a smile of reassurance. "Don't blame...yourself...it's not...too bad..." He began coughing, a horrible racking sound vibrating through me like the drums of doom. The noise vastly contradicted the statement.

"Please...please...please..." I begged. Not sure who or what I was begging exactly. But I knew what I what I was begging for. "Please...please...please..."

I pushed my eyelids together, hoping against hope. I wanted to stop this. The tears, the pain, what was happening. Everything. Just stop it all. And it would never have happened.

"Tanya...listen to me...I need you t-" he tried to speak, but started coughing again. This time it sounded as though he were choking on liquid. Blood? No-no-no-no...

I shook my head. "No...no...no... the noise... don't say that... you'll be fine...you'll be just fine." I gritted my teeth. "No sight. No blood. No death." I denied. "No life after death! No reanimation of corpses. It's a nightmare...a nightmare..."

"Tawny..." He worked into my statement, "just know that...I know that...y-you'll do...what must be done... I lo-" He coughed more, a terrible sound.

Full minutes passed as he struggled to breath. He gasped desperately at the dank, decayed air. Then he took a deep breath, and it rattled out.

A terrible silence permeated the air.

I opened my eyes and stared into blank eyes, glassy and unrealistic.

He didn't move.

His eyes were still, and his skin was a horrible gray color.

There was no shudder of weak, harsh breathing or a struggling heartbeat.

A flood of teardrops raced anew down my cheeks. Following the hopeless paths of their predecessors.

I closed his eyes with trembling, tired fingers. My arms fell limply to my side as more tears rushed along my face. I dropped the blood-soaked towel, trying not to think too hard. Trying to make my mind as blank as possible.

I watched him.

And the only thing I was sure of was the damned silence all around, except for the blood pounding in my ears, too loud.

Then, his eyes once-life-filled eyes opened.

They were an awful, orange color. He howled, long body thrashing at the transformation.

I clasped my pistol, which had been lying on the floor.

The beast reached for me, fingers outstretched.

"Goodbye..." I whispered as the zombie grabbed my arm. I fired the weapon and its face, the one that had belonged to the man I'd loved, was utterly destroyed. Little bits of flesh, brain and blood rained over me, making me shiver.

"Richard, I'm not going to cry anymore. I'm going to survive. For you." I blinked a few times.

Forcing away the tears, I picked up Richard's assault rifle and stood, wiping my face on my arm. I heard the howls of the dead as I turned away from the headless body of my former life.

"I'M COMING FOR YOU SAMANTHA! AND I'M GOING TO DESTROY YOU!" I screamed in vengeful hatred.

Just then, zombies stumbled onto the stage, rotten mouths agape, hungry and howling. I rushed towards them, yelling myself hoarse and firing the weapon. If I was going out. It would be in a blaze!

I opened my eyes, squinting at the light. My vision was blurry for a moment as I stared at an old ceiling. I then felt a soft nudge against my hand, cool and wet. I looked to see large brown eyes staring into my own. Vormund whined softly, shaking his head. He had his nose in my hand.

He seemed worried.

"It's okay boy..." I soothed, rubbing his ears.

He woofed, and wagged his tail, happy. I sat up.

Then the memory of the haunting dream washed over me. My former life. Long before the apocalypse. Richard, who'd been by my side when I needed him most. He pulled my ass from the fire when the house burned. Literally and figuratively. I'd loved him, long ago, when that sort of thing seemed real. Even when the first attack from the undead came, he was there. But Samantha and her army claimed his life.

Took him from this world. From me.

I wished that those memories would disappear forever. But something would always bring them back when I needed them gone the most. A dream, a silent moment, a storm, a fire. Anything.

"Damn..." I whispered. "High time I did something."

It seemed I wasn't going to get peace, even in my dreams.

So be it.

"Oh well." I stated to no one in particular. I looked at my dog. "Where's Richto-Edward?" After all, that was his name. Vormund tilted his head unhelpfully, looking confused.

I stretched and stood up from the bed. I located my weapons, my pretty Nova and the Bowie knife, placed on the table haphazardly. I sighed and seized the knife first, hooking it through my belt. After that, I grabbed my sniper rifle, enjoying its weight. I slung it over my shoulder on its strap, and walked over to the mirror. I paused, staring. Then, I laughed at my reflection.

My two weapons and blood-stained soldier outfit were okay. But my hair was a mess, tangled this way and that, and my eyes were still droopy from sleep, with dark circles under them. I rubbed them and sighed, turning away from the mirror.

"Well, I guess it's time to get a move on."

I left the room quickly, and walked down the hallway, Vormund trotting ahead of me. I was expecting to find the Nazi down here, but Edward was nowhere in sight. A once-over with my gaze on the room told me as much, and I walked outside, gazing at a mess of blood and guts from dead zombies.

I guess he dealt with a wave of fools while I was out.

Vormund trotted by the bodies and then stopped, sniffing a bush. He raised his leg and peed.

"Real charming..." I grumbled, picking my way around the bodies. That's when I saw the bloodied footprints leading away from the pile of bodies.

Richtofen had gone.

I suddenly remembered the episode I'd had where I'd tried to kill him.

Yeah. That tended to run people off, but he'd told me he wasn't going to leave me alone in as many words. Also, I didn't really see him running away from someone just because they'd made an attempt on his life. I mean, it hadn't been the first time I'd done that.

So he'd left for another reason...

Which meant he was trying not to involve me...

Perhaps something secret? Scientific? A conspiracy? Something...dare I even think it? ... Personal? That guy had a lot of problems, and I could only imagine what his personal ones were like. Hell, I wouldn't want to know my own personal problems.

I stopped and glared around the area, frowning.

Fine! If he wanted to run off, then I was going to follow him, too. The way he'd followed me.

"Come on, Vormund." I called to the dog. "We're going to chase him down! Let's go boy!"

I broke into a run, and my new canine barked, dashing ahead as though we were in a race.

We followed the trail of footprints, rushing towards the unknown.

Really, it was rather exciting.

End of chapter 12!

What'd you think of the switched up POVs... I enjoyed writing it. And another part of Tanya's past is revealed! :D Yay. I hope you liked this chapter.

Thoughts? Opinions?