A/N) Sorry the chapters are short guys. This one is too - it's just how they come out.
I hope you enjoy them anyway!
Motivation is your superpower!
Mutilated?
Boomer's never seen a more horrendous sight in his life. He grabs at his stomach and promptly turns into the nearest hole and upchucks his own guts, he hasn't even eaten anything yet.
Bubbles bursts into tears and the adults start are gathered around are whispering among themselves, unable to look at the sight in the pit for too long.
Al and Pledge were - their torsos and groin and heads – were still attached, blood and ashes gunked and drying on them.
They weren't really alive – not anymore. The only way they could tell one of them was alive, barely, was because his chest shook from pain every now and again – But they had no limbs, no legs and arms – one arm was half chewed and tossed a bit away, thick white maggots swarming in them where the limbs used to be attached. Inside the open mouths and into the bleeding ears and over vacant eyes.
How – how does anyone survive – that –
The smell is rancid, meat rotting, blood so strong Boomer can taste it.
"We can do nothing for them." Buttercup's teacher – Smith? Jack? Something – Boomer doesn't remember his name, the man looks pale and ancient suddenly. "Give me the gun Harris."
"Oh no!" Bubbles gasps and turns away, running back into the Haven before Boomer can catch her.
He panics and looks at the men surrounding the pit, Robin was behind them, covering her mouth as she sobbed, so was that Mike kid and the Twins weren't looking, they were backing away, one of them was so red faced he looked like he was choking on his own tears.
Boomer swallows bile and chokes himself, his head swims, the rifle is pulled back with a loud click, he stumbles back, feet numb, dragging, they were – they were - The teacher raises it, puts his head down, hand to his heart and mutters something.
Boomer's steps get faster. Coward – coward – they have to make this decision and you're running away – you're just weak and –
Then he hears it. It's horrendous, wet, and weak and raspy.
One of the maimed bodies groans – its low and bloody and – It's begging – for death.
"'leeeeezzz"
Boomer runs. Throat so tight it seizes, he grips it, eyes dry and burning, body shaking, stomach twisting violently.
His heart turns to ice no – no –no –no – I can't - I can't – He trips and falls to his knees, he can't even cry from the sheer horror of what he – what they were going to do.
He covers his ears The echo of the rifle is masked by his horrified screams.
He'll never sleep again.
Boomer shudders, every time he closes his eyes – he sees them – he sees the blood and gore and death. He sees the maggots eating the raw rotten flesh, he sees the half devoured limbs, he hears the groan of death – the rifle the –
Stop!
Boomer rolls out of his bed, sweat cold and his chest heaving as he looks up at the empty cabins crate roof. Brick hasn't come back yet. I can't stay here alone anymore.
He hadn't found Bubbles after – she was hiding, no doubt crying her gentle heart out. Boomer hates that he saw that – why had that Robin girl told them? Why had they gone to see? Why had those stupid men let them!
He doesn't understand - he can't understand. Granted, they lived in a horrific world where death was gruesome often, peaceful rarely.
But still – he didn't want to see that. He wishes he could reach in and erase –
"Boomer?" He shifts and realizes he'd drifted outside towards the fire pit – it was still lit, they kept it on at night.
He turns to see Buttercup, dark hair almost blacker than the smoggy sky above, it's a tousled mess, her eyes are puffy and red rimmed and he thinks she's been crying as she sits on a flat stone, a stick in her hand.
"H – hey." He shivers, a sharp acidy wind blows and he was in a thin shirt one of the Haven's mothers had given to him.
"What's keeping you up?"
What isn't.
"Sorry, stupid question." she responds, as if she's heard him and looks away, bright green eyes reflecting the orange of the fire in front of her.
Boomer watches her watch the flames for a moment. And he has the crazy thought – is she planning to jump into them or something? He shudders, nobody would be that crazy right? Death by Zombies was one thing – but to burn yourself alive?
"I heard what happened – with Al and Pledge." She sounds exhausted.
Boomer flinches. "Yah." He doesn't want to talk about this – he's already terrified enough and he doesn't want the crazy girl to know –
"Talking about it helps - gets the images out of your head, gives them some place to go. You know?" She says, her voice oddly low and - Boomer stares at her in surprise.
"How do you – "
"Because, I went through it – only – "She turns her head, stick outstretched to poke the fire in front of her. "I was the one that had to pull the trigger."
Boomer freezes, his eyes wide and mouth going dry. "W-what?"
She nods and pats the stone next to her, Boomer gingerly takes the invitation and sits down, brain spinning. Seriously -she doesn't seem all that crazy right now – Boomer remembers how fiercely she tore that group of Zombies the first time they'd seen her – she was wild and harsh and – like Butch.
"Yah – he was a nice guy too – one of my team. I – we were on our first run." She swallows and prods at the fire. "I didn't lead right – I was too stupid and excited and – yah. Zombies attacked, the biggest horde I've ever seen. We went the wrong way – it took too long to get back and – " She swallows again, her throat clicking dryly.
"I was too ego driven to turn back – to listen to anyone else. Then he was taken." She shivers and tosses the stick into the flames, they flicker and eat it instantly. Boomer watches it shrivel in the fire.
"They tore up his legs before we could get him out."
Boomer looks at her, her eyes were wide and shiny, she was remembering and her fist gripped the loose fabric of her pants.
"He was bleeding out to much – too fast. We couldn't' do anything so – so we had to decide."
He doesn't dare breathe.
"He asked us to finish it – I still remember – the crying and the – the begging. So I – I took the gun and I - I shot him. Shot him in the head – just in case I didn't kill him right away in the chest you know? Quick and – "Her vice cracks and she straightens, looks at him directly, her pain lingering in her eyes and Boomer stares at them in awe. "His name was Pablo and he was one of my best friends. I had to kill him because it was mercy. We have to do stuff like this all the time Boomer – you can't throw a sobbing fit and puke everything all the time." She lets out a deep sigh and pushes herself to her feet, dusting her hands off and turns to him, hands on her hips.
"So Blondie? You gonna shake in your shorts forever or are you gonna suck it up and talk about it." She wasn't really giving him the option just –
"Thanks Buttercup." He smiles, it cracks his somber sore face as he nods.
"Nothing to thank – we all have to deal with this hell – so – least we could do is help each other cope yah? I learned that after months of keeping it bottled up and nearly dying of exhaustion and anger fits so – lets have you skip all that." She sounds so sure.
Boomer nods slowly. "Yah- ok. I – ok – I'll talk."
"Good." She plops on the stone next to him. "Now – spit it out Blondie, Bubbles wants to know if you feel any better after this."
Boomer flushes at the mention of her sister's name and she must notice because she narrows her frightening green eyes at him.
"Shut up and talk." She snaps.
"Uh – " How was he supposed to -
"Just – "She groans and punches his shoulder hard – Boomer winces and rubs at it, "Talk."
He rubs at his sore arm and smiles at her growl. She was like Butch – prettier than him sure but – for all her anger and crazy fighting she was a nice person on the inside.
"Talk before I push you into the pit."
Mostly anyway.
Don't forget my early holiday gifts!
Reviews! I love them more than actual physical gifts, because I can reread them whenever I want and still smile! It's also free for you guys so - win-win for everyone!