A month earlier...
Georgia sucks ass.
Especially the weather.
I examined my fingernails as I was sitting on the worn down leather couch, "Jane, of all the places you could've moved to, why Georgia?" I called out to her, and she didn't even answer me. What a jerk. I was growing a little impatient waiting for her to be ready and checked my phone for about the hundredth time that night.
"Jane you look fine!" I yelled without looking up, and I was mostly likely right. She always does, "and it doesn't even matter because we're going to a bar tonight! Everyone will be drunk and you'll look like a fuckin' supermodel to them anyways." I added at the end with a crooked smile that I knew she could hear, "Like me."
I finally heard her exit the bathroom, and out of the corner of my eye I could see her waiting to hear a compliment from me. I was pretending not to look by examining my hands some more to get on her nerves. That is, until a pillow met my face.
"Isabelle!" She whined, "Do I look okay?" I rolled my eyes in response,.
"Yes you look beautiful, Jane," I wasn't lying either, I wouldn't lie to my best friend, as much as she got on my nerves, "as always. Can we go now? It's almost 8." I checked my phone again, it was 7:48 PM.
"Yeah, just let me leave a note for Luke."
I groaned in response and tugged my face out of frustration, "I thought you already left one!" I really need a drink.
"Calm your tits, Isabelle, just let me write this. You know how Luke gets when I don't leave a note…" she trailed off as she left for her kitchen.
She soon returned, and we both left to solve our problems the good 'ol fashioned way: with alcohol.
I woke up to the TV running and with a major headache. I looked over to the other side of the couch to see Jane's sleeping form. I think I drank too much last night. I'd just gotten out of a long distance relationship and my way of coping was random one night stands and copious amounts of alcohol. Couldn't do the former last night, so I went to the latter. Probably overdid it since I felt like I got punched in the back of the head several times.
I heard a slight grumble coming from across the room along with some mumbling. "Mmmm…I'm hungry."
"Yeah? I'm tired and feel like I got the shit kicked out of me. Can't we just stay here all day and watch TV?" I asked her while I browsed through the TV channels.
"Maybe, but I need something to eat cause I feel like shit too." She mumbled as she got off the couch, at least it wasn't just me feeling like shit.
"Where ya going?" I didn't want to get up but if it meant putting something in my stomach, then why not?
She rubbed her eyes for a moment and looked at me, still half awake, "Gonna get breakfast and coffee, wanna come with me?"
"Sure," I sighed, "Let me get some clothes on." As much as I wanted to lay on the couch all day, I got up and went to the guest room upstairs to change into more comfortable clothes. The weather wasn't too bad, so I just threw on some t-shirt with jeans.
I went back downstairs and saw a slightly concerned Jane, "What's up?"
She seemed to be studying something outside the window, so I spoke again to get her attention, "Jane…what's up?"
Her eyebrows were scrunched together, "Huh. Luke's not here."
I joined her in looking out the window, and she was right. Luke's car wasn't there, which was a little odd, but nothing to be really concerned about. Maybe he did the same last night and crashed at a friend's house.
She turned her attention back to me, "Let's go?"
"Yeah, let's."
We left her house and made our way to the coffee shop that was several blocks away. The streets were kind of quiet, but it's probably since it was an early Sunday morning so maybe everyone was at Church.
The 'open' sign on the coffee shop wasn't lit up which was rather…odd. I started to get this weird feeling in the pit of my stomach, until Jane interrupted my thoughts by knocking on the front door.
The owner, who looked very disgruntled, came to the door and pointed to the "closed" sign that we somehow missed. I took notice of the gun in his holster…wonder why that was there. I've never lived in Georgia or this city so I'm not sure if that's a norm around here or not.
"Why are you guys closed?" I could tell she was starting to get annoyed, I learned the hard way before to never get in between my best friend and her coffee.
Instead, the coffee shop owner completely ignored our pleas for a nice, hot cup of coffee and closed the blinds to the store. He could've been more polite, but whatever. Jane, on the other hand, was rather irritated and started to curse under her breath. I wasn't in the mood to start shit with a big guy so I spoke up, "Jane, it's not a big deal. We got some fresh air, at least."
"Fine." She said with a scorn tone to which I just rolled my eyes.
I noticed a man who was probably in the same coffee deprived state as us who was approaching the door to the coffee shop. He looked what I assumed to be homeless. His clothes were a bit ratty and he looked as if he were just in a scuffle.
Jane and I began to back away from the door to let the man pass by, and we turned our backs to leave when the man lunged for Jane's shoulder and bit into it.
What the fuck just happened? One moment we're at the door of the shop, and the next…
Jane's screeches nearly caused my eardrums to explode, but I was quick to react. I grabbed the man who was attacking her and tried throwing him into the ground. Instead he was way stronger than expected, he started pulling my forearm to him and was able to sink his teeth into my forearm.
"Fuck!" I screamed while pulling my arm away. Why the hell did he just bite me? Is this guy a fucking maniac? I bit my lip at the pain and focused on the man in front of me, who was still coming at me, so I started to back up quickly.
I was at a safer distance, and his attention wasn't on me anymore. It was on Jane, who was now leaning against the wall of the shop while applying pressure to her bleeding shoulder. I ran up behind the man and kicked him in the back so I could throw him off his balance. He landed face first into the sidewalk, which had to hurt and should have kept him down.
It didn't. I have no idea what this guy was on, PCP, maybe? How was he not feeling any pain?
I then turned my attention back to Jane, who started to run towards me and yelled, "Isabelle! Your forearm!" I looked down to see the bite on my arm, completely neglecting that I was bitten due to my adrenaline rush. There was some bleeding but nothing that applying pressure couldn't fix. The potential infection was what I was more worried about.
Suddenly the door to the coffee shop burst open and the owner stepped out with his gun pointed at us, screaming. I couldn't make out what he was screaming, everything was happening so slowly as I saw the man who I had just kicked into the sidewalk a moment ago get up and lunge at the coffee shop owner. We both froze in horror as we saw the man tear the coffee shop owner's abdomen apart and pull out his insides. This had to be a nightmare. Had to be.
I quickly realized that this man was probably going to target us next and turned to Jane, "We need to get back to your fucking house now!" I yelled to her, and yanked her to run with me.
Jane's running was beginning to slow down, but fortunately we were a safe distance from the shop and not too far from her house. I ran to her and I could feel my heart sink when I saw the wound, it was far, far worse than mine. Mine was a lot shallower than hers, she even had flesh missing.
"Jane, please, listen to me." I cupped her face and spoke slowly for her to understand as I could see she was in shock as to what just happened, "Jane, we have to get to your house right now to clean both of our wounds. I know you're in shock, I understand, I am too, but we have to get home now." She kept nodding her head as if she was trying to shake herself awake out of this nightmare and slung her good arm around my shoulder to lean on me.
It was only a couple more minutes until we would reach her house, and I could see Luke's car parked in the driveway which almost made me scream in excitement.
I desperately banged on the door, "Luke! Luke! It's Isabelle! Jane's hurt open the fucking door!" I screamed, my frustration growing as I knew he was home but wasn't opening the door.
The door swung open and I'd never been happier to see anyone in my life.
My head feels heavy and it hurts so much to breathe, my breaths feel slightly ragged. My face is burning up and my vision is hazy. The smell of vomit and coagulated blood stings my nostrils, and I move to a different position to not feel so stiff because of the aches in my muscles. Bad idea, I realize this when pain sears up my forearm.
I hissed through my teeth and looked down to my forearm with half lidded eyes and noticed it was bandaged tightly, almost as if nothing happened. I was drifting in and out of consciousness, confused as to what happened. Where am I? How did I get here?
I hear some footsteps and I crane my neck to try to see past the darkness before me.
"She's awake! Luke, she's awake!" A distant and muffled voice stung my sensitive ears. I felt a firm grip on my shoulder as a somewhat recognizable face met mine, this figure also had a similar bandage to mine, but where her shoulder was. "Isabelle? Isabelle?" She shook me awake, "Isabelle?" She whispered, why was she trying to stay quiet? Why was the room so dim?
My throat was so dry that my response only sounded like a small croak, so I tried again, "J-Jane..?"
She laughed quietly and hugged me tightly. I could feel her tears soaking into my shirt, "I thought you were gone…" Unsure of what to do I threw my arm around her backside and leaned into her touch.
I could make out Luke in the doorway, looking at me suspiciously, but he soon turned back to the kitchen.
She noticed me eyeing her bandage and whispered as if she didn't want Luke to overhear, "Oh…that…I'm fine. Don't worry about me Isabelle, right now we have to take care of you. I also took care of your arm, but Luke doesn't know." Why would he not know…?
I woke up again. My head felt a lot better and my memory was slowly, but surely, coming back. I didn't have a clear memory of what had caused my injuries, but I knew where I was and who was taking care of me.
"Jane? Luke…?" I called out, only for Luke to rush in and cup my mouth.
"Shh! You'll lead them here!" He whispered hastily, lead who?
"Huh?"
"How do you feel? Hangover that bad?" He asked, ignoring my confused look from his previous warning.
"Okay," I sat up straighter to rub my temple, "And Jane?"
He broke off eye contact, "She…she's sick. I don't know what's going to happen to her."
"Where is she?" I asked while feeling my heart sink to the floor, knowing it wasn't going to be pretty.
"She locked herself in the room by the kitchen, doesn't want anyone to see her."
"One of us should check on her at least..." I trailed off while trying to take in my surroundings. I was curious as to why all the windows had blankets covering them and the door was boarded with wooden planks, not being able to make the connection between that and what happened earlier.
His eyes followed mine, "I'm sure you want to know what's going on."
I gave a weak smile, "Heh, yeah. I do want to know."
"The reason I was gone this morning…was to get supplies to last us a while." He pointed to the pile of canned goods in the corner of the living room, along with other medical supplies. "I'm sorry, Isabelle," he placed his hand on mine and I prepared myself for bad news, "I don't think you'll be going home soon."
I straightened myself out, "Luke, stop fucking around. Tell me what's going on now!" I whispered, remembering his previous warnings.
"What do you remember?"
"This man bit Jane…and I tried to fight him off for her, and he bit me too…"
His eyes widened in horror, "Oh no…Isabelle, you were bit? Jane didn't tell me…"
His reaction was starting to scare me even more than before, "What? What is it?"
"Isabelle, I'm sorry. I need you to come with me."
As much as my legs ached, I got up off the couch and followed him to a small room, to where he led me to a room with a locked door. He pulled out a small key and unlocked it, and motioned me inside.
I turned to him, "Luke? What the fuck?"
"Just…" He couldn't even look at me, I knew this was hurting him too. "I'm sorry." It was the last thing he said before closing the door on me.
I turned slowly, not wanting to see what was in the empty space behind me. In the room was a very gaunt and sick Jane, her face pale and eyes sunken in.
I knelt down beside her, tears welling up in my eyes, "Jane? What's wrong? What happened?" My voice began to creak but I wanted to keep my composure. It was getting harder and harder.
I knew she was probably exhausted, but it didn't matter, as selfish as that sounds. I wanted to know what happened to know and I want to know how I can help her.
"Luke said…" she started but her voice was beginning to fade away, "bites turn you into them…that's why we're here.." She coughed some blood up and I tried my best to keep my composure but inside I was screaming, trying to wake myself up from this never ending nightmare, "I told him you weren't bitten so you wouldn't be locked in here with me…I didn't want you to be here when I turn…" Her breaths became more ragged and as much as I didn't want to admit it, she was losing her battle.
I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to prevent myself from breaking down and screaming in front of my best friend. I couldn't act selfishly now. Not when she's dying, but it was just so hard to keep it together. Seeing someone in front of you waste away, it was hard to stay calm.
"Jane…" I couldn't even make eye contact with her, there was no life behind her eyes. She was already dead. No fire or fight in her eyes, she'd given up.
"Please…go..don't stay here…" She whispered as her breaths slowed down and she stopped moving. I don't know what to do, I didn't even know what was going on. Nothing mattered anymore. This was my fault. I should've been quicker.
I couldn't do it anymore, I couldn't stay strong any longer. I could feel the tears building up and I started to shake as the sobs broke out, while trying my best to stay silent.
Why me? Why now?
I cried to myself for several more moments and then stared at the lifeless body before me, silently praying that she would just come back and I would just wake up like nothing happened.
I wiped the tears from my eyes and took several deep breaths to calm myself down. I then pulled the sheet over her face as a sign of respect, and then got up to go to the door.
I knocked lightly, but hard enough to get Luke's attention.
It was several moments and more knocking until he'd responded with a faint, "What?"
"Luke…she's gone. I'm so sorry…" I sniffled and my voice cracked more, as I pressed my forehead lightly against the wooden door. I didn't know how to say it either, making me feel even worse. How was I supposed to deliver the death of a loved one?
I heard quiet shuffling behind me, and turned to see the blanket move, stiff movements, but still…Jane was alive!
I gasped loudly and turned to the door, "Luke! She's alive! She's moving!"
That was when the door handle turned, and the door swung open, where I was dragged out by Luke. He pushed me against the wall with one hand, and turned to lock the door.
I was on the edge of punching him in the face, why would he lock her in there? She's alive! She's not dead! Why lock away someone who is alive?
He checked my forehead once more and tilted his head in confusion, "You look…healthy. You should be dead."
I was disgusted at his actions and I reached for the door handle to try to open the door, but he firmly grabbed my wrist and tugged it away from the door, "What the hell are you doing, Luke?" I was beyond pissed now. "She's alive! I saw her move! Let me go, you bastard!" I was struggling, and I finally was let go.
I rubbed at the soreness in my wrists and was hoping that the disgusted look I was giving him would kill him.
"I'm sorry, Isabelle, I suppose I should've explained better, I just couldn't take the risk." The guilt was written all over his face. I knew that he didn't want to do what he just did, but it was difficult to think straight in the position I was in.
"You're damn right you should've explained!" I hissed back to him, my breaths were quick and my heart was pounding. I was so frustrated because no one was telling me anything!
He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose, "We need to talk, not here though. Somewhere safer, let's get the supplies and go upstairs first."
Whatever, I just wanted answers, so I did as I was told.
Luke led me to the kitchen to where he pointed to the backpacks there; it appeared that he'd already moved the food and water upstairs already. He picked up one backpack and handed it to me, "Here, Jane packed it for you." My heart ached at hearing her name, she was in a room, locked and by herself, she was alive.
I grabbed the backpack, not bothering to check the contents inside, and made my way upstairs to the master bedroom. He trailed behind me, with an axe in his hand, where he placed it at the top of the staircase.
"Isabelle, this is going to be a lot to take in." He spoke slowly as if I was an idiot, "But first…I need you to have an open mind when I tell you what's going on. Please, I'm so sorry for what I did earlier, you'll understand later." He pleaded, and it was hard to stay angry because of the desperate tone he had in his voice.
I ran my fingers through my hair and sighed, "Just tell me, Luke. Please," I couldn't help it, I felt myself nearly begging. "Just tell me."
I wasn't prepared to hear the rest.
Longer chapter here, I'm trying to condense the flashback chapters a bit. Hope you're all enjoying :)
