Chapter 8- A Message
48 Days After the National Outbreak
BPOV:
As my feet move forward, my heart picks up, racing in my chest. Suppressing the fear bubbling in my stomach, I lock my jaw in an attempt to look strong. If I look frightened, Edward sure as hell won't want to follow me any further. Walking forward has never felt so incredibly daunting. With the city before us, my mind conjures up the worst possible scenarios. Today could possibly be our last day on earth… and I can't accept that. I won't. I'll make it through this - we'll make it through this - just like I always do.
I hear them before I see them. That horrific groan rings through my ears like something out of a nightmare. My right hand comes down to rest on my gun as my eyes search for them. All I see are buildings and trees. But I hear their voices, coming closer and closer. Then, I see one. Its body moves sporadically, jutting from one angle to the next, as it crosses the grass toward us.
"Are you sure we can't look someplace else?"
Without my eyes leaving the dead, I answer the man beside me, "Everything we need is so close. We can't take a chance by not going after this. It will be fine. We have guns, we have ammunition. Just don't get yourself killed." I sound far more calm than I feel because I don't feel calm at all.
"I won't get myself killed." He pauses, raising his gun to line up with the living dead. He shoots, shivers, and turns to me. "I'm just worried about you."
"Yeah right," I scoff, a little laugh passing through my lips. "I'm sure you're just terrified."
"Me? Terrified? Never."
"Then, let's get a move on. I want to get in and out before nightfall."
I stalk off and Edward's quick to match my pace. "So, do you have a list of what we need?"
"What are we, grocery shopping? No, I don't have a list. I have it all up here," I reply, tapping on my head.
"If you say so."
"Are you nervous?"
Edward's eyes shoot down to meet mine. "No. Why?"
"You seem to talk a lot when you're nervous about something."
He rolls his eyes. "I'd just like to make it out of here alive."
His shoulders slump and I feel guilty for teasing him. It was a poor attempt to lighten the mood. But hell, I tend to talk a great deal whenever I'm nervous, or just want to get my mind off things. I have plenty to get my mind off now.
"I told you we'd find her, right? I intend to keep my promise. We'll find her, Edward."
He nods, a sad smile tugging on his lips. "I want to help you, too. I know you don't want to tell me what you're searching for, but I want to help you, if you'll let me."
"Thank you," I murmur.
I want to reach out to him, comfort him like he's comforting me. I just want someone to hold me. I just want someone to embrace me while I cry. I haven't really cried since it happened. It's just been go, go, go. Never have I really taken a moment to contemplate what all of this means. My family could be gone forever and while I want to remain positive, while I keep moving forward, there's the thought of this not working out which is constantly nagging at me. At first I ran, now I walk, and I'm sure soon enough, I will crawl until I reach my destination. But what if, when I get to DC, I find nothing. Not a single answer to one of my many questions. What if the "cure" was just a fallacy to keep people positive? No, Bella, you can't think that way. I don't have time to cry - not now. Soon, maybe, but not now. First, I have work to do. Neither of us will survive if we're weak - physically, mentally, or emotionally. We have to keep fighting.
As we reach the city the dead are lurking around just about every square inch, so I take a moment to breathe and reload my gun. Edward does the same. I wonder if he can feel the nerves radiating off of me. I can feel his, despite his effort to appear strong, too.
"Everything will be all right," I comment as I follow Edward into the city, surprised that he's the one taking the lead this time. I thought I was ready for anything, but I've never encountered so many of them at one time. I'm sure they're around every corner, on every street, waiting for me to cross their paths.
"I know it will," Edward says, his voice strong, although, I detect a hint of uncertainty. "Come on. In and out before nightfall. We better get going."
"Of course," I reply, forcing my feet to move.
** A New Dawn **
So much bloodshed - so much carnage. Looking down at my clothes, I can't decipher between what is my blood, and what is theirs. I want to wipe it away, the putrid smell causes vomit to rise in my throat, however, I don't wash it away. For some strange reason, being covered in their blood makes them think I'm one of them. Now that I'm drenched with blood and body parts I don't want to look at long enough to name, they don't seem to notice me. I move from one store to the next, gathering supplies without drawing much attention. I wonder if Edward's having the same luck. We got separated after I entered the second supermarket and we haven't run into each other since.
I keep moving forward, knowing I'll find him before nightfall. He'll meet me somewhere, I know he will.
We need each other now. I gather all the food, water, and medicine I can fit into my backpack. Thankfully, not many have come to the city. Or they have, and they're one of them now… That possibility makes me weak in the knees. After filling up my backpack, I slide it on, cringing at the wet noise it makes as it glides against the guts on my shirt, and move to leave. I'm sure it's getting dark by now. But despite the danger, I don't want to leave. It feels so safe inside this store… so normal. Maybe I can find Edward and we can both hide out here… No, Bella, you can't. You have to keep moving. You both have people waiting for you - relying on you. With Jake and Seth in my mind's eye, I exit the store and slowly make my way onto the main road. They're everywhere, but, like before, they don't notice me. Perhaps the putrid smell really does help.
They move forward, and so do I. Fear blossoms in my belly and I'm far too tired to suppress it. God, I hope they can't smell it on me like some animals can. With every step I take, I fear one of them will notice me, and bite me. I picture they're disgusting teeth puncturing my skin. I picture falling down to the ground, them on top of me as they tear me apart. I cringe, trying not to illustrate to them how horrified I am. My body shakes as I continue forward, moving toward the city's edge in hopes of finding Edward.
I make my way out of the herd without being detected. Finally, I can breathe again; I hadn't realized how long I'd been holding my breath. The air tastes so much better here, when they're a few feet away… lurking. As I have a moment to gather my thoughts, my eyes search for Edward. All I see is abandoned, looted buildings, and the living dead walking everywhere. My eyes take in the destruction as my mind conjures up images of what this place once was. As I'm daydreaming, lost in the past, my eyes finally fall on him. He's staring at the side of a building, as if it were the most fascinating thing in the entire world. As I begin to move toward him, finding he's covered in blood, as well, I feel it behind me. I feel one of them lurking, obviously recognizing me as it reaches for me.
My body stills at the sensation of a decaying hand on my shoulder. I reach for my gun, but stop myself, not wanting to alarm the others and cause more trouble. So, instead, I grab the knife out of my pant pocket and flip it open, slowly turning around to face the walker who's paying far too much attention to me. I stare into its eyes for a moment, finding they're gray and cloudy, as if this creature were blind. Perhaps it relies on its other senses because I highly doubt it can see me. It stares straight through me, although, I can tell it knows I'm here. Without looking at me, it places its other hand on my shoulder. As I bring up the knife to defend myself, I try not to think of what this thing was like when it was a human being. Did it have a family? Was it well-known within the community? I wonder what type of job it had? What type of life… It roars in my face and I bring my knife to its throat, no longer thinking anymore. My knife slices across its neck and its blood splashes me in the face. I cringe for a moment, out of shock more than disgust. I'm too used to this horror to really feel disgust at this point.
"I'm sorry," I utter, feeling as though I should say something before I push its body to the ground.
When I look away from its body, I find I'm getting attention from the others again. I must not smell as bad as I did before. I look back down at the body at my feet and try not to gag as I consider what I must do. Bending down, I run my hands over its neck and rub its blood over my clothes. Still not satisfied, I stealthily cut open its stomach, acting as if I'm feasting on it, and find parts of decaying body to add to the horror already covering my clothing. Don't breathe, Bella. Don't breathe and you won't notice how horrible it is. Holding my breath, I stand back up to find none of them notice me anymore. Quickly this time, I move to meet Edward.
He's a few blocks away and due to my haste, I get to him in no time. He's still gazing at the wall by the time I reach him. He's covered in blood, but it's mostly dry. I know he's going to have to bathe in it once more if we're going to get out of the city without too much mayhem.
"What is it?" I ask as I move to stand beside him.
"It's Kate. This is her handwriting. I'd recognize it anywhere," he murmurs, seemingly mystified.
My gaze turns to the wall where I find a note to Edward written in what appears to be spray paint.
Survivors, follow signs to Vantage Point.
I'll meet you there.
Stay safe.
"Vantage Point?" I wonder aloud. "I've never heard of it."
In the time I've been on the road, I haven't seen a single sign for a camp called "Vantage Point." I return my gaze to Edward, finding that he's still staring blankly at the wall before him. Slowly, he reaches out with his right hand and traces his lover's handwriting with his fingertips. His body shakes as his eyes take in the message again.
"She has to be close, don't you think?"
"I have no idea," I answer honestly. "I doubt she's too far ahead of us, though. We must be on the same path as her."
"We just have to find signs for Vantage Point," Edward replies, his voice ringing with determination.
"We'll find it," I say as I look up at the sky. It's twilight. Soon it will be dark and we'll be at these creatures' mercy. "First, we have to get the hell out of here."
A/N: Hey, everyone! I'm so glad you guys are enjoying my NaNoWriMo project! Please keep reviewing! See you all tomorrow!
