Neo: Oui~ new update, I'm on the ball. Whatever that means! (p.s.: I know the meaning.) The paragraph format is easier for me to type/read in. If this is constantly bothersome than I'll change it up! I just like reading in block. To many spaces bother me heh~ I added more spaces in this one though, hopefully it's easier on the eyes? If not than copy/paste and alter it to your liking.
Warnings have been posted on chapter one, if I owned Left4Dead the infected would eat you.
Saving Grace: Chapter 4
The stench of rotting meat lingered on his breath; showing that in every aspect he was a predator and she was a valuable meal. She waited fearfully for him to strike, snap his strong teeth and rip her apart. It never happened. What was he waiting for?
Bright blue eyes fluttered open, a musky smell overpowering her senses. Grace blinked her eyes free of sleep and curled her small hands, dirt embedding itself under her nails. She cringed at this, wanting instantly to wash her hands vigorously. Where was she? The little girl attempted to sit up only to have her back pressed against more earth and rock.
"M-mommy?" Grace called meekly; it was hard to see in this place. Silence was her answer and she felt a spark of panic. Crawling around in the cramped space she felt for an exit, finding one just wide enough for her to squeeze through. Wanting desperately to escape the dark she pushed herself to the mouth of the entrance, that's when a realization came, where was the monster? Did he leave? He had promised to find her mommy and daddy! Grace pouted feeling slightly hurt. She did not understand though, he terrified her greatly but at least with him she wasn't alone. With a small determined huff she heaved her small body out of the den.
Now what?
The forest surrounded her, no path to follow. Grace looked around finding no hint of finding home again. Should she walk around? What if the monster came back and she was not here? No, he had broken his promise. That's why he had left. She sighed dejectedly as she came to this conclusion. The child opted to wonder around, maybe find a hiding place and food. Her footsteps where loud and she tripped more than once in the dark but she ignored this. The stars and crescent moon her only light as she wondered in the night, Grace didn't make it far as a strange sound came from the shadows.
Coughing and hacking echoed loudly around her. The little girl became concerned for whoever made such sounds, it seemed painful. Striding closer to the noise she could make out the faint outline of a man. From this distance he looked small, that was probable because he was bent over slightly hacking his lungs out. Her nose wrinkled as the smell of strong tobacco filled the air, almost making her cough too.
"Are you alright?" Grace called weakly, trying to fix her dirty black hair. She had to look nice after all! The man seemed to turn to her only to hack more. Well that's gross…. She thought absently. The little girl screeched in both terror and surprise when something thick and slimy wrapped around her torso. It tightened instantly tying her arms and constricting her chest. Struggling wildly only made the disgusting rope tighter!
Her mind went into a blind panic when her body was being slowly pulled to the man. It was getting harder to breath but she kept screaming despite her throat starting to hurt. As Grace got closer the strong tobacco smell got worse and worse. Her eyes watered making her vision blurry, that didn't hinder her from discovering what was actually wrapped around her.
A tongue, she felt bile creeping up.
The man holding her captive was the most terrifying thing she'd ever seen. Covered in a mix of tumors and boils, He looked like a deformed mutant. A cream yellow eye locked onto her and his hands raised ready to either grab or beat her. Grace fought harder but it was useless, her eyes filled with tears and she screamed louder. Her vocals straining and feeling close to tearing, she was going to die.
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Sharpe claws lingered over a small box, ripping the cardboard without much effort. The container was interesting to say the least. He'd never really looked at one closely before. The hunter picked it up with slight thought and slipped it into his jacket. That made four; one of them had to satisfy his pup! He bounced on his heels feeling excited for his accomplishment.
Back now, feed pup. He reminded himself. The hunter gave one last glance to the kitchen, nothing else caught his interest. He crawled out the window, leaping to a tree. It was darker outside than he expected and he got a little worried. Focusing on getting to his destination he bounded past commons that aimlessly lingered at the edge of the foliage. Once at the den he spilled his prizes in front of the entrance, setting them in order before hesitantly reaching into the hole.
No pup.
His mind slowly rebooted this information a few times before he tensed. A low whine escaping his lips and he sniffed around. Where? A panicked cry rang in his ears and he jumped in alarm. The Hunter raced on all fours over fallen logs and bushes, strangled gaps and screams coming from his pup. His face contorting into a snarl as the reeking stench of his taller sibling came.
Not a minute to late the Hunter tackled the Smoker, ranking his claws into the other infected's flesh; thick off-yellow blood covered his hands and sprinkled on tattered clothing. The Smoker flailed for all of a few seconds before falling dead. The victorious Hunter howled and ripped the appendage from his pup. The child panted, gasping for air. The monster had just saved her. She weakly reached for the Hunter, still traumatized.
Safe now, Hurt? He sniffed her over as she gripped his jacket desperately. Grace trembled curling closer to the monster; she'd learned an important rule of survival: Do not wonder alone.
Wrapping an arm under the shivering child, the hunter stood. He held his pup close and began stroking her hair accidentally smearing bits of blood into it. The girl clung tightly slowly releasing the held in panic. He had come back; maybe he would keep his promise. The monster collapsed to the ground, sitting with Grace held to his chest. He gave a comforting purr and shifted her to look at the items he'd found. His pup glanced at them and gasped. He'd found pop-tarts! She reached for them, failed and looked at the Hunter expectantly.
He titled his head confused before handing her the box. His pup devoured half the box in one go, surprising him slightly. The strawberry filling sent strong tingles through her whole body, even the corners that her mommy normally cut off where soon in her tummy. After filling herself she felt sick from how long she'd been without a semblance of a meal. Grace was grateful though and rested her head against the purring Hunter's chest.
"Thank you." She whispered knowing he would hear it and closed her eyes in rest. The first milestone had been crossed and the Hunter felt pride fill him. His pup was warming up to him. He nudged her slightly with his nose, showing affection. As nice and peaceful as this moment was; it would not last. They had to keep moving before one of his infected siblings caught wind of his pup's smell. He had been lucky a Smoker had found her rather than a Tank. Careful. Keep safe. The order was placed and he would follow it strictly.
Neo: Chapter 4! Now this story will slowly become more challenging for me to write. What will happen now you ask? Just wait and find out. At least this didn't take a mouth or five. That's good right?
Thank you all for the reviews~ you guys make my ego grow. I'm extremely happy that so many wonderful people are enjoying the ride as much as I am.
To those who are reading and not reviewing: I love you too. Don't be shy to drop a comment, if you don't that's alright.