A/N: Ok, so the consensus is in: one chapter per day :) But I must warn you, I am going home and that means I won't have internet. I'll do my best to find Wi-Fi so i can upload it but no promises ok? Be sure to leave me lots of wonderful reviews!
Spotting a park just a few meters in front of her, Catrina worked her way to a bench and sat down. After only two hours of walking she was exhausted and still hadn't found decent shelter for the night. Sweat had plastered red curls to her forehead. She laid a hand over her swollen belly and knew she needed to keep going. So far being pregnant had helped her more than hinder her progress because of people's willingness to aid and shelter her. Even the most suspicious and paranoid hermits had taken her in.
Now though, she was passing though a deserted area that she had hoped to be out of before nightfall. The infected were always more active at night in this region due to the heat. Pulling a bottle of water from her tote, she reminded herself that she needed to stay hydrated, no matter how much her mind said she should conserve water. She also needed to stay moving, and after her brief rest she struggled back to her feet.
By that afternoon she was getting anxious. She was hoping to enter a residential area where there would be houses. Those were always best to stay in because they could be barricaded once she was sure there was nothing inside. Tonight though, it looked like she would have to seek shelter in an apartment complex. The thought of all those dark rooms chilled her but it was safer than staying outside.
Before entering the building she had chosen, Catrina found the nearest store. It was only a gas station but it had canned foods and bottled water. Many places didn't have water, their shelves cleaned out from when people panicked and began looting the stores for supplies. Luck was on her side though and she only hoped that things would remain that way.
Walking into the most decent looking apartment complex on the block, all her senses were on high alert. She glanced at every shadow and doorway, handgun at the ready. She hadn't known how to shoot before the infection, but it had quickly become an essential skill.
There were no rooms on the first floor so she would have to settle for the second story, though that made it harder to get out if something happened. Choosing the apartment closest to the stairs, she quickly did a check of all rooms before shutting and locking the door. Safe at last, she pulled out her supper and a can opener before settling onto the worn couch and falling asleep.
Sometime later, Catrina sat up in the dark. She let her eyes adjust before grabbing her gun and mumbling to herself. "What, has my bladder shrunk to the size of a grape?" She cursed being pregnant as she stumbled to the front door. No running water meant that it would be better to go in the hall bathroom instead of in the apartment since she couldn't flush.
She debated bringing a flashlight but it would only hinder her. The light would mean she wouldn't be able to see things lurking in the shadows and it would instantly alert any infected to her presence. Instead, she cautiously stepped out into the hallway and made her way to the bathroom she had spotted when she'd come in. She was wide-awake and on alert even though she didn't think there were any infected in the building since she hadn't heard anything since arriving. Normally in apartment buildings they could be heard walking or moving around, one of the only upsides to staying in one.
When she was done, she peeked around the door and started down the hall. Before she could make it to her room, she heard a shuffling sound behind her. Her gun was in her hand before she had even turned around to see the smallish infected behind her. It was, or had been, a teenage boy and it had stopped at the end of the hallway after being spotted.
Thinking fast, she decided that it was far enough away she could outrun it. No need to fire the gun and alert any other infected to her presence. Turning she stopped in horror. In front of her was another one, also at the end of the hall. This one was a little older and simply stared transfixed at her. There was a moment when they all stood still, taking in the new development before Cartina made the first move. She dashed for her door, hearing the boy behind her take off in pursuit and seeing the one in front running towards her. He was too far away though and obviously not going to reach her in time.
Making it to the door, she slipped inside and spun to slam it shut. It was blocked though, by the smaller infected's hand. Her only choice was to back up and shoot at it but when she did, the door was forced inward, hitting her hand and knocking the gun away. She dived for it, but the other infected was already through the door and advancing on her, forcing her away from the weapon. Backed into a corner, she could only watch as it advanced on her and her unborn child.
Before it could reach her, the other infected barreled into it from the side, knocking it off its feet. She had nearly forgotten about the second one, but its bigger stature gave it an advantage over the first. Catrina had never seen two infecteds fight before, and was nearly sick that they were fighting over her. Her weapon was still blocked by their fight but she began inching along the wall toward the door.
The scuffle lasted only a few seconds before one let out a howl and went still. To her dismay, it was the larger one that turned to face her, victorious. Filthy blond hair framed what would have been a young face as it eyed her and began to make its way over. It dove forward when it reached her, making her scream and curl to protect her stomach. She waited for the bite, for raking fingernails and blood but it didn't come. Instead, its hot skin was against hers as it buried its face in her red curls.
It continued to nuzzle through her hair, one grimy hand grabbing a fistful as the other pinned her to the wall. After a minute of mute sock she realized it was muttering something again and again. "Matt… Matt…"
The smell of rotting flesh and the sight of its mottled yellow and green skin churned her stomach but she tried to remain calm. Her resolve nearly broke when it moved to look her in the face and locked its bloodshot eyes with hers. The whites were almost completely red, in great contrast with its sickly pale skin. The infected smelled of rotting flesh, though she wasn't sure if it was from the patch of mottled skin on its cheek or simply from killing for food.
Cautiously, she began to scoot along the wall but it only crawled after her. If she stopped, it would simply come over and bury its face in her hair again. It didn't try to stop her as she made it to her gun and slowly picked it up, only crawled to her again to rest on her shoulder. If she shot it right then, she could get fluids in her eyes or mouth, not to mention her numerous cuts and scrapes. She was sure though, that she could slowly get up and back away, shooting it in the head before it could follow.
Before Catrina could put her plan in motion, she noticed another infected was crouching at the door. She couldn't say how long it had been there but the blond at her side was on it in an instant. This one was larger, a full grown male, and it easily was overpowering the smaller one. She took aim, waiting for an opportunity before shooting. Before the new infected could finish off the blond she fired, hitting him in the shoulder. It was enough to turn the tables though, allowing the smaller one to give a finishing blow.
She wondered why she hadn't shot the blond one as well, especially when it went strait back to her afterwards. Battered, it lay its head on her lap with its arms and face pressed against the large bump in her stomach. It terrified her that it was so close to her child but she didn't dare make any sudden movements. Almost immediately, it went to sleep, leaving her to wonder at how she was still alive.
She'd never heard of an infected that could speak but she had noticed varying levels of intelligence in them. People she had stayed with had sometimes spoken of alpha infected. They were called that because they would form groups of infected with themselves as the alpha. They seemed to have more instinct and more intelligence, seeing the benefits of being in a group and even planning hunting strategies like wolves. That seemed like proof enough that some were smarter than others, perhaps it even had something to do with how intelligent they were as humans.
Looking down, she noted that she'd been absently running her hand through the infected's hair. He would had to have been a genius to have the presence of mind to remember a name or person after catching the virus. She shuddered at how close she had come to death. If her hair hadn't reminded him of "Matt's" then she wouldn't be here. At least, that's what she had assumed had happened. It was the only reasonable solution she could come up with for why it hadn't killed her.
For the first time she began to take in his appearance. With his red eyes closed and face relaxed, he seemed a little more human. She could see that the wound she'd spotted earlier was actually a scar. His clothes were plain, black, and tattered but better than some she'd seen.
Catrina wondered if she was the first to see the virus's symptoms up close. Besides the discolored skin and eyes, his breathing was labored. This possibly explained why most infected were slower than humans and his high temperature might be why they didn't venture out much in the daylight. He would overheat much more easily than her out in the sun. She supposed that in the end, infected were still just perpetually ill humans with minds reduced to bare animal instincts.
As she looked him over, she noticed beads around his neck leading under his shirt. Gently tugging them out, she held a rosary. Tears ran down her face as she prayed for the first time in a long time. She had been deeply religious before the infection but since lost her faith. Now though, she thanked God for sending a miracle to protect her and her baby. The rosary was surely a sign that it wasn't just chance, the infected had been sent to save her.