A/N: Not quite as long as the other two chapters, but the POV is about to change (hint hint) so I had to cut it short. I'm not sure what's with me and updating really late at night but um... this seems to be a pattern. Oh! and i haz internets! well... sort of. Enough to post this chapter anyway, and that's all that counts :3 So enjoy and thank you everyone for the AMAZING reveiws! Seriously, they make me so happy to read. I've rarely gotten whole paragraphs to read but yall have had such a wonderful reaction to this story! I hope you continue to like it
The next day was much the same as the last. They woke early and Catrina ate a can of fruit for breakfast before they started walking. She wasn't sure where Mello was going so single-mindedly but he apparently had a destination in mind. It seemed all she could do was follow until they arrived at or passed by a community. One perk of traveling with him was that she had someone to talk to. She knew he couldn't understand her but it was easy to pretend that he was listening. He had a habit of looking over at her every now and then as though paying close attention.
The morning passed uneventfully but as afternoon began to peak she worried about Mello's temperature. She certainly didn't need him to overheat as she was sure that she wouldn't be able to defend him again. It was only luck, or perhaps define intervention that had gotten them through the last confrontation without casualty. Just as she was contemplating making him rest with her he paused and changed direction. When she tried to follow he stopped and looked at her before continuing. Again she trailed after him and he stopped her. Getting the hint, she sat on a nearby bench and watched him disappear into the building in front of her. Obviously eating was something he preferred to do alone.
Catrina found that she'd gotten used to his company and now she was nervous to be without him. She couldn't stop glancing around and wondered how she'd traveled by herself before. Just as she was starting to wonder where he'd gone, Mello appeared at the doorway with more blood covering his face and right arm. Thought she would like to protect him from other infected, as he was protecting her, the blond obviously didn't need her help. The redhead realized that she was the only one gaining anything from their partnership. Mello provided protection, instinct, and a sense of peace, something no one had had since the start of the infection. The only thing the infected received was someone to travel with who resembled a person he remembered. She wasn't even entirely sure it was someone he cared for, though for her own sake she hoped so.
Seeing him walking toward her, she remembered that he hadn't eaten since the night before and felt guilty for not thinking about it. Pulling the napkins out of her tote, she awkwardly stood and wiped the blood off again. She marveled that he would sit still and let her but he seemed to live up to his name when it came to temperament. It felt almost like looking after a child. As soon as the thought passed through her mind she felt sick. No matter how gentle Mello might be with her, he was still an infected. He was still a killer and an animal in every sense of the word. Something told her that she shouldn't forget that.
His meal seemed to help him gain strength and they continued for another hour before seeking shade. Catrina rested for her baby's health with Mello lying curled around her legs. The scenery around her was so surreal that she wondered at how it had happened. The tall buildings of the city around them were now only stacks of unused rooms and the sidewalks were slowly being reclaimed by nature. Whole trees had sprouted out of the ground under abandoned cars and engulfed them. Never before had she felt so alone as when she remembered how many people once live in one area like this. She knew that eventually nature would take over, and maybe when the human population was able to grow again, they might reclaim the ruins. Until then they could only build defenses and wait. Looking down, she wondered how her child would grow up, knowing nothing of a world before this one.
Mello broke her from her musings, standing up and waiting. They continued until dusk but with each passing hour Mello showed no signs of slowing. In fact, he seemed more and more anxious to continue. Even as it grew dark he pressed on, walking even faster. Catrina only grew more nervous, wanting to settle for the night. She finally stopped walking and called out.
"Mello." He responded to his name and stopped but only to edge nervously toward her. He was clearly distressed about something but she wondered if it was still safe to follow him. Then again, his animal instincts could mean that she should keep following him; that something was wrong with where they were. When the sun was nearly set he slowed down to walk beside her, keeping vigilant. His head jerked to the side at a noise and his arm reached out to pull her closer. His skin felt clammy and hot at once on hers, making her shiver.
She was quickly loosing the ability the see, scaring her even more. She could only pray that Mello would stop somewhere soon. When it was completely dark she had to slow down, scared of tripping. Suddenly Mello's warmth wasn't there anymore. He had left her side and she almost called out but fear of something else hearing her was too great. Instead she stopped and waited, hoping he wouldn't leave her. When she felt something near her she almost screamed but familiar nosing through her hair told her it was only Mello. He stood behind her, making a hoop around her with his arms and pushing her forward. She reached out in front of her instinctively and her hands met his arms, latching on. It helped her keep her footing when she tripped and made it easier to walk in the dark. It also made Mello her shield since his arms were guarding her and he could obviously see where they were going.
Catrina cursed the clouds for hiding the moon and keeping her in pitch black but Mello's way of guiding her sped up their progress. His body didn't touch hers as his arms were long enough to keep some space between his chest and her back. Though thankful for his help, she was still relieved; being slightly repelled by his sickness.
She was surprised and relieved when she finally felt Mello push through a door. Once inside she decided it was safe enough to use her flashlight and looked around, seeing that it was an apartment building before spotting Mello already sprinting up the stairs and leaving her behind. She panicked and ran after him, but wasn't able to bound up the rather wide stairs two at a time like he could. The farther he got in front of her the more she scrambled to keep up but he eventually was out of sight. Now she wouldn't be able to tell what floor he got off at.
She kept running until she arrived at a hall that was dimly lit. But there was no way that there should have been electricity. Nevertheless, there was light and at the end of the hall she spotted him.