AN: Managed to sneak in some computer time on my holiday to post this for you. I know it's only Thursday but today's my relaxation day before I head back out to explore the city some more so I figured I'd post this while I've got a chance. Enjoy!

Chapter Twelve

AUDREY

The sound of a door closing jolts me awake and I bolt into a sitting position on reflex, reaching blindly for my screwdriver. I look around but the shop is empty. Frowning, I jump up and peer out the window. I can just see the shadow of a familiar retreating back as he turns the corner of the alley and disappears. N left.

This is my chance.

I grab a backpack that N's had stashed away in here and I quickly stuff the last few cans of food I've got into the bottom. I stick a couple other things that could serve as weapons in the bag, wrapped in a stray scarf I find so they don't cut holes in the canvas bag, and then because I can't stop myself I also grab the battered copy of Romeo and Juliet and tuck it in on top of everything else. Shouldering the bag, I pick up my trusty screwdriver and head for the door.

I check slowly, carefully, out the crack in the door to make sure that there's no Corpses out in the alleyway, but for once it's deserted. My first thought is for getting to the truck. It's the best bet I have for getting out of town in one piece. I follow the path that N showed me yesterday until I finally spot the bush. I push through the branches but then freeze.

N is sitting in the driver's seat of the truck. His back is to me, and I don't think he's noticed me. In fact it looks like his eyes are closed. Well there goes that plan. I'm going to have to get out of town on foot.

I creep quietly back through the bushes and then take a minute to orient myself. I know that I can follow the main road of town out to the highway, and then it's an open stretch of road between here and the city where we were doing our salvage. From there it's almost a straight shot north to the Compound.

I keep close to the walls as I make my way down the alley and up toward the main road. I cut through the park I got cornered in last time - thankfully devoid of Corpses this time - and finally make it to the high street. Staying near the buildings, I jog a ways up the road before I hear a noise. A clatter of something being knocked over ahead of me.

Cursing silently, I duck into a gap between two buildings. I try to keep my breathing shallow and silent as I press myself against the bricks. I can hear the staggered shuffle of footsteps and I know it's a Corpse. I back further into the alley and look around desperately for some escape. I run down to the end of the alley which opens up into a square parking area between the buildings. I would be free except there's a pair of Corpses loitering in the alley that leads out the other side and they look up at me curiously.

Panicked, I look around for something better to defend myself. A screwdriver might help me take out one Corpse, but three? Against the wall behind the building on my right I see an ancient, rusty weed-cutter. I bolt over and grab it, pulling the ignition cord hastily. It takes three tries, in which time the Corpses - there are actually five of them now - have practically circled me, but miraculously the engine whines into life and the plastic cords begin to spin so fast they blur.

"Stay back!" I shout at the closest Corpse, an old man in a blue police shirt. I brandish the weed-cutter and the Corpse steps back out of the reach of the garden tool. "Back!" I call again, spinning on my heel to keep the Corpses at bay.

One of them tries to come up behind me and I bash it in the face with the butt end of the weed-cutter. Another comes in and I bury the spinning blades in its throat, sending a spatter of sludgy blood and tissue everywhere. I'm doing a decent enough job fending them off but I can only do this for so long.

As I'm trying to ward off one of the Corpses another one, the one in the policeman's shirt, sneaks around and grabs the weed-cutter. I yelp as we grapple over control but Corpses are strong and it doesn't take much effort for it to rip the weapon out of my hands and toss it away. Its hands close around the lapels of my jacket and I can smell the cloying scent of decay on its breath as the other two Corpses close in from behind.

I am so fucking screwed.

N

I run back out of the shop in what can only be described as a panic. I don't have an elevated pulse - since I don't have a pulse at all - and there's a serious lack of adrenaline and such, but there's no other way to express the terror and anxiety I feel as I turn in a circle and look desperately for some hint as to where Audrey might be. In the end though I know the answer. There's only one direction she would be heading. She's done a runner.

Turning toward the main road, I take off running. I tilt my head up and breathe deeply as I charge down the road. I can smell her, the scent of warmth and vibrancy and life. It'll make her easy to find, but the problem is that every other Corpse in a mile radius can smell her too. I've got to get to her, and fast.

I've never run so hard in my life. I tear down the road until I find the spot where her trail turns off to the north. From there I hear her startled scream and my dead heart leaps into my throat. I barrel down the alley and the sight I find would have killed me if I wasn't already dead. There are three Corpses in total around Audrey, and Gr has her lifted up by the neck.

Without thinking, I sprint forward and punch Gr hard in the jaw. He collapses, dropping Audrey at the same time. I turn and grab one of the Corpses around the waist and hurl her as far as I can throw her. She hits the wall and crumples. I charge at the last remaining Corpse as he bears down on Audrey, taking his legs out from underneath him. Furious, I grab a loose pipe and bash his head in with it. I grunt - show them what happens when you mess with my human - and then drop the pipe and turn to Audrey.

"You s-safe?" I ask.

"I'm fine," she says. She hurries over and stands close to my side, visibly shaking. When I give her a patronising look she huffs irritably. "You said a few days, N. It's been a few days. I need to go home."

I want to say no. I want to remind her that it's not safe and drag her back to the house and lock her away with me there forever. She can't leave. I can't go back to the way my life was before she was in it. I want to tell her she has to wait a little longer.

But I can't. I can't because if I don't let her leave, she's going to keep trying to run. She nearly died this time and next time I might not be quick enough to save her. I can't because at some time in the last few days I must've developed a conscious since I can't lie to her. I care too much. I want to keep her safe, even if that means letting her go.

"'Kay," I agree reluctantly and then glance around the quiet alley suspiciously. "S-stay to-gether. Sa-afe."

A scuffling noise makes me instinctively reach out and pull Audrey behind me protectively. Gr is shoving himself to his feet and he glances from me to Audrey and back. "Wha'?" he growls angrily.

"Audrey," I try to explain, gesturing to where she's cowering behind me and watching the interaction with awe.

"L-liv-ving," Gr says, narrowing his eyes. "E-eat." I shake my head firmly. He has to understand, she's more than just a Living. She's Audrey, my Audrey, and I couldn't hurt her, let alone eat her. To kill her, or worse, doom her to an existence like mine. She's better than that, better than all of this. "Eat," Gr insists, his fists curling at his sides. "Eat!"

"No!" I shout, taking an aggressive step forward. He might be my best friend, but that's not going to stop me doing whatever I have to do to keep Audrey safe.

A new noise makes us all look up and my fear turns once again into outright panic. At the far end of the alley a Boney is standing, hunched forward predatorily and snarling quietly. And its empty eye sockets are fixed right on Audrey.

"Run," I say, grabbing her arm and tugging her toward the alley that leads out the other side. I can hear the Boney chasing us as I lead Audrey down one road and into another. Audrey's breathing is short and erratic and I know she's more scared than I am. That makes sense, I suppose, since it's her that the Boney is after.

I weave through two more roads and then jump over some debris into an old building. Audrey keeps pace with me as we run - she could probably outstrip me easily if she wanted but I'm the one who knows the area so she's following my lead. The building was some sort of office building because it's made up of winding hallways and corridors.

Midway through the building I come across a door that only opens from the other side. I skid to a halt long enough to slam it shut behind us and the Boney collides with it, snarling at us through the glass. "L-let's go," I say, snagging Audrey's sleeve to get her running again. "Tr-ruck."

"Right," she agrees, panting, as she falls into step beside me. We race down the main road but we've only made it halfway back to the shop when another Boney bursts out from between two buildings. It leans forward, sniffing deeply through flat nostrils, and shrieks. It runs at us and I shove Audrey back behind me, dropping into a defensive crouch.

The Boney is only a foot away when something charges in from the side and throws the Boney to the ground. "Gr," I say in surprise. Gr grabs a brick from the ground and uses it to smash the Boney's head in, spilling sickly, black brain matter across the asphalt. Relief floods in to me, not just because the Boney is gone but because Gr has come around.

"C-com-me," Gr says, his voice low and gruff.

I nod and start to follow him but Audrey balks. "Wait, what? No. He just tried to eat me."

"Audrey, Gr," I introduce, gesturing between them.

Gr nods and gestures for us to follow him. "W-wann-nta 'elp."

"Well piss off, I don't want your help," Audrey says firmly.

Gr gives a raspy chuckle and glances up at me. "L-l-like 'er."

I grin in response and then turn back to Audrey. "S'okay," I tell her. "S-safe."

"You've got to be kidding me," she says but she sighs and falls into step beside me. The three of us jog back down the main road toward my shop and then into the alley leading to the truck.

The corner before the truck Gr grabs my shoulder and stops me. "Y-you 'kay?"

I shrug because I don't have any better answer. Honestly, these last few days have been some of the most confusing days of my life. I feel great being around Audrey and her presence makes me feel like living for the first time since I died, but at the same time I've always known that it would eventually have to end. That in a short while I'll be saying good-bye to her forever. So am I okay? Yes and no.

"Uh, N," Audrey says uncertainly. I turn around and the heavy weight of dread settles over me.

There's a cluster of Corpses standing in between us and the truck. I swallow hard. Taking down the handful of Corpses earlier had been hard enough, but there's got to be at least twenty of them here. Even with Gr on my side, we don't stand a chance.

A sudden warmth startles me and I glance down. Audrey has taken my hand, her narrow fingers threaded through mine, and the heat of it is dazzling. I can feel the soft pressure of her palm, the hardened callouses from firing a gun, and the slight dampness of her anxiety. It's simultaneous with another throbbing pain in my chest, but I'm too caught up in the wonder of her touch to care.

Surprised, I look up from our joined hands to Audrey and she meets my eyes. It's obvious she's terrified, but beneath that I see nothing but trust. She flashes me a small smile, just the faintest twitch of the lips, and I return it.

"Together," I say.

She nods. "Together."