Chapter Three – For God's Sake, Stop Staring At Him

John didn't say a word as we made our very slow way back across the river, I can only assume because he was too afraid to speak. In retrospect, I have no idea how I managed to get him all the way back to 221B without any other corpses noticing that he was a living, breathing, edible human. Maybe it was because he wasn't drawing attention to himself by running scared or trying to shoot anyone. I was just relieved that we didn't stumble across any Boneies – I'm sure they'd notice immediately that John wasn't just another corpse.

The street was completely deserted as I led John into 221B and up the stairs to my flat. I wish I could have tidied up a bit, but how was I to know I was going to have company today? I've never had company, let alone living company.

John finally spoke, his voice shaking as he glared defiantly. "Look, if you're going to kill me, just get it over and done with."

I wasn't sure how he could still think that I was going to eat him. "S-safe... now... n-not... going... t-to... hurt... you," I pointed to the dusty threadbare armchair that was opposite the leather one I favoured. "P-please... sit..."

John looked suspiciously at me before very cautiously sitting down. He didn't take his eyes off me, like he was convinced that I would attack him at any moment if he let his guard down. He was shivering slightly, so I guess it must be cold in my flat. I hadn't noticed. I shuffled off towards the kitchen and made my way to the bedroom, pulling the musty blanket off the bed.

When I got back into the living room John was still sitting rigidly in his seat, looking nervously around the room. He edged away when I came near him, looking horrified again, but that horror turned once again into confusion as I draped the blanket over him.

"What are you?" he whispered again.

I still couldn't think of a way to answer that question, so I sat down opposite him in my leather armchair. I watched his bright blue eyes travel once more around the room, lingering on the peeling patterned wallpaper with the smiley face drawn on it with spray paint and bullet holes, on the overflowing bookshelves, and on the tottering stack of vinyl records next to my record player.

But I only had eyes for him. John really was beautiful, handsome in a very unassuming way, like he probably didn't even realise just how gorgeous he was. I didn't even know that I could still find people attractive, being dead and all. And I wouldn't have guessed that I'd find men attractive. But then I had a sudden, alarming thought; what if John wasn't attracted to men? I'd just seen after eating Sarah's brains that he'd being in a relationship with a woman. So I had no chance. Not that I would anyway, since I was a disgusting, brain-eating corpse that no human in their right mind would want. Seriously, why had I brought him here? And why couldn't I just stop staring at him? I probably looked so creepy.

As if he could hear my train of thought, John nervously said "Why did you bring me here?"

Good question. "K-keep... you... s-safe," I eventually replied.

"But I was safe," he said, glaring at me. "I was safe in the City, and you've brought me here, to the other side of the river which is teaming with corpses. You didn't really think this through, did you?"

He made a very good point, but before I could get out the words to tell him so, he suddenly looking a little bit remorseful.

"I'm sorry," he said. "That was unfair, I mean I'm sure you felt like you were doing the right thing, saving me from that other zombie, bringing me here to your little hiding place. But I don't understand why you would even do this. Why me?"

Yet another very good question that I had no answer to, so I just shrugged. He covered himself a little bit more with the musty duvet, smiling rather sadly, and I felt my heart beat for the third time today. Spooky.

"You're a strange one, aren't you?" he said, raising an eyebrow at me. "Do you have a name?"

"S..." I tried to say. "Sss... Shh..."

"Did it begin with an S?" he asked before I hurt myself trying to remember.

I nodded.

"Then I'll just call you S," he said with another sad smile. "I'm John. John Watson."

John Watson. There was no way I was going to forget that name, even if I'd forgotten my own. I tried to smile in response, but it may have looked more like a grimace.

"So how long do you plan on keeping me here?" he asked. "I mean, I'm going to have to go back to the City eventually, or they're all going to think I'm dead."

I really didn't like the idea of him leaving. Now that I had John Watson in my so-called life, I really didn't want to let him go. It sounded terribly selfish, I know. But I was rather fond of this human. I shook my head at him.

"You're not letting me leave?" he said incredulously.

"N-not... safe..." I stammered. "Have... t-to... st-stay... keep... y-you... safe..."

"Yeah, I get it," he said impatiently. "You want to keep me safe. And that's nice and everything, but I can't stay here forever."

Eventually I said "A... f-few... days..."

"A few days," he repeated. "And then you'll let me go back?"

I nodded, even though I'd rather he didn't leave at all. He still looked apprehensive, but ever so slightly less annoyed at me. He sat back on the threadbare armchair, holding the duvet close to him.

"I'm going to need food, you know," he said. "If I have to stay here for a few days."

"Not... n-now..." I mumbled. "Not... s-safe... outside... t-tomorrow..."

"Fine," he said with a bit of a frown. "Just promise me you won't try to eat my brains while I sleep, okay?"

I almost laughed, which was strange as I couldn't remember ever laughing before, at least not as a corpse. It came out sounding more like a kind of weird cough.

"P-promise," I stuttered. "Won't... ever... h-hurt you..."

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad, I thought as I watched John eventually fall asleep on the armchair. He didn't seem quite as afraid of me as he probably should have been, but that bravery just made him even more beautiful in my eyes. I really needed to stop staring at him though. What if he woke up suddenly and found me, a hideous corpse, staring unblinkingly at him. That would be unnerving for anyone. I should stop.

Oh, but he's just so beautiful... I'll stop staring when he stops being so beautiful. Don't look at me like that. You would be just as hopelessly infatuated with him if you were in my position, perhaps even more so. After all, you're only human.

Hope you're enjoying so far, Humble Readers.

As I mentioned back before chapter one, I have no clue when I'm going to get the chance to update this fic. But it will be done at some point. It's not a case of me not writing it fast enough, but the unfortunate fact that now I've finished my course at college I can no longer use the library's internet for free every week and I have no money to go to the internet cafe to publish stuff. I know, right. My life is such a shambles.

But I'll try my best. I love you all way too much to leave you hanging.

xxx