Sorry I took longer to write this chapter, I was busy with birthday celebrations. I'd also like to apologize for making the chapters so short, I promise I'm trying to write them longer but it's just hard for me. I guess I can upload them quicker this way though? Anyway I hope you are enjoying this story so far and I would love to hear some advice if I could do anything better? I'll do my best to get the next chapter up within the week.
Feliciano blinked rapidly in surprise peering in closer at the girl. It took a few moments before he recognized the shaking figure before him "Liechtenstein" he whispered out, like he was scared he was dreaming. She nodded slowly, her eyes continuing to widen "Wh..What are you doing here?". He didn't reply, instead, grinning wildly, he half-pounding onto her, The two hadn't really spent much time with each other, bar a few shopping trips that Hungary had invited them too, but she was alive, someone was alive, he was not alone. After recovering from the initial shock of being jumped on she too couldn't help but smile, also relieved to see someone who wasn't trying to eat her.
It was a few minutes before Feliciano could release his grip and slow his babbling. Taking her chance she quickly pressed her finger to his lips and gestured for him to listen. Moaning. He had completely forgotten the shots would attract more of the undead. "Crap" he hissed, before instinctively pardoning himself for cursing. Liechtenstein let out a little laugh and picked herself off the ground before moving towards the door and the counter. He followed her and sighed in relief when he saw only 5 of them had reached the station yet. More would be there soon, but luckily they would have time to make it out before that.
"Okay. Lets go!" he said cheerfully, happy the gunshots had not yet brought a plague down upon them. His smile fell when Liechtenstein made no attempt to move with him. "Liechtenstein?". "I don't have anywhere to go. Last night a couple of them broke into where I was staying and I barely got out" she said looking out at attackers waiting for them. "The rotters? Well that's okay, you can stay with me" he smiled, but her expression still didn't change and she refused to face him. "No. I mean. It wasn't them, it was a gang." she whispered, toneless. It took a few moments for Feliciano to process this " Like Scavengers?", he asked." Scavengers. Looters. Bandits. Yeah. They'd been following me for a while, I got out but with only this gun and a head start. But I'm pretty sure they're still following me. and..and.." She stopped, an expression that Feliciano could only recognize as guilt crossed her face as she gestured down to her leg.
His stomach sunk and his mind blurred slightly. A wound, big, large, deep, and still dripping blood. A bite? No. He shook his head, it didn't look like one. A gunshot, those people had shot her. "Oh" he said, not finding better words for the situation. She grimaced a little looking back outside "I'd just slow you down Venenciano". He held in his laughter, feeling it didn't really suit the situation, it was amusing that she actually thought he would even consider just leaving her there. Bending down he wrapped his arms under and around her hoisting her off the ground. Quickly checking his gun was loaded he made his way outside, not even giving her the chance to protest.
"Can I put you down for a moment?" Feliciano whispered not waiting for an answer and placing the small girl gently on the asphalt. Something felt off, something was wrong. Scavengers? It was late and the time they'd be coming out, but he hadn't really seen them out this far and he didn't think that was it. Grimacing he shrugged and bent down to pick her up again. Liechtenstein however was stumbling to her feet, "No, you said it wasn't to far to go right? I'll walk, I don't want to tire you out anymore". He nodded but took the bag full of cans off her back "Okay, but I'll take this. Feliciano didn't like walking down the highways, especially this late, as it was so exposed, but it was quicker than walking through the woods. A small soft scent floated up to great him, it was the lingering smell of pasta mixed and smoke from last night. "Almost back, almost home" he sung grinning at the thought of it. She looked up at him with curiosity "Home". He made a small noise in reply, it wasn't a house or even a dwelling, but he'd grown quite fond of it, it was his, it was safe, and yes it was home. "Crack" a twig broke under his step, snapping his thoughts back to reality. The air went cold the wind picked up and hit his face. Another smell smashed the former to the back of his mind. Rotting, Repulsive, Undead Flesh.
Heart pounding he reached out and stopped Liechtenstein. Not here, they couldn't be here, it was safe, it was all he had. Running into the forest beside the road and pulling her behind him, he gave no explanations just a hand covering her mouth. Slowly and as quietly as he could, he made his way around the trees until he was opposite his camp. It was covered from view by the cars, but taking a few steps up the hill beside him he could easily see it. He felt himself stop, his heart, his lungs, his mind, they all just stopped, how would he do anything now everything he had except the bag on his back was down there amongst the rotting corpses. Feliciano didn't think to much about the loss of his food, or tent, but of the items he personally valued, everything that reminded him of the people he loved. Tears sprung to his eyes as he stopped himself from running down and shooting them all, he knew that was stupid and dumb. There were too many down there, he'd be killed before he took them down, and there were probably a lot more all around because of earlier.
He sighed ready to fall to the ground in pieces, when a small calm hand wrapped around his own shaking one. "That was your camp wasn't it?" her voice steadied him a little. A small nod in reply as he stared out at it. " Venenciano, I know it's horrible to loose anything these days, but. You're alive right? Plus," She smiled nervously looking around, "it's getting really dark, really quick. We need to find somewhere to stay." He nodded, hesitantly pulling his eyes from the camp to her " Yeah. Sorry. But where can we go? It's too late to go back to the city because we'd have to avoid the gas station." Liechtenstein looked back at him mulling the situation over. Slowly the anxiety on her face turned to happiness" I know where to go!" she exclaimed, perhaps a bit too loudly. "All around the outsides of cities and things there are cabins, they're pretty old, but they are abandoned and have some basic things in them and are away from roads and stuff"
His eyes lit up, that sounded like a great idea "How do we find one?". She stopped, obviously repeating something once said to her in her mind, and ran up the rest of the hill "My brother told me about them, he said they were safe if I ever needed to be. He also said, they were around the main highways and" she peered into the distance and pointed enthusiastically, "By rivers or streams!". Feliciano looked out to where she was pointing "That's pretty cool you know that Liechtenstein." She shrugged "Not really, my brothers just a great teacher" she replied, her voice shaking a little. He picked up the bags and glanced back at his camp quickly before setting off down the hill with Liechtenstein.