7. Kings in their Castle

"What was that?" Frank asked as he heard a loud creak in front of him. His fingers tensed around Bill's arm

"A bunch of clickers," Bill replied with a smile the other man couldn't see.

Frank held his breath for a second before realizing the other man was joking. Bill's smile turned into a frown as he felt Frank's fist connect with his upper arm.

"Ow."

"Not funny," said Frank as he adjusted the blindfold around his eyes. "I don't know how I let you talk me into this in the first place."

"We're here," said Bill as they stopped at the bottom of the concrete steps. He untied the blindfold in eager anticipation.

Frank blinked a couple of times to adjust his eyes. The dim overhead lighting illuminated the center of the rectangular room. He found himself at the far end of a large, barren space surrounded by concrete walls. A couple of bookcases occupied the area near the entrance, while a wooden table stood underneath the light.

He peeked into the closest alcove that branched off from the main room. Metal shelves lined the walls, full of guns and ammunition. The next alcove was filled with similar shelving, and many of the tools they owned.

"What is this?" he asked, but quickly realized the answer to his own question. "Oh my God, it's the basement of the church."

Bill nodded.

"How did you…there was so much junk here."

"It took a while to clean up."

"The bodies…what did you do with them?"

"Burned them," Bill replied. "Had to let place air out a good two weeks before the smell started goin' away."

"Why is all of our stuff here?" Frank asked.

Bill grinned. "I thought you might like a change of scenery."

"You mean…living here?"

Bill shook his head. He pointed toward the ceiling. "The real surprise is upstairs. C'mon, follow me."

. . .

Frank's first glimpse of the main floor of the church took his breath away. The chapel, with its high, arched ceiling and stained-glass windows, was flooded in a brilliant display of light. Swatches of yellow, orange, peach and pink reflected the sun's rays and swelled upward in a vibrant glow that filled the room.

Frank approached the pulpit at the front of the chapel. Along both sides of the room, wooden pews were uprooted in front of the windows to prevent the infected from entering. A small cooking area was offset to the right wall, complete with a stove and large pot.

Light entering the circular window above the large cross beamed its rays onto the floor. As he walked into the incandescent spotlight, the warmth of the setting sun embraced his skin. He closed his eyes and smiled. It was perfect.

"There's one more thing I want you to see," said Bill, who led him toward a doorway to the right of the pulpit.

Frank stepped into the room. His eyes squinted from the intensified beams of light. The west wall had been replaced almost entirely by the same stained glass as the chapel, and it took full advantage of the sunset. The furniture in the room, a small table and two mattresses separated by a low bookshelf, were bathed in new colors of the rainbow, adding purples and violets to the mix.

"I…" Frank was momentarily speechless. "Bill, it's beautiful. I feel like I'm in a fucking fairytale. Things like this…they just don't exist anymore."

"I know," said Bill. He was staring at the window in equal amazement. "We can make it here."

Frank turned to meet his eyes.

"We can stay here and make a life, a good life," Bill continued. "There's nothing out there that we can't find here."

Frank considered his words. A bird flew by outside, catching his eye. The shadows it created made the light dance to life in the room. He looked around at their new home, and smiled. In that moment, anything seemed possible.

"I don't know if I like everything that I see," he said with a teasing grin. "I mean, everything's perfect, except…I don't think my bed is going to get any use with yours so far away."

Bill wasn't one to easily blush, but his cheeks suddenly felt warm.

Frank grinned at his discomfort and pulled him in with one arm. "I guess we'll have to try these out to see which one is more comfortable." He let go and began to unbutton his shirt. "Well, cowboy, what're you waiting for?"