The Nuclear Frontier

Chapter 12

        As I awoke, I could hardly tell it.  All I could see were blurred colors and all I could hear were fuzzy sounds.  the only thing I was truly aware of was a warm pressure on my chest.

        Slowly, the colors and sounds turned into coherent images and phrases.  i started to sit up and felt the pressure on my chest move. i looked down to see crystal with her head on my chest, her breathing slow and even, i gently moved her head and had to bite back a gasp as pain flooded through me.  she sat up, half asleep and put her arms around me, it hurt but i didn't dare to say anything because i could handle the pain if it meant i could stay like this. 

But all to soon, she woke up and started to sit up. With a heavy heart, I moved my arms from around her and let her go.  I painfully stood up and started towards the kitchen to get a cup of water, but instead i just watched her sleep for a while.  She looked so peaceful, so beautiful.  As i realized i was staring, I slowly stepped away and walked to the kitchen.

        When my eyes landed on the table, I was shocked as I saw Deacon sitting there over a cup of coffee looking deep in thought.

        "Deacon?  You're really here?  I thought it was all just a dream." I said.

        "Yeah, I decided to stay a while, hope ya don't mind." He replied with a grin.

        "So where have you been all this time?" I asked

        "A little bit of everywhere, why me and Michael . . ." He said as a pained look crossed his face.

       After a few seconds, I decided to speak again. It pained me so much, but I had to know. Was Michael still alive?

        "Deacon, where is Michael?" I asked.  

        "He decided to go home, he didn't like the old lifestyle we had, he was sick of always fighting those wretched beasts.  I guess he just couldn't handle it anymore."

        "Thank god," I said "I thought he was dead."

        "nah, you really think those things could kill him? They might be able to, if the had a freaking army!"

        "Yeah, with that damn gun he always carried he was pretty much unstoppable."

        We both sat there for a little while after that in silence, the only sounds being that of the wind and Crystal's even breathing.  I stood up and refilled his cup of coffee and poured me a cup also. As we sat and sipped on our coffees, i became aware of Deacon wanting to say something, but he wouldn't speak.

         "Whats's wrong?" I asked

         "You already know." he stated simply.

        "yeah, I think I do..." I said.

        The rest of the coffee was finished in silence. As we decided to go about the chores, I started walking toward the door and winced.

        "I think I can do the chores today, since you're letting me stay here this is how i can pay my rent." Deacon said with his usual grin.

        As Deacon walked out the door i started thinking. Of course i knew what was troubling him, he wanted to tell me what i needed to figure out on my own, and figure it out, I did.  I was falling in love, plain and simple, no matter how hard i tried to deny in, i just always came back to the same solution. It would explain why i went nuts like that and almost got myself killed, I just couldn't let her get hurt, the thought of Crystal getting hurt was unbearable to me.

       A small rustle and yawn came from the direction of the bed, so i turned around to find crystal sitting up looking at me, as i made eye contact, she looked away blushing. Suddenly, i felt like i had to protect her.  I immediately knew that i would fight every beast in the world for her. I felt as if i would fight Satan himself for her.