Forgetting the Apocalypse

34. Fido's kiss

"For fucks sake it's been two nights! Why isn't she waking up?!" Roone's voice booms with anger and fear.

"Keep your voice down Roone, we haven't fully cleared the building yet. I'm no doctor but I'm pretty sure her mind just got hit with a freight train, alright. I don't think that's something she can just wake up from. It was a freak accident, pacing around is not gonna make her open her eyes fast nor is blaming your brother. He didn't do anything wrong." I can hear Fredi's voice. Has he been crying?

Where's Riva? What is Roone blaming him for?

"I'm gonna stay with her, you know it's gonna take a lot more than this to keep her down. You go find your brother and make things right with him."

Passing out? I passed out, for how long? Things come flooding in like a huge tidal wave. It even sucks the breath out of me.

When I do end up gasping for air I shoot straight up sitting on the some couch they put me in. Both of them, including our pups come rushing to me. Well except Jack who was resting on my legs. Roone takes my face in his hands, "Mara are you ok baby?"

All I can do is nod and try and not focus on the pounding headache that I have. In that moment, Riva comes in with Dukino. Instantly, he drops whatever he was carrying rushes to my side.

"Huntress I swear I'm sorry, I didn't mean for you to..." I don't let him continue. I just pull him into a hug and tell him that it's ok. I mean it. It's not like he forced me to do anything or any of us could've predicted that I would collapse from it. I was the one should be apologizing really. Everyone respects my things, I should have done the same.

Especially given that it was his notebook. I just couldn't help myelf when it was left open like that, I could see the questions that he had written down.

"Besides this thunderstorm that's in my brain I promise that I'm fine. There's some things that don't make sense and I'm trying to put them together. When I do I promise I'll say something." That's the best I can do. Of course it doesn't do much to soothe them in any way. Honestly though I was saying it more for myself so that I don't panic and cause another blackout.

The first thing I recall before passing out is me behind the wheel. It obviously is a memory since I haven't had a wheel in my hands since I first woke up. Roone hands me some food but doesn't say anything even though I know he sensed the change in my body language. I was too caught up in my thoughts that I didn't realize my stomach was growling.

I'm thrown back into the car and I'm coughing. I sound like I'm out of breath. I'm talking to someone, but I don't remember seeing signs of anyone in the car with me at the time or when I awoke.

On the phone maybe?

Mindlessly chewing, I'm thrown somewhere else. Sometime longer than when I was in the car. I was with someone, a woman my age. We were laughing and having fun. Sister or friend probably. No. I didn't have any family photos in my home so had to be a friend. I heard this whimper, almost like our pups. When I turn around a big white dog comes and when I pet them, he or she starts licking my face all over.

I'm thrown into the car again. I was talking, I told whoever I was talking to that I was going to the urgent care because my cough had become painful. I even remember the feeling of the cough. How much my chest felt as though it was being squeezed from all sides.

Then that's it. I don't remember anything else.

Even after two weeks nothing new comes. I try replaying the stuff that I did recall but it was just the same thing over and over again. My only conclusion is that that's when the big truck hit me.

"Riva?" I call to him.

Granted he never asked me any question, I just wanted to pour everything out to him. So I tell him everything that I can recall. Maybe that crazy beautiful mind can come up with something that can explain what happened. Or the very least help ease me the way he did with my memory the first time.

"I don't remember exactly the breed of dog it was that licked me if that's important?"

He shakes his head, "not at all baby girl since this theory is based on all animals being affected."

"... how long it was until the dog had licked it kissed me to when I was sick enough to go to the doctor. I just know that that's what I was doing behind the wheel at the time. Until the truck hit me." I went through it piece by piece. As tedious and frustrating as it was at the time, I wanted to make sure no detail was left out.

He doesn't miss a beat with his pen. Once he's done writing, he continues. "So no rash just coughing?"

"No just coughing. Like I said. All the dog did was lick me. They didn't bite me or attack me or anything."

"So did that kiss from Fido have anything to do with the animal attacks or was it something else?" Fredi asks.

"If it did then how come you're ok? Which of course I'm happy about but I'm going to take a medical guess that you were unconscious for maybe a day or two max. Anything longer than that would've lead to a coma or death, especially without any medical attention."

So am I part of Riva's equation or am I a whole other problem?

For more than a week Riva doesn't ask me any more questions. More importantly, I've avoided peaking into his notebook. He's taken it a step further though. Not only has he started writing into a new one, but is a little avoidant. Making sure no one, even gets a glance of paper. The way he holds and covers it makes it look like he's using his body as shield for it.

That shouldn't surprise me when all I have to do is look at his older brother.

Roone has been as protective as ever. Moreso than he ever was whenever I had been injured. It's not that I'm complaining, because I swear I'm not, it's just ever since that crazy bitch mama and her gang of cannibals he's gotten this guardian mode that makes me want to feel sorry for anyone who slightly looks at me wrong. Again, not complaining. It's not like when I was wounded by the big cat where every little thing had him rushing over to me or him carrying me around like a rag doll.

Yeah, he was right, not that I'd actually say that out loud. That shit was a constant blow to my ego but if it wasn't for him taking care of me the way he did then I know it would've taken me a lot longer to heal.

After the whole incident with those people, his way of protection was making sure no one touched me or got too close to me. He had no problem pulling out his gun at the star women who thought that I was in danger. Now, it's simple things like knowing the changes in my body or mood.

I hadn't noticed I was hungry until he handed me the plate. Even then, he would cough or clear his throat every once in a while to snap me out of my thoughts so that I can get another mouthful. Since we are no longer hiding or pretending anymore, our sleeping arrangement has slightly changed. So, if I'm tried, instead of telling me or bossing me around he simply takes Jack's leash so that I can lay down.

He doesn't say a word during any of the gestures he does for me, almost like he knows that for some reason it'll trigger me telling him about hovering. Something about that makes me smile a little inside. It makes it easier to sleep tonight having him beside me, knowing he's got my back.

Hello my lovelies! Just wanted to say what's up, how y'all doing?

Any new zombie movie/tv shows you've seen recently? Which one is your favorite? Also, not to leave them out cause they're great too, games and books. I tried playing the Last of Us again a while back and good god, I felt like Vern from Stand By Me when it was his turn to keep watch when they were camping. Every little thing was making me jump. I barely made it to where you have to cross those office buildings, just before the part where it's revealed that Tess was bitten.

I was like, yeah no. I love this game but not something I should be playing when I'm trying to relax right now hehe.

Anywho, back to le questions.

Movies: Resident Evil and Dawn of the Dead.
Tv shows: Santa Clarita Diet, The Walking Dead and All of us are dead.
Games: I've only played one resident evil game and I sadly I can't remember which one it is, and Last of us, even though now I'm struggling to pass it.
Books: The Guardian Interviews by Michael Clary.