sin and sawdust

2

Eve kicked the dying embers of the small fire she had made out and rubbed her hands against her thighs, clearing the worst of the mud and ash from her palms. The roasted rabbit sat well in her stomach, reviving her fight. Unfortunately, her sated hunger had done nothing to alleviate the tiredness that seemed to sink straight to her bones and she wanted nothing more than to just close her eyes and sleep. She grimaced to herself, that idea was nothing more than suicide in these woods. Just because she hadn't encountered any dead, she knew it was rather luck than design and she needed to move on and soon. She silently gathered her belongings and headed in the same direction that the stranger had left in, her footfalls barely making a sound on the forest floor. After only ten minutes or so, she found herself exiting the trees and onto an overgrown old tarmac road. She inhaled sharply, how close had she been to getting out of the trees and actually seeing where the man went, she could kick herself.

Eve rummaged in her bag for her torch and made her way down the old road, casting her light into the few abandoned cars she came across to check for dead ones before trying the doors. Locked or occupied with rotting corpses and no matter how tired she was, Eve did not fancy a night snuggled up to someone with half a face.

The last car proved to be a winner, the rusted door to the rear squeaking in protest as she gently pulled it open. She cast her eyes quickly around, shining her beam to make sure she hadn't disturbed any dead and hopped into the back seat which was mercifully empty. She would check for anything she could make use of in the morning, right now she needed to sleep. Pulling a rolled up tatty blanket from her bag, she covered herself over, it didn't reach past her waist but it was better than nothing and its dark colour would help to disguise her. She checked the door was secure and closed her eyes, sleep rushing over her much quicker than she had anticipated.

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The sound of tapping on glass shook Eve from her dreams. She sat bolt upright and grabbed her knife from the bag that had been beneath her head, looking straight into the eyes of the dead one clawing at the window of the car to get to her and for the thousand and first time since this shit show had begun, she thanked any deity she could remember that the dead couldn't manoeuvre handles or door knobs. She stared at it for a moment or two, the risen sun illuminating it's disgusting rotting head from behind like a halo, it's gnashing teeth desperate for her flesh, the bloodied, dirty fingers trying to get purchase on the smooth glass to reach her. Eve's stomach flipped and she leant forward and slowly rolled down the window, noting her luck that they weren't electric. Once she had a gap big enough, she plunged the knife through the dead ones temple and it slumped against the door, slowly squeaking it's way down to the floor, effectively blocking her in. She rolled her eyes and sat back, sleep still hazy in her brain. She must have slept for hours, which was so unlike her.

Eve leaned forward into the front of the car, checking the glove compartment and anywhere she could think of for anything that might be useful, finding half a card of matches and two full packets cigarettes. She sighed, it had been weeks since she'd smoked the last cigarette she had and the fury that came with cold quitting has long passed. Did she really want to go through that again? She placed them in her bag, knowing them to be a valuable commodity for trade regardless of what she decided.

The other rear door was unlocked and Eve wondered how long her lucky run was going to hold out. She slipped from the car after gathering up her things and decided to test it, clicking the trunk release on the back of the car, it swung up silently and Eve gasped. Inside the trunk was some bottled water, a chocolate bar, a small box of Lucky Charms cereal, an old, worn black leather motorcycle jacket and various other things that one would normally find in the trunk of a car. Only the usual things were covered in a fine layer of dust. The other things were not. They had been left here recently, not that Eve had any qualms about taking them, what made her wary was who had put them there and why had they left them. Dead? Maybe. She couldn't be sure and it set her on edge. She quickly scooped the food into her bag, downed half a bottle of water and stowed it with the other two. She looked around quickly, unable to resist trying on the jacket, pulling her arms through the sleeves and rolling it up onto her shoulders. Damn near perfect fit. Something was off. Nobody was this lucky these days, not anyone.

Eve darted her eyes left and right, trying to see if anyone was watching, waiting to attack and she found her fingers once again idling at the knife on her waist. She swung the bag round onto her shoulders, the bow attached to the straps that hung from the bottom. She silently closed the trunk, and moved off down the road, on high alert for anyone waiting to ambush her from the trees that lined each side of the road, her mind whirling with thoughts of how and why. The jacket was definitely not to be sniffed at, the first familiar signs of winter had been swirling in the air and all she had until now was a thin hooded jacket, her last coat she'd dumped on a whim in the height of the summer heat.

Once she was a sufficient distance away from the car, Eve ducked into the trees and pulled the chocolate from her bag. Unwrapping it quietly, she racked her brains to try and remember the last time she had eaten anything indulgent, must have been months. She took a small bite and inwardly groaned, whoever had left it was her new best friend in the whole world, the sweetness spread over her tongue and she quickly devoured the rest like she was about to have it taken away.

Eve's attention pricked at a small noise to her right and without reacting, she moved forward through the trees, her heart beating a little faster in her chest. She focused on the rhythm and called out to the trees,

"Did you leave me the jacket?"

The stranger from last night stepped into view, an odd look crossing his rugged face,

"S'prised yer heard me, did'n have yer pegged as a hunter," he drawled in reply.

Eve rolled her eyes, "Because I'm female?" she countered,

"Naw," a small blink and you'd miss it smile pulled at the strangers mouth, "Cause yer shit at it,"

The indignation must have been painted across Eve's face, because the stranger laughed derisively, a gruff kinda grunt that irked her more than the comment he'd made.

Eve rolled her shoulders and straightened up,

"As much as I love being stalked through the woods by a sarcastic son of a bitch, and I truly do, I've gotta ask, why the fuck are you following me?" Eve glared at the stranger, her eyes daring him to meet her ire.

The man cocked his head, staring not uncomfortably at Eve for a minute before answering,

"Got a good place to stay, not too far from here," he replied, his eyes not wavering from Eve's for a second, "Food, water, shelter. An old prison, there's a fair few of us an' yer look like yer need a shower," The stranger crinkled his nose, a shadow of a smirk crossing his lips.

"No thanks," Eve replied without hesitation, "I'm doing just fine out here,"

"Looks it," the man snorted, "Don' say I did'n try,"

He turned to walk away again, taking half a dozen steps before calling back,

"There's an old cabin, abandoned, not far. In case the winter does a number on you here,"

He started to walk again, and Eve's mouth engaged before her brain,

"Thank you for the gear. I'm Eve," she called after him, "What do I call you?"

The stranger didn't break stride and just called back over his shoulder...

"Daryl. And yer welcome,"

And then he was gone.