One Drop Of Blood

4

Ray sat me at the kitchen table as he left for a second and brung back a first aid kit. He used an antiseptic wipe before wrapping a bandaid securely around my finger. It didn't hurt much compared to the aching of my shoulders and the small bruise that grew on my right arm. Ray asked me to take the kit back to the bathroom as he put the food in a pan to heat it up. I grabbed the flimsy plastic container making my way there the best I could in the dark. 

When I turned the light on in the bathroom I could see it light up a dark stain on the hallway floor. I put the kit in a cupboard above the sink before unfolding a towel and laying it across the floor. I knew it was still making Ray feel bad and I didn't want the other two to see it. I saw scratches on the door and along the window frame. Probably from Piper... I felt oddly empty at the thought that she was gone. Like I expected her to just be sleeping in her pile of blankets or making more chicken soup. But the only thing she'd be doing now is laying still underground.

I walked back to the kitchen where I saw Ray scooping the ravioli into three bowls. He handed me the smaller one with a spoon.

"Can you get this to Mila? I'll have yours out in a second." I nodded and carried it to the living room. Mila yawned in her pajamas as she walked out of Rays bedroom. Charley still laid on the floor snoring. She sleepily took it as she scooped the dish into her mouth slowly. I shook Charley awake causing him to jump with a gasp.

"Aw man! I was dreaming that I was on a date with Lucy!" The girl in question was a crush he had from school. He turned to the kitchen as Ray walked in with two bowls and handed one to each of us before sitting on the couch. He yawned but was interrupted by a bowl being thrown in his face. Less than a second later Mila launched herself at him. Me and Charley instantly bolted up, knocking over our untouched food. We pulled her back as she scratched at all of us. Ray pulled the bowl off and wiped the sauce from his face sputtering.

He opened his uncovered eye before it widened and his jaw dropped. As Mila turned to attack us and try to get free I saw those same bloodshot eyes. She ripped at my shoulders while kicking me in the gut causing me to collapse while gasping for air. Then she jumped on Charley. Ray tried to get to him but was too late as she grabbed a fork from his tipped over bowl and stabbed it into the side of his head. He froze for a moment with his eyes going wide before he collapsed to the ground. I felt tears run down my face as Ray cried out in horror. As the girl turned to attack the man she once called dad I pulled him out of the way.

I rushed Ray out of the house as fast as I could, closing the door behind us before Mila could get out. I stumbled into him as Ray fell to his knees. The slowly rising sun illuminated his pale tear stained face, but he didn't have the energy to cry anymore. I could see the spot marked by bricks where we had Piper. I guess next to it is where Charley would be laid soon. Once again it was just me and Ray left. Maybe one day we can come back and help Mila... Hopefully...

We started to walk down the road, looking for the third shelter in 2 days. Several bodies laid in the street, it was apparent that they had been fighting among themselves. They horribly destroyed each other and everything in their path. There was a car overturned on the sidewalk with several fist sized dents in the side of it. A person laid frozen as if they were trying to climb out of the top of the car but a large shard of glass had been stuck through their skull. Another had tried to jump off the roof only to get impaled on a lamp post. They wheezed weakly as we passed by but Ray confirmed it was already too late.

I grabbed the knife that I had grabbed from the kitchen and handed it to Ray. He unsheathed it and quickly ran the blade through the person's heart, ending their misery. He wiped the blood off on his leg before handing it back to me and continuing on. We didn't say anything as we solemnly walked towards the unknown. The scent of death surrounded us and it seemed like this would lead us nowhere. I clenched my teeth as my stomach growled from the fact that I hadn't eaten since yesterday.