One Drop Of Blood

8

I quietly led Ray and Diesel back to the house with the tomato plant. He grabbed the wagon and pulled it along behind us. It was getting dark now, almost pitch black by the time we got back to the house. We closed the doors and he quickly checked it, to make sure no bloodshot had made their way in. We went into a bedroom where Ray set up a mattress from another room so we could sleep in the same one. Apparently the tomatoes were great though since they helped Ray with his allergies. It wasn't much but at least he didn't have to worry about the sneezing and stuffy nose anymore.

After the sun rose again, we went back to the office building in order to bury Ava and Steve. I didn't like the growing number of graves I've set. At least I can consider it lucky that Ray survived, neither of us are quite sure how he did. We did our best to keep the tomato plants thriving, and fortunately Diesel wasn't too into digging them up, just the flowers in the front yard. One day a few weeks later Ray said he was going out to look for hair supplies. i hadn't noticed but our hair was starting to get shaggy. I spent my time cleaning up the front yard while he was out. 

As I was carrying a pile of dead flowers I tripped into a hole Diesel had dug. I yelped in pain as my ankle twisted, sending pain shooting through my leg. Just after my shoulders had healed too... I pushed the plants to the side as I sat on the ground. I should probably wait for Ray so I don't accidentally make it worse. Concerned Diesel ran to my side, keeping me company while I waited. When I heard footsteps I turned expectantly, waiting to see Ray but instead there was an exhausted looking woman. Her hair was matted and dirty, her clothes ripped with dark stains that I didn't want to Identify. She held onto her left arm which was stuck at an odd position.

"My home... What happened...?" She looked up at the building we had been living in with sadness in her eyes. She didn't seem to notice me yet since the grass needed to be mowed.

"Excuse me ma'am, are you hurt?" She jumped and turned around to see Ray, I hadn't realized he was back. "I can help with your arm, I'm a certified medic." She eyed him nervously before agreeing. As he sat her down on the porch he called out to me.

"uh.. Actually I kind of need some help too.." I yelled back causing them both to face towards me surprised. He came over to me then helped me up after he saw my foot. He brought me to the porch as well but the woman scooted back a little.

"So how did you both get these injuries?" He asked as he pulled out bandages from his newly gathered supplies. The woman hesitated so I spoke up first.

"I accidentally tripped in one of Diesel's holes, I think I just twisted it." He confirmed it.

"Wait.. Do you have a dog? I can't be around it, I'm allergic." As if on cue, Diesel bounded out of the grass wagging his tail, causing a synced sneeze from both Ray and the woman.

"Come on Dies." I led him away, leaning on him for support. Meanwhile Ray continued on to make a sling out of the bandages to hold the womans arm in place.

"So let's start off with names, I'm Ray Gowser, how about you?"

"... I'm... Mary Winthrose..." She sighed as it looked like tears started to dot her eyes. "Before you have to ask... I broke my arm when my..." She choked. "M-my husband... turned into the sick.... He killed my son and almost killed me..." as she spoke tears started to stream down her face.

"I lost my daughter too..." He spoke softly as sadness darkened his face.

"Is that not your son?" She asked with a sniffle.

"No, he got injured and I was in the ambulance that picked him up, We never made it to the hospital and instead ended up here." she nodded in silent understanding. After that I couldn't hear anything else as I walked with Diesel to the backyard. I carefully picked ripe, healthy tomatoes and carried them in my shirt so I could get them to the other two, Feeding Diesel one before hand. I turned back to give them the fruit, having the dog sit while I used the wall to walk over to them.

"You kept the plants alive? At least some things are still here...." She smiled at the red bulb sadly. I walked back around the side of the house to where Diesel was. He wagged his tail happily while he chewed on a large stick he had found, and brought it to me so I could throw it for him. I grabbed it and threw it but instead of it crashing into the grass like I expected it was stopped mid flight when someone grabbed it. 

They had no hair on top of their head and had a rag wrapped around it. In their other hand they held a... A GUN!? They pointed it straight towards my face as they started walking towards me. They then threw the stick at Diesel hitting him hard enough so he whimpered and back off.

"Hand over all your food! Cans, boxes, whatever!" their yelling attracted the two adults.

"Harvey what's going on?!" 

"Hey YOU!" The person now yelled at Ray. "Give me all the supplies you got or I'm shooting a hole clean through this buggers head!" He pulled the safety off, making me flinch. Ray sighed nervously before slowly going into the house with his hands up. He walked back out carrying a tote bin full of objects. I couldn't tell what it was but I was confused since I thought there wasn't any preserved food here. The person smiled at Ray.

As he got closer I could see it looked like boxes... had he been hiding them...? Suddenly Ray swung the container, making a loud smack as it collided with the person, The gun went off echoing through the surroundings. They fell to the ground unconscious and Ray dropped the bin, it was full of books and other heavy objects. Mary cautiously looked at us, peering from behind the corner of the house. She looked at me and I saw her eyes widen.

Then the pain hit me. I collapsed to the ground as I clutched at my bleeding chest. Ray looked towards me and fear instantly filled his face.

"Ray..?" 

"HARVEY!! NO!!" He picked me up and attempted to put pressure on the bleeding. I could see tears streaming down his face, which was growing blurry by the minute. "MARY GRAB THE SEWING KIT!" His voice sounded fuzzy and it was hard to concentrate. Am I going to die...? I felt my body go limp as I lost all strength to hold myself up.

I think... This is it.... 

They say before you die, your entire life flashes before your eyes. My first steps... My 6th birthday party where I got a pet cat... When I was twelve and I crashed my bike, I still had a scar on my elbow.... Then something came to me... One night about a month ago... More specifically the night before everything broke down. I was half asleep so I didn't remember it, but now it's as if it were happening in present time.

"My son.... He's in there... Please don't hurt him!" I could hear my dads panicked voice.

"Oh don't worry... I won't be the one doing the hurting." A man stepped into my room. I recognised him as the man that tried to stab me. The man grabbed my arm as inserted a needle into it. I tried to resist but for some reason my body felt heavy.

I saw a tag on it that read "Cazex virus: level 4" Then he pulled out a vial with a clear liquid and gave it to me. When he pulled it away I saw a glimpse of the word Antibody on it...

I slowly put all the pieces together.... I was already infected. Had I been the one getting everyone infected? I was the one... I WAS THE ONE THAT KILLED ALL MY COMPANIONS. I felt weak tears slowly roll down my cheeks. Perhaps my death will finally end this tragedy...