After Death

Chapter 9 (If I killed Someone for you)

Chapter 9: If I killed Someone for you

Khai Reaver

Estimated, May 2024

About two years after outbreak

California, The Circus

Season 3

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"I hope Benny serves you well in your condition, Khai," Thomas said. His daughter, Angie, gave me her dog to be my new set of eyes. I was grateful but I could still here Angie's grunts of protest. I was kinda surprised to find out that Thomas had a kid especially one that was only a little younger than me. She didn't seem to like any of us. She stayed distant but the other's always pointed out when she was staring. She looked a lot like Thomas. She looked like Thomas' wife too. I hadn't really gotten much of a chance to speak with Piper. She spent most of her time with Rudi and the kids. I hadn't really talked to anyone since it happened. I only discussed the important stuff with my doctor, Evelyn. I hate myself for not being able to help. Aiden told me how everyone was assigned jobs by Thomas but I was stuck in bed all day.

Aiden was really the only one who came around to the infirmary. He brought me stupid shit that he found around the place, he figured he could at least try to cheer me up. I think he blames himself for what happened to me. After all, he was the one who found the moonshine but I didn't think it was his fault. I was the one who picked up the bottle.

I thanked Angie and Thomas for their act of charity. I didn't really know much about dogs, never really liked them much to begin with but Benny was good. He was a smart boy and he made me smile. Not much could do that for me anymore.

I wanted to help. I wanted to do something, anything. I hated that I became what I hated: A burden.

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Aiden Palton

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After I visited Khai one day I followed Marcus outside the walls. I knew I shouldn't have but curiosity overtook me and I couldn't escape it. I made sure to stay hidden, I didn't want him to know I was there because then he wouldn't go to where he was going. There were a couple close calls but he never did see me.

We got ourselves back into the city. I had to do everything I could to avoid the dead because killing them would draw too much attention. I had to take care of one though. As my knife went through his rotting skull his blood spilled onto my face and shirt. I was lucky I didn't have any open wounds because these things were walking infections. We kinda just had to guess that if any of them got into our bloodstream in any way it would be all over but then again, we didn't have evidence to back this up.

They ignored me now. Ethan had told me about how when you smell like shit they don't do so much as look in your direction. It made it easier to follow Marcus through this nightmare. He lead me to some sort of building. I stayed behind and peered into the broken window. I stayed low and got even more on edge when I saw Marcus was meeting up with others. Others who we did not know or at least I didn't know.

I heard most of their conversation. It wasn't easy considering the low groans and mutters that came from the dead. I couldn't believe what I heard. They spoke of somewhere else. Another community, and they were close.

Marcus knew of somewhere we could go to all along and he kept it from us. My anger got a hold of me and all I could think about was how I was going to make this man pay.

We were there for over an hour. After some time, the talking only bored me and I couldn't stand it anymore. I didn't bother with the one's I didn't know, I didn't know what they were capable of and I didn't want to start something that I wouldn't be able to finish. Luckily enough, they left before Marcus. I promise I didn't really want to kill him. I wanted to prove to myself that I wasn't a monster but I was and I am and I always will be.

As he came out of the building I tripped him with my leg. He fell into the sidewalk and I held a knife to the back of his throat.

"What the hell was that?" I asked, I could feel his breath get heavy as the dead started to approach us.

"Something that had to be done. It's none of your business, Aiden."

"Yeah, well this little "project" of yours could get people killed. It could get Rudi, Airi, Juna, all of them killed. Why would you not tell us about these assholes before?"

"Because, like I said, it's really not any of your business." I could feel him squirm underneath me. He was filled with complete fear as the dead came closer. I was lost in thought to even realize how close they were. I should have died with him. I should have let them tear me open as well. We should have died on that street together because we both didn't deserve to live anymore. Not after everything we've done.

I watched in terror as they tore the flesh from his body. I'll never forget the sound of his screams as their teeth sank in. I couldn't move all I could do was watch. I should have saved him instead of backing away. I should have done something.

The sound of the blood dripping from their mouths and their satisfied closed eyes was enough to make me run. I should have never even been out here and now look what I've done. I know he deserved it but this place was supposed to bring out the good in us and all it did was make more people die.