Catalyst

Chapter 4

Warnings: Language, Violence

Chapter 4:
402 Years After the Virus; Month 8; Day 17

Omen. Bad Luck. Harbinger. Scavenger.

Their wings and raucous calling brought me out of it. I gasped and sat bolt upright in the dark. There was no pain and I realized I was holding myself up on my hands. I pulled my arms forward and moved my wrists. They were completely healed. I put my fingers to my forehead and there was no bullet hole. Had Weir shot me? I only remembered the sound of the gun, faintly, and then there was nothing but blackness. A crow hopped up onto my knee and looked at me curiously. Crows didn't fly at night, just like any other diurnal bird, so why were they there? There were at least six in total, counting the one on my knee and they didn't seem to be afraid.

"What do you want?" I asked, reaching my fingers out to it. I was expecting a peck or for it to move away, but instead, it sat on my knee and passively let me stroke its feathers. The others soon scattered and left, but the one on my knee sat until there was a sound at the other end of the alley. It took off and I turned around.

"Alloy!" Sabre cried and ran forward. I held my shirt to my chest and it covered everything else as well. He came to a stop beside me. "What the hell happened?!" I looked up at him, not sure what to think. It could've been Weir and Connor being who they were. It could've been Annette. However, he could've been behind it all just to rid himself of the trouble.

"Don't you know?" I asked in a growl.

"Don't I know what? Why are you naked?!"

"Weir and Connor," I hissed, feeling bile rise in my throat. Sabre's expression went from worried to cold in a split second.

"What did they do?"

"I thought you might know," I said. He grabbed my shoulders and shook me.

"I had nothing to do with whatever happened! Remember when I said that I need you to survive in order for me to survive as well. You're fragile and weak, so I'd never even consider having them beat you up." Just by his reaction I could tell he had no idea, though it was strange to see him look worried.

"Have you been looking for me?" I asked, feeling weak and fragile.

"I got back and Annette said you were out getting some supplies, so I waited around for a few hours, but then when you didn't come back, I started looking." Tears welled up into my eyes.

 "I've been lying here dead for who knows how long and no one knew. Am I still dead?" Sabre looked at me strangely.

"What the hell do you mean? You're not dead." I put my fingertips to the center of my forehead where it tingled just slightly.

"Weir put a bullet in my skull, I'm pretty damn sure of it. That was after Connor busted my wrists, stabbed me a couple times, and then had his way with me. Weir just shot me, to put me out of my misery." The glint in Sabre's eyes became dangerous and he frowned.

"They'd have no reason to do any of this," he snarled.

"The stupid cheese guy wasn't letting me buy cheese and Weir overheard. He grabbed my arm and said I was going home. I thought he meant back to the butcher shop so I went with him. By the time I realized he wasn't, it was too late."

"Who sent you out shopping in the first place?" Sabre asked in a low voice.

"I guess she'll be surprised if I'm still alive," I muttered. I had goosebumps forming and shivered slightly. My clothes were all ruined. The only thing I had on were my boots. Sabre looked down at me and then around, seeing the scattered groceries.