Flesh Eaters

Change of Clothes and Fresh Food

Chapter 41 - Change of clothes and Fresh Food

*Grey's POV*

I follow behind Murphy as he leads me to the staircase that descends down into the apartments. I stare; lost in thought, at his heels as he walks in front of me. What happened hours ago in front of the station feels as if it was only seconds ago. As I think about the kiss we shared I find my hand touching my lips.

Shaking my head, I quickly drop my hand down to my side. Just as I start to raise my head I slam into Murphy's back.

"Sorry," I blurt as I stumble backwards.

Turning, Murphy grabs me by my shoulders, steadying me, "easy there." He smirks as his eyes study my blushing face. "Ya' need ta' get your head outta' the clouds," he adds.

"Sorry," I mutter as I drop my gaze.

"Nah. Don't worry 'bout it. Just need ya' ta' focus. We don't know what we'll find down there."

"Yeah," I say looking toward the door. An uneasy feeling falls across me as I remember I have nothing to protect myself with. "I still don't have a weapon."

Murphy lets go of my shoulders and pushes the door open. The hinges squeak in protest but give easily. "Stay close ta' me," he says, stepping down the first stair, "I ain't gonna' let anything hurt you."

His words along with the fear of what lies ahead causes my heart flutter. I let out a breath before I begin to follow Murphy down.

"Close the door behind ya'," Murphy commands as he stops his descent.

Following his order I pull the door shut. Immediately a blinding darkness swallows us up. My breath catches in my throat. "Murphy," I ask the darkness before me; my voice trembling without my permission.

"Right here."

I frantically paw the air in front of me until my hand bumps into his. Before I can reflexively pull back, his rough palm wraps around my cold fingers. The warmth of his hand calms me just enough to continue down the stairs. Well, that and the fact that Murphy gently pulls me along.

We continue our blind descent for what feels like ages. Soon enough Murphy finally stops and pushes another door open revealing a hallway lit up with only the moons light. Doors line the wall on either side; some left wide open, others barricaded shut. The floors littered with various objects. Anything from a suitcase stuffed to its limit to a shattered glass vase can be found.

The stale air reeks of decay, warning us that something dead is somewhere in the apartments. The odor hits me and I gag. With my free hand I pull the neck of my shirt up over my nose.

Watching Murphy, I see him cover his nose with the sleeve over his shirt just before he tugs me with him. We slowly move down the hall, fearful of an eater jumping out at any second.

The further we move the stronger the scent of decay grow. The way the smell continually gets stronger reminds me of the suicide person I found dead in the gas station.

"Murphy," I whisper.

He stops and looks back at me. "Hmm," he grunts.

"I don't think whatever's dead is moving anymore," I say. When his only reaction is furrowing his eyebrows I continue, "back when I went to look for gas with Mercedes, I had to get away from an eater. I ended up crawling in some vents and this same smell hit me. Soon enough I found a decaying person. They put a bullet in their own head."

Murphy nods, "yeah, before I met ya' I came across somethin' like that." He lets go of my hand, "wait here. I'm gonna' block the door to the other floors off."