Love is Dead

Chapter Five: A Question with an Obvious Answer

Margot slept inside the barn with Fallon for three days. She could have slept inside the house, but she preferred to stick near Fallon, and she was sure Fallon was at least a little grateful for that, even if she didn't show it.

Eventually, the time came where Fallon got hungry. Margot knew that she'd have to fulfill her end of the deal at some point, but it didn't mean that she looked forward to it. "So, this isn't going to turn me into a vampire, is it?" she asked as Fallon was about to bite into her wrist. The two of them sat on the edge of the barn loft.

Fallon sighed. "No, it won't. You'll just feel a small prick, and then it's done."

"Okay, as long as it's not that–" Before she could finish speaking, Fallon bit down on her wrist, her fangs sinking into Margot's skin. She winced and gripped the edge of the loft with her other hand. "–painful! Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch!"

When Fallon was finished, she pulled away, wiping the blood from her mouth. Margot yanked her wrist back. "You said I would only feel a prick!"

"Yeah, well maybe you're just weak," she joked.

"You're an asshole."

Suddenly, there was a loud knocking on the barn doors, causing both women to jump. Fallon grabbed the bandaid box and threw it at Margot, who barely caught it and almost fell off the loft. She quickly pulled out two bandaids and slapped them on her still aching wrist.

"Come in," she called out, pulling her sleeve down to hide her wrist.

The door was pushed open, letting the morning light inside. Gunner walked in, his hunting rifle strapped over his shoulder. "Are you still up to go hunting with me today?" he asked Margot.

She had nearly forgotten that she'd offered to go with him. Margot wanted to help pitch in since their group was letting them stay in their barn and giving her food. It was the least she could do. "Yes, of course, just give me one moment."

Margot got up and grabbed her sweater and pistol, which was sitting atop of her backpack, then climbed down the ladder and walked across the barn towards Gunner.

"Try not to shoot anybody," Fallon said to Gunner, who grimaced.

Margot pulled her sweater over her head as she exited the barn with Gunner. He closed the door behind them, then led Margot across the field towards the forest. When they arrived at the edge of the forest, he handed his rifle over to her.

"Have you ever used a rifle before?" He asked as she took it from his hands.

"Yeah, a couple times." she answered, inspecting the rifle. It was covered in fancy engravery, including the image of a deer engraved into one side. "It's really pretty. Where did you get this?"

"It was my husband's." Gunner replied somberly, turning towards the forest. "His name was Daniel."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Margot spoke softly.

He shrugged. "People die, you move on. It was a long time ago, anyway."

The two of them walked into the forest, walking slowly and carefully so as to not scare anything off. They managed to find a few rabbits, but not much else. Eventually, they reached a small path over a hill, and they started to walk down it.

"You were alive before the outbreak, right?" Margot asked as they walked. "What was it like to watch the world end?"

Gunner thought for a moment before answering. "Well, I lived in a small town and the infection hit the cities first, so things were okay for me for a while. Once it hit my town, things went to shit fast. Many people tried to flee town, but there was nowhere to go."