Papá's Girl

Bob-B-Q: Tainted Meat

©JRF2016

    I woke up in some kind of little school yard, maybe. The glow of a campfire illuminating the silhouettes standing around it somewhat. I looked down at my burning wrists to see them bound by a sturdy piece of rope. I slid a finger under the rope and tugged as it slid down just a little I saw the red marks it was leaving on my wrists and I knew now why they burned.  I wasn't real close to that fire but I felt the heat coming off of it. Tonight was a chilly night and that warmth was the only comfort I was going to get until I was back in Shane's arms.  I heard growls and a pounding behind me as I jumped and turned my head to look. There was a mass of walkers gathering like moths to that flame and they were pounding on the glass. I found myself wondering just how long that glass could hold against their weight.  "Ah, your up," Gareth spoke, "Sorry for the bump on the noggin sweetie, and the rope. I really do hate to see you in bondage, well this kind of bondage anyhow."  He winked at me before continuing, "I couldn't chance you running away from me again." My head turned back around and I looked up at the slender man in front of me.  Had we met outside the apocalypse I may have had some feelings for him. Truth be told he is exactly the kind of guy I'd go for, before this world went to shit.  I couldn't stop these thoughts that crept into my mind, what his kiss tasted like, the feel of his lips against mine, the caress of his hands as they explored my body.  I shivered as I pushed those thoughts out of my mind and replaced them with the muscular form of Shane's chiseled chest, his touch, his kiss.  These thoughts caused my face to heat up.  "Aww, babe you're blushing? Hope those are thoughts of me." He squatted down in front of me and brought his free hand up to my cheek, caressing it. He leaned down and lightly brushed his lips across mine in a tender kiss. I could feel myself almost get lost in it but I pulled away as I heard a loud thud against the glass behind me.  I swung my head around to see a bohemeth of a dead man had just fallen into that window. "It will hold, at least for tonight.  We'll be moving on in the morning."  I turned around and my blue eyes locked with his dark brown ones.  I finally noticed his other hand.  He had meat.  Where did they get meat?  It's been getting scarce, even more so since we've been out here on the road.  My mouth was beginning to water at the thought of having actual meat for a meal.  He followed my gaze down to the meat in his hand and smiled.  "Forgive me for not offering sooner.  You must be hungry."  He held out the meat bringing it in closer to my mouth.  I hesitated not wanting to take anything from this guy.  I didn't want to end up owing him anything buy eating their food.  The meat grazed my lips when someone yelled, "Gareth!"  He turned around to see the person and I was just about to take a big bite when he stood up pulling the savory piece of heaven away from my lips.  "He's waking up."  Bob.  I had forgotten about Bob.  Gareth took another bite and turned to me as he chewed, "When I get through I'll bring you a big plate all to yourself."  He smiled at me.  "I want to see Bob," I told him, "Let me talk to Bob."  He looked down at me surprised, "You speak English? Well, that's a nice turn of events, I thought I was going to have to find a translator."  My eyes pleaded with him and he pursed his lips together, "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Please, these people are my family."  He didn't sway at all as he turned and walked away from me.  I watched him walk over to where Bob was and I struggled to stand.  With much effort I finally made it to my feet and walked slowly over to them.  Gareth was making a speech about how it wasn't like this all the time, they had to become this way to survive, how we could have been part of their group.  "You're either the cattle, or the butcher."  He said causing me to be a little confused by that statement.  He didn't even notice me behind him. He took a bite of the meat he still had in his hand and smiled at Bob.  "You Taste better than I thought you would."  I felt bile rising in my throat.  I almost ate a piece of Bob!  He proceeded to tell Bob that he preferred women, they generally had a much sweeter taste.  I couldn't hold it down any longer and I puked.  Gareth finally noticed my presence with the sound of the vomit sloshing on the ground.  I stood up wiping the vomit from my chin.  My eyes met Gareth's and I couldn't help but notice the softness in them when he looked at me.  "Si cazzo malato!" {You sick fuck!} I screamed at him. He stood up walking over to me and cupped my face in his hand.  "I can tell you're upset.  I don't want you to be distressed."  I stared into his eyes.  "Let Bob go. Send him back to the family and I'll stay here.  With you.  If you let him go."  I accented that last statement one more time.  He seemed like he was really considering my offer when Bob started laughing uncontrollably.  We all looked down at him.  "He's lost his mind," one of the men said to Gareth.  "You stupid jerk!"  Bob yelled up at Gareth when he regained his composure.  He reached for his shirt collar and yanked it down revealing a decaying bite wound. "I've been bit you sorry pricks!  I'm tainted meat!"  He screamed it again as I looked around and these awful people now spitting out their dinner on the ground.  Everyone was starting to panic but Gareth stood calm.  I had to hand it to myself, the man has a charisma about him, he was a leader.  "It's fine."  He said trying to calm his people, "We cooked it, it will be fine." He turned to me and I couldn't get that stupid grin off my face.  "This is funny to you?"  He asked rhetorically and I caught a glimpse of hurt in his eyes.  He walked passed me slamming his shoulder into mine as he did almost knocking me to the ground.  "I guess your wish is granted now.  Bob gets to go back to the family in that cramped up church.  And when he turns he'll kill them all."  They hoisted Bob up and carried him away.  I was left there with Mary keeping watch over me.  She kept her distance and kept silent.

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