The New Dead World

Chapter 7: Fade to Black

The next morning, I woke up with Wren's arms wrapped around me, and her face buried into my back. Her arms holding mine down. I don't know what to do...

I tried shrugging her off, but her grip on me tightened. I sighed and relaxed, slumping my head back down. My eyesight levels down the hall, to the room with the skylight. A paint bucket I put up as an alarm set knocked over, green paint poured in a big puddle. My stomach drops and I look around quickly, to nothing but an empty room.

A green drip of paint lands on Wren's arm, I trailed the drop and looked up. Pinned onto the ceiling ready to pounce, a Hider glared down at us. It's rotted mouth gaped open, a ratty dark hoodie covered in blood and grime. The pant cuffs drenched in green paint. It's cloudy yellow eyes staring right at Wren.

"Wren let go..." I whispered.

She mumbled and nuzzled into my back deeper. The Freak drops from the ceiling, I roll over on top on Wren. The Freak lands on top of me and I headbutt it.

"Saren... your crushing me..." Wren groaned.

I break her grip around me and grab the throat of the Hider lifting its head up off me. My wrist blade springs out, and I shove it into the Freaks temple.

"What the hell!" Wren finally realizing what was happening.

The Freak goes limp and lays on top of me, and I am the meat in a sandwich now. Pushing it off and it hits the floor. I slide off of Wren and she gets up quickly.

"What the hell! What the hell!" She panics.

I get up and slowly lay my hand on her shoulder. "Wren, it's over now. It's ok." I said calmy.

"Yeah...yeah..." She said slowly reaching up and grabbing my hand on her shoulder. Her eyes trace my arm, than they go wide. Her face turns pale and she stops breathing. "Saren... your arm..." She said with a quiet shaky voice.

A fresh bite mark sits right on my bicep. The blood steadily pouring out.

"Ah... I guess my luck would eventually end." I said softly, with a soft smile.

"No! What can I do? How can I help you?" She said, her eyes already welling up, with a few tears already breaking out of the dam.

"There's nothing you can do." I said.

"No Saren! You can't give up!" She yelled, as the tears steadily stream. "You got bit because you were protecting me! I have to do something!"

"I'm sorry... heh..." A slight laugh leaks out.

"Wh—why the hell are you laughing!" She yells.

"Wren it's ok." I said with a smile.

"No, it's not! What am I going to do without you, I can't survive out here by myself! I don't want to be alone again!" She bawls.

"Hey..." I hugged her. "I'm fine."

"Your not fine, you got bit! Protecting me!" She bawls as she buries her face into my neck.

"I can't turn." I said. "I've been bitten before."

She slowly lifts her head off of me, her face frozen. "I've seen your scars, I think I would know if I saw a bite mark."

"You didn't get a close enough look." I smiled, and took my shirt off. "Right here." I pointed to a spot on my stomach.

"It just looks like a slash." She said looking closely at it.