Flesh Eaters

One Hell of a Find

Chapter 42 - One Hell of a Find

*Murphy's POV*

"Fucker," she chokes while spinning around. "Stop scaring me like that!"

"Stop gettin' distracted," I counter as I move toward her. "What else did ya' find?"

"Stale cereal," she says while gesturing to the open box sitting on the kitchen counter. "There's another box up there, probably just as stale though."

"Foods, food. Keep lookin', I'm gonna check what's hidden behind that pile of furniture."

Grey nods, giving me a thumbs-up, and continues opening cupboards. Turning away from her I carefully step over the pots and pans scattered across the kitchen floor and I make my way over to the furniture barricade. Reaching it I find an overturned recliner sitting on top of a sandy brown couch. Together the two pieces block off the back half of the apartment.

Sighing, I stiffly rotate my injured shoulder. "Alright," I mutter to myself as I look for any openings. Spotting one just big enough for me to squeeze through I rub my hand together, "let's do this."

Easily, I scale the couch and begin to worm my way through a gap. Squeezing through, my injured shoulder grazes against the rough plaster wall causing me to grit my teeth. Ignoring the pain I drag myself forward. With my legs, I push against the couch. Half way through I'm forced to freeze in place. Above me the large recliner shifts and wobbles unstably. With the threat of being crushed by the over-sized chair I move forward more cautiously.

Slowly I make it to other side. Slipping out of the gap I fall onto the carpeted floor of a hallway. On my hands and knees I observe my new surroundings. Strangely everything appears undisturbed and clean. No dust, no dirt, no blood. Everything around here gives the allusion that someone has been living here.

Grunting I stand and begin down the hall. Resting my hand on the butt of my holstered pistol I stop outside of a closed door. Carefully I listen for any movement inside. Hearing nothing but Grey rustling around in the kitchen I place a hand on the doorknob. Slowly I twist the knob before barging in the room, pistol drawn.

Stepping through the door I find myself in a dark-lit bathroom. Warily I move deeper into the room. Suspicious of what could be hidden behind the drawn shower curtain, I aim the pistol. Treading lightly I reach for the curtain. Silently counting down from three I tear the curtain back. Finding nothing, I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

Shaking my head I turn around and face a mirror hanging over a sink. I blink at the dark reflection staring back at me. I almost don't recognize myself. Moving closer I lean against the sink and run a hand over the small beard growing on my face. Dirt and grime stain my long ago sun burnt skin. My hairs' a shaggy, overgrown, mess. I stare, almost dumbfounded, at my reflection. I've gone with out cleaning up for a long time before, but nothing like this.

I drop my gaze to the faucet and wonder if it works at all. Curious, I turn the silver handle marked "c" for cold. To my surprise a small dribble of water streams out. Unsure how long it'll last, I quickly duck my face under the cold icy water. Roughly I scrub away the dirt that stains my skin.

"Now look who's drowning themselves."

Startle, I bolt up and smack the back of my head on the faucet. I hiss in pain as I back away from the sink. Holding the back of my head I glare at Grey who stands in the bathroom's doorway, happily grinning. "Ha, ha, paybacks a bitch. I know," I grumble as I wipe the water off my face with the back of my sleeve. "Why ain't ya' still searchin' for food?"

"Found all there was and I was curious what was back here."

Sighing, I drop my gaze away from Grey. Twisting the cold water off I look back up at my reflection. The grime that seemed ground in my skin is now smeared across my face. With the sleeve of the hoodie I wear I begin to scrub away the dirt only to have Grey stop me.

"Hold on," she says as she turns the water back on.

Looking down I find her holding a white washcloth under the faucet. Seconds later she gently takes a hold of my face and begins wiping the dirt away. As she cleans I stare down at her. Her face is in no better shape then mine. Eater blood, dirt, and healing scars paint her skin. The long brown mop of hair cascading down her back is a mess of knots and snarls.

Watching her as she scrubs away I find myself gazing at her lips.

"What," she asks as she pauses, "you hear something?"

"Nah," I answer lowering my voice.

"Then what?"

Without a word I lean in towards her. My lips press against hers, causing her gasp in surprise. Her eyelids droop shut as she returns the kiss. Closing my own eyes I feel an almost electrical warmth pass between us. As the heat between us grows I feel Grey's fingers tangle in my hair, as my own hands pull her impossibly closer.

All too soon Grey gasps and pulls away from me, face flushed red. She glances up at me before quickly dropping her gaze. "Umm, I, uh. We," she stutters, her voice shaking with excitement. "W-we should head back."

"Yeah," I say, my voice still husky from the kiss. Grabbing her hand I add, "your right." Gently I pull her along, leading her back to the furniture barricade. "You head back through, get the food together. I'm gonna' check the last room."

Grey castes a look up at me before suddenly hugging me. "Be careful," she whispers into my chest.

Returning the hug I rest my head on top of hers, "you too."

With that, she lets go and crawls back through the gap in the barricade. Once I can no longer see her I head back down the dark hall.

I stop in front of second closed door. Same as before, I listen for anything that could be lurking inside. Hearing nothing I slowly push the door open revealing a bedroom. As soon as the air hits me I step back, gagging. Hanging from the light fixture in the middle of the room is a decaying body of a man. He's been decomposing long enough that his skin is beginning to almost melt off.

Quickly I pull the neck of my hoodie over my nose as enter the room. Moving closer to the body I wave a hand in front of his face, wondering if he turned. When I get no reaction I let out a breath and begin to search the room. Finding nothing useful I stop in front of a dresser. Not expecting to find anything I pull a drawer open. Inside I'm amazed to find a small gun case and a silencer. Opening the case reveals a glock and two full clips. Removing the clips, I load one in the glock and put the second in my hoodies pocket. Holding the glock I pick up the silencer and attach it.

Satisfied with my find I leave the bedroom and head back through the gap in the barricade. In the kitchen I find Grey sitting on the suitcase we found in the hall, struggling to get it to close.

"Look what I found for ya'," I say holding the glock up.

Stopping her struggle she turns and looks. Her eyes instantly light up as she stands. As she takes the gun I see a look of relief pass through her.

"Fully loaded, extra clip, 'n' a silencer," I explain as I hand her the second clip. "One hell of a find."

"Thank you," she breaths as she checks the gun out. "Perfect find too. Look what I uncovered." Turning back to the suitcase she pulls out a gun holster that goes around a persons thigh. Without another word she begin to put it on. Seconds later she stands before me with the gun holstered. She smiles, "so hows it look? Pretty bad ass, right?"

I smirk and shake my head, "ya' can call it that. Come on, lets get back."

"Sure, we can head back if you can get that damn suitcase to close."

I move past her and step down on the case until it gives a little *click* signaling that it shut. I scoop the case up and turn back to Grey. "Lets go."

Her brown eyes glare up at me as she crosses her arms. "Show off."