Against The Dark

Part 3

I must of dozed off as I awoke to see James's head lulling in tiredness as he kept a watchful eye over Brad. Connor was fast asleep and Peter was reading a book by candlelight. I saw that Brad's eyes were shut but he was fidgeting about a lot.

"James, what's the time?" I asked. Taking his hand in the dimly lit room. "Just gone 2!" He replied with a smile. "You should get some sleep now J'" I insisted on looking at the exhausted face of my absolutely gorgeous husband. James shook his head. "I need to keep an eye on Brad. "James replied looking over to our sick friend.

I gave James' head a loving stroke with my hand and guided him down to my lap to rest, using me as a pillow. "James I will keep an eye on Brad, you need rest. I promise I will wake you if the situation changes." I whispered. Obviously Peter thought Brad had been shot. He had no clue that our friend was destined to become a flesh eating monster.

James nodded with a yawn. "Just an hour, okay!" He replied. "Sure!" I smiled back stroking his hair as he lay on my lap. I sat silently until I heard James' breathing get heavier. I knew then that he was asleep. I looked around the room at some of the pictures that were in it of Peter and his family. He saw me looking. "Are they your grandchildren?" I whispered out not wanting to disturb anyone but I saw Brad was now awake.

"Yup!" Peter replied looking at the same picture that I was, hung on the wall. "I have 16 grandchildren... one more on the way." He replied softly with a smile. I smiled back knowing that if this was Peter's last night on earth then at least he had done so much with his life. 16 grandchildren was quite an achievement.

"So, did you actually make it down the aisle before all this happened?" Peter asked. I nodded. "We had literally just said our vows... then all hell broke loose." I replied. Peter nodded. "At least you have each other." He replied. I smiled and looked down at James while he slept. We did have each other and I never wanted that to change.

Peter went back to reading his book and I rested my head on the wall, still gently stroking back James' hair. It was therapeutic almost. I saw the sweat from Brads face shift about as the candlelight changed his expression. He looked uncomfortable. "How are you feeling Bradders?" I whispered across the room. "Hot..." He rasped out, his voice sounding so dry. "Have you drunk any water?" I asked, not wanting him to be uncomfortable, being thirty was a terrible feeling, let alone slowly dying a death from a zombie bite. "Nah... I'm good zoe, don't worry about it." He said secretly communicating with me in front off Peter that it was a lost cause.

I stayed silent for a moment, looking at Brad who still tossed and turned uncomfortably as the heat from his infection or whatever it was took control of his body. He seemed more with it now than what he did when James and I first saw him. Surely if he was going to die then he would be getting worse, not better! I thought for a minute as I gently stroked my fingers through James' hair. I thought about Tristan and Savannah that had tried to pull me out from under that truck. I knew for definite that she was dead, she was mauled by those things... and Tristan! Was Tristan killed by those things? Surely he must of been with a neck injury like that. I could see his insides.

My stomach turned at the thought of it. I looked up at Peter. "Would it be okay if I left the room... to get Brad a drink? Maybe a change of clothes for him too? He is burning up, Peter." I asked. Peter looked at me, then looked at Brad who was dressed in his full wedding gear. The heavy clothing wouldn't be helping his temperature. "It's been quiet outside, I've not heard any screams for a long time. You can leave the room but the windows downstairs are broken. Don't turn any lights on. Help yourself to anything for the boy." He said looking at Brad. He must feel so guilty thinking that it was him that had caused his current state.

"Thank you!" I said to Peter. I gently moved James' head from my lap and rested it on the carpeted floor, he didn't stir at all, he must be exhausted. I removed the pieces of furniture quietly from in front of the door of the room that we were all in. Luckily the huge cabinet slid silently with ease over the carpet.