The Apocalypse

3

"No, don't touch that!" she shrieked, her voice filled with panic, as Sophie reached out and grabbed hold of the picture frame. In her haste to snatch the picture away, her sweater lifted, revealing a distinct healed bite mark on her lower arm. It was Sophie who first noticed the mark, her eyes widening in concern. Without thinking, she instinctively reached out and gently touched Maeve's arm.
"You were actually bitten?" Sophie's voice trembled with worry and curiosity, her hand still hovering over the bite mark.
Maeve quickly pulled her arm back, tightly gripping it to cover the evidence of the bite. Fear flickered in her eyes, causing her to take an involuntary step backward, right into the solid chest of Maurits. The unexpected contact sent a shiver down her spine, intensifying her already erratic breathing. Maurits placed his hands on her waist securing her into his embrace.
"Please don't touch me or my stuff." She muttered softly holding the picture close to her chest.
Maurits looked made Sophie nod at the girl with an apologetic smile.
"Who is on the photo?" Maurits asked.
Maeve trusted Maurits for some reason. She didn't understand why she trusted him.
"Me and my brother." She told him holding the picture to her chest as if her life depended on it. Maurits nodded before walking past her.
"We leave tomorrow morning," he told the two girls. Dylan and Derek were busy inspecting the property, making sure it was secure for their impending departure. Maurits approached the man, a mixture of surprise and concern etched on his face.
"I can't believe she survived for four years!" Dylan exclaimed, venting his frustration by kicking a nearby rock. "Besides the solar panels, this place is a dump," he pointed out, his disappointment evident.
Maurits shared a piece of crucial information, causing the others to pause. "She was bit," he informed them, his voice tinged with a hint of worry.
"She was?" Derek asked, his eyes widening with shock.
He couldn't bear the thought of harming a young girl. "So, do we...shoot her?" he hesitantly inquired.
Maurits took a step closer, trying to provide reassurance. "It's completely healed," he stated, his voice calm and measured.
"She might be bit by something else?" Derek offered a explanation making Maurits shake his head.
"You can see the black lines in her veins, but it stops after a few cm. She is immune."
"I thought you were the only one." Derek mustered. Maurits his jaw clenched.
"So their might be a cure?" Dylan replied
"We keep this between us! My blood didn't work with any vaccination why would hers?" He tells them with pointing looks. He didn't want anyone exploiting anything that belonged to him and him alone.
Derek offered a glimmer of hope, trying to rationalize the situation. "Maybe she could be the key to finding a cure?"
Maurits, however, made his intentions clear. "We keep this between us!" he declared, his gaze firm and commanding. He emphasized his point with pointed looks at each of them. "She will not be a lab rat, not until I say otherwise. She is mine so I will decide what happens with her. This information stays strictly within our group."
Both Dylan and Derek exchanged a knowing glance, silently agreeing with Maurits. They understood that the girl had already endured unimaginable hardships even before the apocalypse began.
As night descended upon them, everyone sought refuge inside the house. However, Maurits noticed that Maeve was nowhere to be found, prompting him to begin his search. After a few moments, he discovered her nestled in a corner, fast asleep with her head tilted slightly to the side.
Furrowing his eyebrows, Maurits approached her, his concern evident. He gently placed his hands on her knees, softly shaking her to wake her up. "Darling," he whispered, his voice gentle and soothing. Slowly, Maeve opened her eyes, fear instantly clouding her gaze as she instinctively tried to shrink away.
"Shh, I'm not going to hurt you," Maurits assured her, his hand still resting on her knees as he rubbed them with his thumbs. Confusion and vulnerability etched across her face, Maeve voiced her reason for sleeping in the corner. "I'm not allowed. Only good girls can sleep in beds, and I'm never good. Misses Chumson told me so," she explained, her voice filled with sadness, as she rubbed her tired eyes.
Maurits' expression softened, his heart breaking for the young girl. "Well, I own you now, and I'm telling you that you are a very good girl, and you can sleep in a bed," he declared firmly, his grip on her waist tightening slightly before he gently lifted her and placed her on the bed. To his surprise, the bed was impeccably clean, untouched by dust, thanks to Maeve's diligent efforts in keeping everything spotless, a lesson taught to her by Misses Chumson.
"I am?" Maeve questioned, her wide doe eyes fixed on Maurits. His mind momentarily wandered to inappropriate thoughts, but he quickly regained his composure, focusing on their conversation.
"Yes, you are, my good girl," he muttered, leaning down to kiss her forehead, attempting to reassure her.
Concerned about her well-being, Maurits inquired about her eating habits. "Have you eaten?" he asked softly.
"Yes," Maeve whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Liars are not good! Do not lie!" Maurits warned her sternly. Maeve swallowed hard, her eyes welling up with tears.
"Why not?" He asked her irration clear in his voice.
"I am not.."
"If you say your not allowed one more time I will take your over my lap and spank you ass raw." He threatened. Tears welled up in her eyes.
"I am sorry." She whimpered
"Listen, darling," Maurits began, his tone firm but with a hint of tenderness. "If you are a good girl, like you promised, I won't have to punish you. But if you are not, there will be consequences. However, those consequences will never involve depriving you of food or a proper night's rest. I will always ensure you are healthy and well-cared for because I take care of what is mine," he explained, his voice steady and his gaze unwavering. He cupped her face gently, ensuring she understood every word he spoke.
"I am getting you some food and you will sleep after you have eaten!" He ordered.