Beneath Holy Ground

Chapter Nine- The Little Girl

The video is not mine; Lana Del Rey Chemtrails over the country club^^^

Claire's Pov

Leon, who was leaning against the wall, straightened his posture the moment I emerged. I had not realized that he was staring until I chose to redirect my gaze from my bag and shoes, gray eyes piercing my soul. It would help to actually understand what he was thinking but for the few hours I knew Leon he expressed little to nothing.

I believe he seemed surprised to find that I turned my denim into shorts via the use of scissors, my ponytail and bangs redone. The air within the hall was cold but not as cold as the air in the shower room, my jacket being tossed over my body.

"We are in the midst of a nightmare and you had time to adjust your attire?" Leon asked, apparently stunned and I shrugged. He seemed surprised by a college girl doing 'college girl things'. I reloaded my gun, my blue eyes fixed to Leon the moment that was done.

"Hey, I am just a girl you know" I stated as I held my gun before me, Leon taking the lead yet again. There was silence for a matter of minutes, my eyes on Leon's back.

He wore his undershirt and a police vest, his biceps indicating just how often he actually went to the gym. I chewed on my lower lip, in the midst of this I don't believe I should be sexually frustrated. I took a deep breath, there had to be a means of distraction from the man who was helping me to survive this mess.

"Do you have siblings?" It was a random question but I despised silence and with the thoughts swirling in my head I had to say something. It was far too quiet and while I hated to admit it I do talk a lot.

"Actually, I am an orphan" I paused in my steps the moment he said that, Leon turning to face me the moment he said those words. I was stunned to find that we were similar, Leon taking hold of my shoulder the moment he approached.

"Chris is the only thing you have left in this word huh?" He asked. How could I underestimate the fact that he would guess that so easily? He was a cop after all. I closed my eyes and took a rather deep breath.

"What?" I was stunned that Chris was actually willing to let me go.

"You are right Claire, you are not a kid anymore Claire" he confessed as he adjusted my bangs so that they were no longer in my eyes. I hugged my brother, my tears falling as I knew my brother only wished the very best for me.

"I am not pushing you away Chris but I -"

"Think it's time that I let you go" he finished my thought, Chris pulling away in order to kiss my forehead. I smiled, I had always clutched onto the notion that he did not understand my feelings when he understood completely.

"I know you believe I am a rebel but I just want some amount of freedom. I know you had so many roles to fill when mom and dad died and the fact that you filled them all I love you for that. Chris I am sorry for being such a brat sometimes" I apologized and Chris offered a smile.

"I am hard on you because every time I look at you I see mom" he told me and I attempted to have his hair in a mess by moving my fingers through it roughly.

"Based on the photos I have seen you look just like dad, equally strict" I teased with a wink and Christopher actually smiled at me.

"I am not entirely strict. '' He said that so calmly while I tapped my chin in order to demonstrate consideration. To be quite honest, Chris had always been this way even when we were kids. The last fun time I had with Chris was prior to our parents death, I would love to see my brother happy again.

"When was the last time you did something fun?" I asked and Chris seemed horrified by such a statement. He scratched his hair and I laughed before hugging him once again.

"I believe-" I did not allow my older brother to conjure a lie of having fun. My brother had not seen the word fun in years.

"Thanks Chris, I'm glad you understand. I won't disappoint you" I mumbled before kissing his cheek.

"You can never disappoint me kiddo, you are old enough to know what is best for you. You will see that losing your innocence just because your peers are doing it is actually a cultural lie" he stated and little did I know that his words were actually true.

"Our parents died in a car accident when Christopher was only six and I was a baby. The baby sitter was horrified when the cops came by to break the sour news" I tightened the fist of my free hand, Leon squeezing my shoulder gently.

I don't believe I ever spoke about it as much as I should. Clutching to trauma could be rather toxic and while I had many friends I never truly expressed how I felt with my parent's passing. In fact, when this mess was all over I highly doubt I would still have those friends.

"Hey, even after this nightmare is over I want you to know that I am your forever ear. As soon as you feel comfortable and ready we can talk about it" he stated and I nodded. That was actually really sweet but I believe when this mess was over our lives would have been different.

I decided to play off my concerns about our lives beyond this mess with a small joke.

"For the guy that almost ran me over you are actually quite decent" I stated and I actually pulled a smile from the rookie cop. It was the first time seeing him smile and it was lovely, my lips curling into a smile as well.

"Is that so? You are good company as well although I am yet to learn what you are studying" He continued as we made yet another turn, darkness finding us once again. By darkness I referred to extremely dim light in the hall, all sorts of things on the floor.

"While I may not dress the part I am an accounting major" I teased and Leon seemed slightly stunned.

"I had you down as the communication type" he teased and I rolled my eyes. Communication was absolutely boring, how could he think such a thing.

"Ew, I am far smarter than I look" I stated as I came upon a few zombies who appeared as though they were too busy for us. Leon and I turned to look at each other the moment there was a child's scream. I acted on impulse the moment I saw the little blond girl, because somehow I could not help the little girl within me pitting her.

If she was somehow separated from her parents it would be nice to reunite her with said parents, no child should suffer the way Leon and I did. She covered her ears at the sound of the gunshots and screamed. I felt horrible, my aim was not to add to her terror.

"Get away from her you freaks!" I hissed as I continued to fire in the girl's defense, my gun taking a few zombies down.

"Claire, wait!" Leon yelled and in the midst of this mess there was no time to wait around for any given reason. She was terrified, the girl making her escape through a hole in the wall while I was trapped against zombies.

Shit!