Dead Eyes Watching

Chapter 2;Blood Ties

Venus's stride down the streets remained smooth and steady. Sirens and screams faded into moans as she walked further away. She didn't bother turning around. The bunch of religious fanatics she had passed on the way out would be torn to pieces by that time, probably. Praying was fine, but it was not going to save you from being eaten by undead zombies.

Out of ingrained habit, more than any real necessity, her right hand curled instinctively around the handle of the knife strapped to her thigh, worn smooth by months of tiptoeing around death. She wasn't afraid of what was out there anymore. If the world wanted to throw its worst at her, she was ready.

The sun had barely risen over the horizon, yet the streets were already swarming with mayhem: screams of people at others, fighting over what little resources might remain, looters smashing into stores like vultures over a carcass. Venus walked through it all like she was a shadow on a wall, unnoticed, uncaring. Which left her with one goal: get to Jun.

As she made her way down the narrow alley, her phone buzzed again. She snatched it off, her thumb hovering over the screen as Jun's name flashed once more.

He was panicking. She could feel it through the phone. Not that she blamed him. Jun wasn't built for this kind of life. Venus had always been the one who came alive in chaos, while Jun clung to hope and normalcy. Even as kids they'd been different.

Venus swiped to answer, raising the phone to her ear. "What now?"

"Venus, where are you?" Jun's voice strained through the phone, Izzy's soft crying audible in the background. "Please say you're close."

"I'm coming as fast as I can. You're the one stuck in suburbia. Not exactly round the corner."

Jun took a trembling breath. "It's getting worse here. They're getting closer. I-I don't know if we can hold them off much longer."

Venus heard the desperation in his voice, but it didn't faze her. This was survival. Panic just got people killed faster.

"Keep your head on straight, Jun. I'll be there soon." She paused a second, her eyes scanning the empty alley ahead. "And don't open that door for anyone but me. Got it?"

"I know. Just—hurry."

The call severed, and Venus stuffed her phone back into her pocket. She hitched the strap of her backpack over her shoulder while her mind whirled on. Jun's voice had been tight with tension, with fear, and yet beneath the emotion she heard it. That something so familiar. Guilt.

She shook her head. It wasn't important now. Whatever Jun was concealing, whatever guiltiness he harbored, she'd take on it later. Right now, all that concerned her was reaching there before the dead—or worse, the living—reached ahead of her.

As she came out of the alley, Venus felt the air change. A low, rumbling growl issued from the far end of the street; she went still, her eyes narrowing and her hold on the knife tightening. Slowly, a figure took shape, staggering, swaying, its head tilted at an unnatural angle.

Here we go.

Its skin was gray, and decaying, hunks of flesh missing from its face. Its mouth hung open, drooling blood down its chin as it shuffled towards her. Venus didn't back down, her pulse steady. She'd seen worse. Hell, she'd been through worse.

A gurgling moan was all the zombie could manage before it dove at her. Venus was in motion even as this happened. In a flash, she sidestepped, and her knife, being driven deep into the back of the zombie's skull, momentarily brightened silver in the faint light of early dawn. The body dropped instantly, falling to the ground in the characteristic limp fashion of a rag doll.

She wiped the blade on her jeans and kept moving. She wasn't going to spend any more time on one zombie when the real threat was still out there: human desperation.

The walk to Jun's wasn't that much, but every step she did felt the burden Venus carried inside. The closer she was getting, the more memories bubbled up to the surface—ones she had buried deep a long time ago. It wasn't just some safe haven for Jun and Izzy; it was their old house, the one she grew up in when her parents still put on the guise of caring.

Venus firmed her jaw, shoving the thoughts away. That was a lifetime ago. Another world. One she'd escaped from.

Coming around the corner onto Jun's street, she eyed the house. It was like every other house on the block—gray and dull, with overgrown grass and peeling paint. But for Venus, it was a tomb, a place filled with ghosts she'd rather not remember.

A window breaking pierced her reverie, catching her eyes as they suddenly snapped to the house. There were figures stirring near the front door—two men, both armed with crowbars, trying to force their way in.

Venus didn't waste any time. In three quick strides, she crossed the street and reached them, knife already in hand. So intent on breaking in, the men didn't even notice her until it was too late.

One of them was just in time to see Venus's blade flash. She slashed across his arm, sending him staggering back with a scream. His partner let fall the crowbar, eyes wide as he stumbled backward.

"Get lost," Venus growled low, her tone dangerous.

The man looked at his bleeding friend and then back at Venus. Needing no further instructions, they turned and ran down the street, disappearing into the confusion.

Venus watched them go, still keeping a tight grip on the knife. She could've killed them. Maybe she should have. But she really didn't have the time to waste.

She turned to the house, her heart beating just that much faster than before. She was just reaching out to knock when the door swung open and Jun stood there, his face pale and drawn.

"Venus," he breathed, his features flooding with relief. "Thanks for making it."

Venus pushed him aside and strode into the house. Her gaze swept through the room and landed on Izzy, who sat hugging a stuffed animal close to her chest, streaks of tears running down her little face.

"I said that I would," replied Venus, cold. "Now, let's get going."

Jun nodded, but something in his eyes gave him away: guilt, fear, and something else, which she couldn't place exactly.

Suspicions pulled tighter, Venus's eyes narrowing, her stomach twisting. There was more to this than he was letting on, and whatever it was, it would soon come crashing down on all of them.