Killer ↠ 10K | Z Nation

28. The Bexley

Coming to the shore, I'm startled by the silence. I cough and sputter up river water. Afterward, I immediately looked around for 10K, unable to see him anywhere, or even the bridge we jumped from.

When I go to stand, I realize there are more injuries than I originally realized. My leg is at an odd angle. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon.

I build a fire next, moving on to try and wrap my leg. I do the best I can with my jacket from my waist, but unfortunately without Doc, there's not much I can do.

There's a moaning from the darkness. I try to stand quickly but stumble. Multiple sluggish bodies illuminated by the fire head towards me. They seem undeterred by the heat, gaining on me.

"Fuck!" I scream when I fall to my knees, instant searing pain spreading through my leg. One body falls onto me and teeth make a connection with my skin. Shit, these fuckers can really bite.

I feel another one before shots ring out. The two bodies fall onto me, motionless. I look up at my savior, praying that it's my partner with the goggles.

"Shit, she's been bit. Murphy isn't going to like this."

My eyes close, the stress of the day getting to me. I'm not safe, but I'm sure not in danger that'll kill me.

***

I wake up in a bed, my skin feeling sticky. I throw the blankets off, sitting up quickly.

"I would take it easy," Murphy says, attempting to push me back down.

"Take your hands off of me!" I kick at him, wanting to be far away from my Uncle.

"Stop fighting me, dammit!"

"No, you fucking deserve it! Maybe you should just kill me!" I scream at him, throwing the pillow behind me, as if that'll do anything.

"After we fought to keep you alive for two weeks?"

I pause. "Two weeks?"

"I found a surprise for you during that time."

The door opens and in walks 10K. I shake my head in disbelief. "No, you were supposed to get away."

"Oh, don't worry. He's been gone a bit so he's had his freedom, but now he's back. To be yours."

"What are you saying?" I ask, looking between the two of them.

"You're immune, too, Bex. You survived your bites. You can make your own blends."

I shake my head. "You don't know if I can."

He shrugs. "You're right. I don't. That's why we are testing it on 10K."

"No."

Murphy sighs. "You two just don't make anything easy, do ya? Either you bite him or I will."

I look over at him and he nods to me. When will life stop shafting us?

He sits down on the bed, offering his neck to me as if I'm some vampire.

I don't want to do this.

I don't want to do this.

I don't want to do this.

"I love you," I whisper, before biting down. He falls into my lap, convulsing. "Tommy!"

"Relax, this sometimes happens. Doesn't help he's been bit so many times and got whatever Dr. Merch injected him with either."

10K calms down and comes to, sitting up. He waits expectantly like I'm to give orders. It sickens me.

"Welcome to being a princess, Bexley." He pats my knee before walking away.

***

I send 10K away to keep watch as I collect my thoughts. I pass Murphy. He's on the ground struggling to breathe, clutching at his throat.

"What, do you not get enough attention as it is?" I ask. He glances back at me, his eyes wide in fear. A feeling of sympathy stirs inside but I squish it down. It's just proof that I'm a better person than him.

"I can feel Lucy. I can feel what's happening to her. Someone was strangling her with like a rope."

I pause, no retort for that. "Who has her?"

"The Man."

I vaguely recollect the name from earlier and picture the bald man that supposedly got the "cure". Clearly, he didn't if he's disobeying Murphy.

"Sounds like a you problem."

"You know, you should look in the mirror. Red really is your color." He grins in a sinister way.

I rush to the restroom, a gasp leaving my lips when I look in the mirror.

My skin is red, almost the color of my hair. At least I'm not blue, I guess. I truly am another Murphy.

The Bexley.