Flesh Eaters

Two Days Away

Chapter 46 - Two Days Away

*Murphy's POV*

*BANG*

Tensing, I hug Grey closer to me as the gunshot echos behind us. Her body shakes as she sobs uncontrollably. All the fight in her has disappeared leaving her weak with despair. Her hands cling to my shirt as if it's her last lifeline. Hours pass before she runs out of tears. Some time later she slips off to sleep, still clinging to me.

Time passes as we all keep moving in a grief filled silence. We pass eaters along the road but pay no mind to them. No one seems to have the energy to deal with them. By time the sun begins to sink in the west we have a small pack trailing us.

As the sky grows dark Matt makes his way up to me. "We should stop, take care of the eaters, and rest," he says as he looks at Grey sleeping in my arms.

I nod in agreement but remain silent.

"I'll let Baird know," Matt mumbles before he jogs ahead.

"Grey," I whisper keeping my voice low. In response she groans and nuzzles her face against my neck. "Grey, we're stoppin'. Ya' need ta' wake up."

Eventually she pulls her face away from my neck and stares bleakly over my shoulder at the pack of eaters. "What's the point," she grumbles as she lets go of my shirt.

Gently I let her down. I watch as she numbly un-holsters her gun before making her way toward the pack of eaters. "Grey, wait," I call to her as she raise the gun.

"What?"

Startled by her sharp, toneless response I furrow my eyebrows. "The gunshots will draw more."

"Then give me a knife," She snaps while holstering her gun.

"Grey, I think ya' should sit this one out."

She turns, eyes bloodshot from crying, and glares up at me. She stands stiff, hands clenched in tight fists at her sides. Her body shakes from what appears to be anger. Looking past the mask she puts on it's clear she's grieving; that she's afraid.

"No," she croaks, "I need to do something. So.. just give me a knife."

I study her pained face for a moment before sighing. Knowing one way or another she's going to fight, I hand her my knife. "Don't do anythin' stupid."

With a shaking hand she takes the knife. Her bloodshot eyes stare at the blade for a moment before she silently turns to face the approaching eaters. Letting out a heavy sigh she charges forward; knife raised.

As she sinks the blade into the temple of an eater, I raise my crossbow. Pulling the trigger back, an arrow silently sails through the air; instantly dropping an eater. Quickly I drop down and begin to load another arrow. While I work I watch Grey dash from eater to eater. She furiously stabs the blade through temples and eye sockets. Blood coats her hand and spatters on her face but nothing seems to faze her.

With the crossbow reloaded I rise and take another shot, this time dropping an eater that Grey had her back to. I watch as she whips around and glares at the arrow sticking out of the monsters eye. Her glare rises and meets my gaze.

"I HAD IT," she growls.

"I know," I respond, not feeling the need to argue with her.

By the time the pack is taken care of, the icy chill of the fall night has set in. At some point Baird got a small fire going. Tess sits between Matt and Baird telling some story. Neither of the two men seem interested in her story but they numbly nod their heads as they're forced to listen.