Flesh Eaters

Right up the Road

Chapter 47 - Right up the Road

*Grey's POV*

With Murphy and Baird searching for food, I sit with Tess and Matt. Laying back on the cold pavement Tess sits by my head while Matt takes a defensive position. Quietly he paces around us, looking for any signs of danger. 

"Hey, take the chance to rest," I say as I watch him march past.

Snorting he stops walking, "and just about the time I do that is when the eaters will attack."

"We haven't seen a single one for hours now."

Matt scoffs at my remark but says nothing. I shake my head as he goes back to pacing. Closing my eyes I listen to the chilling wind that rustles the bare tree branches. If it wasn't for the eerie lifeless silence I could almost assume that the world hasn't ended.

"Grey," Tess asks.

"Hmm?"

"Do you think the safe place will have working showers?"

Opening my eyes I look up at her face, eyes filled with wonder. "I can only begin to imagine what they could have there." I smile, "Why, getting tired of stinking."

"No! Well, yeah... But really I miss being able to braid my hair. I can't with it like this," she says while gesturing to the snarled mop on her head.

"You like braiding hair?"

"Mhmm, used to braid my moms hair before she left for work everyday." A look of forlorn crosses over her face as she adds, "she always told me I was going to be a famous hairstylist when I grew up."

"Well hey! If your so good, braid my hair," I say trying to keep our conversation lighthearted.

Tess's face brightens, "Alright, I'll do my best!"

As her small fingers begin to work out the knots I watch Matt pass by again. They way he holds himself while on guard reminds me of a soldier. The thought brings questions to mind. What was Matt before shit went down?

"Matt, what did you do before all of this?"

Staying alert, Matt rolls his neck before responding. "I was a general in the military and before you ask; no, I wasn't involved in the creation of the parasite."

"So you know the cause of all this."

Stopping Matt nods, "Yeah, some scientists thought they could create a sort of super parasite that would eliminate the need for doctors. The thing mutated and here we are today."

I nod, "Do you know about Baird then?"

Now Matt looks at me. "What about him?"

"He was one of the doctors in the lab where it was created."

Matt raises his eyebrows in surprise, "Really? There were only three doctors in that lab, they were given all information on the parasite. In fact they were even told how to destroy it if something went wrong. He out of anyone should know how to end this."

"Yeah, he's got an idea but we need to get him and Murphy to Safe Haven before he can do anything."

"Why Murphy," Matt snorts.

I bite the inside of my lip as I ponder the consequences of tell him the truth. Looking up at Matt, who waits for an answer, I see him impatiently crossing his arms. I let out a breath as I decide the best thing to do is tell the truth. "Murphy's immune to the parasite."

"Shit," Matt mutters sounding taken aback. "So he was bite and didn't turn. Hows Baird going to use that to fix all of this?"

"He believes that Murphy's blood has some sort of antibody that kills the parasite. He says he should be able to use that antibody to create a cure."