Z Nation The Only Wish (10 k)

Homeland Danger

    The hot Arizona sun beat threw the shades of my window urging me to open my eyes. I sighed as I threw my legs over the side of the bed, missing the sound of my brother playing video games in the living room, the smell of my grandmothers cooking from the kitchen. I urged myself to stand as I slipped off the nightgown and dressed myself in protective leather jeans, combat boots, a black tank-top and leather jacket. I emptied myself from my room and took in a deep breath, soaking in the abnormal silence. From the crippled shades of the living room window I could see a coyote, a zombie coyote, ripping apart a rabbit.

I groaned, grabbing the shot gun from beneath my sofa and headed for the pealing white door. Opening it, I aimed it at the coyote, giving it mercy as I shot a whole threw its head. I can't stand anyone living such a cruel fate, animal or human. I licked my lips, and hurried inside in case any others of it's kind heard the shot and decided to head in this direction.

Inside, the autumn orange walls looked withered and the dishes were stacking up in the sink from having not been touched since...well since my family died. Technically turned, but I gave them mercy. I pursed my lips in thought before taking some dish soap and dropping the last bit of it onto a sponge that smelled a bit like bleach. I scrubbed at the dishes, needing something to get my mind off everything, keeping myself busy seems to help. Pretending every things normal by doing normal household chores. Sad right?

Knock! knock! knock!

I blinked, my heart pounding in my chest as I took in a deep breath. I turn slowly to look at the door, tip toeing quietly over as I peeked threw the eye whole.

"Anyone here?!" A mans voice called out, knocking again on my door. I bit my lip as I studied the group outside my house. A man with a white beard, a woman standing beside him with a serious, yet hopeful, expression on her face. Another woman who was sniffing at the door like a dog, And the last girl of the group who had short dark red hair. Beside the red haired woman was a man with bluish skin, making me mentally gag. Then, there was a rugged man with dried blood in his hair line helping a boy stand who looked about my age. He didn't look well.

"Who are you?" I ask, my voice sounding harsh but this odd group, no matter how badly injured or tired, did not look normal or worthy of trust.

"We won't hurt you, we just need shelter. One of our men, hes hurt!" Shouted the first woman, her voice sounding eager. I sucked in my bottom lip, contemplating it before my nice side kicked in and my hands unwillingly opened the locked door for them. I glanced at the group, all of them looking at me with slight surprise. "Do you live here alone?" The woman asks me. I cross my arms over my chest, wishing we could simply avoid that subject.

"Yes." I say, stepping aside so they could come in. "Will that be an issue?" I ask, slightly annoyed. I am 19 after all, and I feel like i'm old enough to take care of myself. After all, I am still alive. The woman bites her lip, and shakes her head as she and her group come into my home. I quickly lock the door behind them.

"Thank you. We will only stay until our boy comes back to health." The woman says, the blue skinned man looking like he and death were having a battle with each other. I nod my head and go up to the boy my age and rest the back of my hand against his forehead. He was burning up, and the faint look in his eyes spiked my caring instincts. "Alright, come. He can lay i my brothers room." I say, leading them into my brothers room.

"I thought you lived alone." The blue skinned man snapped.

"I do." Is all I say as I help lay the boy on my brothers old bed. The woman gives the blue skinned man a sharp look. "In the meantime, lets learn each others names. I'm Dee." I say, wanting to know who these strangers were before I willingly let them stay here for the day and night.

"I'm Doc," Begins the one with the white beard, "And handsome sick man is 10K." He chuckles a bit, extending his hand out to me as I shake it before turning to the others.

"Murphy." The blue man says, keeping his arms crossed over his chest.

"I'm Warren, please don't mind Murphy. He's...Murphy." The woman, called Warren, states. I nod my head, giving a tiny smile.

"I'm Addy, and she's Sunshine." The red headed girl says, pointing at the girl who is currently sniffing my freezer. How odd. I nod, and turn my attention back to the boy. He looked pale and suddenly turned on his side, coughing up blood making me gulp. "Whats wrong with him?" I ask.

"Its Anthrax." Warren states, her eyes looking down at 10k with worry. I nod, I've heard of it but never seen it up close.

"He needs antibiotics. I'll be right back." I say, rushing from the kitchen as I open the medicine cabinet, grab a cup of water and antibiotic pills and rush back to the room. I get down on one knee, and show the boy the pill. He gulps and blinks before lifting his hand, his brushing against mine as he takes the pill, putting it in his mouth. I lift the water to his lips, and watch him swallow it down. I brush his hair back, trying to comfort him. Seeing him up close like this, I can't help but marvel at his forest green eyes. He was quite handsome. I stand back up and look at the others. "That should bring his fever down some. Hopefully the water will help flush his body." I say. It was then I noticed a blue skinned baby, in warrens arms as she passed it to Murphy.

"Lucy." Murphy answers my questioning look.

"Oh. Well, Are you all hungry?" I ask, and they turn to look at each other before looking back at me and nodding their head yes. I smile and look down at 10k. "And you?" I ask, he nods his head a bit, giving a tiny smile before resting his eyelids.

"Then I will make you food, please, make yourselves comfortable." I say, going to the kitchen.