The living survive the undead.

Chapter 9 - An intruder and an unlikely turn.

Eventually, Robin was able pull down the door and gain access to the building, the started to scavenge around for food in the kitchen. There was a strong scent of oil, they could almost feel the oil in the air on their skin. "Is this place even up to code?" Robin groaned, opening some of the cupboards and immediately shutting them. "Well the health inspector fainted the first time he came here if that says anything." Ryder said, his attention turned to the fridge. Caleb and Marxihr were looking in the lower cupboards and shelving however the more accurate way to descried this would be Marxihr sitting on the table instruction Caleb around. The pantry door cracked open, the hinges screaming at them. "You guys continue in here while I look in here." Ryder mentioned before disappearing into the pantry.

The pantry was dark. Dingy. Horrible overall. Taking out his flash light, Ryder started to look for salvageable food to last them. Clank clunk clink, sounded the empty cans as they fell from the shelves.

Tap. Tap. Tap

Ryder paused. What was that? The blond stayed hunched over as he walked over to the noise. It was near the door back into the kitchen. He moved cans out of the way when a rat ran past him. "Ah!" Ryder screeched. "What was that?" Caleb asked, popping his head around the door. Swallowing the lump in his throat Ryder explained it was a rat and that he'll keep looking for food. When Caleb left Ryder turned back to the shelves.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

The sound was on the other end of the pantry now, by a small window at the top of the room. "Hello?" Ryder called. No one answered.

Tap.

Ryder's breath hitched.

Tap.

"Hello, who is that?" Ryder asked again; and again no answer. Ryder cautiously stepped closer to the window. There was a faint yellow-ish light coming through from the street lamps outside.

CRASH.

A hand burst through the window grabbing Ryder by the collar. "Argh!" Ryder groaned as he was thrashed around, hitting some of the shelves. Tins fell to the floor, creating alarm to the others in the kitchen. Regaining some composure, Ryder pulled at the hand and sunk his teeth into the wrist. There was a screech from beyond the wall and the hand retracted.

The others rushed in and were greeted in Ryder crouched on the floor, glass surrounding him and a broken window. "What the fuck happened to you?" Marxihr stood, towering over the blond and offered him a hand. Standing up Ryder walked into the kitchen and sat at the table, not speaking. "Ryder. Let me look at your face for a moment, I think some of the glass may have cut it." Robin said making his way to sit in front of the blond. Grumbling as he turned to face the doctor, Ryder let Robin do what he needed and kept his eyes away from Robins. Taking out the last shard of glass, Robin placed his hand under Ryder's chin and lifted his head, "Now are you going to tell us what happened or," He leaned in close, "do I have to get it out of you, personally."

Ryder's eyes were blown wide at Robin's actions but told them what happened. Then came the endless theories of whose hand it was. Robin said it was bandits. Caleb said it was scavengers, Marxihr agreed clueless to what was going on. Ryder saw the logic behind each suggestion but he had a theory of his own.

"It was Dennie." His words were barely a whisper.

"What makes you say that?" Robin answered quicker than he had thought.

"I was able to grab the person's wrist and pierce their skin... and taste their blood." Ryder's eyes were fixed to the floor as he continued, "This mean I can... You know what. Why do we need to know this? Why do we need to be worried about this? We just need to get the supplies and go." Ryder stormed upstairs. Shifting in place, Robin eventually followed after Ryder upstairs with the stairs creaking under him. 

Marxihr stifled a chuckle. "Why are you laughing Marxihr?" Caleb asked a serious tone come over in his posture. The air in Marxihr's lungs was gone when he made eye contact with Caleb. The hybrid's stone cold red eyes stared him down and Marxihr, for the first time in his life, was intimidated by a human. "W-Well I... um I think it-!" The demon was cut off by Caleb's hand around his throat. "Listen here Marxihr. I know every detail about you, inside and out. Every weakness. Every flaw. You make one wrong move and I can turn you into a moaning mess in three seconds. Got that?" With each sentence Caleb's grip grew tighter. Marxihr could barely breathe but it was thrilling to him. Weakly, he nodded. Caleb let his grip slack on the demons neck, "Do you believe me?" the hybrid's voice was right next to his ear. "Show me." The demon's response was quite. Suddenly a wave of pleasure coursed through Marxihr that caused him to whimper and cling to Caleb. "That enough proof for you." His words dripping with poison as they left his lips. Hastily nodding, Marxihr pulled himself away from Caleb as his face began to turn a deep shade of red.