Fibre Mortem: Rhesus Factor

2

"You ruined my shoes."

I shift, but instantly regret it and groan, "We've got to stop meeting like this. It's annoying. Beds are for sleeping, Asshole."

My voice is hoarse and dry, I desperately want something to drink.

Reese chuckles and leans forward in the chair he's sitting in, "Beds aren't always for sleeping in, Princess, but I won't enlighten you. Your dad wouldn't condone it."

"Oh, piss off Reese. I may not know how to kill a zombie, but I know what coitus is." I try to sit up again but everything in me hurts too much. I finally give up and just stop moving.

"You may know what it is, but you don't know what it's like, Princess." He says reaching for a pitcher and cup.

Praise the gods! He's going to give me water. Heaven be kind to him, even though he annoys the piss out of me.

He pours the delicious liquid into it and pauses when he finishes. I feel so much disappointment when he does. Heaven help him when he finally gives it to me.

"You're telling me you have? Who would want to experience that with you? Don't answer that. Eww. Why are you here anyway Reese?" I manage to get out, still staring at the cup of water in his hands.

"Your dad asked me to sit with you. Make sure you were okay, that sort of thing. Seems he had business in the lab today." He turns and starts looking at some of the photos on the wall. I feel like my patience is being put to the test with him.

"Of course. Ever my father's lap dog, huh? You don't need to babysit me. I'm okay." I say through gritted teeth.

"Just following orders, Babe. It was kind of easy, you were just lying there asleep, practically a day off of work for me. I even got a nap in myself." He turns and makes for my bed, I think he's going to finally hand me the cup of water, but he pauses again and it takes everything in me not to scream.

"I'm glad I could help you, although, didn't you get a full night's sleep and then get up early? Wasn't that basically what you told me this morning?" I can't help it, now I'm just being bitchy and probably egging him on, but... I'm thirsty.

"Correction. I stayed up a little later than usual, but I did get up early. I had things to do and you ruined those by almost getting eaten. Now, since you're awake, I do have to leave. I have a few things I need to discuss with your father."

He says this smiling, and you know what this son of a bitch does? He drinks the fucking water!

My eyes almost water at the hurt of him drinking that life source. I almost start crying right then and there, but I can't.

No, I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry in front of him. That would just be gold for him to use on me later.

Instead, I don't say anything, for fear of actually choking. I just sit there waiting for him to leave and give me peace. I'm tired of his games right now. I'm just tired.

Who knew fighting a zombie off really is an athletic sport that I'm not cut out for? It does give me a little more awareness to his struggles and I shudder. Here I am pissed at him, but, also feeling sorry that he had to survive that way. What am I doing?

He sighs a refreshing sigh, "Where was I? Oh yeah, got to go speak to your dear old dad. Here, I'm sure you can do something with this." He hands me the half-empty cup of water and now I know he's been messing with me this whole time.

I'm sure he knows me well enough too because he beelines it to the door, probably sure I'll throw the cup at him in retaliation but I pause and look at the contents. It's still water, even though his saliva might be floating around in it. I'm desperate, maybe too desperate because I actually sit there for a moment and contemplate drinking it. Instead, I set the cup onto the side table and start again to get up and get my own damn cup.

"Fuck you Reese. Well, played, but fuck you."

Some time later, I lie in my bed thinking about things. My father came to visit shortly after Reese left, he seemed happy that I was awake, but he was also upset that I ended up in that situation.

"Dad, it happens. You know this as well as anyone who works in the lab. I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Just be thankful that no one else ended up like Richard. Or worse. We could have had so many people infected. I'm glad I got there when I did... and a little glad Reese showed up shortly after." I mutter the last bit.

He gives me the look. You know that look that every parent gives their child when they're slightly annoyed by them? Well, that's what I'm getting and I know what's coming soon after this look too. I'm getting a speech.

"That's not the point Lively. You saw the state the lab was in, what made you think that it would be safe to continue going in? We all know the protocol. You should have immediately alerted someone on the guard staff that something was amiss. Did I not tea--" He goes to finish but I immediately cut him off. I don't want to listen to him chastise me about my decisions when he sucks at making them too.

"Dad, it won't happen again. I just wasn't thinking clearly, I had a rough morning. Can we just be grateful that I am alive and well considering?"

He looks at me for a moment, contemplating on whether he should finish but he knows that I already know what he's going to say and that I am really sorry for worrying him. "Rough morning? Ah, you mean Reese. I do wish you'd get that boy out of your head. Your constant arguing and flirting seem redundant."

"Flirting?" I laugh, "Dad, you can't be serious right now, I LOATHE Reese. There is no attraction between us. It's all mutual hate." I wave the notion off even further. I can't honestly believe he just said that.

He walks to my door, ready to leave me to my bidding, "Yes, well, Lively?"

I stare at him for more.

"Reese mentioned that maybe we should teach the staff basics in Zombie survival and I agreed. He'll be starting a class later in the week and you're to report to him and not the lab until you've been cleared to do so. Saying no is not an option Lively, it is in your best interest to learn how to fight against them should you find yourself in a similar situation as you did today. Clear?"

"All clear Boss." and I salute him for good measure. He just shakes his head at me and walks out of the door, clearly not in the mood to deal with my sarcastic ass.

I'm not sorry about it, first, he tells me to get Reese out of my head. He isn't even there in the first place, and then he sticks me in a class that The Devil himself happens to be teaching? Yeah, no. I won't let that slide.

I've got bigger things to worry about than love or boys. You know, saving humanity isn't small. I just wish people thought that women thought about things other than that mushy gushy shit.

I spend the rest of the night contemplating how to fuck with Reese during class until I either pass on my own accord or Reese happily rids himself of me. I'm guessing it'll be a combination of both, can't let my passing record slide. Even if I think the teacher is a douche.

When I finally manage to slip off into dream land, it isn't long until I'm waking up drenched in sweat and screaming for my life. I try to play it off, but seeing Mr. Hungry again isn't the coolest thing in the world and in my dream, Reese didn't save my ass.

"I'm going to be extremely grumpy tomorrow." I say, lying back down on my pillow.