Outbreak! Virus 'Z'

Chapter 27: Death and decay

Ringleader's POV (general)

Today was a normal day. The sound system was tripped five times with a total of fifteen raised. They were dealt with quickly and easily. I was having another headache. Surprisingly, I didn't have a nightmare last night. Emma was with Willow in her new room. Bobo was actually being progressive. She's helping Cathy gather wood for the house. Larry is tilling dirt, I forced him to till dirt. Emma's family is doing their own thing. I'm just resting, trying to relax. It ain't working. I have this feeling that all hell is gonna break loose. Hopefully I'm wrong.

It's been three hours and my headache has only gotten worse. I can't concentrate on anything. I'm really hot and the world is constantly swaying. I rest against a tree in a daze. Blink once. Blink twice. Inhale. Exhale. Look left. Look right. Blink thrice. Inhale. Exhale.  Look down. Look up. Inhale. Exhale. Feel the grass under me. Blink once. Blink twice. Inhale. Exhale. What's my name? What's my gender? When's my birthday? Who's my family? Where am I? Who am I? Who am I? Who am I?

My arm is hot. My arm is hot. My arm is burning. My flesh is on fire. Touch it. Don't touch. Reach. Pull back. Outstretched hand. Clench it. Open. Close. Closer. Farther. Graze. Burns. Fire. Pain. Everything's blurry. Glasses. On my face. Eyes. In my head. Consciousness. Out the door. Wake up. Green. Grass. Cicadas. Crying. Hot. Burns. No pain. Look. Too blurry. Blink once. Inhale. Blink twice. Exhale. Blink thrice. Inhale. Look. Hitch. Blood. Not red. Blood. Black. Everywhere. Someone. Anyone. Gone. Nowhere. Alone.

Burns. Can't move. Can't see. Can't breath. Can't smell. Can't taste. Can't hear. Only feel. Burns. Hot. Fire. Emotion. Fear. Reaction. Panic. Body. Not working. Malfunction. No. not robot. Help. Voice won't work. Cry. Tears won't fall. Emote. Body won't respond. Help. Help. Help. Help. Help. Black.

Archer's POV

I've been rolling dirt for a new garden where we can plant fruits and stuff. I didn't want to. But the look on Gaby's face told me I probably shouldn't fight her. I had been working for about two hours when I took a break. Gaby seemed to be zoning out. She does that a lot lately. It's nice to have her back. But she seems a little... off. I'm kind of worried, but I'm sure she's okay. Back to tilling!

Batter's POV

What happened that day when we were attacked must never be spoken of. But I can't just close myself away like that and shut away my friends for them to fend for themselves. I decided to actually get off my lazy a** and do something. That something ended up being collecting wood for the expansion of the treehouse. It's simple, go out and look for fallen trees and twigs. Thick branches are what we are looking for mainly. Since we can't really carry giant a** trees by ourselves we arrange for a team effort. Things are looking up!

Kid's POV

I'm really glad that Bobo is doing better.  She would never leave her room.  I was worried for her. But now she doing great and she's contributing to the group. As for why she was like how she was. No one knows except for her. She always dodges the questions and makes excuses to not answer. Well I can't really do anything about it. But I'm glad she's doing okay now!

Samurai's POV

Willow is doing great. She healthy. My mom found formula when she went out on her runs to the city. I spend a lot of time with Willow. I sing to her. I hold her. I talk to her. She's really smart. She understands me. She's already attempting to walk. I don't know how old she is but still, it's rather impressed how fast she's learning. Almost too fast. I've been so caught up with taking care of Willow I often forget it's the apocalypse and I'm in the middle of a forest with my friends. Oh, and Gaby's here too! I'm glad. I was so worried about her and now I know she safe. I should go see her today. It's time for Willow's nap.

Archer's POV

I think I'm done tilling. Maybe I should ask Gaby if she needs me to do something else. I calmly approach her spot only to stop dead in my tracks with wide eyes. I take a step back in shock before emptying my stomach right then and there. WHAT THE F*CK?!?!?!?!?!?! WHEN... WHY... WHAT?!?!?!?! I fall onto my rear and stare in horror. She, but this can't be!!!! She was fine not too long ago!!!! How did no one notice?!?!?! This isn't happening. THIS CANT BE HAPPENING!!!!!!!!!

The corpse of a former friend lay in front of me. She rests on her side. Facing camp. Her eyes are hooded and faded. Her mouth slightly agape with fresh blood oozing out. The veins in her arm are slowly turning black while her body itself turns a ghostly pale. A black substance oozes from somewhere shielded on her arm.  I find myself reaching for her arm, but pulling back for fear of her coming back as one of them. I don't know what to do.

Samurai's POV

I leave my room and close the door with a soft thud. I climb down the makeshift ladder and look around camp. Cathy and Bobo are taking inventory of our wood supply. Mom is doing her own thing. Larry is... sitting? I slowly approach him, wondering what he's doing. When I get a little closer, I see Gaby lying by him. I smile. But it dissipates when I get closer. Gaby looks horrifying. Without realizing it, I let out a bloodcurdling scream of shear terror. Larry whips his head towards me with wide eyes. Everyone has their eyes on us. I back up a bit in a daze. What's going on? Why is Gaby like that? Is she okay? Is she dead? I need answers!

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