Quarantine

Body count

Yesterday had been the luckiest day of my life besides the fact of no plumbing. The gun made me feel safe, but also provided problems of its own. That night went by without incident, and my makeshift lock had proven useful when I awoke to find two rotters outside of the store.

Should I kill them?

I absentmindedly touched the gun, and then thought better of it. If I was going to kill them it would be with my bat.

I don't know how to aim. Better to leave them alone.

I had left my pack in the back, but I was dressed in what little armor I had along with my two weapons. I sat out front looking through the windows hoping I would stay unnoticed.

I feel all alone. Why am I even alive still?

Like someone had heard my thoughts I watched as someone appeared around the corner. At first I thought it was a rotter until it crouched down to stay hidden.

Is that.... a person?

No weapons could be seen, and they barely had any armor.

If those rotters spotted her she would die.

Knowing it was a her from the strand of brown hair that came out from under the jackets hood. I couldn't let her die, but I couldn't risk my life as well. The rotters still haven't noticed her yet, and I wasn't one for watching.

Reaching into my left pocket I pulled out the keys to the handcuffs and unlocked one side of them. I had dismantled the bell last night as it would hurt me rather than help in any given situation. I turned around and grabbed my bat which I had set down on the ground.

Rising up I peered out through the glass doors to see that she hadn't moved from her crouched position.

She might be the only other person that I will ever see again.

A thought of a face looking out of that window distracted me momentarily before I focused back on the figure. Both rotters were looking away, and she took the moment to try and cross the street. She had almost made it across before one spotted her and turned around. The other one soon followed suit noticing the others behavior.

Shit. They saw her.

Waiting until they couldn't see me open the door I glanced back at the girl who was looking around for anything to use as a weapon. I pushed open the door running at the first rotter I could get to. I brought my bat up and slammed it into the rotters head. Watching that one crumple I quickly focused on the other one which hadn't notice me yet.

I started walking forwards with the bat, and knocked it off of its feet. Watching it topple over backwards I quickly continued the attack with a few blows to its head.

Well. Two less to worry about now.

I pulled the bat from its head and managed to hold my stomach down as I watched the facial skin peel off, and stick to my bat. Turning around I saw the girl staring at me, wide eyed, and cowering behind a trash can.

I thought I was scared... She must be older than me.

I looked at her before calling out, "It's alright. There dead. You can come out if you want."

Realizing that I was talking to her she nodded her head, and pulled herself out of the corner. She pulled herself up and walked over to me, rubbing her left arm. Something seemed familiar about her, but I just couldn't place it.

Before I could utter another word she said, "Your the kid I saw those things chasing yesterday."

I looked at her, and said, "You were the face in the window. Why did you come out?"

She replied quietly with "I saw a chance at leaving my house, and I decided to follow where you went."

Not a good answer, but it would have to work. I bet she doesn't have a real explanation.

I looked down at the ground, at her black jogging shoes, and looked back up at her face before saying, "You know I could have let you die right there, but I didn't because I felt like you might be the only other person left alive in here with me."

She nodded, fully aware that she came so close to death.

I looked around again, and back at the two rotters before saying anything else.

I urged her to come inside with me. "Stay out of the open. Stay here for now. We both know that we will have to leave eventually."

She only nodded and walked to the pawn shops doorway. She went in first, and I quickly placed the makeshift lock back on. When she heard the click she turned around, fear covered her face, but it slackened a little, and was replaced with curiosity at the handcuffs.

All I could say was, "It's to keep the rotters out. If they can't usually get in they won't bother with it unless they know your inside."

She seemed to accept my answer and she looked around the room.

I went to the back, and opened my pack, pulling out the frying pan. I turned around to see her standing in the doorway, looking around the room. I went back to my work, and quickly selected a can of corn, and baked beans. I quickly regretted taking the small frying pan, and not one of the larger ones.

I would barely be able to make a meal for one this way, much less two. I glanced back at her to see that she had slipped down and had actually fallen asleep next to the doorway while my thoughts had kept me busy.

Wow. She must have been so scared that she didn't get any sleep.

I glanced back and walked out to the front to look for anything to help me out. I quickly filled my arms with magazines, and anything that would catch a spark. Looking around I found a small metal table in which I gratefully confiscated to be used for my stand.

To much. To much. There is no way this will last.

I looked back at the girl as I entered the room and noticed that she was still holding her arm. It made me worry, but I soon shook it off.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The food was delicious, and Megan was kind enough to share her name with me. We both enjoyed a nice warm meal.

Between bites of corn she asked me, "So Ethan. How did you figure out to kill those rotters?"

I looked at her, mid chew, and quickly swallowed before I replied, "I took a chance with one rotter by its self to get this here vest that I am wearing." I lifted it up with my fingers to show what I meant.

She nodded, and smiled at me as she took another bite of corn. I took another bite of beans, and we both ate in silence. She grabbed her left arm again, and I glanced upward from my plate.

Megan saw my concern and said, "It's nothing. Just got hurt a while back."

I nodded, not really believing most of what she said.

You got hurt alright...

We finished our meal in silence, and ended in the front as we looked at the two corpses on the road. Just a few hours ago they were trying to kill her. Now they just laid there, showing that someone knew how to kill them.

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Looks like out guy does have a name, and a new lady friend....

Is Megan telling the truth, or is it something she doesn't want Ethan to find out about?

Find out in our next chapter!

Vote and comment please.