BETTER SAFE THAN ZOMBIE

7| Doppelganger

"Az!" a voice screamed, which sounded suspiciously like me.

The Siberian Husky's eyes flew towards me before he howled faintly. Az tried to stand up, but again he collapsed, looking exhausted beyond his limit.

I started forward, but before my feet could take a step, a mangled body nearest to me stirred. Swallowing a gasp, I crouched down, nudging the body with my right boot, wondering how it could still be alive.

A loose skin flapped open, revealing a squirming mass of maggots inside. I gagged, backed down a few steps, and fell down. Irrational fear kept me from sprinting towards Az, and I wallowed in shame.

They're just larvae, Williams! A nasty voice in my head said. What are you so afraid of? Or have you forgotten your partner in crime dying there and needing you?

Rising in unsteady feet, I took a step forward, a chorus of Nike's famous phrase 'Just do it!' echoing in my head over and over again like a broken tape record.

Slowly but surely, I made my way towards Az, my eyes closed in a half-mast to limit the horrible experience.

It was almost as if I could feel the maggots wriggling beneath my combat boots, and it didn't help matters the fact that, in every step I took, a heavy squish sounded, reminding me again and again of the decayed bodies underneath me. And the stench! Just plain horrible.

Algor mortis, rigor mortis, livor mortis, putrefaction. All secondary signs of death, and here I am, practically seeing, smelling, and even feeling them all.

I flinched every time a fly touched my skin, imagining them touching the rotten bodies and now touching me...shuddering, I took another step.

When I at last reached Az, I felt like I was going to heave, right then and there. But I controlled myself, my breathing shallow, took hold of Az's body, and climbed down in a fast pace, a feat any champion in the Olympic games would be proud of.

Finally stepping on something that wasn't decayed and squishy, I slowly lowered Az to the floor. I knelt beside him and finally just sat, heaving his head onto my lap.

If his strangled whimpers were any indication, he was in pain. I combed my fingers on his fur, trying to soothe him.

"Shhh...Az...I'm here," I murmured, my fingers gentle. I patted his head and Az craned his head back to lick my palm.

A tear rolled down on my left cheek. Stifling a sniffle, I wiped it away with the heel of my hand, trying valiantly to stay composed.

"Don't die on me, Azrael," I heard my own voice plead, sounding choked. "Don't you dare leave me."

Az whined and licked my hand again.

"You're my partner," I said. "You aren't supposed to die on me..."

A sob escaped me. Then another. Then another. Pretty soon I was sniffling and crying and hugging Az not to leave me.

"If you see a white light at the end of a very dark tunnel," I was soon advising to Az, "Do not go there, do you hear me? It's Satan. He's just tricking you. It's probably just a flashlight--" Then I broke into hiccups. "Az, don't leave me! Mum's gone, Dad's gone, you're the only family I have left..."

Holy broccoli. Did I just say that?

Out loud?

OMG, this whole grieving thingy has made my stupid feelings come out and made me go all melodramatic.

Got to stop, I thought.

"Az!" I cried, flinging my arms around his neck. "I love you. You're the sweetest dog ever."