The Darkest Days

CHAPTER ONE: The Way Things Are

"What makes em different, Scar?" Gabe asked staring up at me shaking in fear as the dead man at our feet lay still as all dead men did, his brains spread like some kind of sick red butter across the dust. I was still holding the gun and my hands were shaking, they always did after I'd killed somebody. I was too soft for this world as I was, hopefully Gabe wouldn't be.

I shook my head and bent down to the corpse, taking off his shoes, mine were worn through to the toes and his  though a little big were in better shape would have to do, maybe I could stuff the toes with rags. "I dunno..." I shrugged trying to act nonchalant as I cringed at touching the dead thing to check for valuables. Gabe looked around his eyes wide like a frightened deer as he scanned the distance like I taught him whilst I was busy. "They ain't us."

Nodding Gabe made do with that answer, but I could tell he was unsatisfied. He would probably would chew it over for a while then ask again later.

Something was in the dead man's pocket, I could feel it as I patted him down. Slowly I reached in and pulled out the small silver lighter, it was one of the expensive ones, engraved with the words With Love Rosie. My throat tightened as I realized that he'd been loved once too, he used to be human, we all did, but not anymore, his Rosie was probably dead and I wanted to be. Things weren't going to change anytime soon.

I wished I could throw the lighter away, but Gabe and I could use it and nowadays you couldn't afford to be wasteful. I kept feeling around the man's clothes and also found a wallet (nothing useful inside but some credit cards and a driver's license which I couldn't force myself to look at) and a dull pocket knife which I gave to Gabe. He seemed reluctant to take anything from the dead guy. "Here take it." I fussed pressing it into his still baby soft hands. "It might be useful."

He stared at it sadly as if it were a dirty thing and reluctantly shoved it into his pocket. I was still scavenging goods from the dead man. I took his jacket to hopefully keep Gabe warm through the winter and his socks and shirt to make patches for our own with. I also took his pants which I was going to hem for myself so I could give Gabe my old ones since he was out growing his. The man was also wearing a earing which I ripped out, maybe I could use it to trade. In the end I was left debating on whether or not to take his underwear, but upon seeing that they were soiled I left them, I didn't need them that much.

All my new found treasures were laid out, I gave Gabe the jacket which he tied around his waist then I put the lighter, pants, and earing in my backpack and gave Gabe the shirt and socks for his own. I knew Gabe hated this kind of thing, I did too, but it was a nessesity until we found a safe place, if there was one. I got up and began to trek South the way we had been heading when I noticed Gabe was not behind me.

"I wanna pray for him." he fussed stubbornly stomping his foot refusing to follow me. The dead man seemed unmoved by Gabe's consideration and likely had he been in the same position would have eaten Gabe and left his corpse to rot and rise. But Gabe was soft, he had been born that way, into a world that let you be soft, we couldn't be that way now.

"Commere Gabe, we gotta go." I commanded letting my eyes show I meant business. We didn't have time for this. I knew quickly glancing at the sun, we had to find shelter by night fall more of that man's kind would be out by dark and we couldn't see as well then.

Gabe stayed stubbornly put, I didn't have time for this. "Gabe NOW!" I raised my voice which I rarely did nowadays. But still he stayed, I would either have to relent and pray or physically force him to go, I didn't want to hit him, not today.

"Fine whatever."I gave in and bowed my head. "Dear Lord, we commend this man's body to the Earth and his soul to you. May he walk with Jesus. Layeth him down in green pastures. May the sheep eat his guts. Ect. Ect... Can we go now!" I murmured, Gabe gave me a dirty look and said solemnly "Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust. Amen." Before he walked off almost floating with holiness, his soul as clean as fresh snow, leaving me and my scum filled soul to wallow the hole this world made me dig as I treaded upon the Earth.

Oh well, so long as I protected Gabe God would have to wait. Somehow I thought God would understand at least for the time being, that's just how things were.