The Madness Inside Us

Tension

Over the course of the next couple of days, my nerves are stretched tight. Murphy, of course, is the main reason. Not to mention how everyone in the group keeps looking at me as if I'm about to lose myself and start acting like Murphy's pet. The only exception is 10k, who isn't on his guard, but is most definitely coping in his own way. If looks could kill, Murphy would be six feet under by now. He also seems more distant than usual from me...I am somehow magically being paired up with other people for watches and raids, now.

He probably told them to separate us. I thought he cared? What happened to the kiss we had? I couldn't have been the only one that felt the connection...is it because he sees me as a monster now?

I have no idea what his deal is, but it is ripping my insides apart. What doesn't help is, of course, Murphy's part in my nerves fraying. He has kept true to his word about making me his little puppet, of course. Mostly.

We stop off the main route for some R&R, at least for the night. 10k immediately jumps out of the truck to set up a fire, and the rest of us slowly get out of the truck to help. Well, everyone else does. They still want me to relax and heal my shoulder a little more before doing anything, so I sit with Murphy on the tailgate.

The camp is set up swiftly and I hop down from the truck to grab my stuff, thinking about heading to the little stream we passed about five minutes ago to wash up. I briefly lift my nearly-empty canteen to my lips when I feel a slight...pull toward the truck.

I glance toward Murphy. "What are you staring at?" He is slightly squinting at me in concentration. I feel another tug, this time an urge to give him the canteen. My eyes narrow.

"Murphy, you ass, I can feel you in my head. You have your own water. Piss off mine, stop being so lazy, and get your own".

The urge intensifies tenfold into a full-blown need, and my brow starts to sweat from the effort of resisting. My hand shakes and starts to move toward him, handing him my canteen. I fight for control over my body, losing more and more ground with every passing second. With one last-ditch effort at keeping my free will, I yank the water back to my face and drain the rest of the contents, upending it like a frat boy would a cheap beer.

"Eat my ass", I grumble to him after I finish, my left eye twitching ceaselessly. I toss the container into my pack and throw it over my shoulder.

There are a few grumbles from the group and I turn to see them all staring at me, even 10k. They must have seen the little stand-off between me and Murphy.

"I'm not his puppet. Satisfied yet? Can y'all stop staring at me now?", I crab at them, throwing my arms up in frustration.

"Well, at least we know it's still Tally", Vasquez huffs out.

Addy just smiles and throws an arm around my shoulders.  Warren tries to cover up a small smile.  10k just looks more conflicted than I've ever seen him.

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After about 10 minutes, it is decided that 10k will go with me to the stream. The rest of the group will take turns after we take watch for each other. He seems hesitant at first, almost unwilling to go with me, and I feel my eye starting to twitch again.

I stomp off ahead of him. I can still hear him behind me and I know that no Zs will touch him while I have anything to say about it.  I have nothing to worry about but his safety, now.

I'm about half-dead, anyway. Fuck it.

I reach the edge of the stream and kick my boots off. I pull my shirt over my head and drop it to the small rocks that surround the stream's bed and prick the bottoms of my bare feet. I hear a gasp behind me and slightly turn to see 10k's blushing face snap away from me. His eyes are even wide from the side of his face, and there is no mistaking the awkward little smirk on his face as he purses his lips.