Roaming Of The Afterlife

That's Not The Same Aurei Anymore

I sit on the couch, Dakota sits away from me and Aurei had been sharpening her knife. Dakota looks up.

"How is she?" Dakota asks.

"She wouldn't speak to me...." I said. I feel like I'm failing as a sister....Aurei didn't tell me about what had happened to her. I could feel a lump in my throat.

"I'm right here." Aurei snaps, but she relaxes.

"I don't feel like talking about it right now." Aurei adds, putting her knife in her bag, then she pulls out her inhaler then takes several puffs. She wheezes a little, Dakota stands up.

"I haven't introduced her to you properly, Dakota this is my sister Aurei." I said, extending my hand out towards Aurei, she waves then looks down.

"And Aurei, this is Dakota." I said, Aurei grins but Dakota waves.

"We should rest up, we need some food....we're running out." Dakota said, I nod then rested on the couch, Aurei stands up and sits next to me, laying on the armrest of the chair, her face had no reaction.

"What happened?" I ask softly.

"A lot...I can't remember the details." Aurei said softly.

"Were you with anyone?" I ask, she nods.

"I met this couple....Nathan and Milly." She adds, running her fingers along her gauze.

"Were they good?" I ask.

"Yeah....Nathan taught me how to use a rifle, how to defend myself....he saved me when I was starving to death." Aurei adds.

"Milly taught me to knit....how to cook, before I met them I survived on my own...."

"How?" I curse myself for asking that....doubting that she's strong.

"Before I met them....I've managed to kill roamers my own way, but while I was in the woods....I met this guy....he was about four years older than me...he was nuts....he tried to kill me....but I killed him....Avery I felt so bad....but Nathan and Milly made me feel whole again." Aurei said, looking down....they must've been pretty close.

"Until Milly went missing....then Nathan....got bit...." Aurei said with sadness in her eyes.

"I'm alright if that's what you're asking." Aurei said, grazing her fingers over her gauze.

"But....did he turn?" I ask her, she shakes her head, looking down.

"I shot him...." Aurei said looking at me.

"At least he isn't suffering anymore...." Aurei adds.

"The least I can do for him

"People think because I'm short and young that I can't defend myself....that I'm vulnerable." Aurei said, balling up her fists.

"That's an advantage." I said quietly, staring straight ahead.

"I guess." Aurei mumbles.

"They come closer to you, or they let their guard down....then that's when you strike." I said, she nods.

"Avery....do you want to know what happened at the city?" She asks, facing me.

"What?" I ask, I could feel my blood rushing.

"Do you want to know what happened?" Aurei repeats.

"Yeah." I chirp.

"Laurie was shot....accidentally....I saw Lilith...." Aurei starts. Lilith...her nose must be crooked now.

"She was one of the vipers....those people who took over the hospital were vipers as well." Aurei explains.

"How did you know?" I ask.

"Every viper has three marks on their wrists....when she got eaten alive by the undead she held that arm out.....that's how I knew." Aurei said quietly.

"What happened to the old Aurei?" I asked.

"She's gone." Aurei said before walking off. My heart skips a beat.

"I thought she was caring." Dakota said, he walks towards me.

"A lot happened to her....she's hardened." I said quietly.

"How long were you listening?" I ask.

"Not too long." Dakota said, sitting beside me.

"Dakota if you're going to be a ass then please....I'm not ready to deal with it right now..." I said facepalming.

"I may have issues but I'm not completely a prick." Dakota said with a shrug.

"So you're listening to me?" I ask.

"I can try." Dakota said wryly, I roll my eyes. He's way different when he's awake, but when he's asleep....he suffers....badly.

"She's wise...I'll give her that...." I said quietly.

"Avery....life isn't a fucking fairytale." Dakota said raising his eyebrows at me.

"Right.....I'm forgetting that I'm talking to the same Dakota." I chuckle, he rolls his eyes.

"I'm just brutally honest." Dakota said with a shrug.

"But as I was saying, Aurei needs her space to figure herself out, to grow....after hearing all of that, she prefers to manage on her own." Dakota said, I lean back, feeling a sharp pain in my thighs.

"You're right Dakota you're amazing." I said with a small smile.

"Damn straight and don't you forget it." Dakota said, he leans on my shoulder.

"Why did you smoke?" Dakota asks, I shrug.....to be honest ever since I saw my boyfriend and his friends smoking with their girlfriends I tried so hard to be friends with....the next thing I knew I was coughing and wheezing in front of everyone....they laughed and just cursed.

"My ex boyfriend, Richard.....he got me into it, he kept offering it to me and saying that it would calm me down...I just did it to fit in." I said, he scoffs.

"You're no saint either." I shot back.

"No...I can't see someone like you smoking." Dakota said.

"What about you?" I ask, Dakota purses his lips.

"My Dad told me not to....but ever since my douchebag of a stepdad came in the picture I did it anyway." Dakota said recklessly.

"Your Dad?" I ask quietly like a child....he sits up.

"He disappeared after Mom divorced him....he taught me how to be a man...although he was a huge jackass." Dakota said.

I nod.

"My Dad....we're alike in every way....whenever Aurei is at danger....I go crazy....maybe I am.....it was the same for him....until he was there to calm me down.....but now....we have to deal with this alone....she's just a kid....." I said weakly, Dakota squeezes my hand.

"Stop....Avery you never cry." Dakota said, I rub my eyes then pinched the bridge of my nose.

"I'm not going to." I lie, he rolls his eyes.

"I can see it." Dakota said grimly.

"See what?" I ask.

"How you think of me. Avery you deserve better than a man who's terrifying to everyone....you still don't know what kind of man I am." Dakota said, my eyes widen.

"Tell me Dakota.....how do you kill a monster without becoming one?" I ask, Dakota turns his back to me.

"Because he's a monster himself." Dakota said. And with all that said, he walks away.