Over the Horizon

Chapter 7: Death of a partner

This Chapter was written by Grace.

After David walked off I walked into the bathroom with rose.

I opened the baby placemat and carefully laid Rose down

“Ok. Let's see what I can find” I said to myself as I scouted the bathroom for anything I could use to clean up Rose.

The water didn't seem to be running but there was some hand soap.

I looked in the stalls but didn't seem to have much luck.

Though I did find a bottle of water.

“Bingo!” I said aloud.

I then looked around for something I could use as a cloth to clean her up, though it looks like I was out of luck.

I looked down at my hoodie.

It had an extra pocket on the sleeve that I didn't really use for anything. So taking out my dagger I removed my hoodie and undid the stitching around the pocket

“Ow!” I exclaimed  I had accidentally slipped and cut my finger,

Rose began to cry as I had exclaimed rather loudly

“Rose sweetheart I'm alright, it's just a cut.”

I finished cutting off the pocket and I then dampened it with the water and applied some hand soap to it.

Then I gently wiped roses face and hands.

Rose didn't seem to mind and rather liked being taken care of. She let out a babyish laugh.

I couldn't help but smile.

I always had a soft spot for kids.

I used to babysit some of my neighbors kids before the infection started.

I was lost in my thoughts until I felt a hand on my shoulder.

“Need some help?” David said “I found some nappies in aisle three with some still usable baby wipes”

“Jesus David! Tell me when you've entered a room next time!” I gave him a look “could you sort her out while I go find Alex? I'm a bit worried”

“Sure. I'll be fine with Rose. Baby's are far more cooperative than some people I know” David told me as he walked over to Rose.

“Alright. If anything happens I'll shout” and with that I exited the bathroom.

My finger still stung so I inspected it. The cut was much bigger than I thought. I went down my finger and halfway down my hand.

“How did I miss that..?” I said aloud, brushing off the thought I looked around for Alex

“Alex?” I called

No answer

“Alex?!” I said a bit louder

Still. No answer

My heart began beating faster

Until I turned another isle.

At that moment my heart stopped beating

“A-Alex…?”

I found them

Dead

It wasn't a walker. No.

It looked like a shot to the head.

As their blood was splattered on the floor from her head

Harō was there sitting next to Alex's dead body

Nuzzling their hand

I suppressed the urge to throw up

Instead I screamed as loudly as I could

“DAVID!!” I screamed as tears rolled down my face,

I fell to my knees still crying.

“GRACE!” I heard the pounding of footsteps behind me “Grace, what's wro-” David suddenly went quiet. I heard him walk up to me before handing me Rose, and he walked up to Alex and inspected their head “I’d say the shooter came from the east, top of a building, and I’d say they are using a Anti-material  class rifle with a 8x thermal scope attached.” David grabbed his rifle, lead down on the floor, and took aim. I saw him move the Rifle about before he Took a deep breathe out and fired. I heard a distant cry of pain. Then David swearing “Fuck. I didn't kill them but I certainly Injured them" I saw David grab Alex’s body by the shoulders and pull it into the nearest aisle. Harō and I followed.

“W-what are you doing..?” I asked. Still very shaken.

“I need to check the wound. See how far the bullet went in etc. That, and if Alex is dead I wanna loot the corpse then bury her properly with the mother of Rose. By that I mean build a Funeral Pyre out of logs and Burn them to stop the infection from spreading.”

“I...I see…” I said “David where was that person you shot?” I asked

“You see the high rise building about 2 buildings down? They were on the 3rd Floor" David told me while pointing in its general direction.

“How...how did they shoot Alex from a different building if we are inside tescos…?”

“Any number of ways. I’d think they were using a Sniper Rifle that fires with enough force to go through a wall but not rip their head off of their shoulders like a .50 Cal would.” David told me while searching through Alex's Pockets.

“I don't like that your doing that so suddenly…” I said quietly

“Alex is brain dead. Their not gonna need this stuff. Right? Plus we’re low enough on supplies as is. Oh, catch" David threw me an owl attached to a chain necklace and he began to search through Alex’s rucksack.

I still felt awful. It didn't seem right...but I hesitantly put on the necklace.

Alex wore it all the time.

More tears fell down my face.

David stopped rummaging “Oh Grace” David stood up and walked over to Me and brought me into his embrace.

I abruptly pushed him away.

“David I….I'm sorry but I just lost Alex...I...can't right now…”

“Ok. You go back to the house with Harõ and Rose. I’ll finish up here and Give Alex and Roses mother a burial then I’ll join you.” David told me as he closed Alex's bag and got prepared to pick up Alex.

I nodded slowly and tapped my jeans to signal Harō to follow me.

The walk back to the house was in silence.

I just lost my partner.

My best friend.

I was kinda annoyed at David because he didn't seem sad in the slightest…

I wasn't expecting him to be on his knees crying but…

These thoughts swarmed my head.

Who was that person who killed them?.

Whoever it was might have known us.

Because they didn't shoot me.

And they couldn't have shot David because he shot them first…

So who was it..?

Bye.