Death After Death (#2)

Chapter Forty-Five

Lizzie gently closed the bedroom door, shutting out the muffled laughter from the rooms below. The house was warm and full of good spirit, like a family on the eve of the festive season, but there was only so much Lizzie could take.

She had been locked up for so long, with no one to converse with beyond her own thoughts. Going from that to a large group, full of non-stop chatter was a little too much too soon for Lizzie.

It had been wonderful to get to know Max's friends, and her rescuers, and she felt at peace in the knowledge that they were all safe, together, finally. It was as if all the clickers and awful people in the world had been instantly lifted from their lives for one night, just for a moment.

Lizzie wanted to enjoy every second, she wanted to stay down there and continue sharing stories, laughs and digs at Max all night, but what she needed was rest.

She clambered into bed, wincing at her aching limbs as she sank into the padded mattress, letting it absorb all her weight, and envelope her like a protective lioness.

Ignoring hospital beds, this was the first night's sleep Lizzie had enjoyed on a mattress since her time at the Jennings'. It felt foreign to her. The sheets were too soft, the mattress too spongey, and she felt so light and helpless.

After tossing and turning for what felt like hours, Lizzie slid back out of bed and curled up on the floor below, realising already that her time in that cell would stay with her forever.

***

A crash outside Lizzie's bedroom window awoke her instantly, as she leapt to her feet, eyes wide and fists raised. It took her a few moments to realise where she was, at which point, some of the fear and tension was eased from her bones, but not all of it.

The four walls around her seemed to be closing in, trapping her like an animal in a pen, ready for the slaughter. Her breathing became harsher, and her heartbeat grew faster, as the bedroom felt more and more like a prison.

Lizzie tore open the window for some fresh air, scanning the bushes below for any sign of movement, just in case any unwanted guests had stumbled upon their current abode.

The fresh air was like little bursts of heaven across Lizzie's skin, brushing in up and down, massaging any sense of panic from within her.

She had to escape these four walls, just for a while, just to feel free once more. With little thought, Lizzie's legs were already clambering out the open window frame, dangling helplessly over the edge as her fingers scrambled around for something to grip. Luckily the roof didn't sit too far above her head, and so Lizzie grasped her fingers around the stone gutter and heaved herself up and over onto the summit.

"Jesus fucking Christ!" JJ exclaimed, clamping his hand against his heart in shock. "Where the hell did you come from?"

Lizzie's hand slipped, as she too was startled by the presence of another midnight roof dweller. She began to slide back down the tiles towards the edge, only regaining her balance at the last second as JJ threw out a hand for her to grab.

"Thanks," Lizzie gasped. "I'm sorry, I didn't expect anyone else to be up here!"

"Don't mention it," JJ grinned. "I think Max would be pissed if I just let you die, after all we went through to rescue you."

Lizzie laughed as she climbed up to JJ's perch on the very crest of the rooftop.

"Why the fuck are you up here anyway?" she asked in bemusement.

JJ shrugged, "Just wanted some space away from that lot down there. Plus, Karl snores. What about you?"

Lizzie averted her eyes nervously, "You'll think I'm crazy."