Acid

Chapter Seven: Is It Just A Nightmare?

I AWOKE TO shuffling, of foot steps around the house. I wonder what time it is. Looking to the right of the bed, I see an old watch. It must be Tatum's. Extending my arm to the right I grab the watch, pulling it closer to see the time. It was hard to see through the darkness but it looked as if it said 3. It was a lot earlier than I expected, yet it does make sense. On the usual days I wake up at 4 so it's not that bad. I begin to start getting up, throwing my legs over the side of the bed as my feet touch the cold ground. I hesitate at first, bringing them back up, but my mouth threatens me to get up as it is dying for a drink of water. I slowly get off the bed trying not to make any light creeks, because Poppy is a light sleeper, just like me. Thinking of this makes me smile as I make my way to the door. All the candles have been blown out so there is no light, but there was still the smell of burning wax in the air. I start to gently feel for the door, desperately looking for the handle. God damn it... where are you handle. Finally, I found it, I sigh in relief as I turn it, opening the door as I enter the hallway. Leaving the door open behind me I begin to walk down the hall my hand and arm grazing the walls in guidance, carefully dragging my feet until my foot feels a drop. Therefore, I knew I had reached the stair case. I walk down the first three stairs before turning to walk down the rest. It took a while but I had finally reached the kitchen, or what some people might say, something that was supposed to be a kitchen but epically failed. Yet in this world this has to be the best "acting" kitchen I've ever seen, but anything that's got food is a kitchen to me. I walk to the closest counter top where there is a candle along with a box of matches. Taking a match out, I strike it against the side of the box, illuminating the little room. As I light the first candle I realize how creepy it looks down here at night time, almost as if I were in a horror movie. Well I guess I kind of am, but the horror movie doesn't have a happy ending, instead it has an ever lasting sorrow. I begin lighting the other candles in the room, allowing myself to finally see clearly as I make my way to the jug of water. Taking a cup, I pour the room temperature water, letting it fill my glass to the point where it almost over fills. I think it's okay to over do it, I haven't had pure water in forever. Drinking the water slowly, calms my mouth as my thirst decays, explaining the feeling of the pure water is too hard to say.

Finishing my water and gently placing the cup in the sink along with the other piles of dishes, the house suddenly goes quiet again, until a faint groan echoes through the kitchen. Slowing my breathing I slowly turn around. When my body completely turned, I can't explain it but my heart just sank, and I became numb instantly.

"No! How!" I screamed.

It was a feral but not just any feral. It was Rae. She stood there groaning and watching me, her once grey eyes were yellow and hungry. She growled as she stumbled closer, bites all over her arms along with bruises and open wounds. How is this possible? I saw her this morning! Thoughts flooding my brain freezing me in place, as the once beautiful Rae was nothing but a dead corpse.

"Rae!" I screamed out, tears pouring out of my eyes as I continued sobbing.

The human part was no more, for the old Rae would've comforted me, this thing didn't have are action of love or anything human like. I didn't feel comfortable in its presence. I felt scared, but even with this scared feeling I knew what had to be done. I grabbed the knife that laid on a cutting board on the counter, tightly holding it in my hands. My grip unbreakable, yet I hesitated. As survivors of the biggest world wide epidemic you make some rules, that every true survivor knows to follow. 1. Never hesitate. I already broke that rule, I can't kill her. How can anyone be expected to do this for someone they love. As she crawled closer, my arms weakened. Both of my arms falling to my sides, the knife collapsing to the ground. BING, BING, the sound of the metal knife falling to the floor rung out.

''Just do it!'' I screamed out sobbing.

In a complete silence Rae lunged at me. Biting into my arm, and all I could do was watch and scream in agony.

I woke startled in the middle of the night, a tiny screech bursting from my mouth.

Tatum shot up from the bed panicked as he turned towards me.

"Are you alright?!"

A sob flew past my lips as I gripped onto the sheets.

"Tat... I've been trying so hard to be okay.... but I'm not" I cried out falling into his arms.

"Alaska everything's going to be okay. I'm here now." He said holding me close to him

"You don't know that!" I sobbed.

"Your right I don't, but as long as I'm here, nothing will ever hurt you.... I promise"

We sat there in tangled in each other's arms, before I broke away.

"I have to check something" I said wiping tears away from my eyes.

"Want me to come?"

I shook my head as I uncovered the sheets from my body. Slowly getting up. Walking to the door, I still feel Tatum staring at me, turning around I give him a smile, sending all of his worries away. Opening the door, I make my way to Rae's room.