Caught In The Crossfire//A 10k Story

Chapter 24

The rest of the night was quiet. The sun started to rise 2 hours after I had shooed Doc upstairs. My ass was numb from sitting on the windowsill, but it was bearable. Not long after the sun had raised, Doc came trotting down the steps with a smile on his face. "You're rather chipper this morning," I laughed at him as he walked past, grabbing my water bottle and taking a sip before giving it back. "Well, thanks to you kiddo, I got some great sleep!" He patted my back and smiled. "No problem old man, I'm gonna head back upstairs till 10k wakes up," I chuckled and strolled away.

He was still lying in the same position from when I had left him. I grinned to myself as I stared at him. I seriously liked this boy. I had known him a total of about 3 months now, but it felt like so much longer. Like years longer. He shuffled a little but he was still sleeping. I laughed and placed down my weapons, then took my boots off. I looked at 10k a little longer, admiring his good looks, before a smirk appeared on his face. Guess he wasn't asleep anymore.

"You gonna keep staring or are you going to come over?" He spoke, his voice husky and tired. My cheeks tinted crimson as I stepped over to the bed we shared for the night. I sat on the bed and collapsed next to him. He wrapped his caring arms around me and kissed my head. "Where did you disappear too?" He asked quietly.
"I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep, so I went downstairs and took over watch. Doc's not tired anymore.".
"Ahh, I see. Anything interesting happen?".
"Sat on my ass most the time. Oh and um I got scared by a penny cause I thought it was someone holding a weapon in the hedge out front,".
"You really are the bravest girl I know. That must have been one scary penny,".
"Haha ok, Mr Oh-No-A-God-Damn-Fish-Touched-My-Toe-So-I-Screamed-Like-A-Little-Girl." I laughed and sat up, turning to look at him.

He pouted like a child and sat up as well. I laughed again and laid back down. 10k started to get up but I grabbed him and wrapped my arms around his muscular back. "No,  please stay with me for a little bit?" I whined like a child and he laughed and got all the way up with me still hanging onto him. I was now hanging off the edge of the bed, hanging on for dear life. "I can't Jaime, I need the toilet," He chuckled and started to walk. I fell to the ground and groaned in frustration. "Oh crap! Jaime are you okay?" He asked, worry seeping into his voice. I looked at him with a smirked. He rolled his eyes playfully and walked away.

"Okay, everyone, the van isn't starting so time to get walking," Warren announced and a chorus of moan and complaints filled the silence. "Hey! That's enough, get your ass's moving!" Warren shouted once again and we all start walking down the deserted road. "We better find another ride soon," Murphy complained as we walked past the Broken minivan. Warren shot him a look and he shut his mouth.

We had been walking for around 3 hours now, 10k had long since grabbed my hand to intertwine our fingers. He still hadn't let go, it was kinda cute. We were talking about The Walking Dead. A great TV show, but a sucky reality. "Yeah but Rick didn't have to kill him," I argued.
"Well he was just trying to protect his group,".
"He could've just tied him up and left him there,".
"What so the Z's could get him? That's even worse than killing him!".
"Okay, okay 10k, I give up you win," I laughed and he grinned proudly, quickly kissing my cheek and almost tripping up.

I laughed harder making Warren and Doc looked at us strangely. We continued talking about random things until Warren made up stop to search a gas station we had come across. "You guys know the drill," She sighed and stood with Doc guarding Murphy. I saluted her as 10k and I rushed up to the door and peered inside. "Anything?" I asked.

"Nothing." He replied. We kept our voices low and used as little words as we could while we slithered in through the small gap in the slightly open door. It was dark in here from the dust covered windows. I pointed down one aisle and pointed to 10k, signalling for him to start that way. He nodded tightly and gave me a stern look telling me to be safe. I nodded and smiled before heading in the other direction. I sidestepped down the aisle, keeping a sharp eye out for Z's or people.

Spots of blood started to dot the floor as I got closer to the counter. The dots turned into a small puddle that turned into pools of brown congealed blood. "Ugh, oh god," I whispered to myself and cover my nose with the top of my shirt. It smelt like rotten food mixed with shit mixed with a skunks ass. A dead body was crumpled on the linoleum floor, blood spread around it messily. It looked like someone or something had tried to escape it's undead grasp, explaining all the smeared blood. I didn't see another body so I guessed that they had got away. I plunged my machete into its brain, just in case.

"All clear?" I asked 10k as we met back up at the front door. He nodded his head. He called Warren, Doc and Murphy over to the now clear store and we started looting. I grabbed several bottles of water as well as various cans of food. I stuffed more cans into my bag when a box caught my eye. Durex Condoms. I contemplated with myself if I should take them. I quickly glanced around and when I spotted no one around, I hastily grabbed the box and stuffed them into my bag.

"Waren, we have been walking for hours, its gonna get dark soon!" Murphy whined and dragged his feet along. I sighed and 10k squeezed my hand reassuringly. I looked at him and he was smiling. I returned the smile and squeezed his hand back. "Fine. We will stop at the house at the end of the street," She pointed to a small bungalow with an overgrown garden. Then again, when are gardens not overgrown anymore?