Mankind devoured - BOOK 1

Part 2: parting

Perspective of Jamie

Jamie came out of the toilet room.  He had a designated corner in it, because no one really wanted to have the same shit and piss pile, so he had the farthest left hand corner of the room to go and relieve himself.  He thought so anyway. 
Jamie didn't see why they hadn't just used a different apartment for their toiletry needs but it had been a massive scare that Alex had started that they would walk in and another survivor would be in there, so they just fouled their own apartment instead. 

Jamie stepped out and saw Alfie brushing his teeth, which reminded him that he hadn't done his in a day and a bit. 

"Got any toothpaste left?"  Jamie asked. 

Alfie tried to speak but dribbled down his shirt so instead just chucked him the toothpaste tube which to Jamie's delight was completely full. 

"Cheers."  He said as he walked off to get his toothbrush.

If there was one thing Jamie didn't want to give up it would be brushing his teeth, he'd always been a massive fan of keeping up a good physical appearance so he dreaded the idea that he could live long enough to see the day where toothpaste was no more, it wasn't like anyone was making any anymore.

Jamie looked in the mirror as he stuck his toothbrush in his mouth and started brushing. The first thing he noticed is that he looked tired, really fucking tired. His eyes were sunken and his cheeks had shadows on them, he didn't look malnourished yet but he was getting there. He got more than enough sleep so he put it down to the constant fear that he and everyone else lived in. God and he thought college was bad.

"I want to get a girl so bad dude." Jamie heard Alfie say behind him.

"Missed your opportunity yesterday." Jamie said through a frothy mouth.

"You're sick. Nah but I mean, I miss being at parties and shit dude, getting all the girls." Alfie said, spreading his arms wide as if he were painting a picture.

Jamie spat out his froth and laughed.

"What girls did you get?" Jamie grinned at him with fresh teeth.

"Got off with that one girl at Alice's party didn't I?" Alfie bragged.

"Come on, mate she was barely passable as human!" Jamie made fun of him.

"Oh no, yeah I don't know what went through my head with that one. But nah there was another girl." Alfie defended himself.

"Who?"

"Carys." Alfie said with a certain level of pride.

Jamie pretty much stumbled when he said it.

"You're joking right?" Jamie exclaimed.

"Nah, I was all hers." Alfie replied, stretching out the words.

"I'm jealous as hell." Jamie told him as he got up and made his way to the sofa.

"You shoul..."

Alfie was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Hang on..." Jamie whispered, shocked.

"The fuck is that?" Alfie asked, reaching for the knife on the side.

Jamie grabbed his machete from by the TV, joining Alfie in the corridor.  They stood and waited for a moment, the sudden tense atmosphere making Jamie's heart seem to lurch violently into his throat.  His mouth felt dry all of a sudden, surely the infected wouldn't knock? 

"We gonna go see?"  Alfie asked warily. 

"I suppose we've got to haven't we." 

Jamie cautiously stepped forward, making sure that his footsteps made next to no noise as to avoid detection.