Just a Really Bad Night

Third Shot

Clark placed the voice as James's, opening one eye slightly. He saw the blurry figure of someone standing in the doorway a few feet away, aiming a gun at him.

"Clark, listen to me! Snap out of it and shoot! That isn't Katie anymore, shoot it! I don't want to miss and hit you, you have a better shot! Do it now!" 

James screamed at him, desperation lacing his voice. Suddenly feeling groggy and lightheaded, Clark's eyes rolled to look at the gun still in his hand. Tightening his grip on it, he lifted his arm, the gun felt like it weighed a ton. He pressed the barrel against the zombie's temple, the monster still not letting go of him even with a gun to its head. Clark stared dazedly at the zombie's eyes a moment more, searching them for any sign of life. It could have been his imagination, a hallucination caused by the amount of blood he had lost, but he swore he saw the familiar twinkle of life in Katie's eyes, felt those eyes stare back at him, just a split second before he pulled the trigger. 

The bang was loud, right in his ears. This time the bullet made its way to Katie's brain, the hold the zombie had on his shoulder lessening until it rolled off of him like it hadn't just had its jaws on him with an iron grip. Clark was trembling, unable to feel his arm past his shoulder where he had gotten bitten. He dropped the gun and held his arm protectively instead, crying his heart out where he sat huddled on the floor. James was at his side before he knew it, hugging him close.

"I don't know what happened, I was so sure I finished her... I can't believe I missed, this is all my fault, god Clark I'm so sorry..."

"It's both of our faults, I... I just let her bite me, I couldn't shoot... "

"I wouldn't have expected you to. It was hard enough for me to shoot her the first time, and I haven't known her for even half as long as you have..." 

James trailed off, hearing Clark sniffle. 

"I'm really sorry about all this, Clark... I'll make sure you go down the right way this time. I won't let you come back like she did, okay?" 

James comforted him, already steeling himself for what he knew he had to do. Clark had been bitten, it was already too late. Clark had a faraway look in his eyes, staring at the cold body of Katie next to him.

"Do you think she bit me so she wouldn't be alone? Maybe she wanted me to die too so we could be in the afterlife together." 

Clark mumbled. James frowned, not wanting to crush Clarks hopes by telling him that probably wasn't true and that Katie probably only bit him as a zombie instinct.

"Yeah, maybe that is why she did it. There's something to look forward to at least... Do you wanna say goodbye to everyone, Clark?" 

James prompted, nudging him gently to make sure Clark had heard. Clark paused, then shook his head, picking the gun off the floor where he had dropped it.

"No, I hate long goodbyes. Just tell them I'm sorry, and it had to happen eventually. I just wanna get it over with now. Tell them all that I love them. Keep on protecting them, James. Fight this shit out to the end." 

He sighed, looking the gun over in his hands.

"Yeah, yeah of course. I promise I won't let this happen to anyone else. I hate that I let Katie get out of my sight in the first place..." 

He sat back, trying not to show just how sad he was. Trying to stay strong for everyone else, and Clark, too. Clark smiled at him for a moment, but it dropped just as fast. He felt numb at this point, none of the past few hours even felt real anymore.

"It's not your fault, don't blame yourself. I'll make this easier on you, too... I hate that you have killing Katie on your conscience, even if it was the right thing to do, so... here's one less friend you have to kill." 

Clark stared at the gun for a moment longer, then looked up at James. Meeting his eyes, he barely hesitated as he raised the gun and pointed it at his own temple. James's eyes widened and instinctively he tried to stop his friend. Clark was faster though, squeezing his eyes shut and pulling the trigger, the third gunshot of the night echoing through the house.