Prevail

Chapter 5

Still holding out hope, I rush back to my studio with Brady hot on my heels. "Can you slow down?"

"No," I answer cooly. Maybe Jen is waiting for me back home. I have to hurry, she'll be so worried. Just then three zombies come stumbling out of an alleyway. 

Brady immediately jumps into action pulling out his knife going for the freak closest to him. The other two freaks had only eyes for me, I would be flattered but they only want me for my body. And I still needed that so pushing all my feelings down I put on my game face.

Reaching for my knife I adjust my stance and wait for the bugger to come at me. Damn these freaks are so slow, although I probably shouldn't be complaining. Bloody hell will I ever get used to that smell? "Shit that stinks!" I say out loud. Finally, when he reaches for me I plunge my hunting knife into its chest aiming for the heart. Only to see Mr. Die Hard keep coming at me the knife firmly lodged in his chest. 

"Oh, Crabcakes!" I screech.
I could bang my head against the wall right now. For all the episodes of that show I watched, one would think I should know to target the head. Taking a few quick steps back I pulled out my gun shooting the zombie in the forehead. As it crumbled to the floor, the second freak was already moving rapidly towards me.
I squeezed the trigger once again and sent a bullet into it's eye.

I've never actually shot anyone before but I thought I'd feel something. I feel nothing, I guess it doesn't count because the zombie freaks are already dead, well sort of.

"Ok Annie Oakley, we need to move. More will be coming after that racket," Brady mumbled as he grabbed hold of my arm steering me to our street. "Would have been nice if you'd told me you had a piece. That shot took me by surprise, nearly piss myself."

We ran the rest of the way and made it back to my studio in record time luckily not running into any more trouble.
I did however, notice a few faces watching us behind windows in the few buildings we passed.
I unlocked the door and rushed inside, Brady was right behind me I didn't even bother to check if he secured the door.

"Jen?" I call out desperately "Jen? Are you here?"

Running up the stairs I heard Brady's footfalls following behind me. Opening the door to my loft I was faced with the heartbreaking truth. I'd lost my friend, my sister, my confidant. How could  I possibly go on without her? I felt my grief taking control, travelling from deep within me spilling out in a raw, almost painful release. Sobs racking my body I couldn't stop the flood of emotions that assaulted me.

Suddenly hands grabbed hold of me, pulling me into a tender embrace. Brady began stroking my back, cooing comforting words in my ear trying to calm me down. I'm not sure how long we stood there but I slowly got a hold of myself.

I Suddenly felt a bit awkward and quickly untangled myself from his arms. I Wiped my face with my hands and slowly looked up at Brady, seeing him looking back at me in concern.

"You okay?" He asked tenderly.

I Dropped my head down to hide the fresh tears pricking at my eyelids.

"Yes, I'm fine."

After a long silence of him staring and me trying to avoid his gaze. I looked for a distraction and moved towards the kitchen.

"Would you like some water?" I question without looking up at him.

"Ah, yes please." He says as he turned away from me to look around. I watch absently as he started picking up frames glancing at them then returning them once he's done.

"So, where's your boyfriend?"

Stunned by his question. I paused for a moment before continuing towards him and handed him the water.