Red Handed (A Warm Bodies FanFiction)

A Different Point of View

[Doug's POV]

As Daniel, Grace, Rebecca, Rick, and I make our way into the Dead Zone, we find a small cul-de-sac in the middle of a town.

"This looks safe," said Grace. Daniel replied with a annoyed sort of tone saying, "How can you be sure of that?"

"Well I'm not going any farther than this Daniel!" Grace retorted sassily, "so it better be safe."

"Enough fighting you guys, it's not good for our moral," tutted Rebecca. She could already feel the headache forming. "Yeah, guys, quit it," I added absentmindedly, I was too busy scanning out surrounds to focus on just the conversation.

A few seconds later Rick stated, "I'm with Grace; I think we should stop here." That snaps me back to reality, and I roll my eyes, turning to face my friend.

"Fine. 'Becca pick a house." Rebecca points to a light green house with a nice bay window. "Cute," Grace commented, her blond hair flowing in the wind as she started walking towards it, her hand intertwined with Daniel's.

-

We spent the night bolting up the windows and patching up the walls. Around 6:47pm we all decide to hit the hay. It was a lot of work patching up the house, any it left us all pretty tired. "Okay, there are two spare bedrooms, one master, and a couch," informed Daniel.

"Daniel and I will take a spare!" stated Grace, excited to finally be able to rest after a long day's work. "I'll take the other spare," muttered Rick, obviously feeling a bit guilty about not taking the couch. "Can I have the Master?" Rebecca asked me hesitantly. I sighed.

"Sure," I replied truthfully, "I don't really care where I sleep."

Things weren't always this way. I wish I could remember life before this curse. Before these monsters ruined our world. Sadly, I was only five when this threat took us. But I've heard that things were bad before the curse too. That gangs would mug you in broad daylight, that graffiti everywhere, not to mention terrorists. Perhaps the virus was failed chemical warfare? But either way, we lived in a nightmare before this came.

I guess corpses rising from the dead was the final stand that the apocalypse was here.

My mother and father were taken by these monsters. But still, it's so hard to shoot them, somehow. A part of me says there's still a person in them. So I don't use my gun unless its urgent. Because I don't want to die; even though life as we know it is practically purposeless.

-

At 3:09am I basically peed myself on the couch when I awoke to a bang. I peeked through the wooden planks on the bay window, finding a raccoon eating some garbage. Thank God, it's just a raccoon. I couldn't doze off after that, though. I looked in the closet and found a box of photo albums and took a look. Around 5:24am I finished looking at every one of them. It gave me a better picture of what life used to be. I want to say it encouraged me to go get it back but, I am afraid I still am just as bad at shooting things as before. I mean, I'm not bad at shooting, I just... Don't like it. Nor do I like being on the other end of it. Maybe that's why I dread shooting so much.

"You're up all ready?" Rebecca asks me, surprise evident in her voice. I laugh when I look up just in time to see her rub her eyes. "Well," I pause, a grin splitting my face, "so are you."

Rebecca looks up, blinking rapidly. A frown of confusion on her face. "Looking at pictures? Were you up all night?" She continues shuffling towards me, before plopping herself down on the couch next to me.

I stretch a little. "Not all night. A raccoon woke me up at 3:30ish and after that I couldn't fall asleep again." For the first time I notice the sun bathing her dark skin, making her look like she's covered in honey. Becca throws me a skeptical look. "Oh, okay."

She quickly adds, "Is anyone else up?" I shake my head. "Well, we better find breakfast." Getting off the couch, I walk into the kitchen with Rebecca stumbling behind me.

"I hope there's food here," I mutter half-heartedly, knowing the odds are slim. "We can check the neighbors if we don't find anything, okay?" Rebecca suggests almost timidly.

I look in cabinets, under the sink, in the fridge, until - "Found some!" Rebecca shouts excitingly. I tut at her in turn.

"Sorry. But I found some caned fruit," she digs around a bit more, "Oooh~! Eight cans!" Rebecca yells yet again. "I told you be quiet!" I whisper-yell, "but cool. Eight cans you said?"

"Yep."

"Okay, let's find a can opener."

"Alright," she instantly agrees. I grab the can opener from the second drawer from under the sink. As I stand up, Grace and Daniel end up greeting me with a heart attack. "Food?" Grace asks as I jump.

"Jesus!" I yell irritatingly. Rebecca turns to me and mockingly puts her finger on her lips. I stick my tongue out at her. "Yeah... breakfast," I reply distantly, still exchanging teasing expressions with Rebecca.

We all were very exciting because none of us have eaten since we left. It was a three day trip to get to this house, after all. We all needed a break so we went on this little adventure, so to say. I mean, we're all only thirteen, fourteen; we get bored. Plus, Rebecca is a great shot. We probably would be dead right now if it wasn't for her.

After I get Rick to roll out of bed we all have some canned pineapple and pears. Oddly a good combination. Since I haven't checked out the second floor of the house yet for myself, after I finish eating I headed up stairs.

After climbing up the creaky stairs. I scan my surrounds in awe. "There's even another living room up here..." I mumble to myself. This is a very commodious house. I'm very glad Rebecca picked this one. At the city all of us are orphans, we go as we please. We don't see nice houses like this anymore.

I walk into the laundry room, "Why is this up here?" I wonder aloud. I look at the clothes and find a nice blue buttoned top with small white stripes on it.

"Sweet..." I whisper while I look for matching pants. Sure enough, I end up finding some on the ironing rack. I shut the door and switch my ratty old clothes for the dress shirt and blue pants. I add a belt as an afterthought.

"Not bad.." I hear Grace say from behind me. I whip around, startled. "Wait... I shut the... How?" I asking confusingly, feeling like my privacy has been violated.

"Not all the way, buster," the blond answers, a scowl on her face. "What about the rest of us, huh? We deserve nice clothes, too!" she yells.

She can't just be happy for me can she?

Throwing my hands in the air I shout, "Then go at it!" I push her aside when I leave the room, deciding I need some time alone. I go downstairs and tell everyone to find a new outfit and then go on the balcony.

"Hmmm..." I say as I climb to the roof. Luck for me there is a gorgeous sunrise waiting for me up there. I sigh contently. "Maybe there is some good stuff left in the world," I say to myself, smiling dumbly. Some really good stuff.