After The Fall

Like Amy

Nate looks back at her, glaring, "I told you to stay in your room."

The woman, her soft green eyes narrow dangerously and she pulls a pistol of her own, pointing it back at Nate, "My niece leaves with me right now, and you might live another day."

Nate frowns, looking back at the woman before him. Mary-Jane shakes her head, running up between the two of them, "Don't shoot Nate, he's my friend!"

"He's not your friend, sweetie," Lulu replies, shoving dark hair out of her eyes, "He's your kidnapper."

"As if," Nate laughs dryly, "We rescued this little girl from the woods, left alone to die. There was no one back at her house. If we hadn't taken her with us, she'd be dead. So, if anything, you owe us a thank you."

Lulu cocks her gun with one hand, taking Mary-Jane by the arm with the other, "We're leaving. Try to stop us and I'll make you wish you were dead."

Mary-Jane pulls away lightly, "Lulu, wait.. He's telling the truth, they saved me!"

Mark comes out of Stephanie's room, eyes wide with concern, "What's--?"

He stops, seeing the scene before him. Lulu points her gun at him now, "No one move! I'll shoot the both of you right now!"

Mark and Nate are silent and she huffs, "I'm just here to take back my niece, that's all. No one has to die, I'm not going to rob you. Just let me take her back with me."

Mary-Jane coughs and doubles over for a moment. Lulu lowers her gun as she looks down at the little girl with worry, "Mary-Jane?"

"How did you even find us..?" Mark asks, taking a few slow steps towards them.

Nate still hasn't lowered his gun.

"I-I don't feel so good.." Mary-Jane moans, breathing heavily. Nate's eyes widen as he sees the coloration of her skin change right before his eyes. Her veins are becoming prominent, turning back. He looks back at Mark, then back at the little girl before him. Lulu picks Mary-Jane up, carrying her with both arms, "Look, I don't want to fight you at all. We just wanted her back, that's it."

"You shouldn't take her," Nate replies, lowering his gun only slightly, "Look at her. She's.. She's not going to make a long journey right now.."

Lulu frowns, "I'm not leaving without her. Whatever's wrong with her, we can fix back at camp."

"Not this.." Mark says softly, closing the distance between them, "Look at her.."

He stares at the little girl sadly before looking up at her aunt, "You can see it, can't you?"

Lulu looks down at her again, "Mary-Jane.."

She sighs, looking back at Mark, "I'm taking her home. Her father's been searching for her nonstop for months. I will not go back empty-handed now that we've finally found her."

Mary-Jane coughs roughly, her body shudders. Her little voice comes out hoarse, "D-Daddy..? My real.. Daddy..?"

"That's right, sweetie," Lulu speaks softly, smoothing Mary-Jane's hair lightly before readjusting her grip. She glares at Mark and then at Nate, "Don't stop me. I'll tell my brother you took care of her and he'll leave you all alone."

"You didn't answer my question," Mark frowns, "How did you find us?"

"Have you been following us all this time?" Nate grits his teeth, raising his gun again.

Mark makes him lower the gun, "You promise no one will come after us?"

Lulu's eyes soften, "I promise."

Nate looks at Mark in surprise, "You can't seriously just let her take her? What about Ken?"

"He'll understand," Mark replies softly, "He'll want what's best for her, and.. Going back to her father is what's best."

Nate frowns, looking down.

"Thank you." Lulu smiles, turning and leaving the house, carrying Mary-Jane. Mark waves at Mary-Jane, seeing her tired, pale eyes. Mary-Jane barely has the energy to wave back. Nate groans, "She's turning, Mark.. Does that stupid woman even know that?"

Mark shuts the door, sighing, "Maybe they have a doctor and think they can cure her.."

Nate looks back at him, "You saw how fast she's turning? I've never seen anyone turn that fast."

"Bob turned faster.." Mark shivers, "But.. He died pretty fast.."

"How did she even get sick..?" Nate asks, swallowing, "It had to have been.."

"But Stephanie's not showing the signs." Mark turns back to him, looking conflicted.

Nate shakes his head, "Then how else could it have happened?"

"Maybe.. Like Amy.." Mark almost whispers, "There was.. No reason for her turning, either.."

They both tense as there's a scream outside. Mark quickly takes the gun from Nate's hands and opens the door, stepping out. A few feet out in the front yard lies Lulu, and who used to be Mary-Jane sitting on top of her, chewing into her neck. Mark sniffles, tears coming to his eyes as he raises the gun. His arms shake as he takes aim. He swallows as tears run down his face. He feels guilty for letting the woman leave with her, but what else could he have done? It was the safest option at the moment, wasn't it?

He shoots the gun twice, once for the child they cared for, and once for the woman that once cared for her before them. He walks down the porch steps and over to the bodies. Two shots, each to the head. He puts the gun in his pocket and kneels down, wincing as it agitates his ankle. He pulls Mary-Jane's body off the body of her aunt and he holds the small child's body in his arms. He stares down at her, tears still welling in his eyes and falling down his face. She didn't deserve this. No one deserves to die like this. This disease.. Will kill everyone with no reason..

He shudders, his voice breaks as he speaks a whisper, "Everyone but me.."

Mark just sits there, cradling the body of a once enthusiastic, caring child. A child who grew attached to everyone, and whom everyone grew attached to as well. A child who saw the dark things and tried to understand. A child who loved a man like her father because he loved her like a daughter. A child who still spoke of her family with hope that they were alive when everyone else was convinced they were dead. A child who became a part of their family. A child who gave hope and light to a dark, pained group.