The Touch of Infection

Chapter 20: A terrible zone

Carisa looked around back and forth, Marnik grabbing her face to have her look at him. He wanted her to feel comfortable in the place, to see nothing bad would happen. After all, he knew he'd have less than a week to have her used to Amite and Ezhno, then she'd have to deal with many more of his kind.

'What if she doesn't like them?' That thought didn't leave his head, just what would he do if that was the case. After a while she had fallen asleep on him, the man he was sure he ruined her sleep schedule.

Amite walking in on him, "What's the plan? It's not like you'll be able to just walk her inside."

"I was hoping you'd give me a hand with that... I just need to hide her a while." He smiled again Amite, "Just until she can stay with me permanently."

She raised an eyebrow at him, "Permanently?" Pulling her hair back Amite crossed her arms, "What exactly do you feel for her?"

His grip on Carisa tightened looking down at her, "She's mine... that's all I can say for now."

"You can't own a person Marnik. You can eat them, you can torture them, you can kill them and you can enslave them. You cannot own them." Looking at Carisa she sighed, "How well can you even communicate?"

Marnik looked away, "I've already learned a bit. It's taking time but I'll get the hang of it." He saw Carisa stearin up in his arms, "I promise."

"You can keep her here for a while. It's safe, warm, and you can sneak her into HQ maybe." She walked to the side taking out a blanket and handing it to him.

Seeing Carisa wake up and look directly at Amite he expected her to hide. Instead, Amite took initiative, "Marnik's naive... have patience."

Carisa's eyes widened understanding what Amite said, smiling at her and giggling, "I will."

Waving goodbye at Carisa she left, to continue the drive out of the red zone. The vehicle shaking for a moment making her stop just by the doorway. Her eyes wherein a panic rushing to the front. Carisa's own eyes widening and looking at Marnik, he had already set her on the seat and put what looked to be a seat belt over her.

Looking at her before grabbing what looked to be like a gun from behind her. Taking out two and holding a hand to her cheek, "Stay calm." Was he leaving? She questioned seeing him go and open the door.

What was happening? When he opened the door completely she could see the hoard of zombies banging against the vehicle, the guns he had grabbed being shot. Holding himself still with two arms while shooting them with the others. Ezhno coming and grabbing another set of guns to help him.

A zombie jumping into the vehicle, growling at Carisa, its head smashed by Marnik when he stomped on it, kicking its body out of the vehicle before continuing what he did. Marnik's voice booming, "Amite! How much longer are we stuck in this zone?"

"That's the problem! We're not in the red zone, I don't know what's up with these things!" She explained poking her head out for a second, "Tell Carisa to come to the front, you moron! If an infected gets past you it'll bite her! And there's no fixing that!"

Marnik looked back and forth from Carisa to the zombies, "How do I tell her?" He asked.

Ezhno grumbling and turning to Carisa speaking a way she understood, "Get to Amite and close that door."

She fumbled with the seat but got up following instructions. The vehicle was still getting hits making her stumble down, instantly Marnik was trying to help her up while keeping the zombies at bay. As soon as she was at the doorway her eyes caught a glimpse of how he was pulled out by zombies.

A scream about to leave her mouth when Amite grabbed her and pushed her onto a seat, "He can make it back, the infected don't eat us." With that reminder, she was a little less worried. Slightly confused when Amite called the zombies 'infected'.

"We gotta go back for him," Ezhno told Amite as he continued to shoot.

"Weren't you annoyed at him just a few minutes ago." Amite shot back as if insinuating she wouldn't go back.

"I'm not that annoyed, so turn back woman." He barked at hew while shooting part of the zombies off. Spotting Marnik climbing a tree, "I see him, he's getting higher ground."

Amite looked to the side and spotted Marnik, "Close the door, we're going to get him. You'll open the hatchet when I give the command." Giving an abrupt turn as soon as the door was closed she ran over zombies left and right. Her eyes glancing at Carisa, "Keep quiet and very still."

Why did she say that? Amite pressed forward even faster, full speed ahead and her eyes set on Marnik. He was crossing his arms, telling her to turn back. But she continued dead ahead. The zombies starting to pile up, blocking her view. Those things could see inside, their eyes focused on Carisa. So this is what she meant by keeping quiet and still.

She was going by her gut feeling, unable to tell exactly when they where near, "Open it now!"

As soon as she spoke Ezhno opened the hatchet and down came Marnik. Both of them hurrying to close the doors. Amite backed up from the area, the bodies rolling down and giving her back a view. The engine roaring up as she continued the drive. Marnik walking staring at Carisa hugging her. Pressing a kiss against her cheek.

Amite saw this and looked back at Ezhno, "Why can't you be at least half of that loving to me? I drive you everywhere and you never even thank me."

Ezhno ignored her, a small smirk rising on his lips. But he wasn't about to start an argument he'd lose. Meanwhile, Marnik held onto Carisa like he'd not seen her in years, the problem they had gotten through barely been a few minutes. His face glued to hers as he whispered sweet nothings she couldn't understand.

Amite pushed Marnik and pointed to the back, "Leave my presence. I'm driving here and you two are annoying." Smiling as she spoke up loud enough for Ezhno te hear, "Get over here, Ezhno."

"How about I don't." He laughed and opened the door to shoot off the zombies again, having a good grip so he wouldn't fall out as Marnik had.

"I'd like it if I didn't have to do an emergency rescue again. Ezhno gets over here now." She commanded. Hearing him close the door as Marnik left to the back with Carisa. Having him walk in and seat beside her with an unamused expression, "I'm here... so how'd you manage to get Marnik without seeing?"

"It's called skill baby, you wouldn't understand..."