The Touch of Infection

Chapter 25: I live in the apocalypse

When morning arrived Amite was still teaching Marnik words, "I think that's enough. I wouldn't want Carisa thinking we're doing some ritual."

He rubbed his eyes and agreed, "I'm so tired."

Amite yawned, "Me too. But you're taking Carisa back to the house like you said you would. And I'm going to take a nap." She stuck her tongue out at him and went into the vehicle.

Carisa was at the door about to get out when she came in. Stepping aside Amite let her walk along. Getting in she closed the door after herself, having one last glance of Carisa walking towards Marnik.

"Morning." She told him and looked up at the sky.

"Did you sleep well?" He asked, using what he'd learn already. Pronouncing the words correctly and exactly as Amite taught him.

She smiled at him, "Just fine, you?"

He chuckled and sighed heavily tired, "Let's go for a walk."

Starting their walk she leads the way. Stopping by houses she once knew and staring at the overgrown park. Her eyes landing on the rusted swings a moment too long, her steps guiding her towards it. Growling from the side throwing her back to the moment it all started for her.

The growling and then the killing. Her head snapping to the side, but Marnik was already there. Pressing his foot down on the zombies head and kicking its body to the side. Looking back towards Carisa, finding her walking the other way. She was back moving in the direction of the houses.

She didn't even flinch at the zombies, what she had been thinking was ignored and completely uncared for. Her steps ceasing and turning to look back at him, he had fallen behind trying to figure out what was up with her.

"Come on Marnik." She called him waiting until he began walking towards her to continue.

Making his way beside her quickly he asked, "Why'd you change direction?"

"Lost interest." She answered, "Tell me about yourself."

He eyed her weirdly, "Tell you what about me exactly?" He didn't know what to say, tell him about himself? Where to start? What stories to share?

She giggled at the confused face he made, "Anything you want to tell me."

Anything? That didn't help him make a choice, it didn't help in the least, "I... I have a pet."

Curiosity stroke her, wanting to know more, "What is it? What's its name? Is it a boy or a girl."

"It's like a dog, it's the only thing I think I can compare it on earth at least. I call it H but, it never answers to its name anyways. And a girl or a boy... I never checked." Seeing her eyes glimmer as he spoke he grabbed her hand in his, "Did you have any pets?"

She shook her head, "No, mom was allergic to dogs, dad to cats, and other pets just didn't call my attention as much." Stopping to measure something in her hands she continued, "But I did have a hamster this big." Measuring the palm of her hand as big, "He used to love running on my bed... but that was back when I was ten or so..." her hands falling to the side, "Wow, it's been nearly ten years since then."

The frown on her face made him feel a pain in his chest, "Wait till you met H, you'll have so much fun. H even has two heads-"

She was creeped out by the description, her eyes wide, "Two heads? Is that normal."

He nodded slowly, "Yeah, it's pretty normal."

"But it sounds so unusual." She leaned her head to the side, "Where is H?"

He stood up starlight and looked around, pointing, "H is back at HQ... do you want to meet H?"

"I'd like that." Carisa began walking again, stopping by her old home again. Looking at the old flower beds. Just overgrown with grass.

She kneeled down and began plucking out the grass. Throwing it to the side Marnik watched her for a few minutes. Before beginning to help her. He didn't question what they were doing and just pulled the grass out of his own will. Why did she pull the grass he didn't know, he just wanted to help.

"Carisa," he called out for a second, he didn't know what he was getting at when he called her, "I'll keep you safe."

Safe, she chuckled for a moment and looked him in the eyes. Those purple eyes looking at her so focused, why did she laugh, "Safe, that's quite the thing to say. I live in the apocalypse Marnik, I live in a world where you constantly have to run, where there's no stopping, and you can only go forward... do you know what lies towards where I'm running?"

He shook his head no, "What lies there?"

"My death... I'll eventually be bitten, and I'll wander aimlessly for a week, maybe a while longer, and then I'll die. I'll be like them." She explained, noticing the anger in his expression she moved away, "Why do you look at me like that?"

"Because I refuse to let that happen." He wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her shoulder, "If I say I'll keep you safe I will. If I need to drag you out of this planet I will, and if I need to leave everyone behind for it, I will." He lifted her chin so she'd look at him, "If you ask anything of me, I'll do it."

The silence filled the air, how to answer him? Did he even know what he was saying? Was he so sure about it all? But Carisa was shocked by one specific thing he said, "Leave the planet?..." he face towards him but her eyes on her old home. He meant to leave everything and take her... but what about all her memories? Sure the world was hell... but how could she bring herself to leave?