The Touch of Infection

Chapter 26: I'm not scared

Carisa finished plucking out the grass with Marnik, not saying another word to each other. He wondered if he was too straight forward with everything. Seeing her stand up he followed her into the house. She was looking for something, searching through cabinets.

It wasn't the food that she was after, so what was she searching for? When she came across a small packet she took it with her outside. Is that what she was after? What did that thing even have in it?

She broke it open and brought seeds out, she planned on planing them. She began poking holes into the ground and putting seeds in each one. Then cover it up, "I need to get some water." She announced getting up and setting the remaining seeds aside. She was going to check the houses for it Marnik opening the doors. She searched through the houses until finally funding a couple of water bottles.

He nearly hissed at the bottles hating the damn things, "Why are you planting?" He asked, curious. Knowing well this was once her home, he didn't get why she planted something that would surely wilt.

"Because I like it. I planned to do it before everything happened... but never got the chance until now." She spread the water around  and set the empty bottle beside her, noticing Marnik move a bit away, "You don't like flowers?"

"They're fine, why do you ask?"

"You moved away, seemingly disgusted." She pointed out.

He kicked the bottle aside and sat back down next to her, "I don't like those things." He pointed at the bottle.

"You mean the water bottle... but why? It's plastic..." she raised an eyebrow at him, such a big and strong man is disgusted at water bottles. It made no sense, did he have trauma or something?

"It's disgusting, they... they sound weird and I just don't like them." He stammered and turned his head away.

She laughed at what he said and went to pick the bottle up, "You're scared of this?"

Scared? He growled at her making her step back in surprise, "I'm not scared of it!" She was genuinely scared of him just then. Standing there with her hands to her chest and feet shaking a little.

"Sorry," she said softly and put the bottle down, walking into the house, without telling him another word.

And guilt crept his way into him. Seeing her go inside without even glancing at him. Should he just give her space? He'd stay guard outside and give her time alone. Marnik wasn't stupid, he knew she'd probably prefer to be alone, after all, he was clingy.

Leaning against the door he listened in to whatever she was doing. He could only tell she was walking around inside, unable to tell if she had picked anything up.

Carisa walked through the house and glance occasionally at Marnik's back leaned on the door. Going upstairs she looked through the old bookshelf she had. What better way to spend time alone? Grabbing a book from it she sat on the bed and began to read. She spent hours in the same spot reading the book, finally hearing footsteps coming upstairs.

She watched from the corner of her eye as Marnik walked all the way up to her door. He was looking at the floor, "I didn't mean to scare you." He didn't quite apologize but it was the closest he'd be.

She patted the bed beside her without looking up from her book. Waiting until he sat next to her to lean her head on his shoulder. It was late, he'd have to be getting her back to the vehicle in a few minutes. Leaning towards her he stared at her book and listened to her breathing.

"Forgotten was the name, and unknown the cause of its demise. So broken and tattered, lost and shattered, no one remembers the tale of forgotten..."She read it out loud for him to listen, stopping to see if he wanted her to continue.

"Go on." He whispered.

And so she continued until Amite was by the door looking at them both. Seeing them lean against one another, she knew it, Marnik planned to take her along. So now they just needed to get her accepted in HQ. Get her as far as possible from the infection and in safe heaven.

She knocked on the door getting both of their attention, "The infected are coming back, we should get you safe... tomorrow we're driving to HQ."

With her announcement, Marnik was excited but Carisa was worried. She'd seen how Ezhno and Amite were different from him, in particular Ezhno. Telling easily that he didn't want her around, so what if the rest were like that? She didn't notice her hands curling up into fists, what if they killed her?

Marnik said he'd protect her, so how much of it did he really mean? Seeing her hand in a fist he grabbed it and looked her in the eyes, "I'm not leaving you."

Amite smiled at the two, "Let's go now." She hated breaking their little moment but it was best if they got her back now. It means way fewer problems than if they did it later.

They both stood up, making Carisa walk in between them, all three of them keeping an eye on their surroundings. Marnik and Amite could already hear the growling of zombies growing closer with each passing second. When Carisa noticed it they were already pretty close.

They hadn't caught her scent just yet but Amite and Marnik wouldn't risk it. With Amine pointing at it, Marnik ran towards it and she grabbed Carisa. Hurrying to the vehicle and having the door close behind them. Only opened by Marnik when he came back covered in blood.