Hope II

Apartment 5-B

I opened my eyes to darkness, together with the smell of old furniture and decaying corpses from floors below, it added up like a sum to equal the desolation of the world around me. 

My head rest against the fluffy feather filled pillow that shadowed the scars on my face, hidden by the beard that had grown over the past weeks of walking the dead streets. 

I slowly threw my feet out from beneath the sheets and sat upright on the cold mattress, a drop of water hitting my head from the damp ceiling above.  

The soles of my toes felt numb on the cold floorboard, and as I stood up I felt the heavy weight of my body crash onto my hips. With each step I took it omitted another broad creaking sound to disturb the roaches lurching beneath the bed. 

I walked over to the window, shielded by a dark curtain that complimented the grisly shadows of the room.  

Rubbing my fingers along the creases of the gritty curtain, I caught a grip and pulled them apart, separating the two to unveil the morning street below, horded with lifeless bodies that paraded through the morning air beneath the sting of dawn on a bright, snow covered street, and a rising sun sending a sharp ray of white light down the through the dead town occupied by the walking dead. 

I looked at them from five floors above the ground, they stumbled and fell struggling to stay on their feet. Their decaying vessels housed the monster within, lurking on the cracked pavement for any sign of food... any sign of us. I watched them like a child at the zoo before turning my back to the window, ready to face another day.

Upon opening the bedroom door I was met by more sunlight shining through the open windows of the small living room fitted with a couch bed where Aaron was resting with Holly, sitting up against the headboard and watching Ash deal playing cards on an old round oak table to herself, Brad and Sam. Even with the three of them sitting at the table, it was full. The entire apartment was like one bedroom. 

As I stepped out everyone looked to me, now wearing boots that sunk into the carpet as I walked out of the bedroom into the morning atmosphere where I was greeted with a 'Good morning' from all. 

Good morning, there's nothing good about it. We are resting in an overrun town, acting like there is no threat... then again, we're safe here. 

'Morning' I said, trying to crackle open a smile, something I have not been able to do flawlessly in quite some time. 

I walked over towards the kitchen, joined onto the living room to make it one conjoined room. I heard Brad's voice as I opened the press and took out an old tin of canned food covered in a sheet of dust, it was long out of date, but I didn't care. We haven't gotten food poisoning yet, and frankly I just want something to eat. I'd rather throw up than starve to death... although throwing up will make me even more hungry... screw it. In this world, food is food. 

'Two king's' he declared as he slapped two face down cards on the old oak table. 

What followed was the immediate high pitched snap that came from the twelve year old at the table 'Bullshit!' she shouted, bringing a smile to my face. 

Brad looked at her before sliding his cards in her direction 'Son of a bitch' he muttered 'You've played this game before' 

Ash laughed, picking up the two cards and placing them in her hand. 

'Jerry taught me' she said, bringing Brad's attention to me as I slowly ate whatever was in the can, so withered I could barely make out the title. But it was edible... in some shape or form anyway. 

'You thought her well Jerry' Brad said 'She beat me and Sam twice in a row' 

I smiled, walking over to them, giving Ash a small pat on the shoulder as I passed 'Maybe I taught her too well' I joked, bypassing them and sitting on the end of Aaron's bed, watching them play the age old game I learned from my father about thirty years ago.