When August Ends

Silver Chains, Silver Pains

Jack's P.O.V.

       I swing my thick metal weapons viciously to the right, wrenching an infecteds head from it's body. Not dead, but not currenly dangerous. I won't believe what I saw. I know that wasn't him. I kick wildly up at an approaching infected, driving the tip of the knife I strapped to my lether boots (that are considerably soaked in gore, not that it really bothers me) into it's skull. It screeches a little bit but then it goes limp as I yank my foot back. He couldn't have made it this far even as an infected and what would have driven him in this direction anyways? I think as I swing my chain again at an approaching thing. I honestly don't appreciate the tediousness of killing something that's already dead. As if one murder wasn't enough, it's been doubled. Every time we kill one of these beasts (because that's what they are, they are no longer human but mindless killing infections with stolen corpses) we kill twice. This world was already broken enough but now murder has become more prominent, and it's still in human form. What does that make us? I'd suppose it just makes us what we were before. It's not as if we kill to entertain, we kill to protect, and we kill what needs to be dead. Why should it bother me? It hasn't. Not until today. I know it wasn't him. It was wasn't him. I notice an infected creeping up behind Troy who is fighting like a beast amidst so many foes with only one hand. I draw a knife from my pocket, take aim, hope I won't hit Troy, and toss my weapon at the creature. My weapon buries itself in my targets cranium, and it collapses. I see Mace viviously hacking at a creature. It's blood has spattered his face, and it's dead beyond dead, but he seems to be in a rage just letting loose on that corpse. I always said he was a killer waiting to snap. Maya joked about it but I wonder what she'd say if she saw him. I wonder if she's okay? But more importantly I wonder if Grace will be okay... I know it's not him.

     This fight is finally slowing, there are only about nine infecteds left and it seems we've got this under control. I swing my chain once more at an approaching corpse. I do enjoy weilding it in battle. I mean who would have thought how effective a chain could be in a fight? It can rip someone to peaces or give a warning welt, it's just perfect for me. I yank my weapon back, dismembering a foul creature right as an earsplitting cry of pain reaches my ears. Grace found him. I turn to look for her and see her off in the distance by Troy's car. I ditch the battle and rush towards her. It's not him she's immature. It's not him. How would he get here in such a short time and what would even drive him in this direction? I reach her a she kneels beside the gruesome corpse. She looks up at me in horrified surprise. "It's not him," she says before I can.

"I know." I reply solemnly.

"It looked just like him," she whispers fearfully, tears still falling.

"I saw him earlier too, thought it was him. But it's not. It couldn't be David, Grace." I answer quickly.

"I know, Jack." she replies snarkily. Her tears have suddenly dried and she stands. She turns to Nikkos who has gotten out of the car, observing in silence.

"You're lucky that wasn't David." she says vehemently.

"You shot him?" I ask Nikkos, eyes raised. I haven't really known what to think of him since he arrived. Other than he needed to stay away from my sister, but now I'm glad he was around to save her. She would have thought it was David if she'd seen the look alike alive and she would've been killed.

"Yes," Nikkos nods uncomfortably.

"Thanky lou," I tell him.

"Jack!" Grace snaps and looks at me bitterly.

"He saved your life, it wasn't David. You owe him." I tell her sternly.

"I'd say we're even since he blew my shoulder open." she snaps and storms off. I shake my head. Nikkos stands by as if waiting punishment or orders.