Don't Be Scared

S.1 E.8 ~ Z (Ch. 51)

Idiot! How has he survived this long in the apocalypse?

"Try to breathe, man. Just breathe." Doc tried to sooth the child that was somewhere close to him, not wanting to lose another person so close together.

"There's no air in here. I got to get out of the darkness. I can't take it. If we all go at once, we can overpower them."

He must really, really want to die by zombie consumption. He said it himself that there were millions of them!

"No. No, man. No one's going. Chill, man." Doc tried to breathe louder so the man could copy him, "One. Two."

As predicted, his beatings got louder and quicker. Does he not understand that noises cause them to find a source? If they hear that beating--now that they hear that beating, it's just going to attract more and make them stay longer.

The longer they stay, the more nerve-wrecking I'll get. I don't know how long 10K would be able to sooth me, but I don't want to get him killed.

"Otis, be cool, man. Be cool. Three."

Otis finally broke free from the only thing that prevented him from dying by zombie bites. The consequence of his actions was a sonorous thunder that only ended with breaking of bones and skin.

The skin being tore was sloshed around with all of the liquid blood being moved around. Squishy tones echoed throughout the room, making me want to gag at the very thought of seeing something like that.

Finally, the bones of his ribs and collarbones being broken apart by beasts wouldn't stop ringing throughout the room. His death was not immediate, but it was a violent one. No way he'd be turning into a Z.

They must've been really hungry. Damn idiot.

"Calm down." 10K muttered so nothing would be attracted to our area.

I think the bones being thrown and slurped was enough to cover his deep, tired voice from the intruders outside.

"I'm sorry." I mumbled, noticing just how hard I was gripping his shirt.

After about five minutes of me finally being able to relax, I felt 10K's hand fall limp at the middle of my back. Soft snores filled our shared department as I felt my head rise with his escalating chest and elevating back.

It all fell at an even pace. At least he's getting some rest. Slowly, but surely, I started to find my mind clearing from the vivid, horrific music echoing in my ears. My fingers were no longer clutching the variety color shirt.

Careful but not to much too quick, I scooted my body downward so my ear would be directly over his pumping heart. Blood flow was inaudible with my human ear, but the continuous beating of it was enough for me.

With the working organ drumming like a soft drum Peter Pan would be playing combined with the soft but deep snores playing from the man under me, I felt my eyes grow heavy as the beats continued.

* An Hour or So Later *

"Should we wake them?"

Sounds of Warren's voice drained my dream from my brain's memory until it was distant and less vivid. The real word start to play when I just wanted it to pause for a bit longer.

"Kiddo needs to eat, especially since she went so long without food." Doc reminded everyone of my weak spots.

Not really weak spots, though. I did hold up 10K for quite a bit!

"But when was the last time either one of them rested? (Y/N) took Charlie's death pretty hard." Cassandra clashed with Doc's debate.

I did not.. I took it like a normal person would! I slowly cracked my orbs open, blinking a few times to adjust from the Sun's ultraviolet rays that shone from the window I was facing. No more feet scurrying outside. That's good.

Doc snickered before talking, "How was your nap, kiddo?"

I removed my hand from 10K's shoulder, moving them down to the side edges of the slab we were laying on. I lifted my head up and pushing my torso along with my hips off of 10K's still sleeping form.

I glanced up at them then back at 10K's vulnerable expression. He's, uh, pretty beautiful when he's not killing Zs and having the 'I-hate-everyone' face.

"You gonna look at him all day or are you gonna eat?" Murphy snickered, interrupting the mental picture I was locking up inside my head.

Eyes snapped over to look at the person who mentioned food.

"How much do I have to share?" I asked, raising an eyebrow, wary.

Cassandra and Warren took a step aside from the other, letting me see the empty cups, a water-filled jug, a couple of boxes with food contained, and bags filled with even more food. Oh, sweet baby Jesus.

Water, orange fishes, cookies. I looked down at 10K real quick before making my way off of him. I tried my best to be careful as to not wake him but it failed. I was sitting on his stomach with my feet dangling off when those tired chocolate orbs cracked open from the deep slumber.

"They have food and water." I was the first to inform him as Doc helped me jump off of the slab.

Silently, the tired shooter got down and we all made it over to the feast we were about to have. Murphy sat at one end of the metal bed with Warren occupying the other. Cassandra and 10K sat with their backs to the door while Doc and I sat with the small departments behind us.

"Murphy, how did you do this? You know what? I don't even want to know. I take back every bad thing 10K said about you." Doc smiled with the added chuckle, taking a bite out of the cookie.

10K's face started to brighten up, food and the good vibes he was receiving waking him up. Food must've been the main source. After the cookie was shoved down his throat, water was his next choice of consumption.

Doc and Cassandra sat closest to the man who brought food while 10K and I sat closer to our leader. The tanned woman--Cassandra--and pale boy--10K-- shared a pile of gold fish that smile back.

Doc and I shared the cookies between each other.

"Well, you know, I thought they got Warren already. No offense, but you were almost dead, but Murphy, man, you are unreal. Where'd they all go? How many did you kill? Are we gonna go outside and see them piled like ten-deep in the sidewalk?" 10K spoke the loudest and clearest for the first time since being in this group.

Wow. To say we were all surprised by his newly changed spirits was an understatement.

"Low-and-behold. There you go."

"What?"

10K looked at Doc, confused at the indirect words. He looked at the doctor then at me like I knew what Doc was speaking about. Which I did.

"Those are the most words I have ever heard come from your sound hole, kid." Doc grinned from ear-to-ear.

10K sheepishly smiled, lowering his head to down to eat his food, quietly. No, no. Come back!

"These use to be my favorite food. Where the hell did you find Goldfish?"

Cassandra looked at our food provider for an explanation. How did he find all of this stuff? How did he not get kill while bringing it back to us?

"I'm a Goldfish magnet. I didn't know they were your favorite, though." Murphy tried his best to sound modest, but the smug smirk on his face broke the facade.

"I'd like a juicy rib-eye with a loaded baked potato. Can your psycho-food radar find that?"

"Oh, and some (Your Favorite Food), too!" I laughed along side Doc.

|| Because saving people you love isn't stupid; it isn't even a choice ||