บท 10: Chapter 10

UNEDITED-

Marisol POV-

"I love you too Sol" He squeezed me tightly. I wish we could just leave now but I need to find Forrest. There was another set of footprints going out the backdoor. They have to be his.

"I'll be back soon" I lifted Augusts head and kissed his forehead again before smiling at him reassuringly. I kept my hands on his face for a few more seconds before I stood up and quietly closed the door.. my heart aches for him.

Closing the bedroom door I silently made my way downstairs with the katana drawn. I followed the footprints that led out back.. as I stepped outside I could already see the back of him 25ft away, walking through the grass.. aimlessly. My chest went tight and I dropped my weapon, I was fixed to the spot.. my eyes filled with tears and I used all my remaining energy not to scream out in anguish. My Forrest. He turned slowly as he heard the ting of my katana hitting the concrete patio.

His shirt was torn and covered in blood, his face pale.. with eyes a smokey shade of white and dark veins that covered his skin like roots of an old tree. "Forrest.." I whispered in despair as he began stumbling over. I pulled my gun out and flicked off the safety. I held it to my side for a moment squeezing my eye closed. This gun feels heavier than ever.. With every inch of my body shaking I pointed the gun at him, he got to 10ft away. 5ft.. 3ft.. I can't. I can't shoot my baby brother.. After everything we've been through this can't be it.. I dropped down to one knee as I lowered the gun in. He grabbed me and took a chunk out of my shoulder as I held onto him tightly.. His saliva felt like it was burning into my skin as soon as it made contact. I felt something inside me break I groaned out in pain.

Now emotionless, I easily span him around in my arms while he thrashed and fought.. I held my eye closed as I squeezed my arm around his neck.. only a few seconds past and I heard a familiar pop, it was over. I held his lifeless body in my arms and my emotions came flooding back in all at once. I cried for a whole minute before I even opened my eye. "I'm sorry.. I'm so sorry" I whispered in sorrow as I held him close to me.

I managed to pull myself off the ground with him in my arms.. the burning in my shoulder had now reached every part of my body, like acid traveling around under my skin. I tried to focus on the pain of that instead of my emotional turmoil. I carried him up the stairs into one of the other rooms, then laid Forrest gently on the bed and brushed back his fluffy blonde hair, lightly kissing his forehead.. "I love you Forrest.." I whispered sniffing through tears.. I stood up straight and grabbed a blanket that was folded over the end of the bed, gently laying it over him.

I quickly made my out of the room, closing the door behind me before making my way to August.. "Hey August, it's me" I said as I opened the door so that he wouldn't freak out. He rushed towards me out of the closet and held onto my waist, I wrapped an arm around him.."Let's go.."..

"Are you okay?" His eyes were wide with panic as he saw the dark blood seeping from my shoulder. "Did you find Forrest?.." He asked.

"I'm alright, but we need to go" I spoke calmly, still fighting with the pain that's only getting worse. It feels like my skin is detaching from my flesh and poison is coursing through my veins. "My friends are waiting for us in a car outside" I couldn't answer his question right now. I just pulled him along as best I could by his hand. He stopped us before we left the room.. he let go of my hand to run over and pick up Forrests front door key from a dresser.. I only know this because the key chain is a wooden chess piece, the black king. I bought it for him after he won his first.. game?.. match?.. I should have listened more. August stuffed it into his pocket before grabbing onto my hand again.

I stumbled my way out of the back door with August to pick up my gun and katana. I holstered the glock and cleaned it off the blade sheathing it.

I now struggled to hold my own weight as we made our way out the front. The pain was suddenly becoming unbearable, growing rapidly by the second. August began struggling to hold me as we got a few feet away from the house, I knew I couldn't go on any longer. "Go to the car.." I pointed in the direction of it, struggling for air before my legs gave way and I hit the floor.. I laid on my back and August grabbed ahold of my t shirt.

"Sol!" He cried out..

"You, need, to go"..I strained to get the words out, my body began shaking uncontrollably.. I caught a glimpse of his worried expression before I closed my eye, unable to stop the violent thrashing of my own limbs. A few more seconds past before I heard the pitter patter of his footsteps as he ran off towards the car.. A few long agonising moments went by while I endured the most horrendously painful experience of my entire life. I wanted to try and rip my own skin off but every muscle in my body was spasming wildly. The eye under my bangage felt like it was scorching a hole through my brain.

I heard two loud sets of footsteps approaching quickly. I managed to open my eye long enough to see Storm and Natasha.. "What do we do?!" Storm asked frantically.

"Grab her legs!" Natasha ordered.. "Quickly!" I felt her grab under my arms and a second later Storm was lifting my legs. I was still seizing but I was completely conscious and when I thought the pain couldn't possibly get any worse it did.. I wanted to scream but my body wouldn't allow it. "We've got you" Natasha spoke calmly as they stumbled along with me, almost dropping me three times already.. My body finally went limp as they carried me. 30 seconds past and they clumsily laid me on the couch.. I opened my eye long enough to see August standing with them, with the same worried expression as they wore.. I wish I could tell them that August has been bitten, that they need to be cautious but I hadn't the energy to even open my mouth.

I felt someone sit in the seat above my head, after they stopped shuffling they held balled up fabric to my shoulder. I felt his small hand brushing the hair out of my face, bless his sweet heart.. The sounds of Natashas and Storms frantic conversation became muffled and to my relief I lost consciousness.

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As I began waking up I put my hand to my head where my eye was still throbbing.. as least the burning has stopped. I sat up slowly, seeing August is still okay, he is sleeping. "How long have I been out?" I asked groggily.

"Fucking hell!" Natasha quickly turned in her seat with her hand on her chest.. "You nearly gave me a heart attack.." She turned back slowly, getting her heavy breathing under control.

"About twenty minutes" Storm spoke as she looked over to me from her seat next to Natasha. "Are you okay?" She asked..

"I'm fine, Natasha did you grab my bag?.." I asked.

"Yeah.." She nodded.. Storm reached over to the edge of the sofa and passed it to Natasha who handed it to me.

I rooted through it, past the drinks snacks and found the first aid kit.. I opened it up and pulled out a small bottle of alcohol and cotton pads, along with a plaster I think will fit the large wound if we're lucky.. "Augie.. sweet heart.." I spoke softly brushing my hand through his hair as he stirred awake..

"Sol.. do you feel better?" He asked rubbing his eyes tiredly.

"I feel better.." I smiled.. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired" August yawned with perfect timing. I couldn't help but chuckle.

"Can I have a look?" I asked softly. He looked away from me and back before nodding.

"Thank you" I smiled..

"Is he alright?" Storm asked in a caring tone.

"I'm okay.." August answered casually, trying to show that he's strong. And he is very strong, but he's still only a child and I know he's scared and in pain.. which means I'm in pain.

"I'm just going to take this off, it's going to hurt so squeeze this" I handed him back his jacket that he used for my shoulder.. "and when I tell you to blow, you need to blow like you're blowing out the candles of a birthday cake.. can you do that for me?".. he just nodded in response, like I just gave him a mission.

I told him to lift his arms while I undid the knot I'd made with the strip of fabric. I took it away holding the balled up cotton in place. "Close your eyes.. picture your candles" I spoke softly, he closed his eyes.. I waited a few seconds for him to imagine it before I said "Now blow" He began and I gently took the rag away, I saw his body jolt as the cool air made contact with his open wound. "Good job, you're so strong.." I praised now that it was done.. I thanked the Lord when I saw slight signs of healing around the edges of his wound.. "You're okay" I sounded shocked..I smiled gleefully at him.. "August.. you're okay.." I closed my eyes for a second as I breathed a sigh of relief. He's like me, and Betty.. screw the odds.

I carfully cleaned August's wound and put the large plaster over it, whilst being peppered with questions from the two girls.. I poured the alcohol on my own wound, I pulled my hair around to my left shoulder, so that I could clean it without getting more black gunk and alcohol in my hair.

"Sol what happened to your ear?" August asked with a puzzled expression..

"My ear?" I looked over to him confusedly.. I lifted my hand to touch my ear, the shape of it was different.. instead of being round it was a little longer and jagged as it got to the..pointed tip?.. "Why is it pointy?" I quietly asked no one in particular. "Is it bleeding?" I asked August, showing my ear to him. He shook his head no.. What the fuck.

"What's wrong with your ear?" Storm asked as she looked to me confusedly.. I felt my other ear.. it's the same.. have I mutated into a fucking elf?.

"Well I got bitten again and now my fucking ears are pointy" I spoke in an a fed up tone trying desperately to hide my rage, I let a swear word slip subconsciously. I usually try my best not to swear around children but I think this is one of those occasions where it can be tolerated.

"Again?" Natasha asked in a confused tone..

"I was bitten in school.. when everything happened" .. "Did you not wonder why my blood is black?" ...

"Well I thought it had something to do with us all being infected.." Natasha replied as if I was the stupid one.. "So how come you didn't end up like them?" She asked.

"When the news guy was reading out the percentages he forgot to explain the rest.. the one percent. I think it has something to do with that.. and August was bitten too.." So was Betty but they don't need to know about her, they can just meet her later, if we get that far.

I made August eat and drink something before he fell back to sleep. By now I'm sure he must be immune too, but this virus is turning me into some kind of mutant.. The first time I was bitten I starting healing quicker. I get bit a second time and now my ears are pointy.. not sure what that's for but anyway, it's changing me, what is it going to do to him? and Betty..

The sun had set and we decided it would be safer if we stayed the night. I asked Storm and Natasha to help me bring some mattresses from the other rooms downstairs so that we could all stay in one room. I made sure they didn't enter the rooms with my brother and uncle. I laid down on the couch ready to sleep, August climbed in nexto me and fell asleep almost instantly. I wish it was that easy. I brushed his hair back and lightly kissed his forehead.. his little smile still warms my heart, even when I feel like there is no hope.

For hours I played clips of the day in my head, over and over.. if I hadn't stopped for Willow.. maybe I could have arrived in time to save Forrest. The only thing that brings me some comfort is knowing that August is okay. Somehow I managed to finally drift off to sleep.

The sound of a door closing woke me from my slumber. August was still fast asleep by my side with his arm over me, I think I can hear his heartbeat. Natasha was still sprawled out on one of the mattresses that are laid on the floor. I sat up, gently rolling August off my arm. I closed my eyes and listened a few more moments before I heard the toilet flush.. I heard her turning the taps.. the sound of the soap dispeser.. everything is so loud. Her footsteps approaching made me look to the door.

"Good morning beautiful" She smiled carelessly.

"Good morning Storm" I said rolling my eyes but still smiling back.

August began to stir nexto me.. "Sol?"..

"Yeah?" I asked softly, looking down at him.

"Is Forrest dead?" He looked up at me with wide questioning eyes as he sat up.. I was frozen for a moment, my eyes darted away and back to his. Not telling him is one thing, but lying is another.

"I'm sorry Auggie" My internal struggle to find the right words was showing.

"It's okay, He's with mama now" It was almost as though he was trying to console me.

"Of course he is" I smiled through teary eyes pulling him in for a hug. We hugged for a moment before I remembered we aren't alone.. I looked over to see Natasha now sitting up and Storm still watching from the doorway. I pulled back from August.. "We need to get ready to leave okay?" He nodded affirmatively.. "And if you need the toilet, nows the time"...

After we ate and refilled our bags.. well they ate and I filled our bags. I cleaned and changed the dressing on August's wound. It's healing relatively quickly but nowhere as near as fast as mine which has already starting to scab over. I decided to get a look at how my eye is doing.. I've been putting it off on purpose because.. who wants to accept loosing an eye?.

I sat on the side of the bathtub unwrapping the dressing. Once the whole bandage had been removed I slowly peeled away the huge cotton pad that was partially stuck to my face in the dried blood. Reluctantly, I stood up in view of the mirror, holding my eyes closed. "Just look" I whispered to myself.

I finally opened my eyes.. I couldn't see the real damage under all the dark blood. But my eye is open, my eyeball and the area surrounding it is jet black.. I imagine it would look severely bloodshot but like this it looks almost alien. I ran the tap and moved my face closer to the mirror as I carefully washed around my eye, revealing a fresh scar that cuts straight through my eyebrow and down my cheek. I looked closer at my eyeball and could see a deep slice over it.. I'm sure it should be popped or something, but it isn't.

No need to scare anybody.. so I made a makeshift eyepatch with a cotton pad and a clean bandage to cover it again. I changed into one of Forrests baggy black hooded jumpers.. It's even a little too big for me.

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We cautiously began making our way to the car with our bags full and weapons drawn.. I heard a swoosh and panicked, looking in that direction to see a bird flying high up over my head and landing in a tree.. then I heard quiet shuffling.. a low groan made me turn and peer through the treeline to see a man dressed in what looked to be tatty farming overalls, stumbling through a field of long grass 60ft away.. He was coming in our direction.. that took my mind away from all the other sounds that were piling into my eardrums. "Quickly.." I quietly spoke in a rushed voice as we fumbled to get into the car. Me and August sat in the back while Natasha and Storm got in the front, immedietly starting the car and setting off.

"August, on the way home you might see some bad things" I know he's already seen his share of this shit show.. "-If you get scared just squeeze my hand okay?" When I heard something extra gnarly coming up on the road, like a person being eaten or killed by the living I told August to close his eyes and put his hands over his ears. I let him see the dead walking.. he needs to see them, to accept that they exist if he has a chance at survival.. just like everyone else. He only squeezed my hand once, early on.. I've got to admit, the first time I saw someone with a visible chunk missing from their face even I was abit frightened.

The way back is much worse.. there were whole buildings that are now smouldering piles of rubble. I'm glad that August fell asleep not even half way through our journey.

As we passed Kingsley there was almost no activity, dead or alive. The car battery probably died and they must have just wondered off.. gone to find a meal or something.

Natasha and Storm talked throughout the whole journey, I just listened.. I said a little but, I'm not a great conversationalist, especially not right now.

I gave Storm the rest of the directions to my house before falling asleep myself. If the clock on my car is correct.. by the time we get home I'll be many, many hours late.. I thought I was coming prepared, but obviously nothing could have prepared me for any of this.

When I dreamt this time the flames had settled, everything was black as coal and still smouldering.. I stumbled around in the rubble for a few moments before I recalled where I was, I looked over to where I had seen the girl in my last dream.. Through the smoke I saw the silhouette of small body on the ground.. I slowly approached. As I saw who it was my heart sank into the pit of my stomach.. I froze for a second with shock on my face before I ran to him and held his limp body in my arms. August's tiny broken body.. his skin looked red raw, like he was singed by flames.. I screamed into the heavens and woke up startled. My eyes shot open and I looked next to me, where August was still sleeping, now laid on my lap. I breathed a sigh of relief before placing an arm over him.

I looked out the window to see that we are only five minutes away from our destination. "I'm not sure how things would have gone if you two hadn't come with me.. so thank you" I spoke genuinly greatful for their help.. obviously it doesn't mean I like them.

"You're welcome Marisol.." Storm nodded still keeping her eyes on the road..

"Yeah you're welcome" Natasha smiled to me before looking back at the road ahead aswell.

I woke August up as we were nearing the house.. I'm not sure what we will stumble into.

As we pulled up I saw that the front door was closed.. that's a good sign. The street is still pretty bare.. two of dead were approaching my car.. I didn't want to let them get too close.. I opened the car door and took five steps before swinging my katana at the first ones head, a middle aged man in a black suit.. He fell to the ground as the woman approached, tripping over his body.. she reached her arms up, grabbing at my leg as I thrust down into her head, I put my foot on it to hold it steady and pulled the blade free.

I went back to the car and ushered them all to get out. I held onto August's hand as we approached the front door.. Upon checking my pockets I realised.. I can't find my key.."Do you still have Forrests key?" I asked Auggie. He handed me the key and I opened the front door.

NOTES-

Hey guys, thank you for reading!!.

Please let me know if you're enjoying this, and also I'd love to know if you're not.. if you'd rather not tell me what you think that's okay too, I still appreciate your time. <3 Take care everyone!!

Also there might be some mistakes, I hardly read through this chapter.