I am so tired and hungry. But I don't know what exactly I'm hungry for. I've been having strange cravings ever since I've been sick. Sometimes I want regular food and other times I seriously want to eat raw meat. The thought disgusts me several minutes after the cravings go away. It is extremely unsettling. I don't know if Fabian is experiencing the same. I'm afraid to ask him because I don't want him to think that I'm crazy.
The three of us trudge through the woods as rain gushes down, pelting us with cold, fat drops. I have no idea where we're going. We have no information on my father's whereabouts whatsoever. We're searching blindly.
"What do you know about your father?" Fabian shouts over the thunderous pelting of rain.
"Nothing, really," I reply. "Just that supposedly he's trying to make a cure."
"I've heard rumors about a Dr. Phelps," Fabian says. "I'm curious if he's your father."
"I guess we'll start with him, then."
"Are there no other leads?"
"The only one who knows anything about my father is Keith Jacobs. But I doubt he'll tell me anything. He tried to kill us..."
"Is someone there?" a voice cries out distantly. The three of us stop in our tracks.
"Did you hear that?" Fabian whispers.
"Someone else is out here..." Neil eyes the perimeter suspiciously.
"Please...help..." the voice cries out again.
"They don't sound far. Come on, let's check it out." Fabian urgently walks forward, gun in hand.
We walk about a mile and half when we finally arrive at the source. The rain has tapered some, but is still coming down in a light spray. There's a man with his leg caught in a bear trap. The teeth like blades gouge into his skin, tearing the flesh. Blood oozes from the gashes, thick and red.
"Thank God...I thought I was only imagining voices," the man pants out. His hair is drenched in rainwater, his face pale and haggard. This might just be because of the rain or blood loss, but his eyes are...pink?
"Who are you?" Fabian asks. The man's eyes linger on me for several seconds before looking at Fabian.
"Please help me...this hurts really bad..." He winces, clutching his leg. "I've tried getting it off myself, but I'm not strong enough..."
"I'm not helping you until I know you're not some kind of freak!"
"I'm not dangerous, okay? Just help me and I'll tell you anything you want to know!"
"He's caught in a trap. I don't think he's going to try anything with his leg wounded," says Neil.
Fabian breathes out harshly, his nostrils flaring. "Fine."
Wordlessly, he bends down and grabs the trap. Together, Fabian and the stranger pry open the trap wide enough for him to pull his leg out. As soon as it's off, they release the teeth and it snaps back shut with a clang.
"Ah...thank you," the man breathes out in relief, slumping to the ground. He tenderly presses around his wound. "It's only semi-deep. I think the blades were a little dull. Still hurts though."
"Let me help you with that." Taking his bag off, Neil crouches down next to him. He takes out some bandages and begins to patch up his wound.
Fabian stands nearby, watching them with an intense stare. His green eyes look darker somehow, greener. Blood trickles in a small stream down his left hand, snaking down his middle finger. I gently take his wrist and hold up his hand. There's a gash in the middle of his palm.
"You're hurt," I say. Fabian snatches his hand away.
"I'm fine."
Snatching some bandage wrap from Neil's bag, I yank Fabian's hand back. "Here."
I wrap his hand up despite his protests.
"I said I was fine," he grumps as I finish tying it.
"Yeah well, I don't care what you said."
He frowns, irritated. Taking a deep breath, he lowers his hand back down to his side.
I wring my hands nervously. "Have you...been feeling weird? You know...since Brax?"
"What do you mean?" Fabian doesn't look at me. He keeps his gaze on Neil and the stranger.
"Like...I don't know, weird cravings for...raw meat?"
Now Fabian looks at me, his green eyes piercing. I gulp, startled.
"You feel on edge?" He asks, raising an eyebrow.
"Somewhat." I clear my throat. "I don't feel like myself."
"Me neither. What did he inject us with?"
"Probably something bad." I shudder.
"I appreciate the help," the stranger's voice brings us out of our conversation. "I'm Cyrus."
Neil helps Cyrus stand. "You can stand on your own?"
Cyrus stumbles a bit, but is steady. "I think so."
"Good." Neil releases him. He opens his mouth to say something else, but halts at the sound of uneven footsteps.
Fabian draws his gun. Wary, I inch closer to his side. A man stumbles out of the brush, soaking wet and covered in dirt. His hair and face is caked with grime, his brown overcoat tattered.
"Don't come any closer." Fabian points his gun at him. The dirty man raises a pistol in return. His blue eyes flit to me.
"Are you...Carol Tyson?" he breathes out raggedly.
I step forward. "How do you know my name?"
"My name is Detective Lee Kennedy...your mother...sent me...to find you..." No sooner than he huffs the words out, the man drops the gun and collapses to the ground, passed out.
"Oh crap." Fabian puts his gun away and runs over to help. He checks his pulse. "He's still alive."
Neil checks his body over for any serious wounds. "He looks okay. Just some minor scrapes and bruises."
"Do you know this man?" Fabian asks me.
"No. I've never seen him before. He says my mom sent him..."
"Let's get him up," Cyrus chimes in. "I know a safe place we can take him."
"Where?" Neil and Cyrus each grab an arm, hoisting him up in between them.
"There's a small town nearby, and I've been staying in one of the houses there. Don't worry, it's safe."
"Yeah...just remember, if you try anything fishy, I'm blowing your brains out," Fabian threatens, his eyes wild.
"Noted..."
The five of us travel out of the woods with Cyrus as our guide. He leads us out and into a suburban town. Blood and bodies litter the streets and sidewalks, painting a once quaint town with horrific gore. Zombies lumber around sluggishly, their movements freakish and distorted.
"You three get to the house, I'll cover you," Fabian says, gun at the ready.
Neil grunts under Kennedy's weight. "Urgh...hurry up."
"I'm trying! My ankle hurts, remember?" Cyrus nearly falls forward, but catches himself at the last minute. Neil groans with exhaustion, almost toppling with him.
"Goddammit, stop falling over!" he hollers.
"Will y'all hurry up and get in the house?!" Fabian yells over his shoulder.
Zombies start to converge, and Fabian kicks one in the head as it lunges for him. Blood spatters across his shirt in a messy spray. Neil and Cyrus regain their balance and stumble up the steps to the porch. I run ahead of them to open the door, and we rush inside, Fabian slipping in at the last second. The door slams shut with a bang and the deadbolt snaps into place. Zombies pound at the door, but can't get inside. The windows are boarded up with wood, allowing no light to seep inside.
Cyrus and Neil plop Kennedy unceremoniously on the sofa, slumping to the floor.
"He's heavy as shit," Neil complains, cracking his neck.
"But he's okay though, right? He's gonna wake up?" I ask hopefully. I want to know what he meant about my mom.
"He should be," Neil answers. "I didn't see any major injuries on him. He should wake up. He probably passed out from exhaustion."
The detective wakes up many hours later, long after the sun has gone down. It's nearly pitch black in the house save for a few lit candles that Fabian rummaged around the house to find. We found flashlights, but none of them worked. So, just candles.
"Where am I?" he says with a start, jolting upright.
Fabian has his gun on him in an instant. "Don't you move."
Kennedy holds up his hands. "Hey, I'm not your enemy."
I grab Fabian's arm. "Put that down."
"You are Carol, right?" Kennedy stares at me. Fabian lowers his gun but doesn't put it away.
"Yes." I sit down next to him as he sits up. "What were you saying about my mother?"
His stomach rumbles loudly, and he cringes. "I'm sorry...but do you have any food? I'm starving."
Neil reaches into his pack and then hands Kennedy three energy bars. He snatches them, tearing them open with vigor and stuffing his face. The detective nearly chokes a few times, but manages to swallow everything down. Minutes later he's washing them down with some water, taking huge, desperate gulps.
"Thank you..." he breathes out. Kennedy takes my hands. "I'm so glad I found you."
"Is my mom okay? Where is she?" I search his face for answers, but it tells me nothing. The dim, candlelight flame makes his features look creepy and strange.
"About that..." He squeezes my hand, meeting my eyes. "She came to the police station and asked for help finding you. After investigating through your dad's things, we eventually found the portal, and it took us here."
My throat tightens and I feel panic clawing at my insides. "So where is she? Why isn't she with you?"
Tears swell up in his eyes. "She's gone, Carol. Your mom is gone."
"What?" My voice cracks. "H-how?"
"He killed her, I-I tried to stop him, I-"
"Who?" My voice comes out in a strained whisper.
"A man. His hair was blonde and he had really cold blue eyes. It was like he knew her somehow, and-"
"Keith," I choke out. My body starts to tremble. Then, a deep, guttural scream rips out of me, followed by long and choking sobs. A pair of arms is around me in an instant, my face slamming into a hard and firm chest.
"You're gonna be okay, Carol," Neil is whispering into my ear, his hand gently stroking my hair. I scream into his sternum, a deep and hollow pain filling my chest. It hurts so badly. It hurts so much I just want to die.
"MOMMYYYY!" I scream into Neil's shirt. "My mommy..."
*Okay, babydoll...*Her last words echo in my mind. The memory of her kissing my forehead flashes before my eyes. Then I see her smiling, and then she disappears. I should never have left her. If I had stayed, maybe she'd still be alive. We would have had a chance. Together.
"How did she die?" I turn my tear stained face back to Kennedy.
His lips tighten, guilt flickering in his eyes. "It was quick. She didn't suffer."
Crunching my bottom lip in between my teeth, I shake my head. "That didn't answer my question."
"Carol-" Fabian tries to interject.
"TELL ME!" My voice rips out of me in a banshee-like scream.
Kennedy sighs heavily, hanging his head. "He...he snapped her neck."
A whimper falls from my lips. More tears fall like little jewels down my cheeks. Snatching the nearest candle, I rip myself out of Neil's grasp and charge upstairs. I need to be alone. I don't want to talk to anyone. I just want to let myself fall into the deepest and darkest hole possible and float away into nothing. I run into the first room I see and slam the door. After setting the candle in a safe spot, I throw myself dramatically on the bed and fall apart.
My world is unraveling, thread by thread. I scream into the pillow and thrash, the pain tearing into my soul. My whole life, she was the only family I ever had. And now, she's gone and I have no one. No family. I am completely and utterly alone. I try to imagine her last moments, how Keith broke her neck like it was nothing. But no matter how hard I try, I cannot picture it.
So I lay there in the bed, bawling and bawling until eventually I drift into the darkest sleep imaginable.