Chapter 4

"Did you see that?" I ask, starting to rise from my comfortable position with 10K.

"See what?" He asks with a sad expression on his face, clearly upset I've broken the bonding time we are having.

Softly gripping his face, I turn his head in the direction the dark figure is moving towards.

"How is it just swiftly walking through the zombies without being noticed?" 10K suddenly asks.

"I don't know." Is all I can say.

From all of my experiences the z's always smelled when a human was around.

We have a certain aroma that smells like a five course meal to them. I can't explain how I know that’s how they feel, but somehow deep inside I do.

Trying to distract myself from the queasy feeling I have just brought upon myself, I turn my attention back to the figure. It starts to rumble through the shop next door, as if looking for something.

Zombies can't do that, can they? I ask myself, but the anticipation starts to kill me.

"What is it doing?" I finally ask out loud,  breaking the silence in the air.

"I don't know, but we are about to find out." He says starting to climb down the ladder that is attached to the building.

Getting to the ladder, Shasta tries to follow, but I stroke his head and command him to sit.

"Stay." I tell him. He looks at me as if he is hurt by the fact that I wont let him come, but I keep my ground and repeat myself.

"Stay Shasta." He finally accepts and lays down on the roof top. Petting his head one last time, I start back down the ladder.

10K is there to grab me at the bottom so I don't hurt myself with the jump down.

I all of a sudden feel so self conscious when he raps his arms around me, because I'm not much on the light side. I'm not on the light side at all. Not just with my color, but my weight as well.

I am originally mixed between black and white, but the sun has made my skin a darker color with a red tint to it. And I am 200 lbs. I used to be more before the Z.A. happened, 267 lbs to be exact.

He doesn't seem to be affected by it though, for he continues to hold me close to his body, but feeling embarrassed I pull away.

My face becomes flushed and rosy. Seeming to notice this, 10K grabs my hand and squeezes it tightly. The tingles still in my side from where he touched me made my heart beat turn irregular, focusing on his face didn't help the situation either.

Don't look at him, and you won't notice how sexy his eyes are under the street lights. My mind says.

Shut up and stop talking, we could be in a live or die situation here, and the only thing you’re worried about is how hot he looks?!

Stopping my mental conversation, I focus back on what's happening around us again.

"It's okay, just stay close to me." He whispers into my ear.

Oh don't worry sweetcheeks we'll stay close. My mind giggles.

Seriously stop. I think aggravatingly to her.

To not seem like a total weirdo talking to herself I nod and keep close to him, not ignoring the tingles going through my hand.

I wonder does he feel them too? No. Stop. Focus.

After shoving the thought down, we come to a stop hiding against the rough store wall.

"We need to try and close in on it, surprise it from the front and back." 10K tells me.

"Alright, I'll go in from the front, and you go in through the back. I'm not sneaky enough to get in through the back without being caught." I say, but really it's because my fat *** won't fit through all the things back there.

"Let's do this then." He says starting to pull us along.

Avoiding all of the Z's that stand between us and the store, we zig zag through the near by cars for cover. Slowly we make our way across the street to the neighbouring store.

"Ready to split?" He asks.

"As ready as I'll ever be."

Using some hand movements they used to use on TV, 10K motions for me to continue on while he goes on around back. Trying to seem cool I make my hands into the okay symbol.

He sends me a quick smile, filled with amusement, before heading towards the back of the shop.

While moving towards the store, the sound of the thing shuffling comes into earshot. Nerves go off in me, and I wish nothing more then to go and run back into 10K's sweet embrace.

I can do this. I think to myself.

Everything will be fine. We will kill this thing, and go back to our shifts, just like we were doing five minutes ago. You got this girl. Your a real badass. 10K is sure to take notice if you can handle the situation at hand. We'll be nice and warm in his embrace, get married, and have two kids. My mind chimes in so enthusiastically.

Oh my goodness, could you not talk about a future with 10K, we don't even know the guy yet! And what's this talk about children? Who do you think I am, I am not having my child grow up in a zombie filled land of horror. I mentally scowl my mind.

Thrashing around in the store, the thing makes a noise that snaps me from my thoughts.

As I approach the shop, I notice the thing looks human, and is in a drench coat. The outline of a man becomes clear and I have to cover my mouth to conceal the gasp that is trying to escape, when he turns around.

He looks to be infected, but hasn't turned yet. I suddenly feel a wave a guilt wash over me.

He's turning and trying to find something to help cure him.

I keep my gun at bay as I reach the door, and slip in effortlessly.

The man, still yet to notice me, continues to look through all the rows of supplies.

He turned facing me and started heading in my direction. Panic set in and I begin to loose it.

What is he doing?

Did he hear me?

I guess I'm going to have to take care of him.

Pulling my gun up, I get in a defensive stance, and wait for him to get closer.

Just as he nears me, I see 10K in the back making his way closer. But before he even gets the chance, the man is too close for my liking, and I attack.

"Knee's, NOW!" I yell, using my hardened voice I've practiced over the years for a situation just like this.

Pushing my pistol, I keep around my thigh, up onto his skull, he does as I command.

10K come up and stares at the man for a bit. A barely audible laugh comes from both of them.

"Umm...Jasmine?" 10K addresses me a little sheepishly.

"What?" I snap, feeling a little left out.

"This shit bag here, is Murphy."

Murphy? As in the savior Murphy?

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