“Stay back!” Karo commands.
Jack ignores the warning, swinging the crowbar wildly at the short one. His ungauged motions manage to connect on the final two attempts, one to the arm and the last to the head. The short one staggers.
Daisy’s pulls the gun up, her hand shakes as she watches the horror unfolding before her. She breathes in deep, counting inside her own head. After a short moment her tension eases, and her arm stabilizes. Norman clutches Patrick close, burying the boy’s face into his chest, shielding him from the terrifying scene.
Karo joins his battle companion, runs at the brute, and brings his weapon down from over his head, against its shoulder. To the grizzled man's dismay his attack has little effect on the tall infected. Like a great ape, it throws its heavy arms up in a fury, knocking Karo back with such force that his feet leave the ground. His arms flail as he momentarily soars, then collides with the mushy earth.
As the arms of the brutish monster come back down from delivering its blow to Karo, it leaps forward and snatches Jack up in its grasp. The beast traps Jack's arms to his side, its head comes forward in a blaze, its teeth latch onto the struggling man's neck, then pull back in a storm of rage, a chunk of his flesh ripping from him.
Norman's world shatters, he screams in agony. The brute heaves Jack high up into the air, then slams him to the ground. The breathe knocked from him, Jack gasps for air. The pain on his neck zips through his body, he grabs the wound, covering it tightly. The fist of the brute comes down upon Jack's face like a bolt of lightning, smashing in his nose.
A roaring blast rings through the air, followed by another, then another. The brute jerks back, two holes torn open on its chest. Daisy strikes toward it quickly, pulling the trigger once more, opening another crater in the brutes torso. Her arm raises slightly, her final shot blows the back of the creatures head out.
The shorter Adapted winces at the loud boom, its gaze momentarily falling away from Karo. The rugged man steps forward and swings with all his might. The crowbar slams into the leg of the infected, dropping the monster to its back. Karo's forward trajectory does not slow, bringing him on top of it as it hits the ground. He spears the crowbar into its eye socket, jamming it against the inside of skull. He digs the weapon in deep, swirling it around until the convulsing beast relents.
Norman leaves Patrick's side, running to his downed companion. The boy turns to see the carnage not more than a few yards away from him. He swoons, his legs lose feeling, and he passes out. Norman scoops his lover's torso onto his lap, cradling Jack's head against his chest.
"No, no, no, no." the distraught man cries.
Jack's hand gingerly moves up Norman's body, until it rests on his cheek. His eyes squint, Norman's well with tears, a smile cracks across Jack's face.
"I love you."
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
“Please, please!” the young child croons.
Rosaline chuckles, her head lightly shaking, amused by the young boy’s insistence.
“You could get sick buddy. I don’t want you to get sick.”
“But Rad and Outlaw are doing it!”
“Yeah, well, they’re not my kids, are they?”
Sweetie tucks the strands of fallen hair on Rosaline’s face behind her ear. The two sit comfortably on the couch in the living room, their sides pressed against each other.
“Come on nena!” Sweetie playfully teases.
Rosaline glares at Sweetie, a playful gesture, but a hint of seriousness rests behind it.
“Let him have some fun.” the Latina says, rubbing Rosaline’s leg with her hand.
“Please, please, please!” the boy croons again.
Mikey’s eyes beam, as the child stretches himself out to the tips of his toes, shuffling his feet back and forth. Rosaline chuckles once more, throwing her hands up in the air, finally relenting.
“Alright, fine, but not for-”
Before she can finish her sentence the excited boy is already out the door. He runs down the steps, and out into the rain. He hurriedly joins Rad and Outlaw, as they stomp in the shallow puddles that have formed in the front yard around the fire pit.
“Now we have to go out there, in the cold rain, and watch him.” Rosaline says, her eyes wide as she gazes to her partner.
Sweetie rises from the couch, extending her hand to Rosaline.
“I’ll keep you warm nena.” Sweetie says, with a sly smirk.
Rosaline blushes, her bottom lip curls under her teeth, gingerly biting down on it.
“What’re you tryin’ to do to me with that look?” Sweetie moans.
“What?” Rosaline replies, trying to appear as innocent as she can.
“Oh yeah” -Sweetie pulls the teasing woman up from the couch- “like you don’t know!”
Rosaline giggles as she’s brought up to a standing position, and into the embrace of the vivacious woman before her. Rosaline’s arms wrap around her taller companion’s waist. Sweetie throws her head to the side, swinging her hair off her face, then rests in a titled position, peering at Rosaline.
Sweetie’s finger runs up Rosaline’s neck, circling around her cheek, then rubbing her bottom lip. Rosaline inhales deeply, leaning up into Sweetie, as her taller companion leans into her. Their eyes close as their lips meet, pressing firmly against each other, and holding for a long moment, before parting to allow Sweetie’s tongue to sensuously slide across Rosaline’s. As her tongue pulls back Rosaline closes her lips around it, gently biting down.
Sweetie quivers, a chill running through her entire body at once. Her eyes still closed, she speaks softly.
“Oh, nena.”
“Yeah?” Rosaline giggles.
Sweetie’s eyes open, sharing the same longing as the woman in her arms.
“You get me goin’.”
Rosaline's lips curl seductively, beckoning to her lover.
“Just wait until later.”
A half grin forms upon the Latina’s face, a warmth rapidly spreading throughout her.
“I like when you tease.”
“I” -Rosaline steps back, leaning away from Sweetie- “need to check on Mikey.”
Rosaline pulls away, their
