“We promised each other,” Chelsea said. “We promised-“
“That in the given situation-“
“We would put-“
“The other-“
“Down,” she finished. “The military convoy warned us of the dangers of leaving a contaminated alive, especially when our town hasn’t been hit very hard. For all that we know, I’m the only current person contaminated!”
I shook my head, “If you were, then we wouldn’t be in what is considered a contaminated zone! They would isolate you and we would be a secure community once again.”
“But that isn’t happening, Daryl!” she exclaimed. “This isn’t a story book or a video game where you can just wish away the dangers. They are here!” She pointed at her chest. “They are here and waiting to kill you too!”
“I’d rather take my chances with the rubbing alcohol,” I said defiantly.
“That’s not fair!” She yelled at me.
I wanted no more of it. “Fine,” I held out the bat. “I’m not going to murder you, but you sure as hell can try your hardest to do yourself in with this bat.”
She scowled at me, her face dark. Still cute. She smacked away my hand, brushing the bat to the side and giving me another hug. “For now, then, we can try the alcohol,” She said in quiet defeat. “But on the first sign-“
“I’ll smack a hoe,” I replied. I could not help but smile at her now calm voice. I rubbed her back a little as we hugged and kissed once, twice, three times, four, “We should go inside,” I said. “Just be sure not to bleed on me.”
Her scowl returned.
“And I may have to tie you up, for safety, of course.”
Chapter 2
It became an interesting night, to say the least. Chelsea and I created a contraption out of pots and pans that, if she was to wake in a contaminated state while I was sleeping, would be sure that I not sleep forever.
We also decided on loosely tying her hand to the bed for two reasons. This way, if she was to turn overnight, then her movements would be very restricted. It was also somewhat kinky, her idea, I swear. Safe sex everyone.
Neither of us knew a considerable amount about the parasite virus, a common trend throughout the world. This meant that we had no idea when she would turn, or what signs Chelsea’s body would give to hint at the changes. I’d seen the contaminated before: bright yellow eyes, pale skin, red mouths, murderous, but I have never seen the change occur in front of me. In other words, I had no freaking clue what was going on and was taking precautions deemed necessary.
Fortunately for the health of my blood, Chelsea slept like a baby. She had been fighting off some disease over the last week. There were semi constant streams of coughing fits and the occasional vomiting, yet she had the appetite of a whale. Oh gosh, I hope she isn’t pregnant. How would that look? Maury and the contaminated: who’s the father? No thanks. I hope it’s a cold.
Either way, she took the last of the Nyquil to the face and was out in mere minutes. Once she was k/o’ed, I set up the pots and pans and whatever would hopefully make enough noise to rouse me from my slumber should she wake with fits of hunger for brains.
I tended to her wound from earlier today. I dipped a piece of cotton swab into the rubbing alcohol and rubbed it all over the bite wound. We did it before, shortly after Chelsea had been bitten, but I figured I better keep the wound from becoming infected by anything else either way. I also replaced the old wrappings with fresh new ones from the first aid kit. They covered her entire shoulder and were held together very tightly. Those wrappings were the last that I had in the house.
Even though Chelsea had dozed into a deep sleep, it was still early in the night, and I wasn’t yet tired. The only good thing about our situation was that we remained in a powered zone. This meant that we were in an area hooked up to one of the few power plants still running. These plants were heavily guarded by the military, somewhat excessively so. I don’t care who you are, or what stories you have heard in the past, no mindless creature with a bit of an extra bite can get through a tank, not counting the other nine alongside it. I had always wondered how the military establishments had been taken down in movies and games and such by walking fools. Hollywood.
Thought broadcasting television consisted of a standard warning loop featuring the president of the United States telling people to stay in their homes or to get to a secure area and wait out the crisis, the internet was still working, but it wasn’t the same. Formerly flowing forums and online hangouts were empty and the lack of website traffic was making advertisement companies crying their money away, assuming they were still around to use said money. Gone were the days of overpopulated creeper forums and role players worldwide, replaced by the lonely searching of adorable kitten videos and “Best of Whose Line” montages.
Though the bareness of the internet was astounding to see, there were still those who were able to remain active. After long hours of googling various combinations of “the end of the world forums,” I finally stumbled upon quite possibly the last active forum: The Last Uncontaminated Forum. I know, points for originality to the name, emphasis on the literal. It hosted an overwhelming number of members, eight to be exact, two of which were Chelsea and myself.
They all confirmed to be located
