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Flynn climbed the stairs. He was glad he had his flashlight. He’d hate to try to navigate this place without a light. He half expected to find bodies in the stairwell. The stench was nearly unbearable. He stepped into the dark hall and walked down, looking at apartment numbers. He found hers, 312. His heart was beating hard in his chest. He lifted his hand and knocked loudly. He winced as the sound was loud and reverberated around the hall.
“Xandra? Xandra, it’s Flynn. Are you there? Are you alive?” He called, waiting and listening. He thought he heard something and banged again.
“Xandra, it’s me. Please open up. Xandra, are you okay? I know I’m late in checking on you, and I’m sorry. It’s a long story, but please, open up.” Flynn called, desperation beginning to enter into his voice and his body trembled with fear and anticipation.
He heard the deadbolt turn and he held his breath as the door cracked open. A woman, Xandra, he thought looked out at him. She was incredibly thin and she stank, he could smell her from three feet away. His heart nearly broke at the pathetic human before him.
“Flynn?” Her voice cracked and she opened the door wider. Her lips were cracked from dehydration and her eyes hallow and dull.
“Xandra, are you okay? Christ, what happened?”
“I.. I was afraid to leave. Is it safe to come out?” She asked, looking up and down the hall. She opened the door and he stepped in, closing the door behind him.
“Kind of. If you’ve lived this long, I don’t think you’ll get the virus. I think we’re immune. Here, I’ve got some food and water in my backpack.” He said, taking his backpack off and digging out a bottle of water. She snatched the water and began gulping it. He pried it from her hands.
“Easy Xandra, you’ll throw it back up. Sip it honey. I’m so sorry it’s taken me so long to come. I’ve no good excuse.” He said and he led her to her couch and sat her down. It stank in the apartment and he gagged. The apartment smelled like an open sewer. He had to get her the hell out of this place and he had to get her out of Philly. He needed to get her out now, he didn’t think she had more than another day or two before she died of starvation and dehydration. He looked at her, her once dark glossy hair was now greasy and lank.
The bones around her shoulders and neck protruded. Once more he berated himself for his cowardice. His selfishness. He felt his eyes sting.
“Look Xandra, I’m leaving Philadelphia, today, now. I want you to come with me. There is a crazy guy who is running the city, but we can get out. Will you come with me? Please? We’ll die here if we don’t leave.” He asked, handing her a protein power bar. She tore at the paper and tried to shove it in her mouth, but he helped her and ensured she took small bites. His mouth trembled, she was like a starving animal and his heart broke all over again. I’ve been such a goddamned coward, he thought.
He waited for her to eat and drink a bit more; he knew she wouldn’t hear him or listen to him while she was concentrating on the food and water. When she finished the bar, she looked up at him, tears in her eyes.
“I don’t care where we go. Just get me out of here. I’ll give you anything you want; I’ll do anything you want.” She croaked.
“You don’t have to give me anything. I’m so sorry, I didn’t come sooner. You own me nothing. Let’s just leave. I’ll help you pack your clothes, and we’ll head out.” He said, tears now falling down his face. She was so desperate, she’d do anything. He didn’t want Casper getting his hands on her. Shame filled him again and again. He dug in his backpack and gave her another water, this time, she sipped it. He pulled out a granola bar and handed it to her.
“Okay. I got a suitcase in the bedroom closet.” She said weakly.
“You stay here, I’ll go pack really fast. Just eat and drink.” He said, getting up and heading to her room. He gagged again when he went past the bathroom. The door was shut, but the stench wafted through. Going into her room, he pulled out the suitcase and then went to her dresser. Pulling out everything he could lay his hands on, he placed into the suitcase, shoving it in and packing more on top. They could stop and pick up more clothing, he wasn’t going back to get his own things. He’d also pick up food and any other supplies they needed. He just wanted her out of here.
He found her shoes and shoved them into the suitcase as well. He’d find a place and pick up toiletries and he’d find a place to bathe her. She stunk of starvation and filth. He walked back into the living room and looked at her.
“Do you have photos, pictures and such that you want to take?” He asked.
“Over there, there’s an album.” She nodded at a bookshelf. Walking over, he picked up the album, and put it into his backpack. Her suitcase was full.
“Okay Xandra, we’ll leave here. I’m going to warn you, there are bad people we’re going to meet and I’m going to tell them I’m going to look for food and supplies and I’m coming back. But I’m not. Try not to say
