Page 41 of Desiderium
To add insult to injury, the fucking truck ran out of gas halfway over here. Of course, it did. Apparently, the fates decided that we’ve had it too easy over the course of the last few months and decided to hit us with the mother of all haymakers today. I had to abandon the packed truck, choosing to grab only the essentials—the med-kits and our bug out-bags—for now, and go looking for another vehicle.
Thatwas a total shit show, to say the absolute least.
You would think that with all the vehicles abandoned here, there and everywhere, that there would be something that could have reliably gotten my naked ass from here to the rendezvous point with little to no trouble. But no. One after another, they let me down, delaying my reunion andextending my suffocating sentence of being smothered by my own stench. Everything was either totaled, had no gas, no spark left, had flat tires or was boxed in by other fucking shit. And then there was the complete uselessness of all the electric vehicles that seemed to pop up all around me like fucking weeds. It probably would have been faster to just hoof it over here.
After about an hour and a half, I finally found one thatactuallystarted when I turned the key—a bonafide fucking miracle. It’s not the belle of the ball or anything even remotely close to resembling one, but thankfully it runs, has a full tank and all its tires still intact. We’ll figure out the rest after we take care of Cole.
Holy shit it’s been a day.
Fuck… Cole. I can only hope Hawk’s part of the plan went off without a hitch and that they’re either here already or will be soon. From what I could see, the wounds on his back weren’t too severe, but they’ll be needing some stitches and antibiotics, regardless. Who knows what diseases the undead can pass on by simply scratching a victim?
It's something I can’t shake from my thoughts: can the virus be transmitted through broken skin even if it isn’t a bite? Could it have the same bloodborne properties like hepatitis or HIV?
I fucking hope not.
We checked his eyes immediately after the trauma. They were clear.Hewas clear. Alert. Coherent. But if the bloodborne theory is valid, Cole could be looking down the barrel of a gun and not even know it. Let’s be real, zombiesaren’t the most hygienically-minded individuals, by far. Pus, blood and all other manner of fluids regularly ooze out of the infected; cuts wouldn’t be required on their end to potentially transmit the disease if it’s true.
Before I left the property, I did a quick scan to reassure myself that I didn’t have any cuts or scrapes to worry about. I didn’t find any, but my arms, legs and—let’s not forget about—my face, were covered in all manner of infected excrement. After already almost offing myself from a possible airborne exposure, I’m silently hoping I’m not up shit-creek from cross contamination as well. Regardless, I make a mental note to do regular eye checks throughout the next few days just in case, but that’s something to worry about later. Right now? I need to get back to the guys and to Aly as fast as I can. I’ve already wasted enough time.
I hate that we had to leave Aly behind to look after Cole by herself. That she might have to see him at his worst. That she might have to do what no one should ever have to.
WhatI’vehad to do…
Taking a life is never easy. But taking the life of a loved one? It leaves a scar on your soul. Brutal and deep. I still see Emma’s eyes. The light fading from within them as she was taken from me. I’ll never forget it.
The fact that it couldn’t be me watching over him, relieving anyone else of the burden, kills me, but we had no other choice. There was no way she was going to keep up with Hawk’s pace, running from the horde. And there’s no way I wanted her back on that beach, fighting the undead for a chance to get to the truck.
Reluctantly, I left her there on the dock with her pistol and a mission of her own: If she noticed any changes in Cole that were obvious signs of him transitioning, she was to take him out. It’s a ruthless, awful thing to ask of her, but one I hoped she never had to carry out.
Pulling the car up the driveway by the side of the house, I kill the engine. My initial instinct is to run around the property, searching for any signs of Aly and the guys. I want to do that, badly, but I need to bathe and get dressed first so I don’t meet up with everyone stark naked and stinking of Death’s own rotting asshole.
Not wanting to contaminate the bags any further, I leave everything but my gun in the car and begin to race around the front of the house. I don’t even make it past the front entryway when I stop dead in my tracks.
“Jax… Jax?! Oh my God! Are you ok?!” Aly yells as she darts across the front yard, leaping through a hedge of bushes and mercilessly kicking a garden gnome in the face on her way over to me. I thought I could hold back, keep my contaminated-self away from her until I wash and grow new skin, but there’s no restraining myself as my body takes over to meet her halfway. My feet and legs, moving of their own accord, close the distance with a compulsive need to get to her. The chummy stench surrounding me is momentarily forgotten as I take her in, wanting to swallow her up in a bear hug and hold her as close as physically possible.
Thankfully, my brain catches up and I dig my heels into the soft ground, stopping just before I collide with her. My arms raise quickly in front of me, getting her to stop as well. I’m beyond disgusting right now. It’s ok, though, justseeing her reassures me that she’s safe, unharmed, and all ours. My pulse finally steadies to a normal rhythm for the first time in hours.
Fuck, I love her so much.
She makes a face as she takes in my appearance, her eyes stopping right at my junk. “What happened? Where are your clothes?” She takes a sharp inhale and stifles a gag with the back of her hand. “And what the hell’s that smell?” Not exactly the reaction I want when she’s looking at my dick but I completely agree with her in this instance. I don’t even want to be around me at the moment, it’sthatbad.
“It’s a long story, but it doesn’t matter. I’m just so happy you’re ok, baby.”
The relief in seeing her, as well as Cole and Hawk is overwhelming. I hadn’t realized how heavy the weight of stress placed upon my shoulders was but I suddenly feel like I’m floating in a sea of comfort and solace. They made it. They’re ok.
I think…
“Hawk… All good, man? What the fuck happened to you?” I didn’t notice it at first, but as he and Cole hobble closer along the grass I see just how fucked he looks. Cobwebs and dust cover his unruly hair and there are small speckles of red scattered over his face, shirt and pants. I can only assume it’s blood but try not to overreact.
He sighs, shaking his head. “I don’t wanna talk about it, man. It’s been a fucking day.” He doesn’t look up as he replies, focusing on his footwork and keeping Cole upright, but when he does, I almost laugh at the overly exaggeratedconfused look he gives me. “Now, wait just a damn minute, what the fuck happened toyou? I didn’t hear anything about any penis parades today. Why’re you showing off your dick, bro?!”
I wince as I tilt my face down, taking in my impromptu nakedness while shaking my head and laughing under my breath at what I’ve endured. “Yeah…I don’t wanna talk about it, either. I’m just happy to see you guys made it here.” Looking at Cole, he seems even worse for wear than when I saw him earlier. “We should get him inside. Were you able to clear it yet or did y’all just get here also?” I ask Hawk.
“Just came on shore a few minutes ago, but, no worries, I’ll check it out quick.” He gently sets Cole down on the soft grass in front of the door before lifting his eyebrows and pointing threateningly in his direction. Or... at least whathisversion of threatening is. “Don’t move.”
Cole, even though exhausted beyond compare, tilts his head to the side with a perplexed look. “Really,” he says, not impressed.
“I mean it. Stay.” Hawk goes to pat Cole on the head playfully when Cole snaps at him with his teeth. “Ah. Ah. Ah! Save your kinky shit for later. Right now, stay.” When Cole doesn’t make a move apart from lifting a single eyebrow even further and pressing his tongue into his cheek, Hawk digs in deeper. “Good boy.”
