"You have to! I can't.. I can't come back. Not as one of those things -- Janet please.."
"No -- No I'll.. I'll do it."
Two lovers caught in such a twisted fate, isolated. The only thing between them and a small horde of undead, a weak chain link gate. A woman sat slumped against the alley wall, her breathing labored, a gaping bite wound in her arm, pulsing blood. Another woman, gun in her hand, fingers shaking and tears running down dirty cheeks. This was supposed to be easy. This was just gonna be like every other time. It would get tight, and they would both walk away. But Janet.. Janet couldn't do this.. Dirty blonde locks clung to her cheeks, and she sniffled with a loud, gaspy sob. To hell with being quiet. She looked down at her lover's eyes, saw the kindness, the peace, and swallowed down the bitter, selfish bile.
She couldn't do this. But she had to.
Slowly, she rested the cold muzzle on the other woman's heated forehead, the fever already taking hold of her. Her shaking hands were layered over by a familiar, soothing touch. It wrapped about her hands, layered over each of her fingers.. And together.. Together they squeezed.
The thunderous boom of the gun was different than the others that had come before it. Blood splashed against the wall behind the slumped, completely lifeless body, and the weapon dropped from Janet's hands. She stumbled back, falling to the ground and scrambling to the small corner made by a dumpster and the opposite alley wall, taking heaving breaths, heart pounding. Oh, God. What'd she done? ... How was she supposed to survive this, now? She clasped a hand over her mouth and sobbed, shoulders trembling before she forced herself to look at the ravenous dead just beyond the chain link fence.
Would she go to the same place that the other had..?
Could she see that calming smile again?
Janet struggled to her feet and wiped her nose, slowly moving towards the fence. Maybe it would be quick. Painless. But she didn't deserve that.
She couldn't protect the one she cared about most. She'd failed.
She deserved to be ripped apart. All she had to do.. was open the gate.
